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Healeysport

Welcome to the Healeysport website

Healeysport is the motor sports centre for the Austin Healey Club UK and this website is dedicated to keeping Healeys racing.

2024 Healeysport Awards

Our annual Awards Dinner took place at the Holt hotel near Bicester on Saturday 23rd November. A celebration of this year's achievements of Healeys on track, deeds done and even problems encountered combined with a dinner, a raffle and some fun on the dance floor.

This was our third year at the Holt hotel and they certainly did not disappoint. The staff at the Holt hotel put on a great evening with a welcome drink, an excellent meal with friendly but impeccable service.

Steve Casson was our Master of Ceremonies for the evening and he had a lot to get through. He started by welcoming all our guests, including Bill, Rose and Jack Rawles (from Bill Rawles Classic Cars) who sponsor our Big Healey and Jensen Healey classes, Steve and Karen Norton (from Cape International) who sponsor our overall Champion award and Aled and David Price from Peter May Engineering who sponsor our Sprite and Libre classes.

The awards part of the evening was run by the usual duo of Paul Baker and Richard Mason ably assisted by Aled Price, Jack Rawles and Steve Norton. Paul and Richard were received at the start of the presentation by a volley of rocket balloons and party poppers aimed at them by the drivers - proving that this evening was more about fun than formality.

Richard presented the class awards to the Sprite and Libre class winners with the help of Aled and Paul presented the Big Healey and Jensen Healey class winners followed by the points based and discretionary awards with the help of Jack and Steve. The evening was completed by Paul and Steve presenting our 2024 Overall Champion award to Ian Thomas (pictured above right receiving his award from Steve Norton) - a tremendous achievement for Ian in only his third season in the championship.

Along with the perpetual trophies, all the class and points based winners received engraved glassware as a memento of their award. The overall champion also received a framed pencil drawing of him driving his Healey 3000. The original drawing was produced by Martin Price, a keen MG sprint and hill climber, who also happens to be Aled's grandfather.

Jackie Baker, our club photographer, was presented with a huge box of chocolates to show the thanks and appreciation from the drivers for all her efforts in recording what they get up to on track over the past year.

David Marshall (pictured right), who supports Peter Walton and his 3000, received the British Empire Medal a few days before our awards dinner and David was asked to come up and explain to the assembled, what he had received and why and then he showed his medal to the group - who duly gave him a standing ovation.

A big thank you to our Sponsors - Bill Rawles Classic Cars who sponsor our Big Healey and Jensen Healey classes, Peter May Engineering for sponsoring our Sprite and Libre classes and Cape International who sponsor our Overall Champion award.

Steve Casson then ran the raffle with his usual amusing selection of festive and unusual prizes - including some interesting bottles donated by the Holt hotel. As always, the most keenly sought was a huge cuddly teddy bear which was won by Simon Warburton (pictured right), who was somewhat taken aback at winning this enormous teddy.

After the final photo's were taken, our DJ fired up and the dance floor filled fast and stayed that way all evening.

Overall, the feedback from everyone was that the evening was a great success - much more a Healeysport family party than a formal event. They all had a great time, finished off by breakfast together the next morning in a private dining facility before everyone headed home for a much needed rest. Huge thanks was given to the team at the Holt Hotel for organising such a successful event.

To see all the pictures taken by John Tewson click here and to see a complete list of the 2024 Award Winners click here.

2025 Speed Championship - Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge

The 2025 Healeysport Speed Championship Sprint and Hill Climb regulations and entry form will be available shortly. If you are thinking of taking part or if you have any questions, please contact Paul Baker our Championship Organiser on competitionsec@austinhealeyclub.com

The 2025 challenge will be a 14 round championship with two Healey classes and a Jensen Healey class sponsored by Bill Rawles Classic Cars (BRCC) and a Sprite, plus our new Libre classes sponsored by Peter May Engineering Ltd. In addition to the class awards, Cape International sponsor the award for the overall Sprint and Hill Climb champion.

Our 2025 events calendar will also be available on this website once our permit has been agreed with Motorsports UK.

Ian Thomas (pictured right) is our 2024 Overall Champion shown here in his red and white Austin Healey 3000 Mk2. Remarkably, he achieved this feat in only his third full season.

Following our practice day at Curborough on 27 March 2025, the championship will include double header events (two rounds) of hill climbing at Prescott, Shelsley Walsh, Harewood, Loton Park and Gurston Down. In addition, there will be a one day sprint at Mallory Park (the first time Healeysport have been there) with single day sprints at Castle Combe, Goodwood and Curborough.

