Name: Dave Uren
Home Town: Redditch
Competition Car: Gould GR55B – Nicholson McLaren
Motorsport Background & Experience:
Much to the dismay of his parents Dave has always been ‘crackers about cars’. His first steps in motorsport were taken in the late 1980’s when he started competing in sprints in a little Talbot Samba. Dave competed at venues such as Curborough and the much missed Ragley Hall Hillclimb, close to his Redditch home.
A near ten year break while Dave set up his first business was finally broken in 1998 when he entered an early season sprint at North West kart track Three Sisters. Named after the three spoil heaps from the Garswood Hall Colliery that the circuit is built upon, the venue is not at all glamorous and is also a fair journey from Dave’s home in the Midlands. The trip up in the snow in the road going Westfield that he competed in, was therefore quite an adventure!
Over the next few years Dave constantly improved the Westfield. He started to compete and have some success in the Midland Hillclimb Championship. Highlights included taking the Shelsley Walsh class record from current sparring partner Trevor Willis. Dave and Trevor have shared many a battle over the years and still do to this day. At the time of writing they currently sit in fourth (Trevor) and sixth (Dave) places overall in the 2022 British Hillclimb Championship (BHC) presented by Avon Tyres.
BHC/BHC Cup Experience:
Dave moved into single seaters in 2009 when he purchased an 1100cc OMS. A change of chassis in 2010 to a Force, again with and 1100cc engine was made and resulted in consistent run-off qualifications and further point scoring finishes. A second place finish in the 2011 class based ‘Leaders’ Championship (now BHC Cup presented by Classic Car Insurance Broker Footman James) that supports the BHC was a major step in the right direction, as was a first BHC point for a tenth place run-off finish.
The real breakthrough however, came when having purchased Will Hall’s 1600cc Force in 2012 and subsequently turbocharging it in 2014. In the turbocharged car Dave finished 6th overall in the 2015 BHC followed by a fabulous 5th overall in 2016. The 2016 season included a first BHC run-off win at Wiscombe Park. A superb 2016 season was rounded off with an impressive second place overall in the BHC Cup.
For 2017 Dave ‘took the plunge’ and purchased a half share of a Gould GR55B with a 3.5 litre Nicholson McLaren engine with Nicola Menzies, who he has shared a car with since 2011. This car has a very successful history, having previously won the BHC outright four times whilst being owned and driven by Martin Groves. After a great start to the season, including a BHC run-off win at Doune, Dave unfortunately suffered an accident at Val des Terres, which sadly brought the season to an early end. Showing great determination, Dave came back stronger in 2018, finishing the BHC season in a best ever fourth overall, which he then bettered with third in 2019. The pandemic forced hiatus of 2020 and some engine related issues during the 2021 season blunted the momentum a little. The 2022 season has however been much improved, the highlight being a superb run-off win at Shelsley Walsh in June.
A fact that not many people know:
Dave suffered a serious road accident when someone pulled out directly in front of him. After one hundred and twenty seven stitches, many in his face and a stay in hospital, thankfully Dave made a full recovery. He subsequently used some of the compensation that he received from the accident to fund his first proper steps into competitive motorsport. ‘Crackers about cars’ – you bet he is!
Le Val des Terres Fact:
For obvious reasons Val des Terres cannot be classed as Dave’s favourite venue. He does however love the challenge that the technical Guernsey hill poses for all drivers. Success this year would be two run-off qualifications and a ‘best ever’ Val des Terres top five finish. Dave will certainly be trying his very best to do just that.
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