Vintage and Classic Hillclimb

British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) Yorkshire Centre organised an hillclimb event, on Sunday 23^rd August for the following clubs, Vintage and Classic Sports Car Club (VSCC), Lotus Hillclimb Championship, Pre-War Austin Seven Club and The Triumph Register Car Club, who had a hand full of competitors.

As well as four wheels the event had two and three wheels with members from the National Hillclimb Association taking part on motorbikes and sidecar units. The event was not part of the Harewood Championship or the Harewood Fastest Time of the Day Award Series.

With a full entry list of 125, 4 wheeled competitors, which would also included a small number of Harewood regulars and 28, two and three wheeled competitors.

Harewood regulars.

Rob Spedding was sharing a drive in with his dad, Haydn, in a Jaguar E-Type. Spedding is currently third in the Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship, with two rounds reminding in the 2026 Championship. Rob normally drives his Formula Ford 1600cc racing car, a Vector TF93k in the Championship. One of his competitors in that class, is Paul Harris who along with his wife Anne were competing in an Austin 7 Ulster Replica. 

Dave Tatham was in the McLaren M12C that he had used a couple of times last year. Dave usually competes in his DJ Firehawk.

A couple of Harewood regulars would be taking part in Mini’s including David Taylor driving his Morris Cooper S and David Spaull driving his Morris Mini.

Richard Derrick had two entries for the event he was driving in his Mini 1275GT, that he drives in the Harewood Speed Championship but he also had his Wolseley Hornet Special.

Also having a dual drive was Jolyon Harrison in a Cognac Special AC/GN and a HRG.

Henry Moorhouse swapped his fast four wheeled, Westfield for two, Henry was competing on a Honda Fireblade.

National Hillclimb Association

With a large number of classes not only for engine size but also a Classic class for pre- 1965 bikes, Road Legal class and sidecar units. I’m not used to seeing two competitors in any sort of vehicle on the famous Yorkshire hill but we had this with the sidecar units.

For more details on the club and championship visit the clubs website: NHCA

Pre-War Austin Seven Club

The Bert Hadley Memorial Championship consists of a number of hillclimbs and sprints held throughout the country for owners and members of the club, driving Austin 7’s or Austin 7 based Specials (racing cars). With 16 possible rounds, though competitors must compete in at least five rounds, for a place in the championship. If a competitor competes in more only the best five will count towards the Championship.

For more details on the club and championship visit the clubs website PWA7C

Paul Matty Lotus Hillclimb Championship

This included classes for road, from the Lotus Elan to Elise and Exige cars and racing cars from the early 1970’s. With dedicated Lotus classes running at a number of speed hillclimbs and sprints throughout the 2026 season.

VSCC Speed Championship

The club was formed in 1934 and has been active in every aspect of motoring and motorsport for pre-war cars, including race meetings, hillclimbs, sprints, road rallies, trails and driving tests.

The hillclimb was round seven of the VSCC Speed Championship for the 2026 season.

For more details on the club and championship visit the clubs website VSCC

The two Practice runs were completed before lunch and up to three timed runs for all but the Lotus Hillclimb Championship and those drivers who didn’t wise to take a third timed run. The National Hillclimb Association (fastest bikes and side cars) had a top 10 run-off prior to the third timed runs.

The sun was out with a little fair weather cloud rolling in but with very little wind the temperature climbed into the mid 20’s, before cooling off a little during the third timed runs. The track conditions were right for a number of drivers to set personal best times up the hill.

Five new Class Records were set:

Class 19A for Pre-War Austin 7 Club road going, Austin 7 Ulster driven by Joe Spicer

V3 Class for Standard and Modified Sports-Cars and Saloon Cars 1101cc to 1500cc Non-Supercharged and 751cc to 1100cc Supercharged, Fraser Nash Super Sports driven by Patrick Blakeney-Edwards

Class V10 for Special Sports-Cars and Saloon Cars 1501cc to 3000cc Non-Supercharged and 1100cc to 2250cc Supercharged, Frazer Nash TT Replica driven by Theo Hunt.

C20 Class for Classic Sports Cars built up to and including 1972, Jaguar E-Type driven by Haydn Spedding.

Classic Racing and Sports Racing Cars, Class C21 built up to and including 1975, McLaren M12C driven by Dave Tatham.

Fastest Time of the Day (FTD), overall was set by Dave Tatham driving his McLaren M12C, while the FTD in the Vintage class was set by James Baxter driving his Riley ERA.

While the fastest time on two wheels was set by Tommy Hodges riding the Team GV KTM motorbike.

The fastest time on three wheels was set by Simon Foster and Jayne Foster on the Honda CBR-RR F2 sidecar unit.

FTD and Top 4 in Class results.

Full Results for the Vintage and Classic Hillclimb meeting.

Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to be track side in 2026. Also not forgetting all the volunteer Marshals, Medical and the Extractor Rescue Ambulance Team, along with all the back office staff without which, the events at Harewood Hill could not take place.

Remaining Harewood Hill events for 2026.

• 26 September – Greenwood Cup
• 27 September – Mike Wilson
• 12 December – Rallye Harewood

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