Chateau Impney Hill Climb
13th and 14th July 2019
Report by Trevor Gent
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Lancaster Bomber PA474
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Alfa Romeo Monza 8C
David H Cooke
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This is much more than just a hill climb event, with an impressive line up of vintage and classic cars, supercars and car clubs.
It is easily one of my top events, and I would advise making it a two day event. After 9 hours, we had managed to cover almost all the attractions, but missed quite a lot of the racing.
We travelled down early on the Saturday and access was very easy, being a few miles from the M5 and having a well controlled entrance. Parking for visitors is quick and organised, and when it’s time to leave there is a traffic light system controlling the exit onto the main road.
Entry is fast and easy through the ticket check points, and once inside, an information desk is the first thing you see. They quickly directed us towards the main chateau and offered a map.
It is easily one of my top events, and I would advise making it a two day event. After 9 hours, we had managed to cover almost all the attractions, but missed quite a lot of the racing.
We travelled down early on the Saturday and access was very easy, being a few miles from the M5 and having a well controlled entrance. Parking for visitors is quick and organised, and when it’s time to leave there is a traffic light system controlling the exit onto the main road.
Entry is fast and easy through the ticket check points, and once inside, an information desk is the first thing you see. They quickly directed us towards the main chateau and offered a map.
Bugatti Type 50
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Ferrari 330 P3
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The Cars
These are parked everywhere, but in logical order and mostly, class order of running up the hill. It will take you several hours to visit every car on display, especially if like us, you enjoy talking with the drivers and their families.
The hill climb course runs around the chateau and so all cars that are due to run are located nearby. The only cars really out of the way, but still next to the main paddock are the rally cars, display cars - like the Nascar and F1 cars, and the bikes. Maybe a set of old style street signs would be good, as we got asked for directions to the bikes etc.
The cars on view range from very early 1900s through to the latest supercars. Just about all cars will go up the hill at some point during each day, with cars like the Rally, Single Seaters and supercars running at lunchtime.
The hill climb course runs around the chateau and so all cars that are due to run are located nearby. The only cars really out of the way, but still next to the main paddock are the rally cars, display cars - like the Nascar and F1 cars, and the bikes. Maybe a set of old style street signs would be good, as we got asked for directions to the bikes etc.
The cars on view range from very early 1900s through to the latest supercars. Just about all cars will go up the hill at some point during each day, with cars like the Rally, Single Seaters and supercars running at lunchtime.
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Early Cars
Lorraine Dietrich 130HP Richard Scaldwell
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Morgan Runabout
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Single Seaters
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Parnell Challenger Duncan Ricketts
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Mini
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Pre War
Talbot Lago T26 SS Richard Pilkington
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Vauxhall 30-98 Matthew Parkin
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Post War
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Rally
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Bikes
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NASCAR, F1 and CAN-AM
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Supercars
Ferrari 488 Challenge
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Stone Martin Vulcan Kaaimans
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Bowler Land Rover
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Car Clubs and Enthusiasts
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If you arrive in a classic car, you get special parking.
Viewing of the hill climb is a little restrictive, due to the actual layout, and only small sections are viewable at a time. However, large display screens, with excellent coverage of each run are positioned throughout the site.
Many spectators used the VIP packages and grandstand access available to give them better and improved viewing experience. They all looked very happy and it didn’t look crowded.
Viewing of the hill climb is a little restrictive, due to the actual layout, and only small sections are viewable at a time. However, large display screens, with excellent coverage of each run are positioned throughout the site.
Many spectators used the VIP packages and grandstand access available to give them better and improved viewing experience. They all looked very happy and it didn’t look crowded.
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The attractions
You have a whole lot more than just the cars to get around and enjoy.
The army are there and you can even get to have a tank ride up the local hills.
Land Rover were demonstrating their latest 4x4s.
The fun fair was a vintage attraction with a big wheel and helter skelter.
The army are there and you can even get to have a tank ride up the local hills.
Land Rover were demonstrating their latest 4x4s.
The fun fair was a vintage attraction with a big wheel and helter skelter.
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The wall of death was a popular visit and we enjoyed it immensely. The audience screamed and shouted in all the right places, and it was very entertaining for just £5. They even go around in an Austin 7. We had the opportunity to film from the centre of the wall and from on-top. Thank you Demon Drome!
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Car club displays included several great British makes, such as the Austin 7, Amilcar, Morris and Frazer Nash, but also included BMW. Everyone on the stands were enthusiastic and we spent ages chatting with them.
These are all located down towards the start line and due to the river and necessary bridges, people were naturally guided through this part of the site.
These are all located down towards the start line and due to the river and necessary bridges, people were naturally guided through this part of the site.
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The river is not left out either. It was used by people demonstrating their radio controlled boats.
