Hillclimbing

Hillclimbing (also known as hill climbing, speed hillclimbing or speed hill climbing) is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course.

It is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, since the first known hillclimb (at La Turbie near Nice, France) took place as long ago as 31 January 1897. The hillclimb held at Shelsley Walsh, in Worcestershire, England is the world's oldest continuously-staged motorsport event still staged on its original course, having been first run in 1905.

The UK's longest permanent speed hill climb is at Stockton Farm Harewood, which is north of Leeds in Yorkshire. Harewood Hillclimb course is 1448 mtrs long rising from the bottom of the Wharfe Valley up the hill side to the finish at the top. Cars can reach speeds in excess of 130 mph on the tarmac track which is around 4 mtrs wide. The British Automobile Racing Club Yorkshire Centre runs 9 events a year at Harewood Hillclimb, two of which form part of the MSA British Championship. Cars range from road going saloons, through sports cars to full blown single seater race cars with F1 engines.

Hillclimbing usually provides good spectator access and viewing of the action. Whilst the sport is very competitive, it is also has a friendly atmosphere and attracts men and women competitors of all ages.

A very different kind of hillclimbing is done with offroad motorcycles going straight up extremely steep hills. The winner is the one which could climb the highest, or in the case more than one made it to the top, the fastest. This kind of motorsport, which requires skill as well as bravery, has a long tradition in the USA and has been popular in France and Austria since the 1980s. The Austrian event in Rachau focused on crowd entertainment, and inspired many similar events.