Speed hill climbing
- NMC
- Apr 21, 2021
- 2 min read
Speed hill climbing is one of the oldest forms of motorsport. The first event was held at La Turbie near Nice, France on 31 January 1897. In the UK, the first hillclimb was held at Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire on the 12th August 1905, and is the world's oldest continuously staged motorsport event. It is still staged on its original course. Another long running venue is Prescott, Gloustershire which is owned by the Bugatti Owners Club and held its first hill climb in April 1938. UK Hill climb courses are 1000 yards. In Europe, they compete on much longer courses.
These two video’s were produced by Tony Bray / Brayspeed during the 2007 season – they contain some awesome footage. In the first video there is action from Wiscombe Park (Torbay MC meeting) and Gurston Down. The stand out cars include Nic Mann in his crazy, turbine, Manic Beattie and Mike Endean – owner of Xtrac and Nicholson McLaren Engines - in his highly modified Ford Puma. There is also a run from British Hillclimb Champion, Martin Groves in his Gould GR55.
The second video featuries action from Longleat (no longer used as a venue) and Shelsley Walsh – the 60th Anniversary British Hillclimb Championship meeting. There are interviews with former British Champions Martin Bolsover (in his 1967 ex Can-Am McLaren M6GT – 1 of 2 converted for road use), Roy Lane, and Tony Marsh. There are stunning runs from Graham Wight Jnr / Predator Judd V10 (ex Arrows F1), a record from Scott Moran / Gould GR61X and Martin Groves / Gould GR55 – clinching his hat trick of BHC titles – and a hill record.
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