Hillclimb. I want it!

[Phooey]

I must be getting a boring fart but the thought of doing a normal 'track day' doesn't excite me (enough to make the effort). I want to be doing something like this! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVaxPKgTww0

[JayK12]

Phooey said:

I must be getting a boring fart but the thought of doing a normal 'track day' doesn't excite me (enough to make the effort). I want to be doing something like this! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVaxPKgTww0

I think its the natural cycle, after doing track days I too got bored. Unless its a new car but even then after a few your bored. Know a few people who hillclimb, they say its fun, but has its commitment also.

Try racing, get into Civic Cup or something, see's a 20+ car grid every race, 7K for a fully build car, cheap to maintain and race. That might keep you interested. You can even rent a car for 1 race etc.

[boxsey]

Going to watch a hill climb event is a great day out. Lots of action to see. But you've got to love the buzz and adrenaline of competing because on average the competitors only get around 4 runs a day which often equates to a total of 6 minutes of track time. Racing is better in terms of time on track but is still often less than an hour in total (15 mins practice, 15 mins quali and a 20 minute race). But it's way more expensive than hill climbs and trackdays, especially if racing a Porsche. Even with 'amateur' racing it gets even more expensive if you want to compete at the front. I have friends who raced and then went back to trackdays because it's much better value for money.

[Digga]

I used to do sprints and hillclimbs a while back. One of the things I really loved was the feeling of having the track/course to yourself. Of course, you are set off at intervals, so you still need to look out for red flags etc. but you don't have to look in your mirrors and can get on with hitting every line as precisely and quickly as you want to. It's definitely a very different feeling to a track day.

I think part of this has stuck with me, because these days, although I enjoy some track days - there's a few circuits that are fun - I still, eventually, get that "going round in circles" feeling. The one place where that has not (yet) manifested itself is the Nordschleife.

[gtsralph]

The continental hill climb video posted earlier is on a typical wider and longer hillclimb than those in the UK.

Try my local Wiscombe layout in your road GT car at full chat..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7tGzwu_704

[Digga]

I did an event on the full Goodwood race circuit a couple of times. It was utterly epic.

You set off from the grid and the 'beam' is just after the chicane, then you came back into the pits via the normal pit exit. Doing a standing-start lap of such a fast circuit on barely warmed-up road tyres (we were in a roadgoing class) was really, really fun.

[martisracing]

I used to compete in Sprints and Hillclimbs back in the late 90's with my Elise. The biggest problem with these events is the British Weather. Because you are set off individually the weather can change between the runs. If someone has a dry run and then the weather changes and you get a wet run then you might as well pack and go home as you will never beat them. The other point to remember is especially with hillclimbs the tracks are not forgiving at all with no run offs. Any mistake will be very expensive. The difference between winning and loosing is in tenths of seconds so again if you are not on the absolute limit you will be way off the pace. Sprints are a safer option as some are on race circuits and some are at airfields with massive run offs.

[Phooey]

gtsralph said:

The continental hill climb video posted earlier is on a typical wider and longer hillclimb than those in the UK.

Try my local Wiscombe layout in your road GT car at full chat..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7tGzwu_704

Brilliant. Looks like some good skill needed!.. wouldn't want to kiss one of them trees

Seriously though, looks so much more fun than a 'track' day. A proper adrenaline rush.

[Cheib]

I get to drive a Hillclimb every time I take my kids to school. Their school driveway used to be part of the British Hillclimb championship in the late 50’s. It’s quite good fun in the GT3 when it’s not busy!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbfa-0zWSA8

[Robbo66]

Phooey said:

I must be getting a boring fart but the thought of doing a normal 'track day' doesn't excite me (enough to make the effort). I want to be doing something like this! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVaxPKgTww0

Totally agree, and I'll be doing some next year too. PM Yellow491, he is the Master.

[boxsey]

I've organized events at Curborough sprint circuit in the past. It's not the greatest circuit but when you do it for up to 10 mates you can get at least a dozen runs each (3 laps per run) and it turns in to a fun day out. And gets quite competitive too!

[Digga]

martisracing said:

The other point to remember is especially with hillclimbs the tracks are not forgiving at all with no run offs. Any mistake will be very expensive.

[Phooey]

Digga said:

whistle:

Whoops.. you can't park there!



Without sounding a hero - anyone can jump on a track-day and drive fast (ish), but running up a Hillclimb looks a totally different kettle of fish (IMO). I'd imagine many have tried it, and st themselves.

[Digga]

Personally, I found sprints and hillclimbs more intense than track days, but definitely less 'scary', purely because you, the driver, were the only human variable. My abiding memory was of being more alarmed driving home, having to re-set my driving to account for junctions, oncoming traffic and the vagaries of other road users.

[Phooey]

Digga said:

Personally, I found sprints and hillclimbs more intense than track days, but definitely less 'scary', purely because you, the driver, were the only human variable. My abiding memory was of being more alarmed driving home, having to re-set my driving to account for junctions, oncoming traffic and the vagaries of other road users.

Fair point. I was just thinking that on a hillclimb you've got a few more objects (including humans) to collide with. And as someone pointed out above - British weather can be a PITA. The wobble in the video above would of had me leaving a chocolate nugget in my pants. You can dawdle around on a track day if you like, but I'm not sure you can (or would want too) on a hillclimb?

[Jevvy]

boxsey said:

I've organized events at Curborough sprint circuit in the past. It's not the greatest circuit but when you do it for up to 10 mates you can get at least a dozen runs each (3 laps per run) and it turns in to a fun day out. And gets quite competitive too!

I have fond memories of the one I joined you on - was a bit wet and I arrived late but was cracking fun. Quick vid from a previous day there in 2011 (pre HD vid):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJR0KOYTvc

[Phooey]

Jevvy said:

I have fond memories of the one I joined you on - was a bit wet and I arrived late but was cracking fun. Quick vid from a previous day there in 2011 (pre HD vid):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJR0KOYTvc

Looks like fun to me!

[Digga]

Phooey said:

Fair point. I was just thinking that on a hillclimb you've got a few more objects (including humans) to collide with.

Spectators are kept well back. The marshals are pretty smart and have seen it all before, so know the best places to avoid being hit and the best, most robust things to hide behind.



Given that you are traveling in excess of UK motorway speeds, the tarmac can be pretty narrow and the scenery - trees etc. - often a bit close for comfort.

[lowndes]

Prescott, Shelsley and Loton runs Driver’s School Days which are a good introduction. You walk the hill with instructors showing the lines then get 8 or 9 individual runs during the day. Runs are videoed and played back with comments during lunch and at the end of the day. There will be all manner of cars participating not just Porsche. Last time I was at Loton there was a lady in a ’30 single seat Talbot, attacking the hill with some style I might add. All very friendly in the paddock but needing intense concentration on the hill. Recommended.

[Yellow491]

Loton park hillclimb this season
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9lkucqt4G1k
Its a great sport,100% committed to achieve the best times,focus on the tarmac not the hazards!
Having done adventure sport all my life at the highest levels,the only sport i have ever got the adrenaline shakes from is hillclimbing,all the raceing i have done not a shake,may be some butterflys but nothing like hillclimbing for that fix!
Its the perfect place to start your motorsport career from,just do it at your own pace and level of commitment.It teaches You accuracy,staying cool,learn about your car and importantly about you and how you deal with going for it and competing against others and yourself against the clock.
Every one at the events are nice people who help each other,good banter and social etc.

Next june we have porsches at prescott ,a whole weekend with both club championships competing and a invite class,either come and enter or just watch.

The first msa licence you need is just a form filling excercise.