Heritage that speaks volumes: 80th Mahagastotta Hill Climb 2014

Friday, 14 March 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

As the years lap by it is good, once in a while, to glance back across the dust ridden trails to the glimmering outlines of our beginning. Eighty years have seen an immense advancement in equipment and technique, but nothing can excel the spirit which inspired the pioneering efforts that provided the early blueprint upon which the Ceylon Motor Sports Club has been built. Eighty years is a long time, and many tyres have worn thin since those distant days.

Looking back, one can recall the several stalwarts who established themselves in the art of motor sport - namely Phil Fowke, T.S. Jinasena, Alan Clerk, Rodney Mason, Nihal Jinasena, Bri Ponnambalam, Mike Rauff, Ananda de Alwis, Kingsley Smith, Ajith Chanmugam, Mana Jayawardana, Cassim Wahab, Shanaka Ambrose, Bandula Weerasinghe, Suren Cooke, Suranjith Premadasa, Shafraz Junaid, Nishan Weerasooriya and Rohan de Silva to name just a few. Current course record holders bikes – Ananda Sampath Weerasignhe Riding an RM 250 clocked 36.364 Seconds, while the course record holder for cars - Darin Weerasinghe achieved a time of 34.348 Seconds driving a Subaru STi X, set very high bench marks to beat in 2013. The previous course records which existed before 2013 were, cars – joint record holders Nishan Weerasooriya and Rohan de Silva, and bikes - Shafraz Junaid. 2014, it would be one of the most interesting years to witness Mahagastota, as the CMSC celebrates “80 years of Mahagastota”, which is also 80 years of Motor Sport in Sri Lanka. The club over a period of time has invested a lot of time and effort into upgrading the track. The newly resurfaced Mahagastota will also see track side curbing, and more safety fences being established to ensure competitor’s safety is enhanced, while the TAG Hauer Timing equipment too has been upgraded for greater efficiency. Marshals trained by CAMS of Australia will be at hand to conduct the meet ensuring that the meet would run like to clockwork precision. This meet will be the season opener and will see an array of classic cars come to Mahagstota and join in the celebrations. The parade of classic cars will commence their Saturday morning run from the Golf Club in Nuwara Eliya and drive down to Mahagastota, while the competitors taking part on Sunday would be afforded a non compulsory, supervised practice session from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday 5 April. The meet for the timed sessions for positions will commence at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday 6 April.

The CMSC President said: “I personally think that 2014 is going to be a historic year. 80 years past its inaugural year and so many changes have taken place at Mahagastota. The surface is completely new, smooth and cambered, secondly, the track side curbs are being constructed to ensure safety, and the track side catch fences would also ensure the track is safer. The CMSC has spent a lot of money for the upgrade, which was collected thanks to the benevolence of well wishes and Corporate Sponsors who understood the value of Mahagastota. I expect the records to tumble and I am sure competitors are eager to break their own class records as well as try and go for the course record as well.” McLarens Holdings is powering the historical Mahagastota Hill Climb for four consecutive years, ensuring the necessary back up. Entries are available at the club office, Ceylon Motor Sports Club, Jinasena Properties Ltd., 2A, Hunupitiya Rd, Colombo 2. Contact Mahendra on 072 764 5081 or email [email protected].