Steven Darley: The Subaru, the Hill and the Clock
From his first outing at Harewood to championship success, a lifelong passion for Subaru and a commitment to giving back to the sport, Steven Darley's hillclimbing story is one of enthusiasm, determination and community.
For Steven Darley, hillclimbing began with a simple gesture of thanks between friends. What followed was an enduring passion for a sport that continues to challenge, excite and inspire him more than fifteen years later.
A familiar face at Harewood Hillclimb, Steven is not only a successful competitor but also a dedicated member of the team behind the venue. As an instructor at the Harewood Academy and Treasurer of the organising club, he has experienced the sport from both sides of the fence.
Then, of course, there's the Subaru. A marque that has been part of Steven's life since his early twenties, and a passion that has survived changing circumstances, family life and even a serious accident.
We caught up with Steven to discover how it all began, what keeps him returning to the hills, his involvement at Harewood and his thoughts on the future of British hillclimbing.
1. What was your route into hillclimbing, and what is it that keeps you in the sport?
I did my first hillclimb in September 2010. This was thanks to a friend, John Stevenson, who suggested we do a shared drive at Harewood Hillclimb as a thank-you for lending him my spare engine during the 2009 season. That engine is still in John's car to this day!
I don't know why, but I fell in love with the venue, its views, the friendly atmosphere and the thrilling drive. I remember saying to my wife, Emma, "I can see us doing this for a long time to come."
In 2011, I decided to compete in the Harewood Championship and, incredibly, won it on the final day of the season. It was a great year, constantly trying to find that little bit more. That determination also helped me break Simon Bainbridge's long-standing class record, lowering it by exactly one second by the end of the season.
It's that feeling of "there's always more in it" that keeps me going back to the hills. It's just me, the car, the hill and the clock. It demands intense focus for short bursts, and I guess that's what my brain likes. I've done drag racing, Time Attack and even door-to-door racing, but for me, the thrill and intensity aren't the same as you get on the hills.
2. Why Subaru?
In my very early twenties, I was caught up in the road-car euphoria surrounding the rally Subarus versus the rally Mitsubishis.In early 1998, as a 22-year-old, I went and test-drove both cars. I found I preferred the driving experience of the Subaru, and it also had a longer service interval than the Mitsubishi. At the time, I was driving 25,000 miles a year for work, so that was a big bonus. I ordered my first Subaru new and had to wait twelve months for it. In March 1999, I became the proud owner of a T-reg MY99 UK-spec Subaru with Prodrive extras.
Then, Emma and I got married and had our first son, Thomas. Trying to balance the books meant the Subaru had to go after two years of ownership. I managed six months without one before having to go out and buy another, an estate version this time.
Sadly, that car didn't last long in our ownership. I had a very serious accident in it and was incredibly lucky to get out alive, let alone unscathed. The dog guard actually stopped the roof from folding in any further onto my head!The following week, we went and picked up our third Subaru, the mica-red estate (wagon), which we still have to this day, nearly 25 years on!
3. Regarding Harewood, what are you most proud of achieving there, and do you have any future plans?
Harewood is an interesting one because, as I said earlier, I fell in love with the place and knew that at some point I would end up giving something back to the club. That came sooner than I thought when, in 2014, I was asked to become an instructor at the Academy. Shortly afterwards, I was invited to join the committee. Little did I know I was being steered towards becoming the club's Treasurer in 2018, a role I still hold today.
Thanks, Mike Geen, for making my day job part of my hobby!
I'm incredibly proud and privileged to be in that role and to be part of an amazing team of volunteers who help run what I perceive to be the best-value hillclimb in the country. We're constantly trying to improve things at Harewood, and it helps that a couple of us operate on both sides of the fence, as it were. As long as you remain sensible, you can reach good compromises that benefit competitors while also making things better for the organising team.
As a club, we have a few things in the pipeline. One thing we're presently exploring, which should be a great addition, is a permanent catering and bar facility at the top of the hill.
So watch this space!
4. What about the future of hillclimbing in the UK? Any thoughts?
I think hillclimbing in the UK is presently quite strong. We have a raft of people my age whose children are now coming into the sport, so that's broadening the demographic again. I do think it's sadly still labelled as an old person's sport, and that puts a lot of people off. How you change that, I'm not sure. I know some people don't want it to change, but like anything in life, it has to develop and adapt to current demands and needs.
I think a lot of organisers, particularly those involved with the British Hillclimb Championship, are recognising that and helping to make changes that allow cars from other disciplines to dip their toes into the world of hillclimbing and see whether it's for them. Previously, during my time in the sport, that hasn't really been achievable. I know from experience that I used to spend two days converting my old car from Time Attack specification to hillclimb specification, and vice versa. So, for me, we need to focus on making the sport more accessible and reducing the barriers to entry.
In essence, that means continuing to tweak the rules.
A Passion That Goes Beyond Competition
Steven's story is a wonderful reminder that hillclimbing is about far more than outright speed or championship results. It's about the challenge of finding that elusive extra fraction of a second, the friendships formed in the paddock and the people who give their time and expertise to keep the sport thriving.
His journey from first-time competitor to Harewood Champion, Academy instructor and club Treasurer reflects the enthusiasm and commitment that sit at the heart of British hillclimbing.
And with his thoughts firmly on making the sport more accessible to future generations, Steven is clearly as passionate about where hillclimbing is heading as he is about the journey that brought him here.
Our sincere thanks to Steven Darley for taking the time to share his experiences, memories and thoughts with Hillclimbing.org, and for his continued contribution to the sport.
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