The weekend of 15^th and 16^th August saw rounds 11 and 12 of the SFHC take place at Curborough as a double header over two different circuit layouts in a nail biting climax with 2 rounds left with the main protagonists only points apart.

Saturday saw 10 drivers battle the 2 lap circuit at Curborough, but unfortunately due to car issues, this was down to 8 as the Attwood’s had car problems but were able to arrive in the late afternoon, too late for today, but ready for tomorrow.

The day started off well and with ourselves out in group 2, the practice was quickly over as overall numbers seemed low and the organisers decided that one practice run was enough. We went into the first run with Rob Samuels in his 458 Speciale holding the additional 2% success additional percentage from winning the previous round. Each time the drivers left for the assembly area, Chris Leach and myself would find a good vantage point to watch the events unfold.

From the spectator banking, you can see the whole circuit unlike the more traditional hill climb venues. By the end of the first round, Dave Snelson was leading from Pauline Goodwin, with Rob trailing third. The second run took place before lunch and Dave smashed his own record from 2025 by nearly 1 second clocking 59.12s on scratch.

Most drivers improved, with Nick Taylor popping into third, behind Pauline by 0.004s on adjusted times. Sitting around the table during lunch, Rob was not happy with as it seemed that both Pauline and Nick had brought their ‘A’ game to the course today.

It was also apparent that Dave had a slow front left puncture that needed the re-pumping, monitoring and was losing pressure quite quickly, but no visible signs of a puncture. Chris did an inspection and told Dave what he could and couldn’t do and let Dave ponder what to do now and the implications for tomorrow.

The third run took place, with little movement in the times and Dave decided to bail out and get his tyre inspected and fixed ready for tomorrow. The fourth runs started and I said to Chris that Pauline looked neat and tidy every run she had undertaken. Rob managed a faster time and took over third place. We got back, sat around the table, when we had a message from the clerk of the course that we would have a fifth run. Nick decided not to and left. Pauline was unsure and very much undecided what to do, Rob could see an opening and to try and claim second place. Rob needed to go a couple of tenths faster and he would get second and take another point.

The remaining six went out, Chris and myself watched from near the finish line and the time clock. Rob went faster and took second place. A few minutes later, Pauline went, her eye in on the sixth circuit of the day and smoked Rob, leaving him in a different county: she was under 67s on scratch.

We had the times and worked out the adjusted times. First, Dave Snelson 59.12s (61.78s on adjusted times), Second, Pauline Goodwin 66.89s (63.21s), Third, Rob Samuels 59.83s (63.72s), followed by Nick Taylor in his 360, Steve Nunney in his 360, Stewart McCabe in his 328, Paul Hicks in his 360 and Ian Affleck in his 328.

Pauline was beaming and even Rob had to acknowledge she had had one hell of a day. Chris said he had never known an event with six runs, five of them timed. We all left and pondered what tomorrow would bring.

Sunday had 11 drivers, with Tony and Iwan Attwood in their 308 GT4 and Brian Jackson in his 308 competing. However, Nick was late and then withdrew due to car problems. Dave returned with a replacement front tyre. We had more cars today with the Porsche’s bringing around 10-15 cars, so six runs was unlikely.

Chris and myself walked up to the banking and sat down on a bench to watch the first group of cars out and the figure of eight or crossover circuit. The weekend was organised by the Scimtar Owners Club and was badged as Scimfest 2026 and they were the first out. One car came round the bend to start the second circuit, the car squirmed, lost control and ended in the bank by us and that brought out the first red flag of the day.

Yesterday we only had a couple of red flags and they were for minor issues to allow the marshals to get debris of the circuit. Today, the whole day was punctuated by red flags and only a practice run and two timed runs were achieved, a totally different day to Saturday.

With Dave winning yesterday, he now had the 2% success percentage.

The figure of eight circuit is slightly slower than the 2 lap circuit, but you would never of known it from Dave and Rob, the duel recommenced. After the delay for the car to be recovered, Tony was first out and all drivers needed to get acclimatised to the new configuration. However, the gremlins hit and a number of drivers didn’t record a time, so they had to have another practice run.

Dave led the practice on time, but Rob led on PEP. A long wait occurred before we had our first timed run. When they did, the timings failed again and Chris had to resort to writing down the times instead of getting them on his phone and even then, they seemed wrong. Once resolved. Dave did 61.97 on scratch, but Rob led on PEP from Pauline.

We then had further delays before and after lunch, but as the paddock is not visible for the circuit the reasons were unknown. Time came for the second runs and almost all drivers improved on their first run times. Rob went out, did a 60.71 on scratch beating Dave’s 2025 record and awaited Dave’s challenge. Dave tried but alas couldn’t beat that time.

More delays and then it was announced that insufficient time existed for all groups to have a third run. It was an anti climax that had been a good weekend. We had the times and worked out the adjusted times. First, Rob Samuels 60.71s (63.44s on adjusted times), Second, Dave Snelson 60.88s (64.84s). Third Pauline Goodwin 69.30s (65.49), followed by Steve Nunney in his F430, Brian Jackson in his 308, Stewart McCabe in his 328, Paul Hicks in his F430, Iwan Attwood in front of his dad Tony and Ian Affleck in his 328.

It was a great weekend and Scimfest organisers were so welcoming of ourselves and the other cars clubs that attended the weekend. A number of members attended the event as well to enjoy the sprinting, the glorious weather and the comradery of the hill climbers. The championship is likely to go down to the last run of the last round at Shelsey Walsh in September.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and why not give it a try. The Club will probably run a hill climb school again next, so consider taking part in that and think about joining the 2027 championship.