Eliyakanda Hill Climb to rock the hills

Bernard Perera

The Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) will hold its 14th Annual Nations Trust Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb 2010 on February 07 at Browns Hill Matara. This is SMSC's first event for the new year which is also considered as one of the SLAS National Championship Events. The Event comprises of 16 motor cycle events and 19 Motor Car/Jeep events.

Southern Eliyakanda Hill climb is one of the most challenging and the 'Queen' of the Hill Climb competitions in Sri Lanka. This is a well known national motor sports meet, conducted according to international sporting rules and regulations as far as the resources available in Sri Lanka permit to do so. This motoring event has been acknowledged by the competitors as one of the best and most challenging Hill Climbs in Sri Lanka. There were about 100 entries at the previous meet, including those of the well known motor sportsmen in the country. Hence, a stiff competition is expected from the best motor sportsmen in the country.

A competitor is given two runs and the faster of the two by each competitor shall be taken as that competitors' best time of the day. A competitor in each class, who is the fastest, will be adjudged the winner in his class and prizes will be awarded to the first three in each class on that basis.

In the case of both motor cycles and the motor cars, the engines will be running at the start. Vehicles will start individually from the start line strictly according to the positions held at the Star during lining up by start line marshals. Timing of each run of each competitor will be done with the aid of electronic timing equipment installed at the start & the finish.

The infrared beams sent by the timings are cut by the competing vehicle, recording the time taken for the run, to 1/100 of a second. The better of the timings of two ascents of the competitors will count for the final results.

The SMSC is planning to award an array of Trophies to the winners of the individuals & those of the whole event as well.

Trophies will be awarded to those competitors placed first, second and third in each class of the event and to the competitor recording the fastest time for the day for motor cycles and cars.

In addition, trophies will also be awarded to the 'Fastest Rider' and 'Fastest Driver' and Fastest Time of the Day Including Preethi Palliayaguru Memorial Champion Trophy. The price distribution will be held on the same day at Pearl Cliff Hotel, Browns Hill, Matara.

Entry Forms can obtained from Marble Décor 175, (Next to HSBC) Nawala Road, Nugegoda, Premadasa Group, 179, Jayantha Weerasekara Mawatha, Colombo 10 or Wheels Lanka, 215, Galle Road, Pamburana, Matara. This years' Hill Climb is proudly sponsored by the Nations Trust Bank, Macson Mesh Industry, Airtel, AMW Yamaha/Suzuki Maruti, Browns Group (Exide Battery), Orange Electricals, Harishchandra Mills and Derana TV as Electronic Media Sponsor.