The Story of British Hillclimbing: A Sport Built on Passion and Community

The Beginnings

Hillclimbing is one of the most exciting forms of motorsport in the UK, but to really understand why it’s so special, you have to know its history.

It all started in France, but Britain quickly joined in. The first British hillclimb took place in 1899 on Petersham Hill, Richmond-on-Thames. Forty competitors tackled just 325 yards under a 12 mph speed limit. The winner was a Barrière tricycle, averaging 14 mph — technically breaking the law! The fastest proper car, driven by Charles Stewart Rolls, reached 8.75 mph. Even at these speeds, the descent after the finish was the most thrilling part, with cars going faster than their brakes could handle.

Early hillclimbs were full of challenges. Mucklow Hill in Halesowen was run entirely on snow, and the winner of its one-mile course only managed just over nine minutes. Public roads were used for most events, which sometimes meant dealing with passing carts, farmers and unpredictable surfaces. By 1903, there were already 26 courses in Britain.

Then came Shelsley Walsh. In 1905, the Midland Auto Club persuaded the owner, Claude Taylor, to let them use 1,000 yards of his private drive. Ernest Instone won the first event in a 35 hp Daimler in 77.6 seconds. Shelsley Walsh went on to become the oldest surviving motorsport venue in the world, hosting events that would shape the sport for generations.

Through the 1910s and 1920s, hillclimbing grew steadily. Manufacturers such as Singer, Rover, Riley and Humber entered cars, and purpose-built racing machines began to appear. Times started dropping as drivers and cars improved. Spectators turned out in large numbers, with crowds sometimes reaching 4,000–5,000. By the mid-1920s, road racing on public streets came to a halt due to safety concerns, but Shelsley Walsh continued, holding regular meetings and keeping the sport alive.

The 1930s brought new venues, including Prescott near Cheltenham and Tregwainton in Cornwall, alongside a mix of Grand Prix cars and specials. Drivers like Raymond Mays dominated, lowering course records and pushing the sport forward.

After the Second World War, hillclimbing was one of the first motorsports to restart. In 1946, 18 events were held, with entries from drivers such as Prince “Bira”, Reg Parnell and Peter Walker. The National Hillclimb Championship started in 1947, with Raymond Mays taking the first title. New courses also appeared in the Channel Islands, including Le Val de Terres in Guernsey and Bouley Bay in Jersey.

The 1950s and 60s saw more crossover between hillclimbs and other forms of motorsport. Famous drivers like Stirling Moss and Roy Salvadori competed on the hills, while the Cooper-JAP cars dominated the smaller classes. National champions during this period included Ken Wharton, Tony Marsh, David Boshier-Jones and David Good. New venues continued to appear — Wiscombe Park, Oddicombe, Gurston Down, Tregrehan — creating a strong network of hills, particularly in the south-west of England.

What makes hillclimbing really special, though, isn’t just the cars or the drivers. It’s the people. Volunteers — marshals, course stewards, timing crews, paddock helpers — make every event possible. They give their time, their energy, and their knowledge to keep drivers and spectators safe. Without them, no hillclimb could take place.

Hillclimbing isn’t just a sport — it’s a community. Drivers, teams, officials and fans come together around shared passion, and that spirit is what has kept the sport thriving for over a century.