SHELSLEY Walsh kicked off its new hillclimb season with thrills and spills galore at a two-day meeting.

And history was made on the opening day as Tony Marsh became the oldest driver ever to set fastest time of the day at the Teme Valley venue - at the age of 71!

The Hampshire driver, a regular competitor at Shelsley and who drove in four Grands Prix back in the 1950s, clocked 35.55 seconds in his Gould GR37, just pipping Hereford's Deryk Young in his Dellara by two-tenths of a second.

Rain hampered the drivers on the first day, which featured a variety of classes including one-make sections for historic Frazer Nashes, Morgans and Porsches.

Local class winners included Hereford's Andrew Platt in his Westfield Megashed (modified production cars up to 2000cc), Himbleton's Gary Stephens in a Caterham HPC (roadgoing kit cars over 1700cc), Worcester's Mike Gale in his Nissan Pulsar (modified roadgoing production cars over 2000cc), Droitwich's Hugh Teagle in his Pilbeam MP62 (racing cars 1100-1600cc), Stockton-on-Teme's Keith Harris in his Jamun M90 (pre-1994 Formula Ford cars up to 1600cc) and Hanbury's Robert Goodchild in his Lotus Elan (pre-1973 classic cars.

However, the sun came out on day two which featured classes for Westfield, Ginetta and Triumph cars, and times improved.

Deryk Young was almost two seconds quicker than any other driver to set fastest time of the day (27.49) and win the class for racing cars over 1600cc.

There were repeat class victories for Andrew Platt and Keith Harris, while other local successes saw Droitwich's David West take the class for road modified saloons and sports cars up to 1400cc in his Austin Cooper S, Adam Jones (Tenbury) win the modified production cars class in his Morgan Plus 8, Hamish Lindsay (Droitwich) come home first in the racing cars up to 600cc section in his Jedi, and Paul Matty (Shelsley Kings) win the pre-1975 classic cars class in his Lotus 35.

A highlight of both days was a demonstration run by a 1912 Mercer car, which is based in Hanbury and was driven by Michael Windsor-Price.

Shelsley's first British Championship meeting of the season will be held on June 7-8.