HEREFORDSHIRE farmer John Jones recorded the best times on both days of the Midland Automobile Club's opening weekend of the season at Shelsley Walsh.

Jones battled the weather conditions to set the times in his supercharged Pilbeam at the world-famous 102-year-old speed hill climb, attended by around 150 competititors on each day.

The Kington resident recorded a time of 28.19 seconds on his second run in the racing cars over 1600cc category on the first day and completed the course in 31.12secs in the racing cars over two litres 24 hours later.

Although Saturday was a mixture of sunshine and showers, the Sunday meeting suffered from heavy rain throughout.

Earls Common resident and Eurosport MotoGP commentator Toby Moody took a rewarding class win in the Marengo single-seater racing car on Saturday that he dual drove with owner Jonathan Toulmin.

However, it was not such a good result for Warwickshire's Toulmin as, in the damp conditions, his bid to match Moody's time failed as he spun under-braking just before Bottom Ess.

After putting the nose into the right-hand bank, the surprising lack of damage was testimony to the construction methods of car builder Tony Pashley.

MAC secretary Roger Thomas said: "Despite the wet weather, our competitors had a great weekend and the newly resurfaced track handled the conditions well with the startline gripping well, even in the wet."

The next action at Shelsley is on Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, for a British Hill Climb Championship event featuring the fastest accelerating racing cars in the country.

Thomas added: "I encourage all enthusiasts in Worcestershire and the adjacent counties to make sure that they come to the event."