Sunday 21st April brings the motorbikes and combinations from the Autocycle Union’s (ACU) National Hill Climb Championship to Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb for the first of five visits.

The riders and their machines never fail to produce some spectacular racing. If you haven’t seen them, check out some of the videos on Facebook!

Motorbikes are run in classes, just like cars based on engine capacity as well as a few other factors.

Sunday’s meeting sees the following line up:

The Solo Motor Cycles 351cc to 500cc class, goes first. It has nine riders entered. The class has some really competitive and experienced riders. There are class winners, experienced Gurston Down and fastest time of the day riders included in the entry. With the calibre of the riders in this class, it’ll be a close fought battle.

 

The Solo Motor Cycles 501cc to 750cc class has another big entry with ten riders. Many of these riders are top ten hill climbers in the 2018 championship. Look out for Tom Short and his KTM, Tommy Hodges (KTM SMR), Daniel Hurley (Husaberg), Guy Ursell (KTM) SMR), Mark Short (Aprilia SVX) and Keith Haines (Aprilia SVX) as they will all be lloking for the win and a place in the Top Ten Run-off. It’s goping to be performance on the day.

The Solo Motor Cycles 751cc to 1300cc class sees another huge class entry. Stuart Mills on his Aprilla Tuono has won for the last two years so can he make it three years in succession! Stuart has Paul Jeffery (KTM), Allan Jolly (Aprilia TZV) and Simon Gates (Kawasaki ZX10R) and all of the other riders who will all be wanting to take the win. All of these riders will also be in the hunt for the Fastest Time of the Day and a Top Ten Run-Off place!

And then it’s the turn of the motorbike and side car combinations! The side cars are a proper spectacle! The pillion (passenger) only stays on by holding on buy their feet and hands, no seat belts or harnesses. The pillion hanging on or sometimes out of the combination! There are three combinations entered, look out for 986 which has Sarah Howard, Gurston Down’s chairman, riding (or perhaps hanging on) as a pillion!


Then the bikes will have a Top Ten Run-off. The Ten fastest motorbikes and combinations will compete again to score additional points.

Why not come and join us?

With this variety of motorbikes (and cars) Sunday 21st will be an action packed day at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb.

Don’t miss it!

Key info:
Location: 1 mile west of Broad Chalke, 9 miles SW of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Turn off the A354 at Coombe Bissett on the unclassified road to Broad Chalke, follow AA signs.
Dates: Cars Saturday 20th and Motorbikes and Cars Sunday 21st April
Times: Competition from approx. 1300, practice from 0830 both days.
Admission: Only £10 for adults each day, accompanied under 14s free, free paddock entry, free parking.

 

Anthony Record – Press Officer – BARC SW, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb