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Record breakers of Mahagastota The next year, saw a new course record of 61.4 seconds set by H.S. Hawke on an Ariel bike. In 1936, Roger Davies driving a Riley Special, not only smashed his own previous record for racing cars, but also lowered the record for motorcycles, thus setting a new course record. In 1937, Davies, bettered his record to 56.46 seconds in his Riley Special. T.S. Jinasena, in 1939, became the first Sri Lankan to set a course record at Mahagastota. His spectacular run set a new record of 55.75 seconds, 0.76 seconds faster than the standing record set by Roger Davies. Jinasena's course record held firm at the meet in 1940, after which motor sports events in the island were suspended due to World War 11, resuming again in 1947/48. However, the meet planned in 1948 had to be cancelled because the Vicar of Nuwara Eliya raised a hue and a cry. For the next couple of years the venue was moved to St. James Estate, Haliella and Oodowerre Estate. The hill climb at Mahagastota resumed in 1952. That year, a new course record of 50.1 seconds was set by A.E. Filby, driving a Cooper 500. Filby in his Cooper progressively improved his record down to 45 seconds in 1955. In 1961, the course record went to a motor cyclist, Kingsley Smith who clocked a timing of 44.18 seconds, while Filby retained his record for cars. Filby's record for cars, was equalled by Rodney Mason in 1973, driving a modified MG, with a locally built body, which he named Jeff Special. It was also equalled by Nihal Jinasena the following year. In 1975, Nihal Jinasena, driving a Lotus Elan, shattered Filby's 20 year old record for cars as well as Smith's course record, to achieve a time of 44.1 seconds. It was the first time a locally engineered special beat the record by a specialized racing car. The second Sri Lankan to set a course record, Nihal Jinasena was the son of T. S. Jinasena, the first record holder from the country. Nihal recalled how as a young teenager, he watched Filby set his record of 45 seconds. Thereafter, he lived for the next eight years. On his return, he drove his father's MG at Mahagastota many times and also broke the class record. In 1974, Nihal Jinasena bought a Lotus Elan from Angus Croning, whose brother had died in a crash in this car. "Angus repaired the car and was keen that it should go to someone who would drive it as it should be driven", Nihal said. Driving the car unmodified, he equalled Filby's 20 year old record of 45.0 for cars, that year. "The following year, I decided to modify the car by removing the body, leaving only a small cockpit for the driver. It was lighter and faster and broke the course record. That was the turning point for Sri Lankan competitors". Three years later, his brother Ranjit designed a car and together the brothers Nihal and Ranjit built it using some components from the Lotus. "It was built in our own workshop at Hunupitiya Road", Nihal said. With this Sinha RT11 Spcial, he further lowered his course record to 43.1. Nihal said they are doing up the Lotus Elan for the 70th Anniversary Mahagastota Meet in September. "However, I may not fit into it now and we might send one of the younger generation on the run". The next record breaker was Bri Ponnambalam, well known in the motor racing field. In 1981, Bri, returned a time of 41.1 seconds setting a new course record. He drove a Renault special, he called 'Thattuwa', comprising a Renault 16 engine, front end and suspension, mounted on a Renault 4 chassis. "Mahagastota is a challenging track", says Bri who has driven up this track since 1975. "Even if you have a powerful car, skill counts". Bri is doing up the Thattuwa for the Anniversary meet in September. Two years later, Dallas Martenstyn trimmed the motorcycle record down to 39.33, which stood as the course record for several years. Bri's record for cars, however held firm until the formulas came on the scene. Rodney Mason was the first to drive a formula car up Mahagastota in 1984, setting a new record of 39.37, for cars, just missing the course record set by Dallas Martenstyn by .04 seconds. Rohan de Silva driving a modified Formula Ford with Ford 1600 GT engine and a Van Dieman chassis set a new course record of 38.82 seconds in 1989. In 1991, he lowered his timing to 36.93, driving a modified Formula Ford with a 2000 cc engine and March chassis. "I am trying to rebuild that car for the Anniversary meet", Rohan said. Rohan de Silva's course record held until 1993, when Suranjith Premadasa set a new course record of 36.07, in a modified Formula Ford. Premadasa further bettered his timing to 35.84 in 1995, which course record still holds good. Having driven at Mahagastota since 1974, Suranjith says the Mahagastota track is not very fast but requires the skill of the driver. Each year, the conditions such as temperature, surface and wind varies and these count a lot he adds. "At this 70th Anniversary Mahagastota Meet, I am trying to break my own course record", said Suranjith Premadasa, the current course record holder at Mahagastota since 1995. Motorbike
riders to hold course records |
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