09 June 2023
The most famous Hill Climb in the world is The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, US, also known as ‘The Race to the Clouds’; it is 12.42 miles long and has 156 turns.
Hill climb racing is probably the oldest form of motorsport, prevalent in the US, Europe, and Britain.
Hill climb courses in the UK are much shorter than the European and American courses.
Two of our best-loved ‘hills’ is Shelsey Walsh, 1,000 yards and Prescott, 1,127 yards.
Not forgetting that Goodwood Hill climb is 2,041 yards in length.
Vehicles must remain largely as per period specification with original engines & no modern electronic control systems fitted. Treaded road legal tyres are specified for saloons & sportscars.
From the time man realised that controlling a motorised machine up a hill was both challenging and exciting, discovering that you could also invite someone to race up the hill against you.
Hill Climbing was born.
Having just attended the Prescott Historique, I left feeling totally intoxicated by the atmosphere and action.
As a petrolhead, if you haven’t been fortunate enough to attend a hill climb, especially a historic one, it is a pleasure that is essential to your bucket list.
For those old enough to remember, the smell of freshly combusted Castrol R is by far the best aroma to get petrolheads in the spirit for a Hill Climb.