44 replies to this topic

[egonbridgestone]

Hello! I am particularly interested in sharing information on a former hillclimb venue near Bridgend in Glamorgan in South Wales, UK. This was the Castel Farm venue operated by SWAC - South Wales Automobile Club - and then by the Swansea Motor Club from the mid-1950s through to the late 1960s. BILL MOFFAT & JOHNWILLIAMDAVIES have already posted about this. Are they still active here on this site? My late father competed in a Triumph TR2 from 1954-56 and I, myself, became an avid spectator from about 1960 through to the late 60s. I have plenty of information to share about this course and its regular competitors - Peter Cotrill (Lotus 15 & Felday Daimler), Ken Wilson (BRM & Lister Jaguar), Brian Field (Lotus 23b), Tommy Pascoe (Porsche 356 reg. No. TP 150, Charles Sgonina (Aston Martin DBR1), George Keylock (Lotus Elan) and many others.

[Darren Galpin]

Is this the same as Castel Coch, located in the Taff Valley to the north of Cardiff? As far as I know it isn't in use today.

[bradbury west]

Is this the same as Castell Coch, located in the Taff Valley to the north of Cardiff? As far as I know it isn't in use today.

No, it is somewhere quite different. Castel Farm is down near Swansea and Castel Coch, the red castle, is on the very northern edge of Cardiff just off the A470 junc, about a mile from here, less as the crow flies. Find Tongwynlais on the map and it is there. I assume it is the winding road up towards Caerphilly, so it would have been a bit like Goblin Combe off the A370 near you, Darren. When was Castell Coch used? I will make enquiries locally. Castell Coch regularly features in TV progs and films as it is a fairytale castle c/w drawbridge, - as recently as last week 5 hrs filming for a 5 minute scene- built as a folly by the Butes, and only used for occupation as an isolation ward when one of the scions had measles/mumps or some such IIRC.
Roger Lund

Edited by bradbury west, 03 June 2010 - 07:28.

[David McKinney]

In that case, Roger, I wonder what the relationship was between Castel Farm and the '20s Caerphilly hillclimb?

[simonlewisbooks]

built as a folly by the Butes, ...

Roger, the Butes? part of Johnny Dumfries' clan by any chance?

[egonbridgestone]

Very nice to have people out there responding to my OP. Castel Coch was indeed built as a folly by the Crichton-Stuart family (Marquis of Bute) who are one of Scotland's oldest aristocratic families from the Isle of Bute. The Castel Coch really was a folly in more ways than one. I read somewhere that they even laid out a vineyard surrounding the castle. Heaven knows what became of that and if the wine was drinkable! I very much doubt it. The family owned most of South Wales's coal mines and made Cardiff the world's greatest coal exporting port at the turn of the century. Former Lotus F1 driver Johnny Dumfries is the present Marquis of Bute. Part of the Chrichton-Stuart family remained in Cardiff and used to be be Chartered Surveyors (I think) in Cardiff's Cathedral Road. I bought a go-kart - a class 1 Fastakart/JLO LK 101 - from a member of the Cardiff Crichton-Stuart family in the mid 1960s. Twenty five quid well spent (those were the days!). It actually ran in its own class at Castel Farm in the mid-1960s and managed a time that was in the top 15 fastest times of the day when there were about 80-100 cars of all classes taking part at that event (FTD was by Brian Field in a white Lotus 23B with a Ford/Lotus twin cam engine.) What about more input from anyone who would like to share memories of Castel Farm Hillclimb? Can any one confirm that Bill Moffat and johnwilliamdavies continue to post on this site? The Caerphilly Hill Climb was a pre-first World War event. There is an iconic photo of a very young Raymond Mays hillclimbing a Buggatti Brescia, the photo capturing the moment when a wheel flies off a hub!

[Stephen W]

built as a folly by the Butes, and only used for occupation as an isolation ward when one of the scions had measles/mumps or some such IIRC.
Roger Lund

Roger, the Butes? part of Johnny Dumfries' clan by any chance?