The Michelin sponsored supercar display, was well supported by Kaaimans and had a good selection of quality and very expensive cars.
On the other side of the site, near the car parks, was the market and a large seating area. The site provides plenty of areas to relax and although taking your own food and soft drinks is permitted, the food on site looked good and was normal event prices. Examples of food was: a pork cob at £4.50 and a drink at £1.00. Fries from £3.00 and hot dogs from £5.00.
The food areas were popular and busy, but queues were short.
They even had a locomotive parked in the middle of the site, just off to the side of the food courts.
The Concours wasn’t really a concours. Although the cars were interesting, more interesting cars were dotted everywhere around the whole venue.
The Michelin sponsored supercar display, was well supported by Kaaimans and had a good selection of quality and very expensive cars.
On the other side of the site, near the car parks, was the market and a large seating area. The site provides plenty of areas to relax and although taking your own food and soft drinks is permitted, the food on site looked good and was normal event prices. Examples of food was: a pork cob at £4.50 and a drink at £1.00. Fries from £3.00 and hot dogs from £5.00.
The food areas were popular and busy, but queues were short.
They even had a locomotive parked in the middle of the site, just off to the side of the food courts.
The Concours wasn’t really a concours. Although the cars were interesting, more interesting cars were dotted everywhere around the whole venue.
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It’s a fantastic event and well worth a visit or even a full weekend.
Chris Williams awesome Napier Bentley
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And 'Mavis' his V12 42 litre Packard Bentley
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Chateau Impney Hill Climb report by D Michelle Gent
There was a little confusion with regards to whether we were going to attend this one. Back in February, Race Red Media applied to Impney for Media Passes. Not much communication, except to say they were a little behind meant we believed we’d not been successful this time. No problem, we’ll find other things to do – and we did.
Late last week (just a few days before the event), we had an email saying we were welcome to join the team at Impney.
Because the distance we’d have to travel, if we were to attend both days, we’d have to find overnight accommodation, plus dog-sitters. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for us to arrange sitters for our dogs, so we had to make the decision to attend just on one day. Decision made, it had to be the Saturday.
When we arrived, we had a little trouble finding where we had to sign in. It seemed the Press Office was like Isla De Muerta – you could only find it if you’d been there before.
Late last week (just a few days before the event), we had an email saying we were welcome to join the team at Impney.
Because the distance we’d have to travel, if we were to attend both days, we’d have to find overnight accommodation, plus dog-sitters. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for us to arrange sitters for our dogs, so we had to make the decision to attend just on one day. Decision made, it had to be the Saturday.
When we arrived, we had a little trouble finding where we had to sign in. It seemed the Press Office was like Isla De Muerta – you could only find it if you’d been there before.
There is everything an enthusiast could wish to see! No, really, I mean it!
1903 Mercedes 60HP Duncan Pittaway
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Fiat S76 'Beast of Turin' Ben Colings
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Pair of Bentley
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A 60HP Mercedes from the early part of the 20th Century sat in the car park, waiting to be called up for its turn on the hill. We managed to have a chat to the owner and driver and he regaled us with brilliant history of the car. At the time of its manufacture, the ONLY thing faster on earth was a bullet. Can you imagine driving a car with that pedigree in this day and age?
Back then, the cost of a brand new 60 HP Mercedes was the equivalent of around £270k – not bad if you think about it, a Supercar can set you back in excess of half a million or more these days. The biggest surprise, however, was the cost of the tyres. Way back in the olden days, it wasn’t unusual to go through sets of tyres at an astonishing rate, and at a WHOPPING £3,400 per year, that would cost in excess of £400k – for TYRES!
Next to the Mercedes stood one of its convoy mates, The Beast of Turin. Another awesome piece of history and mechanics, driven by road, all the way to Impney. The other running mates on that classic convoy were 3 Bentleys! What an adventure!
Back then, the cost of a brand new 60 HP Mercedes was the equivalent of around £270k – not bad if you think about it, a Supercar can set you back in excess of half a million or more these days. The biggest surprise, however, was the cost of the tyres. Way back in the olden days, it wasn’t unusual to go through sets of tyres at an astonishing rate, and at a WHOPPING £3,400 per year, that would cost in excess of £400k – for TYRES!
Next to the Mercedes stood one of its convoy mates, The Beast of Turin. Another awesome piece of history and mechanics, driven by road, all the way to Impney. The other running mates on that classic convoy were 3 Bentleys! What an adventure!
Whistling Billy Steam Car Dr Robert R Dyke
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Whistling Billy Steam Car Dr Robert R Dyke
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Whistling Billy Steam Car Dr Robert R Dyke
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A few yards away stood another historical car by the name of ‘Whistling Billy’. As the name may suggest, it’s steam-driven.Steam-driven vehicles were banned from competition for more than a century. Only recently was the ban lifted.
