Firle Hill Climb help needed

[Rupertlt1]

I am piecing together the history of Firle Hill Climb here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firle_Hill_Climb

I need help with the narrative and filling in the gaps on the table of winners. All information has to be backed up by references. No fragment is too small!

This from Jim Tiller, a regular competitor at Firle: "Racing stopped at Firle when a Lotus went out of control, as you say. Some walkers/ramblers ignored the motor racing warning signs and found, what they thought was a good spot on the bank side of the road from which they could view the hill climb. There were no other people there. The Lotus lost control and mounted the left hand bank, spun and then went up the right hand bank injuring the walkers. We are not aware of any injuries to the driver. The organisers realised that the hill was un-managable as it could not be sufficiently marshalled."

I can find no evidence of events at Firle after 1967 so this incident probably dates from then? The car that crashed is thought to be a Lotus Elan - can anybody say when and who?

I am also working on Bodiam Hill Climb here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Rupertlt/Sandbox

[Copperbottom]

I live 10 miles away from Firle and every time I drive up the hill to Firle beacon I say what a good hillclimb venue it'd be,I didn't realise there used to be an event there.

Wiki is incorrect in describing it as Bo-peep hill climb, that's a good 5 miles away and would also be a good venue

[Rupertlt1]

The hillclimb although called Firle (I think because it is on the Firle estate - no racing on public roads remember), was at Bo Peep, so Wiki is correct. If you are at Firle beacon you are in the wrong place, and no racing took place there!

This is the blurb which appeared in numerous Firle Hill Climb programmes e.g. May 27, 1962:

The event will consist of a timed climb of the metalled road
known as Bo-Peep Hill, situated near the village of Selmeston, on
a turning off the A27. Map refernce No. 183/498053. Each
competitor will be permitted two timed runs in addition to
practice.

[Copperbottom]

That makes more sense, I took my daughter and my neighbours kids up the hill to go sledging when we had snow earlier this year they ended up sledging back down the road with me staying well ahead (incase of traffic)in my 4x4.

[Rupertlt1]

I like to think of racing down Firle beacon on sledges!
I am glad there is one more person who now knows about Firle Hill Climb.
I'm trying to compile this history as events such as at Firle, Bodiam and Lewes are fading into the past and largely forgotten. There was a time when Sussex had a lively motorsport scene - I remember going to Goodwood as a lad on the train and bus. We still have the wonderful Brighton Speed Trials but these hardly rate a mention in the motoring press.
I hope folk here get behind this effort - I'm far away in Toronto now - I need all the help I can get.

[Copperbottom]

The last Firle hill climb was just after I was born! I totally agree there is not enough motorsport in Sussex or even the south. Why isn't there a stage rally around Friston Forest and along the beachy head road? Or hillclimb on the road out of Eastbourne?

[MGDavid]

have you checked with MG Car Club in Abingdon? IIRC there's been a couple of articles over the years about Firle events which MGCC used to organise. Paddy Willmer (editor of Safety Fast! for many years) competed there in late 50s / early 60s.
Is Valence on your list? I spectated there some 20 years ago, looked a fine venue.

[Rupertlt1]

No, I haven't contacted them but that is a good thought - an MG club member is likely to do better? BDC, for example, charge for research.
I'm focusing on Firle at the moment, with Bodiam on the back burner. But if you look in Wikipedia you will see my contributions on the Hillclimb Championship courses, Brighton Speed Trials, Lewes, the defunct Scottish hills, Mont Ventoux, various car companies and drivers etc etc. As you can see I specialise in tables of results.
I have heard good things about Valence - please post stuff if you have it.

[Rupertlt1]

David Beckett, Lister Jaguar, July 12, 1964 set FTD at Firle? Time? Can anybody stand this up with a reference?

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

have you checked with MG Car Club in Abingdon? IIRC there's been a couple of articles over the years about Firle events which MGCC used to organise. Paddy Willmer (editor of Safety Fast! for many years) competed there in late 50s / early 60s.
Is Valence on your list? I spectated there some 20 years ago, looked a fine venue.

I now have outstanding enquiries with Steve Carr and Peter Neal at M.G.C.C. Quite by chance I came across Scott Morris here in Ontario today who has a complete set of Safety Fast - he is also looking for me for stuff on Firle.

Found this:
Bodiam winner 1982, Keith Norman, Mallock U2 Mk.17B-Ford, 24.19 sec

I also found these Valence winners:
July 26, 1969, Peter Voigt, DRW-Imp, 30.5 sec
1962, T.A. Crawford, Lotus Elite, 33.28 sec

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by Rupertlt1

This from Jim Tiller, a regular competitor at Firle: "Racing stopped at Firle when a Lotus went out of control, as you say. Some walkers/ramblers ignored the motor racing warning signs and found, what they thought was a good spot on the bank side of the road from which they could view the hill climb. There were no other people there. The Lotus lost control and mounted the left hand bank, spun and then went up the right hand bank injuring the walkers. We are not aware of any injuries to the driver. The organisers realised that the hill was un-managable as it could not be sufficiently marshalled."

I can find no evidence of events at Firle after 1967 so this incident probably dates from then? The car that crashed is thought to be a Lotus Elan - can anybody say when and who?

Sussex Express & County Herald,
Friday, June 2, 1967, Page 22 photo caption:
Record holder M.J. Fallek
drives his 1865 c.c. Lotus Elan
round the last bend in Sun-
days B.A.R.C. hill climb at
Firle. He was timed at 26.3
sec - just over a second
outside his touring car record.

Could this be the car that crashed at Firle? Does anybody know any more?

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by Rupertlt1

Sussex Express & County Herald,
Friday, June 2, 1967, Page 22 photo caption:
Record holder M.J. Fallek
drives his 1865 c.c. Lotus Elan
round the last bend in Sun-
days B.A.R.C. hill climb at
Firle. He was timed at 26.3
sec - just over a second
outside his touring car record.

Could this be the car that crashed at Firle? Does anybody know any more?

An advertisement in Motor Sport, September 1967, Page 873 refers to "Maurice Fallek's 1895 c.c. Lotus Elan with Martin Ford Engine" - he is believed to have raced a Chevron-BMW later. Can anybody pin down the date of the crash at Firle which ended racing at the venue?

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by Rupertlt1

An advertisement in Motor Sport, September 1967, Page 873 refers to "Maurice Fallek's 1895 c.c. Lotus Elan with Martin Ford Engine" - he is believed to have raced a Chevron-BMW later. Can anybody pin down the date of the crash at Firle which ended racing at the venue?

The Lotus Elan crashed on 29 May 1966, car #90 which was driven K Barrow of the Circle CC. The car was dark blue with gold centre stripe and gold steel wheels.

I have updated the Bodiam Hill Climb page here:

http://rupert-lloyd-thomas.wikispace...iam+Hill+Climb

Can anybody add anything?