The 'family' who built Castell Coch also owned Wiscombe Park and used to spend one week a year at Wiscombe for the pheaseant shooting. They also owned vast tracts of South Wales and it was the profits from coal mining that built Castell Coch. It all went to pot when one of the family died and within a year his younger brother also died - this meant two lots of death duty in 12 months and crippled the family fortunes. Their family home was I think at Haddo House north of Aberdeen.

[bradbury west]

Precisely, as in Bute Street, Mount Stuart Square , Dumfries Place, etc. key places in the heart of Cardiff, certainly a century ago.They were very big in coal exports. Somewhere here I have the small tome, A History of the Develpoment of the Port of Cardiff, but cannot locate it at present. The Butes were the prime movers in building the port for coal exports. There was also the matter of ore for the steel works inwards.The full history of the Butes is at Castell Coch IIRC. At one stage they were one of the richest families in the UK and possibly the world, such was their influence.
http://www.wales360....k/castell_coch/

I think the Caerphilly hill might have been from the other, north eastern, side over towards Rudry

Castel farm was documented in reports etc in Autosport in period IIRC.
Roger Lund

edit. The previous posts were posted whilst I was looking for said Cardiff Port book, hence the duplication.
RL

Edited by bradbury west, 03 June 2010 - 11:31.

[Tim Murray]

Can any one confirm that Bill Moffat and johnwilliamdavies continue to post on this site?

They do indeed. Check their member profiles for the dates they last visited:

bill moffat

johnwilliamdavies

If you like you can send them Personal Messages (PMs) via this forum.

[zakeriath]

BARC Wales will be running the Sprints at Pembrey this weekend, and we will be presenting the winner of the meeting with an old trophy that was recently found again, it covers the 50 - 60 period of South Wales Automotive Club. Alun Morgan is our chairman and along with Anita Williams have decades of South Wales Motor sport experience.

If anybody has specific questions please let me know and I will try and have them answered and posted back here or contact us via the website

http://www.barcwales.com

[Rupertlt1]

Did Fred Sloman and/or Tony van Moyland compete at Castel Farm (likely in the sixties). Any information greatly appreciated.

 

See: http://forums.autosp...ons-lotus-1821/

 

Event:

 

5th July 1964, S.W.A.C.

 

7th June 1965, Swansea MC

 

31st Oct 1965, S.W.A.C.

 

17th April 1966, Swansea MC

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 October 2016 - 00:47.

[Rupertlt1]

CASTEL HILL-CLIMB

April 7, 1958, South Wales AC

Class 1, racing cars up to 1500 cc

1. P.J. Gaskell (Cooper 1098 cc) 29.5 secs

2. P.H.S. Cottrell (Cooper 1098 cc) 30.6 secs

3. J.K. Pickett (Lotus 1172 cc).

Class 2, over 1501 cc

1. M.G. Parker (Jaguar 3442 cc) 30.1 secs

2. T.J. Williams (Allard 5420 cc) 30.6 secs

3. J.P.G. Horton (Connaught 1970 cc) 30.9 secs

Class 3, sports cars up to 1500 cc

1. J.K. Pickett (Lotus 1172 cc) 35.1 secs

2. D. Bennett (Porsche) and A.J. Sully (Lotus) 36.0 secs

Class 4, 1501 cc-2750 cc

1. R. Randall (Lister-Bristol 1971 cc) 30.4 secs

2. P.H.S. Cottrell (Lister-Bristol 1971 cc) 31.0 secs

3. D.F. Evans (TR2 1990 cc) 33.1 secs

Class 5, over 2750 cc

1. M.G. Parker (Jaguar 3442 cc) 30.0 secs

2. T.J. Williams (Allard 5420 cc) 30.5 secs

3. M.J. Bradley (Bentley 4398 cc) 33.0 secs

Class 6, Saloon cars up to 1300 cc

1. Atkinson (Austin A35 948 cc) 41.0 secs

2. L.C. Manifold (Volkswagen 1192 cc) and C.G.L. Thomas (Austin A35 948 cc) 41.5 secs

Class 7, 1301 cc-2000 cc

1. D. Bennett (Porsche 1582 cc) 33.6 secs

2. T. Pascoe (Porsche 1582 cc) 33.6 secs

3. H.J. Crates (Ford s/c 1172 cc) 35.0 secs

FTD: M. Hatton (Cooper 1100 cc) 28.5 secs. New course record.

