Wilson's got fizz back in Martini

HILL CLIMB aficionados will be taken back in time on Monday with the return of arguably the most famous racing machine the Val des Terres has seen. During the 1960s, Peter Wilson and his Martini Special were a regular sight. The little car was the first machine to go up the hill in sub 40sec.

Now after a complete refurbishment, it is ready to race up the course once again on Monday, something hillclimb commentator, Lee Corbet, is looking forward to.

'I can remember it as a kid going up the hill,' said Corbet.

'He used to throw it about and everybody used to stand there and gasp. If it goes well it's a fantastic piece of equipment. It is unique.'

Built in 1961 by Tico Martini, it was the first racing car that the famous car constructor ever built. He went onto build Formula One cars during the 70s.

Wilson bought the specially-designed hillclimb car for £250 in 1962 (equivalent to about £3,600 today) and the first time he raced it was in 1963. Powered by a 750cc supercharged Triumph Bonneville engine that runs on methanol, the Martini has been clocked at 125mph on the one kilometre straight in Jersey.

The machine has had a total of four stripdowns and rebuilds at the hands of Brian Carre.

'The clutch burnt out in Jersey last year,' said Wilson.

'We've had a new speedway clutch fitted. It's got no gears.

'It doesn't need them because of its power-to-weight ratio. The more gears you have the more chance you have of missing them.

'We think it should be going well on Monday.'

The Martini has made a number of comebacks over the years, but by Wilson's own admission, it has never been running at 100% since its heyday in the 60s. But for Monday's event, the car is ready to run at its full capability.

Wilson and his unique machine are also competing today in Jersey on the Greve de Lecq course but hill climbing has been on the back burner for the Guernseyman as for much of the last 30 years his attention has been given to powerboating.

After a very successful career with his Condor Lucky 7 boat, his last race was on Lake Windermere in October 2004. He has now sold his powerboat to concentrate on hillclimbing again.

'It was getting to the stage where I needed to spend a lot of money just to stay competitive,' said the 61-year-old.

'The hill climbs are good enough. We've got to keep the car going.

'We'll have another go next year.'

The Val des Terres almost claimed Wilson's life once during the mid-60s when he had a major motorbike crash during a meet that left him unconscious for two weeks.

He was not about to be put off, however.

'I wasn't going to let that muck me up,' he said.

'When you race, you are bound to have the occasional whoopsie.'