JIM Macdiarmid’s quest to win the 2019 XBC Cross Border Speed Championship moved on to home ground at the weekend when the Kendal driver contested the Barbon Speed Hillclimb.

Organised by members of Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club and Liverpool Motor Club, and supported by Rayrigg Motors, more than 70 drivers braved the slippery conditions to test their cars and driving skills on the rain-sodden Barbon Manor drive.

At only 627 metres in length the course is one of the shortest in the UK but it provides a stern test even in dry conditions so Saturday’s persistent rain made it all the more challenging.

Having already won his class on rounds in Scotland and Wales, Macdiarmid was determined to repeat the feat on home soil and he did so in fine style, setting the fastest time of the day in his Force PC.

Macdiarmid’s result was even more satisfying, given it was the first time he had driven the car, which he acquired last season to replace the OMS CF04 he had driven for many years previous, on wet tyres.

Having familiarised himself with his car’s handling characteristics in the morning’s practice runs, Macdiarmid then powered his 1397cc Suzuki Hayabusa engine single seater up the hill in 26.60 seconds.

He told the Gazette: “This car is 18 inches shorter than the OMS and is much lighter so it handles differently, you can throw it at the corners and it turns in better. The conditions were horrendous this morning and the car was aquaplaning up the hill. Fortunately the rain eased for the timed runs.”

The entry included a wide variety of cars but the most unusual had to be the CanAm X3 Maverick driven by Kendal’s Triple D Motosport boss Neil Crayston.

Having never previously tackled the Barbon course on four wheels, only two on motorcycle events, Crayston made the most of the slippery conditions, using the CanAm’s four-wheel drive capability to best effect. That, allied to the car’s 205bhp derived from its 1000cc 3 cylinder Turbo engine providing a 0-60mph time of 2.6 seconds, made the unwieldy-looking machine a spectacular sight as it rocketed up the hill.

There was a lot of less-modern machinery in action too, particularly in Class 6C for Pre-war Austin 7’s, which included nine examples, making it the most competitive of the day. Among them was Barbon regular John Mansfield, from Arnside, who took the third in class prize in his Austin Seven Ulster.

Top honours and family family bragging rights in Class 1A (Modified Saloon Cars up to 1400cc) went to Kendal’s Steven Murphy in his Morris Mini Minor as son Nick finished fifth in his Austin Mini.

Milnthorpe’s Will Roberts won Class B (Modified Saloon Cars up to 2000cc) in his Renault Clio Sport 172, while Anthony Middleton from Sedbergh claimed the top Class 2A (Road-going Kit, Replica & Spaceframed Cars up to 1700cc) award in his Westfield SE Fox.

Lune Valley Vintage and Classic proprietor Martin McHugh from Middleton entered in two cars and won first in class awards in both. He entered his Morgan Plus 8 in Class 6A (1962-88 Classic Cars) and his North Star Formula Junior Mk1 in Class 6E (Pre 1961Racing Cars).

Competing against him in the latter was Barbon resident Peter Anstiss, who finished second in his Lotus Formula Junior 20/22.