Devon professional golfer Jon Langmead knows a good drive when he sees one.

Now the Dawlish Warren pro has become a double British champion at the wheel of his Lotus Elise, successfully defending his class title in the British Hillclimb Cup.

Jon has been a PGA golf professional for 31 years, after winning the English Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club near Southport back in 1986. He has been at the Warren since 2018.

A member of Torbay Motor Club, he started his motorsport career 15 years ago when he bought a 1967 Lotus Elan that he said was crying out to be used as a hillclimb car.  

“I had a huge amount of help in those early days from the late Bryan Wills at Kings Mews Racing in Newton Abbot, who was also a great friend,” he said. “I also had encouragement from Tony Wiltshire and Joe Hodgson.

“I’ve loved it ever since, finding the mental approach needed uncannily similar to tournament golf, which I’m sure has helped me to some extent.

“I guess it’s got to be a rare thing to be a national champion at both golf and motorsport. It’s just you against yourself and the course in front of you, both of which suit me fine.”

Jon bought his current Elise just before the first Covid lockdown, having just sold his OMS single seater.

After losing his 2022 British Hillclimb Cup class by the narrowest of margins, he bounced back in 2023, dominating the class and taking the title by a clear 50 points. However, 2024 was much tighter.

“This season went really well, especially when the sun came out and the hills got a bit warmer,” said Jon. “The Elise really does come alive when you can get some temperature into the front tyres.

“The high points were definitely breaking the long-established records at both the historic Shelsley Walsh and Prescott hill climbs, the bonus points from which undoubtedly helped me win the class in the British Championship.

“The racing has been extremely close.”

There were, however, a number of lows to go alongside the highs. There was a clutch failure at Gurston Down in Wiltshire and a couple of off-track excursions in the cold conditions of Loton Park in Shropshire.

Then there was the seriously long drive to a wet Doune hillclimb, in Lothian, Scotland where a shortage of competitors meant reduced points were available.

As for the golf, Jon started at the Warren Golf Club back in 2018 and, along with fellow professional Jo Bee and the backing of three others in the Warren Links Partnership, they helped save the club, which was on the brink of collapse.  

“We now have a full membership,” said Jon. “We also have a fantastic relationship with our landlords Devon Wildlife Trust, which is something we are very proud of.

“The course sits on a highly protected site, which adds many challenges to maintenance, but ultimately gives golfers a true test on a classic natural links course set beside the sea.”

Visit www.torbaymotorclub.co.uk