British Hillclimb Championship, 2021-

[Mike_Powell]

Some great climbs at Gurston Down over the weekend, including 2 wins on Sunday with a new hill record for Wallace Menzies.

Sadly the second run off was dominated by Wil Hall's massive off at Shepherd's Hut. The good news is that he's okay which is more than can be said for the car.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Stunning how quick those guys are going now, the speed trap figures are insane and they keep moving the goalposts of hill records. Looking forward to Wiscombe next month, hopefully I get an entry for the Interclub event...especially as being 10 seconds slower means I get much better value for money than Wallace does

[Woolley]

Remarkably close finish at the top at Shelsley last weekend, a whole host of very closely matched drivers in a variety of vehicles. Here's hoping Will can get the car back together soon to add another potential winner.

[dwh43scale]

Having canned LM and N24 plans, a road trip 'oop north called. First visit to Doune yesterday by arrangement with the organisers to write a spectator photographers guide for pistonclick.com

Hill records, the tightest of winning margins, popping and banging echoing round the Meadow, super light under the trees - an initial, rather random selection of photos can be found here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmW7LQkw

I sense it might not be last visit to "The King of Hills"

[Malcolm Smith]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Having canned LM and N24 plans, a road trip 'oop north called. First visit to Doune yesterday by arrangement with the organisers to write a spectator photographers guide for pistonclick.com

Hill records, the tightest of winning margins, popping and banging echoing round the Meadow, super light under the trees - an initial, rather random selection of photos can be found here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmW7LQkw

I sense it might not be last visit to "The King of Hills"

I enjoyed seeing your photos - great day to be there with new hill record. Looking forward to spectating at the September event, provided restrictions are removed.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Turning in to quite the battle, judging by the times Wallace had it fairly easy at Harewood. The photos after the rain hit look crazy though, no surprise they had to call the event off.

On to Wiscombe next, still waiting to hear if I've got an entry to the Interclub event on either day but if not then I'll still try to head up on the Sunday. I think the last time the national championship was there saw a new hill record so hopefully the weather will be kind and that envelope may be pushed some more.

[Anyopenroad]

I had a very enjoyable day at Shelsley Walsh last weekend for their nostalgia weekend and am following that up with a trip to Prescott on Saturday for my first taste of competitive Hillclimb action. Very much looking forward to it!

Is there anywhere I can find a timetable and entry list? The Prescott, BHC and Barc sites don't have anything obvious but I may not be looking in the right places. Thanks!

[dwh43scale]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

I had a very enjoyable day at Shelsley Walsh last weekend for their nostalgia weekend and am following that up with a trip to Prescott on Saturday for my first taste of competitive Hillclimb action. Very much looking forward to it!

Is there anywhere I can find a timetable and entry list? The Prescott, BHC and Barc sites don't have anything obvious but I may not be looking in the right places. Thanks!

Timetable - they go up in batches until everyone has gone up; then they do it again; then they do it to qualify for the Top 12 Run Off (that's only Sunday by the look of things). I'm elsewhere this weekend, but will be doing the September Prescott. The top class is stunning !

There should be an entry list online but may not be until nearer the weekend.

If I might be so bold, this will give you an idea of Prescott https://www.pistonclick.com/prescott-speed-hill-climb. It looks like there are some Covid rules to follow on the website

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

If I might be so bold, this will give you an idea of Prescott https://www.pistonclick.com/prescott-speed-hill-climb. It looks like there are some Covid rules to follow on the website

Thank you! Yes I have seen that and I must also thank you for the Shelsley Walsh guide.

Covid Pass (Vacc or test) requested for Prescott (though they will just take your temp if you don't have the app...). Also only pre-ordered tickets, none on the gate.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Is there anywhere I can find a timetable and entry list? The Prescott, BHC and Barc sites don't have anything obvious but I may not be looking in the right places. Thanks!

Hillclimbs tend not to have a fixed timetable beyond a start time and then running through the batches in order.

This is running for Wiscombe next weekend:
SATURDAY 31st JULY RUNNING ORDER - First (only) practice Interclub event; First practice National event; First (only) practice Downton Class R; First timed run Interclub event; Second practice National event; First timed run Downton Class R; Second timed run Interclub event; Third practice National event; Second Timed Run Downton Class R.


SUNDAY 1st August RUNNING ORDER - First (only) practice Interclub event; Fourth practice National event; First (only) practice Downton Class R; First timed run Interclub event; First timed run National event; First timed run Downton Class R; First Run-off; Second timed run Interclub event; Second timed
run National event; Second Timed Run Downton Class R. Second run-off.

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by SnoodyMcFlude

Hillclimbs tend not to have a fixed timetable beyond a start time and then running through the batches in order.

Thanks! Yes the annnouncers at Shelsley spent the whole day faintly bemused at what was going on, which rarely bore much resemblance to the published timings .

Interesting that Saturday is practice and Sunday competition for the main competition. So Saturday at Prescott I can expect to see three BHC practice runs?

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Interesting that Saturday is practice and Sunday competition for the main competition. So Saturday at Prescott I can expect to see three BHC practice runs?

Yeah that's usually the case, or certainly is at Wiscombe. Sunday you would see 2 'timed' runs as qualifying and 2 runoffs, which is the top 12. The speed of the guys at the top is unreal, well worth watching.

[Truckosaurus]

I'm off to Prescott on Saturday and Shelsley on Sunday for my first hillclimb spectating of the season.

I notice Prescott are asking you to bring proof of vaccination or a -ve test result but then say if you don't have it they will just do a temperature test - which if it like the ones they did at Thruxton just measure how effective your car aircon is.

