You may have heard of hill climbing, but what was “freak hill climbing” we hear you ask? In this article, John Jackson explores a rather novel sport that emerged in the 1920s in the UK.
Words: John Jackson
Photos: The Still Time Collection
The conventional theory is “Freak Hill Climbing” in the UK was based on a similar style American sport that had already become very popular across the pond in the early 1900’s.
The mid 1920’s seems to be the period when many of the UK’s off road hill climbs on “Freak”, or in other words, extremely steep hills began. Before this many of the nations hill climb events took place on public roads at places such as Kop Hill in Buckinghamshire and Angel Bank in Shropshire. These early road based events were dominated by people like George Dance on his devastatingly fast works Sunbeam’s.
But in 1925 competing on public roads was banned due to a series of accidents where members of the public got injured, so daring motorcyclists were looking for new challenges, and off road sports like Grass Track, Speedway and Freak Hill climbing grew in popularity. The golden age of Freak Hill climbing was the late 1920’s and 1930’s – events often drew crowds of thousands of people, and the sport proved popular right up to the beginning of the second world war.
It was also popular for a while post war, at selected events such as Red Marley in Worcestershire and Rushmere in Shropshire.
Organisers of such events searched for extremely steep, natural terrain tracks, some having sections with gradients as steep as 1 in 1. Under some conditions many of these hills were almost unclimbable and were only ascended by the most skilful riders on the fastest and lightest machines, both solo and combinations were ridden at most events.
Notable hill climbers included George Dance, Frank Williams, Tommy Deadman, Graham Goodman, Dick Tolley, Archie Bingham, Len Heath, Tom Hughes, Jack Williams, Bert Perrigo, Corrie Hanbury, Len Vale Onslow and many many more.
The machines used were from all the major british brands including Scott, Sunbeam, AJS, Norton etc but were often lightened and cut down, with small fuel tanks and ran on dope fuel, which could include all sorts of concoctions of high octane flammable liquids. Many early competitors used dangerous metal spiked rear tyres to achieve grip, spectacular loop outs and crashes were common place. These studded tyres were banned from competition by the ACU in 1931.
Some notable and popular freak hills included:
The North
Hepolite Scar: Bradford; Bradford and District Motor Club
Scalby: North Yorkshire; Tadcaster Motor Club
Wood Hey: Hebden Bridge; Calder Valley Motor Club
Bridge Crag: North Yorkshire; Pickering and District Motor Club
Heighley Castle: Betley; Crewe and South Cheshire Motor Club
Moor End: Skipton; Skipton and District Motor Club
Hearders Moor: Colne; Colne and District Motor Club
Dalton Bank, Huddersfield, Huddersfield and District Motor Sports Club
The South
Amberley: West Sussex; Uckfield and District Motor Cycle and Car Club
Rooks Hill: Sevenoaks; West Kent Motor Club
Old Chalky: Kent; Bromley and District Motor Club
Hampton Hill: Bath, Bath and Avon Motor Cycle Club.
Three Counties and Wales
Dinmore: Leominster; Wye Valley Auto Club
Harley Bank: Presteigne; Presteigne Automobile Club
Red Marley: Great Witley, Worcester; Birmingham Motorcycle Club, Stourport Motorcycle and Light Car Club, West Birmingham Motor Cycle Club.
Limekiln Hill: Stanton Lacy; Ludlow and District Motorcycle and Small Car Club
Rushmere: Bridgnorth; Cygnet Motorcycle Club
Michaelchurch: Herefordshire; Wye Valley Auto Club
Cowleigh Bank: West Malvern; Malvern and District Motorcycle and Light Car Club
Many of these events disappeared pre war, some prevailed post war but only one, Red Marley, is still regularly run in the UK.
Red Marley is arguably the most famous freak hill climb. Located in Worcestershire, in its hey day known to attract crowds of 5000 plus, the events were was usually held on the easter bank Holidays. It was a very challenging hill of approximately 500 yards, part of the gradient called the “pimple”, near the top, was 1 in 1 and half and the scene of more than one incident.
Pre war in the 30’s the turn out was huge. There was both a straight course “straight up the hill” and a round course where riders followed a large S shape detour before climbing the main hill. The event was so popular that special bus transport was put on to the event from major towns in the region. Graham. W. Walker (Murray Walker’s dad and TT Winner) commentated at the event and it was also broadcast live on BBC radio.
Some of the quickest riders up Red Marley included Len Heath, Dick Tolley, Frank Williams, Corrie Hanbury and Graham Goodman, but of course there were many others too. Some notable climbs from the early years include:
July 1926, fastest time of the day G.B. Goodman, 493 Sunbeam: 43 seconds
June 1928, fastest time of the day J.H. Amott, 499 Rudge: 31 seconds
April 1931, fastest time of the day Frank Williams, 499 Sunbeam: 26 seconds
April 1934, Hill Record by Len Heath: 25 seconds
Red Marley died out in the 70’due to lack of entry’s but was was reinvigorated in the early 2000’s and still takes place today on the traditional easter weekend – its on a new hill, very close to the original, but its still very popular and a real spectacle!!
The three counties had its fair share of other freak climbs too that began in the very early pre war years. In Herefordshire there are references to motorcycle hill climbing at Dinmore near Leominster as early as 1903, but this was more than likely on the public road. In 1929 a newly discovered old logging track on a private property at Dinmore was used by the Wye Valley club for a freak hill climb. The fastest time of the day went to Frank Williams riding a P&M machine, on the 200yd 1 in 3 course.
Just over the Welsh border in Powys, Harley Bank Hill Climb, also known as The Smatcher hill, near New Radnor was ran by the Presteigne Automobile Club. In 1927, 1928 and 1929 this event attracted some big crowds. In 1928 the results were:
250 class: A. Colcombe, Builth Wells, (New Imperial)
350 class: T. Hughes, Leominster (Sunbeam);
Unlimited class: Cecil Lloyd, Builth Wells (New Imperial);
There was another good line up in 1929 and Tom Hughes set the fastest time of the day on his Sunbeam outfit and G Jones the fastest time for a solo on his AJS.
Also in the three counties there are the Shelsley and Prescott hill climbs, but these are speed hill climbs and not to be confused with the much steeper off road “Freak” events.
Whilst Freak Hill Climbing is all but over in the UK, a very similar sport where riders take on ridiculously steep hills on super powerful machines with extended swing arms is still very popular in the US and Europe. Sadly the UK seemed to gravitate more towards the speedway, motocross and road racing forms of two wheeled sports in later years and most of those original “Freak” hills now stand overgrown and lost. Whilst quite scarce, some old photos, stories and results still remain and will ensure future generations can appreciate the pioneering spirit of the post war motorcycle scene and the thrill seeking riders that climbed the unclimbable.
an article by The Girder Club
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