Gurston Down
| Location | Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, England |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT |
| Coordinates | W1:58:02, N51:01:55 |
| Major Events | British Hill Climb Championship |
| Hill Length | 0.601 miles (1,058 yd) |
| Hill Record | 25.37 (Scott Moran, 2014, British Hill Climb Championship) |
The Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb is a hillclimb in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, England, organised by the South Western Centre of the British Automobile Racing Club. The first practice meeting was held on 25 June 1967, when Patsy Burt, driving a McLaren-Oldsmobile set a time of 39.90 sec. The first competition event was held on 23 July 1967.
The track currently hosts eight competitive events each year; three are two-day events, and five are single-day events. In addition, a Test Day is held annually just before the competitive season starts. The venue also conducts four Hill Climb School days each year, which follow the syllabus set by AHASS (the Association of Hill Climb and Sprint Schools).
The venue currently hosts two rounds a year of the British Hill Climb Championship during May and August, and one round of the Midland Hill Climb Championship in July. In addition to five rounds of the local Gurston Down Championship, the venue hosts rounds of the ASWMC and ACSMC championships.
Motorcycles also visit the venue twice a year, and run as part of two single-day events. The motorcycle riders are members of the National Hill Climb Association (NHCA).
The farmland the course traverses is also used for pheasant shoots and the course itself has found a dual use as a gravity racing venue.
The course measures 1058 yards (967 metres), and rises a total of 140 feet (43 metres), although the first section of the track is downhill, a feature unique in British hill climbing, but not unknown elsewhere in Europe.
The course was designed in 1965 by Tony Marsh, who was still competing the course in the premier over 2000cc racing car class in 2007. In July 2009, the third round of the Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb Championships was dedicated to Marsh's memory following his death in May.
The outright hill record is held by Scott Moran, who completed the course in 25.37 seconds August 2014.
Key: R = Course Record.
Coordinates: 51°2′2.12″N 1°58′8.75″W / 51.0339222°N 1.9690972°W
...
Wikipedia