Anyway, I've not been to Prescott this century and never been to Shelsley so looking forward to it.

Weather looks 'interesting' though.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Well I've had my entry confirmed to both days of the 'interclub' event at Wiscombe, so I should be heading there next weekend to go around 10 seconds slower than the quick guys

Last event out at Clay Pigeon this last weekend wasn't a complete success, gave the tyres a bit of a whack so will be hunting for a decent fibreglasser in the off season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb4y...=SnoodyMcFlude

[Malcolm Smith]

Originally Posted by SnoodyMcFlude

Well I've had my entry confirmed to both days of the 'interclub' event at Wiscombe, so I should be heading there next weekend to go around 10 seconds slower than the quick guys

Last event out at Clay Pigeon this last weekend wasn't a complete success, gave the tyres a bit of a whack so will be hunting for a decent fibreglasser in the off season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb4y...=SnoodyMcFlude

Will be making my first visit to Wiscombe on 1st August - look forward to seeing you competing.

[Anyopenroad]

Not strictly on-topic but I hop you will forgive me as this seems the best active thread to post on!

Pictures from Shelsley Walsh Classic Nostalgia last weekend: https://bit.ly/2WbGLKL

The usual caveats: big album (I take lots of pics!); I'm a fan with a camera not an accomplished photographer; all images are cropped and resized but otherwise unedited.

Big emphasis on the rally cars as that was primarily what I went to see. Scroll to the end of the album for some crowd, paddock and general pictures, including a shot of the ceremony unveiling a plaque in honour or Murray Walker.

I'm at Prescott this weekend so in due course will post on-topic pictures of BHC.

Enjoy!

[dwh43scale]

A Legends hillclimbing ? Sounds interesting !

[SnoodyMcFlude]

It's certainly great fun! Not that competitive in the SW because they've forced us into Sports Libre so we're up against Radicals etc. which are just better developed than a lump of American pig iron, but I reckon I'm enjoying it more than I would in a sportscar...plus it looks cool

Fingers crossed there will be at least one more out on the hills soon, know a lad who's in the process of building one up from scratch. There's also one running in Guernsey.

[dwh43scale]

It's a long way north from Milton Keynes but well worth the trip. Doune Hillclimb is the latest on PistonClick's list of guides for spectator snappers - https://www.pistonclick.com/doune-hillclimb

[Anyopenroad]

Has anyone seen an entry list for Prescott tomorrow? I've looked in the obvious places on the interwebz but without success!

[Anyopenroad]

Big album of pics from a terrific day at Prescott for the British & Midland Hillclimb champs in July: https://bit.ly/3i9UOJ7

My first visit to Prescott, following my first visit to Shelsley Walsh a week earlier. Really, really enjoyable. So pretty, so close to the cars, such impressive driving. I'm a convert! I'll be at Shelsley again in August for another championship round and will be making these lovely venues (and other Hillclimb tracks) a regular part of my motorsport year from now on.

The pictures here are all of single-seaters from the two championships. I went on the Saturday so saw three practice sessions and the pictures here are divided pretty evenly between the three.

It was forecast to rain all day but never actually did, though it was a far cry from the baking sun at Shelsley a week earlier.

A handful of paddock and circuit shots towards the end.

Hope you enjoy!

[Truckosaurus]

Nice photos AOR. I too had a nice visit to Prescott and Shelsley last weekend.

Both put Gurston Down, my local hill, to shame in the scenery stakes.

I think I preferred the track action from SW as there was more variety - the British championship is a bit single seater heavy, no matter how spectacular and rapid they are.

Must make plans to go again, even somewhere as 'northern' as Worcestershire is actually only just over 2 hours away if there are no road holdups.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Blimey those guys are quick! Watching Richard Spedding in practice yesterday was like watching a sped up video, the change of direction in that car is insane.

Wallace looked a cut above this weekend, and the bad luck with weather ultimately ended up being good luck with weather, strange how things work out. Shame it was damp, the times being set in first practice blew me away, considering it's been 2 years since any of the drivers were at Wiscombe.

My day a little bit different, seemed to only have damp weather and it was really slippery. Thoroughly enjoyed myself but I'm blaming a moment in the Esses for significantly increasing my laundry bill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fioB...=SnoodyMcFlude

[Malcolm Smith]

Originally Posted by SnoodyMcFlude

Blimey those guys are quick! Watching Richard Spedding in practice yesterday was like watching a sped up video, the change of direction in that car is insane.

Wallace looked a cut above this weekend, and the bad luck with weather ultimately ended up being good luck with weather, strange how things work out. Shame it was damp, the times being set in first practice blew me away, considering it's been 2 years since any of the drivers were at Wiscombe.

My day a little bit different, seemed to only have damp weather and it was really slippery. Thoroughly enjoyed myself but I'm blaming a moment in the Esses for significantly increasing my laundry bill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fioB...=SnoodyMcFlude

Arrived just before lunchtime monsoon. Dried out a little in sunshine, then another downpour.
Took a few photos before stopping to avoid ruining camera. Visited paddock, would have chatted, but nobody at Legend when I was there. An excellent venue which I would return to if in area again.

[Anyopenroad]

Slightly frustrated to have been at Shelsley Walsh yesterday (Saturday) rather than today (Sunday)! Sat was a slightly overcast day with some delays leading to the third BHC practice session being dropped. Sun was glorious and sunny and saw several drivers under the old hill record!

Hillclimb is my new favourite motorsport spectator experience. I plan to go to a lot more at more venues next year. I just have to start going on Sundays rather than my preferred Saturdays :-).