Like most hill climbs, the course is narrow, sinuous and, with a long downhill start, very fast in places.
While more competitive riders use modern v-twins or motocross machines, the club also encourages the use of older bikes that contest their own championship while still competing in the usual capacity classes.
There were two morning practice sessions at last month’s event, although one was blighted by pouring rain. The afternoon’s two timed runs took place in drier conditions. Quickest was NHCA committee stalwart Nigel Glover, on his Tricati (650 Triumph engine, Ducati cycle parts) who claimed eighth in the 750 class with a climb of 42.09 seconds. Perhaps the most unusual was young Jack Bennett, out on a rigid International Norton which he hustled over the line at 70mph to record a 45.56. Among the sidecars, determined riding from Terry Martin and Kelly Birkett secured a 45.23 second time to get their 750 TAG Triton outfit in among the later chairs.