 

RGDS RLT      

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 October 2016 - 22:27.

[Rupertlt1]

1955:

 

CASTEL (April 11th)

 

On Easter Monday the South Wales A.C. ran their Castel Hill-

climb over the new lengthened course. J.A. Williamson in his

Bentley set up a new course record.

Class 1-Up to 1,100 c.c.

Mrs. V.G. Bevan (Morris Minor)

Class 2-1,100 c.c.-1,500 c.c.

C.D. Buckler (Buckler)

Class 3-1,501 c.c.-2,500 c.c.

J.M. Seal (Triumph TR2)

Class 4-Over 2,500 c.c.

J.A. Williamson (Bentley)

Saloon Car Handicap

N. Searle (Ford Anglia)

B.T.D.: J. A. Williamson (Bentley), 34.0 secs.

 

18th April 1955: South Wales A.C., Hill-Climb. R.

 

"The South Wales Club was having better luck with the weather at

Castel Farm , and on 9 July a new hill record was scored by Mike

Llewellyn (Lester M.G.) in 31.8 seconds. Jack Williamson had the

vintage Bentley there again for a 32.4 seconds climb."

Source: C. A. N. May, Speed Hill-Climb, G.T. Foulis & Co LTD, 1962, Pages 73-74.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 14 January 2022 - 06:41.

[Rupertlt1]

June 1966

BTD: A. van Moyland (Lotus 18/21), 30.49 secs

Class winners:

D. Nicklin (Lotus 22), 30.57

M. Holland (Lotus 7), 37.22

W. Edwards (Lotus Elan), 32.01

D. Jesson (Jaguar E), 32.91

L. Evans (Mini-Cooper), 36.90

A. Chappell (Lotus Cortina), 35.21

 

"At Swansea MC's Whitsun Castel Farm

hill-climb Tony van Moyland's familiar

blue ex-Ireland Lotus 18/21 gave a repeat

performance of its Easter victory by making

BTD in 30.49 secs..."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 03 November 2018 - 20:59.

[moffspeed]

June 1966
BTD: A. van Moyland (Lotus 18/21), 30.49 secs
Class winners:
D. Nicklin (Lotus 22), 30.57
M. Holland (Lotus 7), 37.22
W. Edwards (Lotus Elan), 32.01
D. Jesson (Jaguar E), 32.91
L. Evans (Mini-Cooper), 36.90
A. Chappell (Lotus Cortina), 35.21

I heard someone call my name so I thought I would return to TNF..

Castel Farm was, indeed, out West near Swansea. A couple of familiar names in there - "A.Chappell" was better known as Tony Chappell the rally driver, winner of the Welsh Rally in 1966 and presumably using the same Lotus Cortina. "W.Edwards" would be Waldo Edwards a travel agent from Cardiff. Always very spectacular and the Elan eventually made way for an Abarth Simca and a rather wonderful lime green Maserati Bora. Other nearby hillclimbs included Southerndown beach and (later) the short lived but beautiful Penrice climb on the Methuen Campbell's Gower Estate.

The whole Castel Coch thing is confusing. There seems to be little in the way of documentation but it apparently ran up the access road to the "red castle" which, as previously mentioned, was a Bute-built folly. Some people mention the "Rhiwbina Hill Hillclimb" - as a former resident of Rhiwbina (as was Tony Chappell) I can only assume that this is a reference to the Castel Coch climb as Rhiwbina Hill leads up to Castel Coch. If you miss the Castel Coch turn off you will end up passing the Black Cock pub and arriving on Caerphilly Mountain. Caerphilly hillclimb is far better known and was active prior to WW1 alongside Shelsley and various other venues.

