Graham Hill Trophy Sprint
The Graham Hill Trophy Sprint is one of our premier events. It is named after Graham Hill who won his first World Championships in a BRM. The BRM team was run by Rubery Owen and Owen Motoring Club was the car club for that company.The event is held on the Curborough Sprint Course near Lichfield in Staffordshire in June.
This is one of the most popular events held at Curborough in the year with a full entry of around 80 cars. Cars run one at a time against the clock. There is a great vary of types of car, from standard road cars, through modified road cars to full blown single seater racing cars.
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GRAHAM HILL TROPHY SPRINT
The first sprint that the Owen Motoring Club organised was held in 1963, and was a closed to club event. It was held at the then new sprint course at Curborough Farm, Nr. Lichfield which is where the event it held to this day.
The Trophy for the fastest time of day was kindly donated by the then BRM Works Driver, Graham Hill. The trophy being a steering wheel from one of Graham’s BRMs mounted on a plinth. At the time Graham was racing a BRM for the Owen Organisation hence his connection with the Owen Motoring Club’s present President David Owen MBE.
This year the 44th consecutive Graham Hill trophy sprint was held and over the years we have had many championships including rounds of the RAC Sprint championship, and many well known drivers including Roy Lane, Ray Rowen, and Bob Rose. During the 70s and 80s we had added attractions on the day including a concourse de elegance and microlight air displays. The Graham Hill Trophy has been won over the years by Owen Motoring Club Members including John Bloxham, later to become national rally driver; D. Lawrence, formula ford champion and more recently Mark Harrison who over the last 3 years has won the Monoposto championship. For the past 2 years it has been held by Jeremy Wilson who has confirmed his determination to win it again next year. At this event there is also a trophy for the fastest Owen member and this year this was won by Garry Bunn. Currently the Sprint is a round of the following:
Richard Egger Ins. Hillclimb and Sprint Association championship
The S&DCC/Lifeline Curborough championship
Paul Matty Sports Cars Midland Sprint Championship
The AWMMC Championship
The Revington TR Championship
The OMC Sprint Championship.
Next years meeting will be held on Sunday 7th June 2009.
Owen member Roger Tristram organises test days at Curborough sprint course to enable people to test their cars or learn the course, these are usually held during the week.
We are a forward looking club and welcome new members who will always be welcome at the sprint meeting and any other events both social and competitive that the Club arranges. Help is always available from experienced club competitors if you need it.
Tony Matthews
Telephone 019-5 640134
Email: a.matthews839@btinternet.com
