Malta Hill Climb Scene.

[johnbull]

We had another busy weekend with a sprint meeting on the Coast Road - a good 3 kilometre stretch of twisty road - over the weekend, with some more excellent results. The Coast Road Sprint was the 6th round of the ICC's National Hill Climb and Sprint Championship.

Son Josh (24) won overall, for the second event in succession, driving his home built JBR3 Kawasaki. The car is sponsored by Dunlop and Shell and entered by John Bull Racing.

I was doing my usual job commentating the event, and got very sunburnt in the process, so I had access to race times as the cars went across the finish line. Josh was 6th overall some 5 seconds off the mark at the end of practice and I was starting to panic, but he got it all together on the last run of the day to pip second placed Zach (19) driving a Honda 2000 engined Ralt F3 by a tenth of a second.

Another home built single seater, young Paul's Motoflash Yamaha was third.

Here's a pic of Josh hammering JBR3 to another fine win.

[cosworth151]

Congrats' JB!

That is one good looking machine.

[johnbull]

Just been told there a a few short clipsin youtube.

Search: coast road sprint or coast road malta.

There's one of young Zach with his predominantly white Ralt, and another of Josh (the orange noisy one), and another of a guy illtreating a wall with an Alfa.

[Dare]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gS_mt0yU4-o



http://youtube.com/watch?v=C8QLfOvPyCI

[Steven Roy]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gqiL4_i289k

[johnbull]

Even I hadn't seen that second one yet Dare.

I can proudly say he's following in father's footsteps.

His last run on board should be on youtube some time today. Frightening.

[johnbull]

Just found it.



There are a few others since yesterday too.

[romephius]

Not bad at all there JB......I can see why your a proud dad.....

well done to him

Rom 

[Steven Roy]

That looks like fun.

Well done Josh.

[johnbull]

A few more videos have been posted in youtube. Search coast road malta.

If it's pics you want, then go to www.islandcarclub.com and look in the gallery. Plenty of action shots there.

[johnbull]

We're just about to finish a very busy and very successful year - this weekend in fact.

2008 has been a memorable year in many ways. Son Josh graduated to single seaters last season and immediately showed promise and this year led the National championship from beginning to end. In 7 events he won 3 and was on the podium 6 times - his worst result was 4th. He put the championship out of everybody's reach last month with one round to go, so this weekend we'll be missing the 8th and final Malta round to do another round in Italy.

I took a team of promising Maltese youngsters to Italy in August for a hill climb at Cesaro. There were 5 of our boys racing; four got in the top 10 out of an entry of 150, young Zach (just 20) won overall with Josh second, and Italian champion Scaramozzino third. We also had 5th and 7th overall; not bad for a first attempt.

The Etna hill climb in September was next and for this one we had 12 Maltese entries. Again one of our boys, Hubert won overall, Zach was third and we had 7 in the top 10 from an entry of 270.

Just 2 weeks ago I took 9 Maltese lads up for a circuit meeting at the Pista Sole Luna in Vittoria, Sicily, and again we came back with the highest honours. Josh won overall, absolutely anihilating their circuit record in the process, Zach was second, Steve was 4th. In fact we had 6 in the top 10 from an entry of 105.




Now we're off again tomorrow for the last hill climb in the Sicilian championship this coming Sunday. Just 3 of us going this time: Josh with his championship winning JBR3 Kawasaki 1400, my 59 year old kid brother David with his Honda Blackbird engined spaceframe Mini, and Edward with an indecently quick Lotus Elise powered by a Honda 1800 engine.

Let's see if we can make it 4 out of 4.

[Ian]

That last vid was great JB, well watchable, he can sure handle that car, good on him mate.

[johnbull]

That last vid was great JB, well watchable, he can sure handle that car, good on him mate.

Thanks mate. Have a look at the last one in Sicily. Search youtube: Kartodromo sole luna Joshua

[Steven Roy]

That must be an infuriating track to drive.  At every corner you need to wait forever to get on the throttle.  You must finish ever lap thinking there is a lot of time left even if you take the record.

Well done to Josh and it is nice to see donuts have not been banned at all levels of the sport.

[Ian]

  Great stuff Josh, well done.