A final mention of a "Circuit of Wales" that, seemingly like its successor, was ill-starred. Conceived in the 1920/30's as Wales' answer to Brooklands it never developed beyond the planning stage. It would have run over the Wenallt hills between Rhiwbina and Caerphilly, no tarmac was ever laid - although it did become the site for a cold-war era nuclear bunker ...

[Rupertlt1]

Sunday 11th March 1962:

"Over in Wales, the South Wales A.C held

their traditional spring hill-climb at Castel

Farm, local boy Peter "Taffy" Cottrell put-

ting up a time of 30.08 secs for B.T.D."

 

(Probably Lotus 15-Climax?)

 

23 April 1962:

"Peter Cottrell made it four B.T.D.s in a

row at Castel Farm with a time of 27.82 secs.

Charles Scognina (sic) was second."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 November 2018 - 20:08.

[Rupertlt1]

Event: 18 September 1955.

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Castel Farm, Llangynwyd, near Bridgend.

 

1954

First event 3 April: BTD Jack Williamson, Bentley, 24.5sec.

Sunday 6 June, S.W.A.C., starting at 16:30, wet:

M. Seal (Triumph TR2), who won his

class at the previous meeting, shared

B.T.D. with M. Charles (Jaguar XK 120)

their time of 25.3 secs. being 0.8 sec.

outside J. A. Williamson's course record.

25 September: BTD M. Burn, Frazer-Nash, 21.4sec, Record

 

1955: 11 April R; 9 July C; 18 Sept C.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 January 2022 - 21:04.

[Rupertlt1]

Castel Farm, 31 May 1959

Champion's

new record

at Castel

THE reigning British hill-climb

champion, David Boshier-

Jones (Newport) set up a new

record time for the course at the

South Wales Automobile Club

meeting at Llangynwyd, near

Maesteg, yesterday.

Driving his 1,100 c.c. Cooper, he

completed the tricky Castell Hill

in 26.5sec., two seconds faster

than the previous record set up by

Mike Hatton (Birmingham).

Western Mail, Monday, 1 June 1959

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 July 2021 - 06:11.

[Rupertlt1]

1956

Easter Monday, 2 April. South Wales Automobile Club

1. Charles Sgonina,  Aston Martin,  32.2 sec

2. Guy,  Jaguar, 32.4

3. Clay, Lotus,  32.9

 

A.E. Guy, Jaguar 3,442 c.c., finished 2nd in the handicap race for large sports cars at SUNBAC Silverstone, Saturday 3 September 1955.

P. Hollingsworth/A. Guy (Jaguar 2.4) were entered in the Birmingham Post National Motor Rally, starting 27 April 1956.

M. J. Clay (Lotus-Climax) won Event 6, Five-lap Handicap race "C" at 22nd B.A.R.C. Members' Meeting, Goodwood, 14 April 1956.

See also: https://forums.autos...-3#entry7805434

 

16 September, S.W.A.C.

FTD Maurice Charles, Jaguar C-Type, 29.1 sec, new course record

Class winners:

Up to 1100 c.c. - Colin Davies, Lotus, "The Red Dragon team" 29.3, new class record*

1101 c.c.-1500 c.c. - D. Davies, M.G., 33.6

1501 c.c.-2500 c.c. - H. Bartlett, Triumph TR2, 31.6

Over 2500 c.c. - M. Charles, Jaguar, 29.1

Saloons up to 1200 c.c. - D.L. Hayman, DKW, 41.1

Saloons 1201 c.c. - 1850 c.c. - C. Lane, M.G., 42.8

Saloons over 2700 c.c. - M. Charles, Jaguar, 38.1

Sports saloons (Class "A") - D.L. Hayman, DKW, 41.1

Sports saloons (Class "B") - T. Pascoe, Porsche, 36.4

Sports saloons (Class "C") - M. J. Clay, Healey, 36.0

Sports saloons (Class "D") - C. Sgonina,  Aston Martin, 32.4

 

*Thought to be Lotus Eleven-Climax, registration NWN 420, for sale at end 1957 for £1,150. Team partner Captain Mike Llewellyn. 

