Sport
3 November, 2022
Hillclimb success for former local
FORMER Camperdown local Warren Heath continues to shine in the sport of hillclimb.
FORMER Camperdown local Warren Heath continues to shine in the sport of hillclimb.
Heath took out his class at the Motorsport Australia Australian Hillclimb Championships in Mt Cotton, Queensland.
Heath joined former Colac resident Alan Foley and Gippsland’s Greg Ackland for the 4000 kilometre return trip for the event.
Heath and Foley are regular competitors in the Victorian Hillclimb Championship rounds and have been successful over a number of years with their sport – previously at state and national titles.
Heath won his class in this year’s Victorian series, breaking two long-standing track records during the year.
The trio was the only competitors from Victoria at the Australian championships and all three went home with winners’ trophies in their respective classes from a field of over 90 vehicles.
Foley’s Formula Libre race car was hand built by his father, Colac local Ron Foley, who is also a former motor racing competitor.
It is built with a combination of a light weight steel chassis and suspension components, and carbon fibre aerodynamics and external panels.
All the components, including the carbon fibre, are manufactured in Colac.
It is one of the lightest cars in its class with a total weight of about 250kg and is powered by a late model Kawasaki ZX10R motorbike engine.
Heath’s car runs in the improved production class under 1600cc and is self-built and prepared in Colac.
These cars are based on vehicles mass produced that were available to the public in Australia and have rules limiting modifications.
This car runs a later model twin cam engine, fuel injection and extensive modifications within the rules but still resembles a road car at a quick glance.
Also a very light weight car in its class, it is fitted with roll-over protection inside for safety.
The Australian Hillclimb Championships was held over four days.
Unfortunately the Sunday competition runs were cancelled due to extreme weather and the event declared final on Sunday morning.
The weekend saw a series of challenging weather events, with multiple surface conditions making the track difficult to read.
The track itself proved challenging for competitors, with two very steep climbs and two fast, rapid descents with heavy braking areas – combined with a combination of tight corners, technical apexes and track camber angles.
While Foley endured engine and suspension issues, Heath’s weekend was relatively trouble-free.
Times were closed all day on the Saturday of competition, however Heath managed to take out first place by .9 of a second.
While he had hoped to challenge the track class record, weather and track conditions were against him.
With the hillclimb season now complete, Heath and Foley will begin preparation for season 2023.
