Two local vintage car drivers cross swords at Prescott hillclimb (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Two local vintage car drivers cross swords at Prescott hillclimb

LOCAL drivers took the top two places at last Sunday's speed hillclimb at Prescott, one of the most popular events in the old car sporting calendar organised by the Vintage Sports-Car Club.

Fastest overall was leading Bugatti driver Charles Dean in his 1932 supercharged grand prix car, in which he holds both of Prescott's Bugatti records.

Born at Bibury and based in London during the week, Charles' family live near Cirencester.

His challenger was Richard Scaldwell, from Moreton-in-Marsh, who was having his first drive at Prescott in a unique racing car powered by an engine from an early Gypsy Moth aircraft!

Scaldwell was second fastest in practice and just a quarter of a second behind Dean after the first runs on Sunday morning.

In the afternoon, Dean went slightly quicker, but as Scaldwell waited to start his final and decisive run, the engine over-heated and the handicap was too great, costing him valuable seconds.