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 July 2021 - 06:14.

[Rupertlt1]

Castell Farm, S.W.A.C., Sunday 25 September 1960

FTD: David Boshier Jones, 26.9 seconds, 700-yard course

 

Castel Farm, S.W.A.C., Sunday 24 September 1961 

"Peter Cottrell's Lotus

Fifteen was fastest at the Castel Farm

hill-climb."

Autosport, 23 February 1962, Page 277

 

Castel Farm, S.W.A.C., Sunday 11 March 1962

Over in Wales, the South Wales A.C. held

their traditional spring hill-climb at Castel

Farm, local boy Peter "Taffy" Cottrell put-

ting up a time of 30.08 secs. for B.T.D.

Autosport, 22 February 1963, Page 277

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 10 June 2021 - 07:38.

[Rupertlt1]

Castel Farm Hill Climb, Whit Monday, 7 June 1965
FTD: Brian Field, Lotus 23B, 25.73 secs
"very attractive white Lotus 23b"
Port Talbot Guardian, Friday 11 June 1965, Page 22

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Castel Farm Hill Climb, S.W.A.C. closed to club, Sunday 24 March 1963 (updated)

Results

B.T.D.: P. Cottrell (Lotus 15), 27.62 s,

Class 1:

1. Tom Jones (Envoy-Ford Martin FJ), 30.02 s.

2. Randy Vaughan (Elton-Triumph), 30.18 s.

3. Colin Priddey (Cooper-J.A.P) 30.44 s.

Class 2:

1. Peter Cottrell (Lotus 15), 27.62 s.

2. Ken Wilson (Lister-Jaguar), 29.14 s.

Class 3:

1. Brian Field (Lotus Super Seven), 28.54 s.

2. Ted Williams (Cooper-Climax), 28.62 s.

3. Seward Ashcroft (Lotus Super Seven), 29.49 s.

Class 4:

1. Ken Wilson (Lister-Jaguar), 27.65 s.

2. Peter Cottrell (Lotus 15). 28.02 s.

Class 5:

D. Atkinson (Austin Mini). 37.62 s.

Class 6:

1. N. Harvey (Austin-Cooper), 35.01 s.

2. C. Williams (Austin-Cooper), 35.18 s.

3. R. Vaughan (Austin-Cooper), 35.19.

Class 7:

B. Field (Riley 1.5), 36.00 s.

Class 8:

D. Powdrill (Austin A60), 40.55 s.

Class 9:

H. Strawford (Mini-Minor), 36.99 s.

Class 10:

N. Porter (Austin-Cooper), 32.13 s.

Class 11:

G. Evans (Hillman Husky), 36.74 s.

Class 12:

Ron Smart (Lotus Elite), 32.43s.

Class 14:

1. P. Cottrell (Gilbern), 32.10 s.

2. Tom Pascoe (Porsche), 32.58 s.

Class 15:

Keith Bennett (Austin-Healey 3000), 34.15 s.

Autosport, Friday 5 April 1963, Page 471

 

Photo caption: "PETER COTTRELL on his way to setting up B.T.D. in 27.62 secs. His car is the ex-Mike Taylor Lotus 15."

Registration NOY 1.

 

Can anybody give the date of this event?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 June 2021 - 07:28.

[Michael Oliver]

24th March, according to the event listings in Autosport 22nd March.

[Michael Oliver]

I have a report in Autosport of a Swansea MC Castel Farm hillclimb but cannot find a date for it, can anyone pin one down for me please? The report, which appeared in the 15th October 1965 issue p628 just said:

 

"At their recent Castel Farm hill-climb meeting Swansea MC were at last able to make use of the new chicane, roughly half-way up the renowned long straight."

 

FTD went to Colin Priddey (Lotus 20) in 33.56s, just ahead of Fred Sloman (Lotus 18/21). Other entries mentioned are Peter Bailey (Cooper), John Saunder (Lola), Laurie Ritchie (Envoy), Brian Field (Lotus 23), Vernon Davies (Lotus 7), Mike Willett (Hartwell Imp), Lloyd Van (Mini-Cooper), David Powell (the same Davey Powell that went on to do F5000 maybe?) in a Mini-Cooper S, Gerry Thomas and Ron Rumble (Minis), Peter Cottrell (Gilbern), Waldo Edwards (Lotus Elan) and Norman Harvey (Mini-Cooper S).

