This Kop Hill Climb (September 21-22) will be celebrating this years event with some of motorsport's most recognisable icons.
The world recording breaking Napier-Railton one of the most famous names in motorsport history will be attending this years Kop Hill Climb courtesy of the Brooklands Museum. John Cobb commissioned the Napier-Railton to be built by Thomson and Taylor based at the Brooklands Track in 1933 to break world speed records and by 1935 it became the fastest vehicle to lap Brooklands Outer Circuit at 143.44 mph, a record never beaten. The Napier-Railton encapsulated the spirit of the era, an era when Speed was King and records fell in its wake. It took big engines to deliver the pace to take records and few come larger or more famous than the Napier-Railtons 24 litre, twelve cylinder Napier Lion aero engine, 502 bhp behemoth. Static, the gleaming Napier-Railton is enough to captivate such is its pull, but Kop Hill seeks to enthral, so spectators will be treated to the sight and raucous sound of this legend in action as it takes to the famous hill over the weekend in a titanic legend vs. legend battle. The Kop Hill Climbs grassroots atmosphere mean spectators will be extremely close to the action and while the run will no doubt be quick the memories will last a lifetime!
The Napier will be in very good company as many of motorsports most famous sporting marques and special cars will gather at his years Kop Hill Climb in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, including the legendary Blower Bentley, the brainchild of famous pre-war racer Sir Henry Birkin, courtesy of the Beaulieu Museum.
W.O. Bentley built his first sports car, a 3 litre, in 1919. The successor to this early model was the 4 Litre which was developed into the famous supercharged, or Blower, model. Bentley himself disapproved of supercharging and the blown cars were largely developed by Bentley racing driver Sir Henry Birkin. The supercharged version did not have a particularly successful competition record, despite un-blown Bentleys having won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1924, 1927, 1928 and 1929, but it did make one exceptionally fine road car.
The supercharger used on the Bentley was the design of engineer Amherst Villiers a great personal friend of author Ian Fleming. Perhaps that is why in Flemings original novels Casino Royale, Live and Let Die and Moonraker James Bond drove a battleship grey 4 Litre Blower Bentley!
Next up is the famous ex-Lord Howe racing Talbot, GO 54, part of the legendary 1930s GO team now the only complete surviving pre-war race team. GO 54 will open each days hill climb proceedings waved off by none other than the current Lord Howe with Lady Howe, a Kop Hill Climb Patron, proudly taking the passenger seat.
The Talbot team enjoyed huge success, at home on the Brooklands Track, in the Alpine Trials, and at Le Mans. The huge versatility of these four seater touring cars with their flexible 6 cylinder 3 litre cast iron engines was legendary, as was recognised by Fox and Nicholl, who reworking the Talbots each season, organised the semi-works team over this period, gradually improving the power and handling.
In 1931 form, as an official Talbot factory entry, GO 54 had won the Glacier Cup in the Alpine Trial, not dropping a single point as Humfrey Symons and Norman Garrad stormed the summits over seven gruelling days. In October, running GO 54 in stripped form, John Cobb drove the Talbot in the Brooklands 500 race. Lapping at 112 mph he secured 6th place and 2nd in class, despite having to pit, caused by his accidental closing of the radiator shutters. Remarkably, in November GO 54 raced against the Glasgow to Edinburgh train "The Flying Scotsman" as part of a wager; and won.
The Kop Hill Climb (21-22 September) which donates it proceeds to local charitable causes, now in the 5th year of the Revival of the 1910-1925 events is firmly established as one of the best events for the public to witness up close motoring icons in motion and with so much planned to see and do at this years Kop Hill Climb it promises to exceed last years 14,000 spectator attendance record. Those with families seeking something rather more light-hearted can enjoy a wide range of childrens entertainments including a climbing wall and the soapbox racers!
Advanced day (8 adult, children under 12 free) weekend (16) and grandstand (5) tickets for the 2013 Kop Hill Climb are available online at www.kophillclimb.info or from the local Princes Risborough Information office.
