Rather than alienate those whose interests are limited to UK events, I am starting this separate thread
Up until about 1958 or 1959, all the top NZ circuit men took part in at least some hillclimbs every year. But gradually, as more circuit-meetings became available, it developed into a specialist pursuit.
The national championship (Gold Star) had been introduced in 1957 but was a failure in that individual clubs were left to apply for dates, and there was never an even spread between the North Island and the South. Whichever region happened to host the most rounds in one year would produce the champion, for few competitors were prepared to travel hundreds of miles for glory alone. Think six rounds in SE England and three in Scotland one year, and the reverse the next.
As Peter Leversedge said earlier, the series was usually run over a mix of gravel and tarmac courses, few more than a mile in length.
My own area, Wellington, hosted a Gold Star qualifier at Houghton Bay every year, but sometimes there’d be no outside participants, sometimes only one. Ironically, in the days before the Gold Star, the venue would attract virtually every top racing-driver in the land.
The Houghton Bay course was within Wellington City limits, starting only yards away from houses.
This picture, from 1962, shows the ex-Horace Gould Cooper-Bristol on the start-line. As can be seen, it had been converted to sportscar spec, whilst retaining the central seating position which would not be outlawed for another four or five years.
