Prescott Historique (Hillclimb) 27:May
I’ve been meaning to go to a Prescott Hillclimb since RRG12, and this seemed a good meeting to attend with the promise of seeing Bugatti’s in action.
As a venue I prefer Prescott to Shelsley Walsh, the track is longer and is better for spectating (and photography). I would describe the atmosphere as very ‘English’, relaxed and friendly and not too crowded. I spent the morning sessions just past Orchard Corner with good views of the cars entering and exiting Ettore’s Bend and the climb up to Pardon Hairpin and then seeing the cars through the trees. In the afternoon I went from Pardon Hairpin along to The Esses. The weather was excellent, clear sky’s and sun, I didn’t get too sunburned as the afternoon was spent in the shade. Entry at £20 plus £3 for a programme is fairly good value for a day of action.
I was bit disappointed in the number of ‘Historique’ cars taking part, there was a handful of Bugatti’s competing and a few more in the paddock. Given the numbers it was a bit repetitive with most cars doing 4-8 runs. As well as the competing cars there were a number of demonstration runs.
I took at lot of photos some of which are very similar, I’ll break this down into sections by car or type of car.
BRM P15 (V16) continuation
The star attraction for the demonstration runs was the continuation BRM P15. Post war BRM developed the P15 to compete against Alfa Romeo and Maserati. The engine is a fiendishly complicated 1.5L supercharged V16 that was too complicated for the time. Over the last few years some/a continuation car(s) have been built to the exact specification. The car is spectacularly loud, it’s probably the loudest thing I’ve heard (I’ve been stood at drag strip start line with funny cars), I think it’s probably the pitch of the noise. Going past while spectating it made my ears physically hurt. Check out the various YouTube videos. If Hotblack Desiato had a car this would be it!
brm-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
brm-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
brm-3 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Bugatti’s
I came to see the Bugatti’s and although there weren’t that many there what was there was impressive. From the Type 51 racers to the older Brescia’s it certainly showed that the owners aren’t afraid to use them.
Type 35B
The quintessential Bugatti although not quite in the shade of blue I would have expected. Straight 8, 2.3l supercharged.
bugatti-8 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
This is probably a 35B, bit of opposite lock coming out of hairpin
bugatti-10 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-9 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
The T51 was a development of the T35 inspired by America Miller race cars to add a DOHC to the 2.3L straight 8
Tim Dutton’s
bugatti-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-3 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-4 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Have a look at the front left wheel, commitment or a very stiff chassis/suspension.
bugatti-14 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-13 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-12 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Early Bugatti’s were actually quite crude as shown by these,
#151 T13
bugatti-15 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Not sure what Type this is, but certainly had patina
bugatti-6 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-7 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
bugatti-5 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
McLaren F5000
Another demonstration runner was this F5000 McLaren, massive slicks on the back and a Chevrolet V8.
mclaren-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
mclaren-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
ERA
era-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
era-4 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
era-3 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
era-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Austin 7
I’m not really interested in Austin 7’s too small, but there were a couple of interesting cars.
#126 - ‘Austerity’ Seven Special, hardly recognisable as an Austin 7. Mid engine, supercharged, chain drive, no differential, wider front track… mad.
austin7-4 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
austin7-5 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
austin7-6 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
austin7-7 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
#126 - not so much the car but it was driven, spiritedly, by an older lady (Shirley Tull). Great bonnet mascot as well.
austin7-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
austin7-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
They really are small.
austin7-3 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Not really sure where this fits in, a mid-mounted supercharged Lancia V6.
lancia-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
lancia-3 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Bad image but interesting rear wheel angle.
lancia-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
More to follow...
I’ve been meaning to go to a Prescott Hillclimb since RRG12, and this seemed a good meeting to attend with the promise of seeing Bugatti’s in action.