 

I've looked through the events listing in Autosport back to late August and found nothing...all suggestions very welcome!

[johnwilliamdavies]

If anyone is interested; the course is still there, but a tad bumpy. 

 

 

 

 

 

[bradbury west]

JWD, good to see you still around. That Sgonina Aston shot must be a rare bird. What a good find.

Many thanks

Roger Lund

[Steve123]

Not a happy memory, but was it Castel farm that Ricky Fuchs (I hope that my spelling is correct) suffered a fatal accident in the early 1960s? I believe that he was driving a Lotus 20, having previously hillclimbed a "500".

[Darren Galpin]

Not a happy memory, but was it Castel farm that Ricky Fuchs (I hope that my spelling is correct) suffered a fatal accident in the early 1960s? I believe that he was driving a Lotus 20, having previously hillclimbed a "500".

http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=6711

 

This lists the fatality, but gets the name of the venue incorrect.....

[Geoff E]

This lists the fatality, but gets the name of the venue incorrect.....

 

Port Talbot Guardian 02 October 1964 has his name as Ricky Foulkes "Swansea garage partner", but as Fuchs the following week.

Edited by Geoff E, 16 June 2021 - 12:58.

[Rupertlt1]

1961:

June 4.—South Wales A.C., Castel Hill climb, Bridgend, 2 p.m.

The Autocar, 2 June 1961, Page 887

 

Fastest time of the day was set up by Peter Cottrell of Pontypridd in a Lotus 15, who clocked 27.44 seconds.

Glamorgan Advertiser, Friday 9 June 1961

 

SPEED HILL CLIMB

Castel Farm

Llangynwydd

Nr. Bridgend, Glam,

Sunday, Sept. 24th.

Practising 10.30 Racing 2.30 p.m,

Course completely resurfaced

Admission Free

Car Park 5/-

R.A.C. signs from Cardif

Organisers: South Wales Automobile Club

Autosport, 22 September 1961, Page 410

 

The meeting, the last of

the year, was opened by

Lt./Col. Victor A. Thorpe,

president of the South Wales

Automobile Club, who drove

the new Austin Cooper on a

trial run along the course.

It was the first time for

Welsh motoring enthusiasts

to see this new model, loaned

by James Howell, Motor

Division, of Cardiff.

Fastest time of the day

was set up by Peter Cottrell

of Pontypridd. He clocked

a time of 27.4 seconds, beat-

ing the previous record time

for the class of 28.46 seconds

which he also established.

Glamorgan Advertiser, Friday 29 September 1961

 

See also: https://forums.autos...-bridgend-1961/

 

RGDS RLT

[moffspeed]

Castel Farm Hill Climb, S.W.A.C. closed to club, Sunday 24 March 1963 (updated)

Results

B.T.D.: P. Cottrell (Lotus 15), 27.62 s,

Class 1:

1. Tom Jones (Envoy-Ford Martin FJ), 30.02 s.

2. Randy Vaughan (Elton-Triumph), 30.18 s.

3. Colin Priddey (Cooper-J.A.P) 30.44 s.

Class 2:

1. Peter Cottrell (Lotus 15), 27.62 s.

2. Ken Wilson (Lister-Jaguar), 29.14 s.

Class 3:

1. Brian Field (Lotus Super Seven), 28.54 s.

2. Ted Williams (Cooper-Climax), 28.62 s.

3. Seward Ashcroft (Lotus Super Seven), 29.49 s.

Class 4:

1. Ken Wilson (Lister-Jaguar), 27.65 s.

2. Peter Cottrell (Lotus 15). 28.02 s.

Class 5:

D. Atkinson (Austin Mini). 37.62 s.

Class 6:

1. N. Harvey (Austin-Cooper), 35.01 s.

2. C. Williams (Austin-Cooper), 35.18 s.

3. R. Vaughan (Austin-Cooper), 35.19.

Class 7:

B. Field (Riley 1.5), 36.00 s.

Class 8:

D. Powdrill (Austin A60), 40.55 s.

Class 9:

H. Strawford (Mini-Minor), 36.99 s.

Class 10:

N. Porter (Austin-Cooper), 32.13 s.

Class 11:

G. Evans (Hillman Husky), 36.74 s.

Class 12:

Ron Smart (Lotus Elite), 32.43s.

