The Maffra and District Car Club’s season closed last week with the running of the Noel Burley Memorial Hillclimb at its Boisdale circuit.
More than 90 drivers gathered for Burley Memorial, which is held as the season ending round of the Boisdale Hillclimb series each year, all competitors vying for the perpetual trophies awarded to the fastest drivers.
With members of the Burley family not only present, but competing, it was a special race meeting for all.
As expected, the purpose-built buggies dominated from the outset, all recording impressive times, despite the gravel track being watered before the racing commenced.
The Saturday afternoon and evening competition allowed most drivers to have eight runs before the winners were decided.
Less than a second separated the top six buggies, with Matt Muir eventually winning the Noel Burley Trophy for outright fastest car with a time of 39.99 seconds, for the short track competition.
Greg Ackland and Kerrin Pridmore were merely a blink of an eye behind Muir, with 40.02 and 40.05 seconds respectively.
Winner of the Ladies Noel Burley Trophy was buggy driver Tori Ackland with a time of 43.00 seconds, while junior driver Cooper Clutterbuck ended the season with not only a class win but gained the Noel Burley Junior Trophy after his time of 46.28 seconds.
The newly added Noel Burley Two Wheel Drive “Tin Top” trophy was won by Adrian Britton in a time of 44.61 seconds, driving Spider Anderson’s modified Mini.
The event is named in honour of one of the club’s early members, who joined the club almost by accident.
At a Motorkhana event held in 1967, Burley competed in a Morris Mini 850, winning first place, his prize, free membership to the club, and from then on in, he was hooked.
An avid motorsport fan, in the years that followed, Burley also became a committee member of the club and was instrumental in the initial design and construction of the Boisdale Hillclimb facility.
Burley, along with a crew of volunteers, worked tirelessly in the construction of the hillclimb track, with the very first MADCC Boisdale Hillclimb being held on Sunday, August 31, 1969.
Sadly, Burley succumbed to cancer in 1980, however is fondly remembered by many members from that era, with the annual race meeting named in his honour, holding a special meaning for those fortunate to share great times with him in those early years.
The calendar for the 2025 racing season will be finalised soon, as everyone enjoys a rest over the festive and New Year break.
trophy. (PS)