As a venue I prefer Prescott to Shelsley Walsh, the track is longer and is better for spectating (and photography). I would describe the atmosphere as very ‘English’, relaxed and friendly and not too crowded. I spent the morning sessions just past Orchard Corner with good views of the cars entering and exiting Ettore’s Bend and the climb up to Pardon Hairpin and then seeing the cars through the trees. In the afternoon I went from Pardon Hairpin along to The Esses. The weather was excellent, clear sky’s and sun, I didn’t get too sunburned as the afternoon was spent in the shade. Entry at £20 plus £3 for a programme is fairly good value for a day of action.
I was bit disappointed in the number of ‘Historique’ cars taking part, there was a handful of Bugatti’s competing and a few more in the paddock. Given the numbers it was a bit repetitive with most cars doing 4-8 runs. As well as the competing cars there were a number of demonstration runs.
I took at lot of photos some of which are very similar, I’ll break this down into sections by car or type of car.
BRM P15 (V16) continuation
The star attraction for the demonstration runs was the continuation BRM P15. Post war BRM developed the P15 to compete against Alfa Romeo and Maserati. The engine is a fiendishly complicated 1.5L supercharged V16 that was too complicated for the time. Over the last few years some/a continuation car(s) have been built to the exact specification. The car is spectacularly loud, it’s probably the loudest thing I’ve heard (I’ve been stood at drag strip start line with funny cars), I think it’s probably the pitch of the noise. Going past while spectating it made my ears physically hurt. Check out the various YouTube videos. If Hotblack Desiato had a car this would be it!
brm-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbrm-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbrm-3 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrBugatti’s
I came to see the Bugatti’s and although there weren’t that many there what was there was impressive. From the Type 51 racers to the older Brescia’s it certainly showed that the owners aren’t afraid to use them.
Type 35B
The quintessential Bugatti although not quite in the shade of blue I would have expected. Straight 8, 2.3l supercharged.
bugatti-8 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrThis is probably a 35B, bit of opposite lock coming out of hairpin
bugatti-10 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-9 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrType 51
The T51 was a development of the T35 inspired by America Miller race cars to add a DOHC to the 2.3L straight 8
Tim Dutton’s
bugatti-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-2 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-3 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-4 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrHave a look at the front left wheel, commitment or a very stiff chassis/suspension.
bugatti-14 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-13 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-12 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrEarly Bugatti’s were actually quite crude as shown by these,
#151 T13
bugatti-15 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrNot sure what Type this is, but certainly had patina
bugatti-6 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrbugatti-7 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrNot quite like a modern dashboard…
bugatti-5 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrMcLaren F5000
Another demonstration runner was this F5000 McLaren, massive slicks on the back and a Chevrolet V8.
mclaren-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrmclaren-2 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrERA
There were a collection of ERA’s some competing and some demonstrating, including Prince Bira of Siam’s (now Thailand) Romulus and Remus racers (not pictured as I couldn’t get any clear shots in the paddock) and Raymond May’s own car.
era-1 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrERA AJM1
era-4 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrERA B Type
era-3 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrD type, Raymond May’s car (the founder of ERA).
era-2 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrAustin 7
I’m not really interested in Austin 7’s too small, but there were a couple of interesting cars.
#126 - ‘Austerity’ Seven Special, hardly recognisable as an Austin 7. Mid engine, supercharged, chain drive, no differential, wider front track… mad.
austin7-4 by Mark Palmer, on Flickraustin7-5 by Mark Palmer, on Flickraustin7-6 by Mark Palmer, on Flickraustin7-7 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr#126 - not so much the car but it was driven, spiritedly, by an older lady (Shirley Tull). Great bonnet mascot as well.
austin7-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickraustin7-2 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrThey really are small.
austin7-3 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrLancia Aurelia
Not really sure where this fits in, a mid-mounted supercharged Lancia V6.
lancia-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickrlancia-3 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrBad image but interesting rear wheel angle.
lancia-2 by Mark Palmer, on FlickrMore to follow...
