A LARGE crowd enjoyed the Peter Collins celebration meeting at Shelsley Walsh.

There was a fine display of runs from the many cars associated with the famous Worcestershire driver of the 1950s as a Supermarine Spitfire gave a spirited aerobatic display overhead.

The main business of the day were the two highly competitive rounds of the MSA British Hillclimb Championship with one win apiece to Martin Groves and Scott Moran. Groves again showed his superior knowledge of the 103-year-old hill by taking 0.13 seconds off his previous best to leave the historic track record time at a fantastic 22.58 seconds.

But later on Groves slithered as he encountered the beginning of the forecast late rain between the esses when all before him had seen a dry track.

Now trailing runaway leader Scott Moran by 68 points, the incident may have finally cost Groves the 2008 championship and the dream of four titles in a row.

Trevor Willis again made the best use of his great skills and low powered but agile OMS to consolidate third place overall as there were no changes anywhere in the top 12.

Motorsport commentary legend Murray Walker presented the prizes at the end of the stunning event.

Walker said: “I made my first ever broadcast from Shelsley Walsh in 1948 and it seems like this friendly, wonderful place has hardly changed at all.”

Class records also tumbled as Groves lowered the record for unlimited capacity racing cars to 23.15.

Andrew Griffiths left the 1400cc modified sports car mark at 29.89 in his Caterham Hayabusa, the first sub 30-second run for the class.

Adam Steel dropped the up to 600cc racing car record to 29.39 in his tiny short wheel-based Martlet.

Worcestershire driver Peter Cox took the historic pre-1985 racing car record down to 27.43 in his Chevron B42.

Steve Lawrence lowered his mark for the historic 500cc Formula 3 cars to 37.54, driving his rasping Cooper-Jap Mark 8.