Each venue provides a different set of challenges to test the Healey driver's skill and abilities to the full. This series is open to any Healey or MG Midget driver with some or no motor sport experience and a car that can be road standard, modified or part of our new Libre class; over half the races will have target times set for each driver, to take into account the different abilities of the driver and their cars, so everyone has an opportunity to win a race. Although highly competitive, there is also a strong sense of camaraderie amongst the thirty or so drivers who regularly compete and the social aspect of this sport is very important to everyone.

Drivers support 'Headway Surrey' Charity in 2024

Points for Charity - For 2024, all drivers taking part in the Sprint and Hill Climb championship have the option to give (£1 a point) to a chosen charity based on the number of championship points they accrue by the end of the season. The Overall Champion at the end of the previous season chooses the charity for the year ahead. The scheme is entirely voluntary as the drivers need to tick the "Points for Charity" box on their championship entry form to agree to opt into the scheme. In 2023 we raised nearly £1000 for Headway Surrey and hope we can do better next year.

Headway Surrey is a charity that supports people and families where a head or brain injury requires some rehabilitation. Their biggest client group are those recovering from road traffic accidents.

To contact Headway Surrey to make a donation - click on this link

Beginners Guide to Sprinting and Hill Climbing

Do you own a Healey - Sprite/MG Midget, 100, 3000, Silverstone or Jensen Healey? Are you interested in getting more out of your car and doing something you have always considered but put to one side? Well, why not take part in a fantastic sport with some really friendly and enthusiastic fellow Healey owners. Take a look at our Beginners Guide to Sprinting and Hill Climbing and then send Paul Baker, our championship organiser, an email on competitionsec@austinhealeyclub.com Alternatively, you can click on our Join Us option and follow the prompts.

Stop Press New Libre Class

Healeysport have created a brand new class in their Sprint and Hill Climb Championship that will accept a whole range of cars.

The original car must be either an Austin Healey Sprite, 100, 100/6 or 3000, an MG Midget (1961 - 1979) or a Jensen Healey, but the modifications can be quite extensive. The car must retain the original central monocoque and front chassis. Fully space framed cars are not allowed. The make and size of the engine is free, as long as it retains the same number of cylinders as the original car. Fuel injection and supercharging is also allowed. The transmission, suspension, steering and brakes are also free. Aerodynamic aids such as: rear wings, front air dams, diffusers or venturis must fit within the confines of the original panels. Click here to see the regs for this and all the other classes.

The Libre class will allow a whole range of new cars to compete with us including any of the existing Class A, B or E cars from the Lackford Midget Challenge. If you are interested and have questions, contact Paul Baker on competitionsec@austinhealeyclub.com

Jensen Healeys - Welcome

Healeysport offers Jensen Healey drivers the chance to take part in the Healeysport Speed Championship and compete against Big Healeys and Sprites. The regulations have been agreed with Motorsports UK to allow for any Jensen Healey - Roadster or GT - that is a standard road car or modified car to take part. With its modern, Lotus designed, 2 or 2.2 litre, 16 valve, twin cam engine contained in a lightweight body these reasonably priced, pre 1976 cars will be competitive in road legal form, so with some modification they will be very competitive indeed.

This will also mean that we will have Healey and MG cars from three decades in the championship, with the Silverstone's, 100's, 100/6's and Frogeye's from the 50's - the Sprites/Midgets and 3000's from the 60's and now the Jensen Healey's from the 70's. Many would argue the golden era of British Sports Car production.

We have drivers signed up for the Jensen Healey class but are looking for more drivers to take part. So if you have a Jensen Healey and would like to find out more email Paul Baker on competitionsec@austinhealeyclub.com Alternatively, check out the regulations for the championship and the technical regulations for the cars (menu option above) and get in touch.

Lackford Engineering Midget and Sprite Challenge

If you are interested in circuit racing your Austin Healey Sprite or MG Midget then contact Mike Parker the organiser of this championship - see contact detail below.

The series sponsor continues to be Robin Lackford of Lackford Engineering who also takes part in the championship in his red Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite sporting no.57.

This championship is open to MG Midgets and Austin Healey Sprites and there are three classes to choose from Fully modified, Race modified and Road Modified plus an Invitation class at the discretion of the Championship Coordinator.

Good grids are expected at all rounds, so come along to any of the events and witness what promises to be an electrifying series with close racing throughout the field.

To view the 'Championship Regulations' and entry requirements, click on the Spridget Challenge tab above and then click on the Regulations tab. Alternatively, go to the Spridget Challenge website www.mgmidgetchallenge.club/ or contact Mike Parker at mikeparker78@btinternet.com or call on 01235 525255 if you are interested in taking part.

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