‘FROM PARDON HAIRPIN TO TIN SHED CORNER’

At our September 2010 ‘Members and Invited Clubs’ meeting a wall plaque was unveiled  to announce the ‘association’ that PRESCOTT HILL CLIMB has formed with the ROB ROY HILLCLIMB just out of Melbourne in the SE State of Victoria.

Initiated via the joint interests of members from both venues, it was felt that to have an ‘association’ of some kind, a like a ‘twinning’ of venues rather than towns, was a good way to enhance and promote the common cause of hillclimbing on a global theme.

ROB ROY was the first purpose designed and constructed hillclimb in Australia and held its inaugural meeting on 1st February 1937, FTD [37.39 secs] was Jack Day in a Bugatti with a Ford V8 engine! The 760 yards course, ‘half a mile’, has not altered in 70+ years, and today’s record is 17.64, held by Andrew Howell in a Gould GR55B, and this amazingly fast run, in February this year, included running over a snake just before the finish line!

PRESCOTT and ROB ROY have quite a lot in common, including the fact that both are administered by car clubs; in 1992 the MG Car Club of Victoria took over responsibility for the lease of ‘ROB ROY’ land and began a programme of ‘continuous improvement’ to the course, facilities and environs.

The main initial objective of the ‘association’ is to develop a ‘social’ dialogue, with a tie-up in our respective web sites, magazines and event programmes. The purpose is to broaden the awareness, understanding and friendly comradely of Hillclimbing to enthusiasts on both sides of the world, and initially the main progress will probably be holidaying members requesting a visit to the respective venues.

A good example of what can be done between the two clubs when we enjoyed the company of two Aussie Frogeye Sprites at the ‘Le Vie en Bleu’ meeting on May 25, the cars and enthusiast owners/passengers were MGCC Vic members and ROB ROY competitors who brought their cars over for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Frogeye. They knew there was a dialogue going on between Rob Roy and Prescott, and as Prescott was on their ‘must see’ list anyway, arrangements were made for them to park up in the paddock and to attend the ‘overseas reception’, in a sense it was the first ‘exchange’ experience. They loved the day, loved  Prescott, even the very un-Aussie weather didn’t dampen their enthusiasm.  

As a matter of interest, that VSCC members may already have seen, there was an article in the Summer 2008 issue of ‘The Bulletin’ by Mac Hulbert [ERA R4D], of his experience competing in the Rob Roy ‘International Challenge’ meeting in March this year [not in R4D]. He had competed the week before at the major International Historic Race Meeting at Phillip Island, and was very complimentary of both events, after the Rob Roy event he said – “The event was followed by a brief prize-giving, with all the conviviality and bonhomie that characterizes Australian historic motor sports. The frequent teasing between Poms and Aussies serves only to emphasize how strong the bonds between the two countries are. Any member [VSCC] looking for a break from Britain’s dark winters whether to  watch or participate can do no better than head south ... to the land of Oz” Testimony indeed.