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Gunnedah driver Glen Swain drove with precision to post the fastest time at last weekend’s Apex Drive Hill Climb in Gunnedah.
Driving a turbo-charged Nissan Cefiro, Swain stopped the clock at 31.63 seconds in his fourth and final run up the Porcupine Lookout circuit.
“We thought the others had him but [Glen] got it on his last run,” Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts (GME) secretary Geoff Hood said.
“He had to work for it that’s for sure.”
Hill climb hosts, GME, were suitably chuffed with the event’s continued success since its reintroduction a few years earlier for Gunnedah’s annual Week of Speed program.
Swain’s first attempt was also fastest over the 850-metre distance that features powerful straights, tight chicanes and a deep, sweeping hairpin.
Second fastest on the day was Mark Trees from Inverell who marked time at 32.02 seconds.
Trees was the early favourite driving his light-weight, Nissan Nismo.
“We were expecting him to win,” Hood said.
Barely a breath away, third at 32.05 seconds was Tamworth’s Alistar Bell driving a Mitsubishi Evo.
A number of minor crashes involving the event’s oldest and youngest competitors kept safety staff on their toes.
The cars were near write-offs but fortunately the only injury incurred by the drivers, was their pride.
This year GME fielded 34 race entries from around NSW and interstate. Almost a third were from the local Gunnedah area.
Among other locals to star were Darryl Morrison driving a Ford XR8 sedan, John Chalmers in his Toyota Celica and Michael Harris.
Hood thanked all involved in the event, particularly the Gunnedah SES and RFS crews who assisted in safety and the Gunnedah Apex Club food van which kept spectators and competitors well fed on the hill.
“It’s good to see local involvement,” Hood said.
“The comments we’ve received so far have all been very positive.
“Hopefully we can go better again next year.”
Full race results will be published when complete times and race data is available at a later date.