Molloy wins the 2011 Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb

MEDIA RELEASE
15 MAY 2011

MOLLOY WINS KAITANGATA HILLCLIMB

Craig Molloy of Dunedin won the 2011 Kaitangata Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb at Whites Road, City Forests in Kaitangata on Saturday.

Molloy recorded the fastest time of the day, 56.98 seconds in his Mitsubishi EVO 3 on his penultimate run up the 1.2 kilometre gravel road to take the title ahead of Dunedin brothers Mike and Steve Wellington both of whom drove Mitsubishi EVO 6s.

Molloy made a small error on his first run but improved markedly on his second attempt before setting the winning time on the third. He could not improve on his fourth and final run but he did not need to, his earlier time good enough to clinch the title. Molloy was rapt with the win. "It's been a great day. It was very slippery and I think conditions were best for setting good times on the third run." Molloy confessed a "lack of attention" caused his error on the first run and said, "it was just lucky there were three more chances." Already keen to return to defend the title next year Molloy paid tribute to the organisers particularly, Roger Laird of the Eastern Southland Car Club and the Scott brothers, Robert, Brian and Gregory the three sons of the late Bob Scott who this event remembers. "It wouldn't be the same without them," he said of the Scotts who compete in and support the event through their businesses.

Mike Wellington was the fastest driver over the first two runs but he fell to third after Molloy and his brother Steve were quicker on the third. He couldn't beat Molloy's time on the final run but did enough to reclaim second, relegating Steve to third in his first appearance at the event.

Neville Krammer of Wallacetown on the outskirts of Invercargill, did a superb job in an elderly Subaru Legacy to finish fourth just 04 of a second off third place. Brian Scott of Dunedin was fifth after setting his best time late in the day. Mosgiel driver Chris Hey was the first 2-wheel-drive car in sixth place in his turbocharged, Nissan powered Toyota MR2 having been as high as third overall after the early runs. David Kirk of Gore was seventh in his Mitsubishi while Paul Goatley (Balclutha), Duncan McCrostie (Kaitangata) and Damian Vincent of Stirling rounded out the top ten. Goatley was at the wheel of a 2-wheel-drive Ford Escort BDA while McCrostie, last years winner in a Mitsubishi EVO, was this year at the wheel of a 2-wheel-drive Nissan Bluebird Turbo. Vincent, a relative newcomer to motorsport, was making his Kaitangata debut.

In the class battles Neville Krammer won Class D for 4-wheel-drive vehicles from Brian Scott and David Kirk with the first three overall ineligible for class prizes. Hey took Class C for 2-wheel-drive vehicles of 1601cc and over. Second was Goatley and third McCrostie. Class B (1301-1600cc) was won by Kevin Laird of Gore in one of the hardest fought categories. Invercargill driver Phil Terry held the class lead for most of the day ahead of Laird and John Metherell of Balclutha. However Laird edged ever closer to the time Terry had set early on. After the third run Terry still led albeit by just .05 of a second from Laird. Laird scorched up the hill in his Toyota Levin on the final run to record a time of 63.84 seconds to take the honours. Terry held on for second in the class - his best 64.01. Carter Strang of Wallacetown snatched third on the last run, demoting Metherell who had held the position all day.

Christopher Thompson of Kaitangata won Class A (0-1300cc) in his Nissan Sunny from Roger Laird of Gore in a Suzuki Swift and Queenstown driver Tony Adamson in an older model Swift.

Robert Scott won Class E for Sports & Racing Cars in his CEA Special from his brother Gregory in the Scott Special while Graeme Taylor of Temuka was third in a Ford powered Morris Minor.

The event was also the final round of the Eastern Southland Car Club Championship, the title going to Roger Laird from Chris Hey and Karen Laird.

Brian Scott, the recently crowned South Island Pre 65 Saloon Champion, took a break from competition during the day to do a demonstration run up the hill in his title winning V8 Falcon, a car far better suited to the country's motor racing circuits.

The Kaitangata Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb is a joint promotion between Kaitangata Black Gold Community Inc and the Eastern Southland Car Club. The venue was the scene of several Gold Star national hilllcimbs several years ago and Bob Scott was a prominent competitor both in the hillclimbs and other motorsport events. The late Bob Scott was a former Mayor Of Kaitangata and a successful motorsport competitor and businessman. Amongst his motorsport achievements were three South Island Grass Track titles and the Kaitangata Hillclimb title in 1967. He also owned Scott's Garage in the town during the 1960's and 70's.

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