Hill climbing is the motorsport that keeps on giving, offering endless satisfaction with very little wallet strain, writes ALISDAIR SUTTIE
MOTOR RACING is all high glamour, high speed and even higher costs. That’s the perceived wisdom, but there’s a form of motorsport going on all over Ireland for which you don’t even need a race car: your everyday road car will do just fine.
Hill climbing is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, dating back to the early days of motoring, when it was by no means certain every car would even get to the top of a test hill. These days, there’s every type of machine taking part, from Formula One refugees to the most humble hatchback, and the one thing they all have in common is that the drivers are experiencing the same huge enjoyment.
To get started, your car needs only the most basic of modifications. The obvious one is the small black strip poking out from the front of the car. This is there to break the timing beams on the start and finish lines; it also helps the marshals line the car up so every driver gets the same fair time. The timing strip is easily attached to road cars by fixing it to the towing hook; no fancy modifications needed.
The other changes you’ll need to make are equally simple. A sticker on the car’s steering column to show which way is on and off for the ignition is fine, while the battery needs a simple bit of tape to show which lead is positive. Both of these changes are – in the unlikely event of a serious accident – to help the marshals switch off the engine and make the car safe as quickly as possible.
There’s no need to go to the expense of roll cages, hip-nipping sports seats or stripped out interiors if you just want to dip a toe into the world of hill climbing. Be warned, though – one event is enough to get most drivers hooked. Even then, using your road car is a good way to progress as hill climbing is as much about beating your own personal best as about racing against others.
Whatever car you use for hill climbing, it will be allocated a class so you’ll be competing against similar machinery. Classes are generally divided by engine size and car type. Don’t panic – you won’t be up against the monster single-seaters as you sit quivering in a Citroën Saxo.
You do need a race licence to prove you are capable of driving a car and fit enough to get behind the wheel. The licence is available from Motorsport Ireland and costs €110, which allows you to compete in hill climbs, autocross, rallycross and rallysprint events. It’s available to all drivers from the age of 16, which is why hill climbing is such a popular motorsport – Mum, Dad and the kids can all take part in the same car. This helps further reduce costs as you only need one car for several drivers. Otherwise, all you need is a helmet and race suit that comply with regulations.
To gain your National B licence, Motorsport Ireland will ask you to fill out the application form, which can be downloaded from its website. Then you need to sign the medical declaration and get a doctor’s certificate to prove you’re alive and kicking. For older drivers, it’s the same process, but they will need to renew their medical certificate more regularly. It’s also best to join one of the seven motor racing clubs in Ireland for advice, help and camaraderie.
Clutching your newfound passport to motorsport, it’s time to go racing. We turned up to a hill climb at Doune in Scotland (there are plenty of hill climbs taking part all over Ireland throughout the season) in a completely standard Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Equipped with road brakes, road tyres and very definitely a road driver to begin with, we were full of nerves about what to expect and being laughed at by “proper” racers. These worries were soon dispelled as we set up.
A quick check of tyre pressures and pasting on the race numbers had us ready for the off and through scrutineering, while plenty of friendly chats with other, experienced drivers helped still the butterflies doing circuits in our stomachs.
A two-day event, Doune is considered one of the trickiest hill climb courses there is. It rises 120m from the start line up a very narrow lane to the finish that lies 1,350m uphill.
There are very steep sections, especially the infamous East Brae, towards the top of the hill, where it’s reckoned most first timers get it a bit wrong and give themselves a scare. We proved that theory more than correct on our first ascent.
Back in the paddock before our first run, other competitors were happy to share advice and experience. Drivers of Citroën Saxos, Toyota Corollas, Honda Integras, Minis and Ford Fiestas all lined up with us, as well as the de rigueur smattering of Caterham and Westfield sports cars. There was also a healthy contingent from the Ferrari Owners Club, which proves that hill climbing is a great leveller of cars, if not geography.
The first day of our hill climb debut was all practice. We had three runs to get an idea of where the road twists and jinks, where to push hard and where to go canny. Before the first cars roared off the line, we had a drivers’ briefing and a chance to walk up the course, listening to old hands for a few tips.
With so many cars competing, it was two hours before our batch was called to the starting line. The car is rolled up to the line by marshals so that the timing strip is in line with the timing beam. When the red light goes green, there’s no need to blast off the line – instead, you go when you’re ready and it’s your time up the course, rather than your reactions, that are measured.
First time for us up the hill at Doune was nerve-wracking, as rain had tipped it down just beforehand. Still, this run was about learning the way, while our second run in dry conditions shaved a huge chunk of time off and boosted confidence.
The third and last run of practice on the Saturday saw more time tumble off our ascent and helped calm the nerves. Despite being elated at getting the first runs out of the way and putting in more respectable times, it was hard not to compare our efforts to those in the same class.
Husband and wife team Adam and Joanne Young were posting faster times in their Ebay bargain Citroën Saxo, which sported a set of wheels and tyres that cost as much as the rest of the car.
They were having a whale of a time and John pointed out: “This car was so cheap to buy and prepare that we can just go for it and enjoy the competition. It already had a few dents and scratches when we bought it, so it hardly matters if it picks up a scuff during the hill climb.”
His words proved prophetic when he clipped a barrier towards the end of one of his Sunday runs, although the car survived to go again.
The same story applied to Trevor Park and his daughter, Vicky, who share a Toyota Corolla GTi. Fast all weekend, both were pushing hard on Sunday’s timed runs that count towards points in the championship.
Vicky had a near miss coming on to the finish straight when the car skewed out of the last corner. As with most incidents in hill climbing, it looked much more dramatic than it was and Vicky and the Corolla continued racing later that day.
As for us, we managed a respectable time of 60.2 seconds and improved on every run. We weren’t the quickest, but it felt like winning the world championship just to take part in our first hill climb. The atmosphere was great, both in the paddock and in the car while hurling up the hill. With hill climbs taking place almost every weekend across Ireland up until November, theres plenty of scope for pitting your skill against the clock.
Check out irishhillclimb.com for details – you’ll find hill climbing may not have the high costs and high glamour of Formula One, but it’s certainly got all of the speed and adrenaline.
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times
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