Lisburn’s drivers gear up for annual hillclimb event

At least six local men will be taking on the historic route, which celebrates it’s centenary this year.

Back then the first hillclimb was contested by one Harry Ferguson, famous for inventing the modern tractor and implement systems.

In his 25hp Vauxhall Harry raced up the winding hill, just over a mile long, in an impressive 103 seconds to make fastest time of the day.

Hoping to follow in his footsteps are Michael Adams, who is from the Pond Park area, and Dr David Hunter from the Saintfield Road.

Moira man Kieran Smyth and Glenavy’s Con Williamson will take to the course along with Magheralin’s Robert Davison an d Carryduff’s Brian Mutch.

There have been 53 entries to date with upwards of 90 expected by the time the cars set off.

Craigantlet is now the premier Hill Climb in Ireland and the only round of the prestigious Avon Tyres/TTC Group MSA British Hill Climb Championship to take place this side of the Irish Sea.

As well as the usual classes for a wide variety of cars in the local ANICC Millers Oils Championship and a selection of mouth watering vintage models competing in their own Class, the visit of the British Championship brings from the mainland around a dozen cars, almost all single seater racers, the fastest and most powerful pushing out around 650bhp.

In addition, a selection of cars, many of which competed at Craigantlet over its long history, will be on display and make two Historic parade ascents during the day, having been on display at nearby Parliament Buildings Stormont the previous evening.

The event has attracted new sponsorship from Ballyrobert Vauxhall.

Entries do not close until later this month and are still coming in.

An exciting addition to the Historic section is the early fifties McCandless 500cc racing car, specially released for the event, from the nearby Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which will join the unique Ferguson P99 Formula One car, both four wheel drive.

These two cars were separately the products of the legendary Ulster inventors, Ferguson of tractor fame and Rex McCandless best remembered for his revolutionary racing motor cycle frame the Featherbed Norton.

However they both also had, back in the 1950s the vision of four wheel drive as the way forward in motor car design. Almost unknown back then it has become common place today.

Timed runs begin at 1.30pm and entry to the event is free.