Rule change doesn?t stop hill-climbers

A CHANGE in the rules and the attraction of a nearby fair didn't deter entrants in Sunday's Dorset Road hillclimb, run by the Wairarapa Car Club at Mauriceville.
Secretary Tracey Stringer said in previous years cars without roll cages were allowed to enter the club's year-ending event.
This year, for safety reasons, cages were stipulated and the club expected entries would suffer. However, 31 drivers turned up, with good support from around the region. Conditions were excellent and the road surface good.
Kapiti club member Gordon Bligh, in a 3400cc Mitsubishi EVO, was fastest on the day with a best run of 2.05:8m, giving him 4WD class and overall honours. Fastest of the locals was Deane Shannahan, in the ex-Clendon VR4, who recorded 2.13:7m.
Top-three placings (Wairarapa unless stated):
0-1000cc: Blair Murray (Kapiti), 1298 Barina, 2.22:9m, 1; Tim Hamilton (Kapiti), 1300 Starlet, 2.22:6, 2; Luke Newman (Kapiti), 1300 Toyota, 2.29:0m, 3.
1301-1600cc: Paul Black (Kapiti) 1587 FXGT, 2.13:0m, 1; Michael Mortensen, 1587 Corolla, 2.19:4m, 2; Daniel Feck (Dannevirke), 1587 Corolla, 2.21:2m, 3.
1601-2000cc: Graham Heath (Harbour Capital), 1998 Pulsar, 2.20:1m, 1; Kevin George, 1760 Escort, 2.23:1m, 2.
2001cc and over: Anthony Paroli (Wton), 2720 Starlet, 2.19:9m, 1; Chris Steele, 3398 Lancer, 2.24:5s, 2.
4WD: Adam Bligh (Kapiti), 3400 EVO, 2.05:8m, 1; John McAndrew (Wton), 3400 Legacy, 2.10:8m, 2; Matt Wilson (Wton), 3396 EVO 3, 2.11:6s, 3.