Hillclimbs and Sprints

[9330FN]

As previously posted in reply to Cultra Hillclimb a friend of mine has moved over to Belfast and has started sprinting and hill climbing his AH Sprite which they do on closed public roads - imagine that happening on this side of the St Georges Channel - Not Likely!!

https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hvide ... e=55706CD8

[LMM76C]

imagine that happening on this side of the St Georges Channel - Not Likely!!

Well, the legislation has just been passed this side....
However, knowing a bit about the economics/time practicalities of running British hill climbs, I have been cautioning the belief elsewhere that hill climbs/sprints might lead the way here rather than stage rallies.

[Astro]

Hi,

it seems to be always different. E.g. the German hill climb scene is slowly dying and you can number our hillclimbs on two hands. In France, I just counted 124 different ones this year.

[minitravellerman]

There is are few fantastic hills in Northern Ireland - Craigantlet and Croft near Belfast, Drumhorc outside Banbridge in Co Down and Spelga in the Mournes. Very fast sections in each as well.

[Pete]

This was Paddy at Craigantlet..

[fricsman]

Any info on this car? Works lighting set up?

[Astro]

seems similar to the 33 EJB

[Pete]

288 JOB was an ex BMC test car in Surf Blue Paddy bought cheap from the factory. I did ask him about it a few years ago, this is what he told me:

"It was a 1275, not tweaked but well put together by the Abingdon Boys. It had a very smote balanced engine. It was more a sort of a social entry at Craigantlet but I think it won something in its class there – I remember surprising myself!"

There's a nice shot of him collecting it in his book.

[Pete]

Talking of speed events with a historic theme , there does seem to be more of them nowadays and that's a good thing for us! Chateau Impney is on this weekend :

http://www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com/

I've heard good feedback from today about being well organised, may well put an entry in next year! Mainly a vintage theme but there's a few early Minis on amongst the classic stuff, looks well worth a visit tomorrow!

[Pete]

Live timing, Chateau Impney...

http://lt2.tsl-timing.com/152881

[LMM76C]

may well put an entry in next year!

From what I've heard of the entry fee/"by invitation" arrangements, applying for a second mortgage now might help...

[Pete]

Yes it does look pretty 'la-de-da' but I suppose it depends what you get for your £200?? I certainly recognise quite a few of the names from the huge entry list, not sure if that's a touch of the old boys club , but if it works for Goodwood..?

[Brynmor]

may well put an entry in next year!

From what I've heard of the entry fee/"by invitation" arrangements, applying for a second mortgage now might help...

As an aside, where did the Pageant of Power go wrong? Have been to every running and this years was genuinely quite awful in comparison to the 'big years' 2010-2012...

[Pete]

Yes apparently this year's CPOP was very poor, lots of the same cars on the entry list, same drivers, even empty garages. Lots of regular features were missing and the evening concert was apparently pants. I tried o offer constructive feedback from the off when we were involved but to no avail.

[Brynmor]

Yes apparently this year's CPOP was very poor, lots of the same cars on the entry list, same drivers, even empty garages. Lots of regular features were missing and the evening concert was apparently pants. I tried o offer constructive feedback from the off when we were involved but to no avail.

Interesting as I've heard that across the board, the Vintage movement (VSCC) completely withdrew support, Bentley have basically given up and notice Hall and hall had too...reason I ask is a good friend was part of the team that put on the CPOP Liverpool a few years ago and actually approached me at CPOP and said 'how can we rescue this' ...i'm of a mind it's sadly too late but we shall see.. ...oh and 65,000 visitors..i'd be amazed if there was a 3rd of that.

[Pete]

HRCR fell out with them after the 2nd or 3rd year. All they need to do is go back to how it was a few years ago and stop inviting the same bunch of cronies in the same cars every bloody year. Stop spanking the car clubs aswell and maybe they'll come back. The organising team are not car people that's the problem. When we had John Rhodes going round in Mike Mark's fuel injected racer the commentary team didn't even bloody mention him (because they weren't told!) despite my efforts. The year Mark and Fish came to CPOP was a blast, I got six Minis onto the entry list, that was 2009. Bernie is still using that coffee cup excuse for spinning his rally car!

[mk1]

As Pete has already said, the couple of years I went to the PoP I really enjoyed it, the weather was crap, but it had the makings of a really good event. I am sorry to hear that it appears to have gone to the dogs since then.

M

[Pete]

This year's Chateau Impney historic hillclimb was very well reviewed by those that attended, for those that didn't....

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/moto ... on-demand/

Being an invite only pre '67 event the cars do tend to be pretty special!

Not sure the video works outside the UK and you do have to sign in.