Introduction to Hillclimbing

Hillclimbing (also known as hill climbing, speed hillclimbing or speed hill climbing) is a branch of motorsports in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course. Events are usually held on courses, which are several kilometers long, taking advantage of the available hills and mountains.

It is one of the oldest forms of racing, since the first known Hillclimb (at La Turbie near Nice, France) took place as long ago as 31 January 1897. The Hillclimb held at Shelsley Walsh, in Worcestershire, England is the world's oldest running motorsports event still staged on its original course, having been first run in 1905.

Hillclimbing usually provides good spectator access and viewing of the action. Whilst the sport is very competitive, it is also has a friendly atmosphere and attracts men and women competitors of all ages. Cars used in hillclimbing range from road going saloons, through sports cars to full-blown single-seater racecars with F1 engines including extremely radical contraptions such as the custom-built, twin-engine Suzuki Hillclimb special vehicle driven by Japan’s Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima to six outright victories in New Zealand’s "Race to the Sky."

Arguably, the most famous Hillclimb in the world is the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb held at Pikes Peak, Colorado. This event has been entered by many internationally renowned drivers and multiple world rally champions. The 12.4-mile course finishes at a height of 14,100 feet. The current unlimited class record holder is Rod Millen with a time of 10:04.06. Millen has won the hill climb seven times.

In order for any newcomer to gain a proper perspective of the sport, it is perhaps worthwhile to read an excerpt from a piece written by avowed Hillclimb enthusiast and prolific American author, Mike Ancas.

In his essay entitled “Hillclimbing 101” he wrote:

“If you’re looking for a sport that combines some of the best aspects of autocross, rally and road racing, then hillclimbing may be for you. Defined as a category 1 Solo event (along with time trials and acceleration runs), hillclimbing takes you off the track and puts you on the side of a mountain. Actually, it’s very much like autocrossing, except that the pylons are made of stone and wood (boulders and trees), and if you go ‘off course,’ the consequences are likely to be more serious.

“So, instead of joking with your autocross friends in the parking lot about the mistake you made on your last run, a similar mistake in hillclimbing may result in discussing your blood type and trying to determine how many fingers the paramedic is holding up in front of your face on your way to the nearest hospital.

“But don’t let us scare you out of trying this great sport (. . . on second thought, the less people come to the events, the more runs we get). In England, hillclimbing has been extremely popular for decades, but for some reason here in the U.S., it has not yet caught on. Seriously, we can’t understand why more drivers don’t Hillclimb. Besides the obvious rush, it’s a great test of driving ability and car preparation. The scenery is usually breathtaking, and the people at the events are extremely friendly and supportive, especially to beginners.

“Not to mention, the sport is ripe for making your mark. Since it is not as popular as other forms of motorsports, a talented novice could be successful (depending on the class) in just his or her first season. Very often, you can find yourself competing in major events against cars that have not been prepared to the limit of the rules. And depending on your experience, certain hills favor particular styles of driving. Autocrossers can have a distinct advantage on hills that offer many second gear twists and turns, while road racers tend to dominate on the high-speed hills where precision braking and heel/toe downshifting is required. So, no matter what your background, there is a hill for you.” (Copyright (c) 2000-2003 By Mike Ancas. All Rights Reserved)

About Us

THE Hill Climb Club of the Philippines (HCCP) organized by a group of long-time motorsports enthusiasts was formally launched on December 7, 2006 at the Mint Bar and Bistro located at the Fort Strip in the Bonifacio Global city in Taguig City.

The event, which was attended by officials of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), motor racing aficionados and members of the media, marked the creation of a body that will now oversee the organization and conduct of hillclimbing in the Philippines in accordance with the general prescriptions set forth by the AAP and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).