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Sunday, 8 April 2012

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102 vehicles clash in Mahagastota Hill Climb

MAHAGASTOTA HILL CLIMB: The 79th version of the Mahagastota Speed Hill Climb organised by the Ceylon Motor Sports will be worked off at the beautiful Mahagastota Estate in Blackpool, Nanu Oya today (Sunday April 8) commencing at 8.30 am.

This is about the oldest hill climb in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world dating back to 1934 when the European planters based in the tea estates in and around Nuwara Eliya decided to have some sort of a motor race to overcome the boredom during the weekends, as they were very far away from home and hardly anything to do except working in their petty kingdoms known as the tea estates.

They took the step in the right direction when they decided to regulate the motor sports and conduct them in an organised manner and thus the Ceylon Motor Sports Club was formed on 4th September 1934 at Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. D.J. Maitland was the first President with Gordon Graham as the Secretary.

They were so keen and enthusiastic that they did not waste any time in having the first hill climb on 28th September, 1934, which was at the Mahagastota Estate in Nanu Oya. This track was so well located that most part of the race could be viewed from any place and in a series of sharp corners which has now come to be known as the cemetery corner, first hair pin bend and the Berkfield corner before the final sport towards the finish.

The speed hill climb which was the first of its kind in the country saw 10 cars and 2 motor cycles competing for honours. The fastest timing registered at the first meet was 69.8 seconds by Phil Powks in an Austin Tourist Trophy which was for motor cars.

But the fastest timing of the meet was recorded by G. Dickson on a Scott which was 64.0 seconds which was on a motor cycle.

Things have changed a lot since then and this year 102 vehicles will compete - 55 cars and 47 motor cycles. According to a release by the club the course record is jointly held by Rohan de Silva on a Modified Formula and Nishan Weerasooriya on a Mitsubishi Evolution. Rohan de Silva's timing had two decimal points while Nishan Weerasooriya's run with the improvement of technology has three decimal points. Maestro Rohan de Silva claims that his run is faster.

The course record for motor cycles is held by Saffraz Junaid who broke a long standing record held by Shanaka Amrose who is now domiciled in foreign climes.

To the credit of the club (CMSC) it must be mentioned that it encouraged the locals to compete in motor races an equal par with the Europeans at a time the expatriates were dominating this field. This year's hill climb will see some top racing drivers in action like maestro Rohan de Silva who has completed over 34 years in motor racing, Ananda de Alwis who will be competing in his 49th year, Bri Ponnambalam, Sheran Fernando, Shirendra Lawrence, Dinesh Jayawardena, Arvinda Premadasa, Dinesh Deheregoda, Pasindu Peiris, Ashan de Silva, Janaka Dias, Nalaka Dias, Romani de Silva, Rizvi Farouk, Dilan Senaviratne and many others.

The two wheelers will be dominated by top riders like Shaffraz Junaid, Ramal Pathiratne, Indika Gurusinghe, Sarath Kumarasinghe, Shrian Daniels Rambukwella, Jhonny Daniels, Wikum Ranjith, Gabrielle Rockwood, Shane Silva and many others.

This being the only hill climb during the current Nuwara Eliya holiday season, a very large crowd is expected to throng to witness it, if the weather keeps especially in the afternoon.

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