Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb is the oldest motorsport venue in the world that is still held on its original course. The Midland Automobile Club holds its hillclimb events there with 9 events taking place in 2007.
The Venue is described by many as a 'Power' Hill due in part to its short sprint like stretch of very steep hill. The valley that the course winds up is narrow and the track is little more than a lane. The surface though is finished to a class that will match the linkes of ‘Silverstone’ and ‘Spa’ this is a racing circuit in every sence of the word. The cars that compete at the hill are tremendously spectacular. Single seater racing cars with ex-F1 engines producing 680+ horsepower accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds off the startline. The cars approach the Bottom S left hand corner at over 130mph, and then cross the finish line at over 140 mph. The current record is held by Martin Groves in a Gould single seater racing car with a 3.5 litre V8 Cosworth engine when he scaled the course in 23.86 seconds in June 2005. The very first hill record was set some 99 years earlier in 77.6 seconds.You can sense the motorsport heritage as the exhaust notes of the cars reverberate around the trees.
Viewing as a spectator at Shelsley will get you probably the closest to the action of any of the hillclimb venues around the UK and probably any motorsport event in the world. A footpath follows the course from the carpark to the first corner ‘Kennel’ here the viewing is of the approach from the startline where the cars must make their first impression as this can be where the race is won or lost. Following on up the hill you arrive a ‘Crossing’ where in years gone by you used to be able to cross and view from the other side alas this is not the case these days. This is a deceptive corner and catches out the unwary driver on many occasions this plays into the hands of the spectators and provides excellent viewing with the first seating area and the second commentary point.
Onwards up the hill you pass the Members Tent and the ‘Kink’ as the main straight is any thing but! Viewing here is fast and furious with the cars at full chat and the most powerful cars will touch 130mph as they approach 'Bottom S'. The path here is extremely steep and it is a good point to stop and rest, viewing the cars as they enter this complex of corners. When you reach the main viewing area at ‘Bottom S’ it provides the best viewing where you can see the cars comming up the main straight sweeping through and scrabling their way out of ‘Top S’. The complex is all linked by footpaths and there is ample seating for all. After ‘Top S’ the path is taken away from the track for safety and you find yourself hopefully in a sunny field, you can still view the cars as they blast up the finish straight.
The Paddock is accessed by walking the downhill direction from the carpark and is not to missed as much of the area has not changed since the early 1900s when the venue was in its hayday. The action here is frenetic as the cars are wheeled to the line and warm their tyres before they blast to ‘Kennel’. Spactators can view from the gallery opposite the start line overlooked by the main commentary point ‘Vox Villa’. At some of the events you will find here a Big screen TV to assist the viewing up the hill
Catering for all is done excellently with a varied fayre available for sandwiches, burgers and the ‘Bacon and Brie Baggett’ for those with a harty appetite, a licensed bar is in the paddock or simply bring your own picnic
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