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Challengers Rally: 16 – 17th September 2017 Peter Cook
This year Challengers rally will be held over the weekend of the 16th and 17th September at the Kop Hill revival hill climb.
Kop Hill is a steep climb just outside Princes Risborough, a small market town at the foot of the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire. It rises 304 feet in 3,848 feet, with a gradient of 1 in 4 at its steepest. Kop Hill in the 1920s was just a dirt track up the open scarp of the Chilterns. Its’ surface was loose, stony, hard and bumpy unlike todays tarmac surface.
Kop Hill is one of the oldest Hill Climb venues in England. It was one of several hill climbs in the Chilterns and the first recorded races were held in 1910. It became a major event of the motor car and motorcycle sporting calendar and many famous drivers and riders ran up the hill. The hill was in regular use until 1925 when, as a result of an accident on the hill, all racing on public roads in Britain was banned.
The revival of the event in 2009 was well supported and has gone from strength to strength. The event is organised locally and raises money for local charities. Last year the event attracted large crowds and over 300 historic vehicles ran the hill and a further 300 were on display in the paddock. The organisers report that they have raised over £100,000 for local charities since 2009.
The draft programme for the day
Paddock Gates Open 08.00
Spectator Gates Open 09.00
Hill Climb 10.00 – 12.45
14.00 – 16.45
Motor racing demonstrations 12.45 – 13.00
16.45 – 17.00
I have attended all the events since 2009 and the club has supported the Kop Hill event for the past six years. Last year we had a record fifteen cars at the event over the weekend. Five BSAs were booked on the hill for the Sunday and we had seven cars in the paddock on the Saturday. Below, the photograph shows the Sr 5 four seater Scout of Rob Dentry, with Pat in the passenger seat, and the Sr 4 four seater of John Chadwick on the Sunday of the 2016 event.
The event is not a speed hill climb but rather a commemorative run to recall the exciting past of the Kop Hill climb. Spectators are able to see and hear the vehicles on the Hill and can have a close up view of the vehicles in the paddock.
Costs (still to be confirmed by the organisers) of the event are as follows:
Hill Entrants: Motorcars £30 – 40 for one day and £50 – 60 for the weekend. Motorcycles £15 – 20 for one day and £25 – 30 for the weekend
For Club Members parking in the paddock the cost for a car is £20 for one day and £30 for two days. Note extra passengers are charged £10 collected at the gate (under 12s are £5 and under 5’s are free). Club members parking in the normal car park will be charged the standard admission fee of £10 per person or £15 for the weekend. Children under 5 are free with a reduced rate for those under 18.
The web site for 2017 opens for bookings in April. However if you have booked in previous years you can book in now through opening your account. In order to drive on the hill park in the club area you will need to register but make sure you do this without delay after the web site opens. The Kop Hill web address is www.kophillclimb.info.
We have already booked a club area in the Paddock and the club name should appear on the Kop Hill web site. However, remember you do still need to book in individually. I recommend you do this early. If you intend to attend please let me know as soon as possible. If you turn up on the day without having booked in you will not get into the club parking area.
The location Kop Hill Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 0LB, Map reference OS sheet 165 815030.
For any more information contact me on 01483 570433 or peter@cookbsa.com.