F1 Cars
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Every time you turn around, there was something spectacular to be seen. A couple of old Nortons came past, and waited behind a couple of F1 type cars, closely followed by a Bentley from days of yore. What an eclectic mixture.
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The Chateau itself stood watching over the hillclimb track and I have to say it does look the part.
I would have liked to have known where everything was situated, mainly because we had media vests on, and were asked where things were (fortunately, we actually knew the answer to the questions).
I would have liked to have known where everything was situated, mainly because we had media vests on, and were asked where things were (fortunately, we actually knew the answer to the questions).
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Further down the hill, around the start line, a vintage funfair was situated. I was immediately drawn to the Wall of Death, mainly because I remember such an attraction from my childhood holidays. It took a while to get to the Wall of Death because we met and spoke to a lot of lovely people with fascinating things to tell us about their vehicles.
A couple from South Africa (Cape Town) I’d spoken to earlier, sat with their Morris Minor Tourer and showed me their car and some of the awards they’d won. Read about it HERE
The birthplace of the F1 car was next on our tour. The garage where the F1 cars were first developed has been discovered and saved from demolition. Jack French’s Garage has been turned into a museum and it opens next weekend, so if you’re looking for somewhere interesting to aim for, that would be a hot tip from me!
A couple from South Africa (Cape Town) I’d spoken to earlier, sat with their Morris Minor Tourer and showed me their car and some of the awards they’d won. Read about it HERE
The birthplace of the F1 car was next on our tour. The garage where the F1 cars were first developed has been discovered and saved from demolition. Jack French’s Garage has been turned into a museum and it opens next weekend, so if you’re looking for somewhere interesting to aim for, that would be a hot tip from me!
Demon Drome
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Demon Drome
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Demon Drome
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Finally, we made it to the Wall of Death! Better known as ‘Demon Drome’, the show is one of the few of this sort left in the world.
The crew were upbeat and eager to draw in their audience. I stood at the front of their display and read the history of the show. Originally built in America, the show came to the UK and toured with Rita the lion. At one point, the show was permanently sited at Skegness in Lincolnshire – the show from my childhood holidays was most likely that very one.
In between drumming up the punters, I managed to speak with one of the guys. I asked if they were OK with us filming and taking pics and when I got permission, I cheekily asked where the best position would be to get footage.
“You can sit in the centre if you like,” the boss said.
Well, I’m not one for needing to be asked twice!
Check out the videos of the Demon Drome!
The crew were upbeat and eager to draw in their audience. I stood at the front of their display and read the history of the show. Originally built in America, the show came to the UK and toured with Rita the lion. At one point, the show was permanently sited at Skegness in Lincolnshire – the show from my childhood holidays was most likely that very one.
In between drumming up the punters, I managed to speak with one of the guys. I asked if they were OK with us filming and taking pics and when I got permission, I cheekily asked where the best position would be to get footage.
“You can sit in the centre if you like,” the boss said.
Well, I’m not one for needing to be asked twice!
Check out the videos of the Demon Drome!
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I know the public can be blasé about stunt and trick shows, but believe me when I tell you that this one is filled with breath-taking, daredevil skill and entertainment. I’m not sure if the full weight of the difficulty in making a vehicle go around at 90 degrees to what we’re used to can be understood without actually witnessing it, but sitting in the centre of that arena certainly gives an awesome viewpoint. I consider myself to be lucky and fortunate to have been allowed into the circle of awe.
Too many things to be taken in on one day, we went from the fabulous Demon Drome to the Army display, then to the Supercars collection where two guys gave me the low-down on the latest Morgan and we decided upon which car in the collection we’d like to take home.
I’ve always been a big fan of Aston Martin but I chose the Ferrari 275 GTB as an ‘on the spot’ decision. Trev would have taken the Bowler Land Rover as his pick.
I’m just glad I didn’t have to choose one or the other, I’d still be there, making up my mind.
Too many things to be taken in on one day, we went from the fabulous Demon Drome to the Army display, then to the Supercars collection where two guys gave me the low-down on the latest Morgan and we decided upon which car in the collection we’d like to take home.
I’ve always been a big fan of Aston Martin but I chose the Ferrari 275 GTB as an ‘on the spot’ decision. Trev would have taken the Bowler Land Rover as his pick.
I’m just glad I didn’t have to choose one or the other, I’d still be there, making up my mind.
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Ferrari 275GTB
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Bowler
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Aston Martin Vulcan
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Even though this event was the first time we’ve attended, I can already say it’s a firm favourite and we’ll be back (if they’ll have us). On a par with Silverstone Classic and Goodwood Revival for the sheer quality and variety of vehicles, I can see us visiting time and again and never getting bored.