Prescott Hill Climb 2009

Annually, Cheltenham Cleeve Vale Rotary Club invites classic car owners to an event at the famous Prescott Hill Climb near Cheltenham. The event is open to all pre-1980 vehicles but exceptions may be made at the discretion of the organisers for particularly interesting vehicles.This latter category accommodates Nostalgia replicas.

The event begins on Saturday with a 60 mile tour of the Cotswold countryside starting and finish at Prescott with a complimentary cup of tea and home made cake at the finish. Sunday is devoted to display and driving the famous hill, with passengers if you wish, in marshalled but un-timed runs.  Un-timed runs eliminate the need for crash helmets and the full gamut of safety equipment etc. However vehicles must have valid road tax, MOT and insurance documentation. Entries are limited to 200.

This years Hill Climb was held on 10th May. Whilst not as hot as last year, it was warm and dry, ideal for driving the hill.

Nostalgia Replicas gather for the hill climb

The NSCC combine with Nostalgia Cars to park in the Paddock. the entry fee includes 2 runs up the hill though it is usually possible to purchase extra runs at £5.00 if you wish. This year we had a total of 5 cars in our space the paddock, Additionally with 2 more XK140's parked elsewhere in the paddock and the Orchard. The circuit is open from 8:30 a.m. with the option to walk the course. Runs up the hill commence at 10:30 a.m. First up this year was an AC Ace to mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of this model.

All entrants and passengers intending to go up the hill must attend a compulsory briefing and sign an indemnity form. These formalities over Lorelly and Graham Wheeler were the first of our group to tackle the hill and Lorelly probably the first lady to drive the hill on the day.

 


Lorelly Wheeler sets off for a run up the hill

Driving the hill is NON competitive, for those of you daunted by thought of driving on a track in front of a large crowd of spectators. You can drive as fast or slow as you feel comfortable with. The essential message is drive safely within your own capabilities. The first thing that strikes you is how narrow the course is but there are large run off areas at the two hair pin bends in the unlikely event that you go off. The course just 1127 yards long is over all too soon at whatever speed you drive. The pleasure is enormous and satisfaction afterwards a real buzz. You can tell those who have done it by the broad smile on their faces for hours afterwards.
     

 

 

Potentially the most frustrating aspect of the day is queuing to get on to the start line possibly up to 45 minutes but sitting in the sun and talking to spectators about your car, the time passes tolerably quickly. Also studying the queue and managing to avoid busy times like as soon as the track is open in the morning and immediately after lunch makes wait times shorter. This was no more graphically illustrated than my first run of the morning which was just before lunch. Vince Harry set off for his run after me, but by choosing the right queue to join, ended going up the hill before me. Much protesting and accusations of queue jumping (in jest) made no difference to our mutual enjoyment of our runs up the hill.

Vince & Wendy Harrhy's C-Type off the start line
    
The Black Cat's 1st run up the hill illustrates the point I made earlier. Having never driven the hill before I was careful and well within mine and the cars capabilities yet still enjoying the ride. Part way up the climb I could see the car behind, a Corvette, was quicker than me. Nearing the top he had caught me up (see right). The point is, it was his responsibility to follow me up the hill at my pace. He was not allowed to overtake me and I was in control of my car at all times and not pressurised in to making an error. I probably spoiled his run but that is unavoidable.

 

 

 

 

 
   
The Black Cat's 1st Run and the Corvette
Lunch was from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m. The track is quiet after the morning runs and Prescott provides a wonderful setting for a family picnic or a snack from one of the many food bars, to a full lunch at the Prescott Lodge, the choice is limitless. The Bugatti museum houses some very fine machinery and is well worth a visit. The ten minutes after lunch is devoted to a cavalcade drive up the hill for exhibitors in the Orchard. Every type of vehicle imaginable is represented from Rolls - Royce to Mini, from Escort to Lancia. It's an interesting way to show off the vehicles that have been part of the static exhibition. After the cavalcade regular runs up the hill resumed. Norman & Marianne Harding did two runs in quick succession
 

The Red Cat at the Start.
  
The Red Cat at speed between the two hairpin bends.
Our row of cars made an impressive display attracting a large number of visitors. We hope that we added as much to their enjoyment of the day as they did to ours. Keith Stenning and Brian Wilson were amongst our visitors. Keith fresh from driving the hill in his XK140 and Brian making his way from where his XK140 was parked in the Orchard.

 
The Back Cat's 2nd Run
 
Graham Wheeler this time with Lorelly as passenger

The afternoon continued, in brilliant sunshine, with our 2nd runs up the hill. The Black Cat had learned from the morning experience and was quicker on the 2nd run. This time not hunted down by the following vehicle. Graham and Lorelly Wheeler swapped places for their 2nd run. Simon Drove Gordon Muir's XK120 up the hill but was stopped by a red flag incident involving a Dutch entered Austein Healy Sprite that had gone off and had to be cleared from the course. Though non competitive some people do get carried away. Chris drove Vince Harrhy's C-Type, with his usual style, even with Vince as passenger, that produced a slight wag of the tail coming out of the hairpin, which caused a few smiles, inside and outside the car.

 
Simon Davis driving hard off the start line
 
Chris Boyer, downhill after the tail wag
This is a flavour of a fantastic day at Prescott. The words don't do it justice. Join us next year on the 8/9 th May 2010 for the Classic Tour / Classics at Prescott Hill Climb.
D.E. May 2009
Web Design by Xdec Computing 2007