Hill climbs in UK

[amh]

I'm building at the moment 911T hotrod and I would like to try hillclimbs with it once it is ready, so next year.
Does anyone do hill climbs from here?
I have been at Kophill hill climb and will go this year to Shere for first time.
What do you think what is the best place to start from?
Also do I need a race license to drive there?

[Nine One One]

911 Hillclimber will no doubt post something very shortly...................

[Mick Cliff]

As might MikeB

[Ashley James]

Never done a hill but been visiting Prescott since the sixties and more recently Shelsley Walsh which is the oldest motor sport venue in the world to have been in continuous use since it began in 1905. Both are stunning locations with a wonderful atmosphere

[Cortina]

Yes , my "advice" would be to start by doing a few sprints first (to get a feel for driving the car quickly) .. then move.
You will need a competition licence (not a race one) to compete in MSA events.
Can't comment on locations , as all I have done have been in Ireland .... and style of the hills are very different !

[amh]

Yes , my "advice" would be to start by doing a few sprints first (to get a feel for driving the car quickly) .. then move.
You will need a competition licence (not a race one) to compete in MSA events.
Can't comment on locations , as all I have done have been in Ireland .... and style of the hills are very different !

I have done quarter mile with some other cars and driving on track with my 997.
Not sure what is different between sprint and hill climb?
What kind of prosess is getting a competition licence?

[Tony]

Answers to many of your questions can be found here http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/ for a strictly Porsche series look here http://www.porscheclubmotorsport.co.uk/ ... ampionship

Any questions remaining and JWhillracer on here is the man!

Tony

[MikeB]

As Tony indicates with the link above, the HSA is a good place to start.

What you need to do is check what your car is eligible for, as this can have an effect on what safety mods you need to make to the car. It is easiest if you car complies with Road Going Production categories. I note you say it is a hotrod, so say you stuck a 3.2 into it or RSR arches, that will effect which class you can enter and whether you need a MSA approved roll bar/cage installed.

It's a bit of a minefield, but either the HSA or some folk on here could give more detailed advice.

[Cortina]

Yes , my "advice" would be to start by doing a few sprints first (to get a feel for driving the car quickly) .. then move.
You will need a competition licence (not a race one) to compete in MSA events.
Can't comment on locations , as all I have done have been in Ireland .... and style of the hills are very different !

I have done quarter mile with some other cars and driving on track with my 997.
Not sure what is different between sprint and hill climb?
What kind of prosess is getting a competition licence?

Sprint tracks usually have bigger run off areas (more space for any margin of error)
Licence - relatively easy , paperwork exercise usually .... depends on age / type , etc
Google , and get on to the MSA site - go from there

[MikeB]

You will need a National B Speed license from the RAC Motor Sports Association, MSA, an approved helmet and racesuit. As Cortina says it is probably best to do a sprint or two, so you can get used to the car at competition speeds and start to find limits. In GB the hillclimbs are all on private land and as such are usually on narrow tracks, so there is less room for error. Look on the HSA site and you will find clubs who organise Speed Events ( hills & sprints) in your area and join a Club. You also need a Spill Kit ( see Demon Tweeks) and to put a Beam Splitter on the front of the car (a vertical blade that cuts the timing beam, see MSA Blue Book for the dims, free with you comp license).

It sounds a lot is hassle, but hills & sprints are good fun and full of friendly helpful folk who will guide you on your way, I've been doing them for 35 years and still enjoy them

[smallspeed]

As someone else said be careful and aware of the regs before you start modifying.. I didn't even think about hill climbing when I started building my car - it was built around the BMWRDC regs - now I feel like I'd enjoy doing some hillclimbs having done a "school" day at Prescott but to be honest I'm not sure my car would be any good! 275 ish bhp, 1100kg, but seam welded, full cage, lsd, over 2 litre engine, etc, etc.. Basically I'd be up against anything with four wheels
While I'd be happy just having a go I think it would be pretty depressing coming last in class by an unassailable margin every time..

It might be different with something classic like your 911 but if you do want to do some hill climbing go in eyes open regarding the regs just incase

[jwhillracer]

Sorry, I've only just picked this up.
All that has been said before is good advice. Based in Surrey, you are not going to have many local hillclimbs..........
Try to go and see two or three different venues, to get an idea of the layout, and what happens, especially if you can get to some of the smaller clubbie meetings. Bring your car, hunt out the scrutineers after they have finished the main scrutineering in the morning, and ask them to have a look over it for you. As long as they are not under pressure they will normally be happy to do it.
Have a good chat to the competitors, most are more than happy to chat about their cars and the sport.
Go to one (or more!) of the Hillclimb Schools. They are an excellent introduction to the sport. You will learn a lot of technique, and more importantly will have a chance to try the sport before you have to spend on licence, helmet, overalls, mods to the car etc.
The chances are that you will be hooked, but if you aren't, then you will have learned about our sport and moved on without having spent a lot of money on it.
Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Gurston Down, Loton Park (?? 911hillclimber??), and Harewood all run excellent schools, I hope I haven't left anyone out!
Join one of the clubs that organises hillclimb meetings. They will have a vast amount of knowledge that most members are delighted to share.
On the Porsche side, consider entering the PCGB Speed Championship http://www.porscheclubmotorsport.co.uk/ ... ampionship
This has a selection of Hillclimbs and Sprints spread across the country at different types of venue.

I hope this helps. In the next few weeks I hope to be competing at Shelsley Walsh, Gurston Down (PCGB National Hillclimb Championship), Wiscombe Park, and Loton Park. If you can get to any of these, than please do come and have a chat.

Cheers!

JW

PS - smallspeed - our car is only 250bhp and 1000 or so kg, and has been reasonably successful over the years, so there's no reason why your car wouldn't be Come on, give it a go!

[smallspeed]

PS - smallspeed - our car is only 250bhp and 1000 or so kg, and has been reasonably successful over the years, so there's no reason why your car wouldn't be Come on, give it a go!

I think the problem is age - the car is from 1992 so it would be in all the normal modern classes, and so >2 litre, with all the chassis mods puts it into like an over 2 litre modified class with monster-power evo's and subarus and things, or even sports libre which doesn't bear thinking about

I think its something I will have a crack at anyway (once the car is finished) but for the time being will have some fun on track days, the occasional sprint, and maybe a few more "school days"

[jwhillracer]

That looks a load of fun wherever you take it! Don't worry about whatever else might possibly be in the class, what most competitors and spectators want to see is someone driving the wheels off an interesting and different car.

Look forward to seeing you out to play!

JW