Class 14:

1. P. Cottrell (Gilbern), 32.10 s.

2. Tom Pascoe (Porsche), 32.58 s.

Class 15:

Keith Bennett (Austin-Healey 3000), 34.15 s.

Autosport, Friday 5 April 1963, Page 471

 

Photo caption: "PETER COTTRELL on his way to setting up B.T.D. in 27.62 secs. His car is the ex-Mike Taylor Lotus 15."

Registration NOY 1.

 

Can anybody give the date of this event?

 

RGDS RLT

So many familiar names there from 1963.

 

One that stands out is Class 9 winner Howard Strawford. A few years earlier he had been instrumental in kick-starting Llandow as a racing venue.

 

By 1967 his work for Kraft took him "over the channel" to Bristol, subsequent to which he bought Castle Combe circuit in 1976 and effectively saved it from extinction.

 

Without him South Western motor sport activity could have been fairly barren in the 60/70's, a real unsung hero.

[Michael Oliver]

I have a report in Autosport of a Swansea MC Castel Farm hillclimb but cannot find a date for it, can anyone pin one down for me please? The report, which appeared in the 15th October 1965 issue p628 just said:

 

"At their recent Castel Farm hill-climb meeting Swansea MC were at last able to make use of the new chicane, roughly half-way up the renowned long straight."

 

FTD went to Colin Priddey (Lotus 20) in 33.56s, just ahead of Fred Sloman (Lotus 18/21). Other entries mentioned are Peter Bailey (Cooper), John Saunder (Lola), Laurie Ritchie (Envoy), Brian Field (Lotus 23), Vernon Davies (Lotus 7), Mike Willett (Hartwell Imp), Lloyd Van (Mini-Cooper), David Powell (the same Davey Powell that went on to do F5000 maybe?) in a Mini-Cooper S, Gerry Thomas and Ron Rumble (Minis), Peter Cottrell (Gilbern), Waldo Edwards (Lotus Elan) and Norman Harvey (Mini-Cooper S).

 

I've looked through the events listing in Autosport back to late August and found nothing...all suggestions very welcome!

Help! I'm still trying to pin down the date for this event but it is eluding me! All suggestions gratefully received...

[2F-001]

The Diary of forthcoming events in MotorSport lists - in the June 1965 issue - a Swansea MC event scheduled for June 7th at Castel Farm (starting at 2.30pm - though we're a bit late for that one!).

 

I can't see any equivalent events listed in the July, Sept, Aug, Sept or Oct issues. So, I'm guessing that Autosport's use of 'recent' was somewhat liberal!

Edited by 2F-001, 29 October 2021 - 13:09.

[68targa]

According to the Swansea Motor Club website, the 7 June 1965 meeting (held on a Monday) Brian Field set FTD in 25.73 secs so it can't be that one.  It might be worth contacting them at

 

http://www.swanmoco.com/1960-to-1969/

[Michael Oliver]

The Diary of forthcoming events in MotorSport lists - in the June 1965 issue - a Swansea MC event scheduled for June 7th at Castel Farm (starting at 2.30pm - though we're a bit late for that one!).

 

I can't see any equivalent events listed in the July, Sept, Aug, Sept or Oct issues. So, I'm guessing that Autosport's use of 'recent' was somewhat liberal!

Thanks for that Tony and for looking in all those issues of Motor Sport. The problem is that I have a report from a local paper which mentions Brian Field (see post #22) setting FTD in his Lotus 23. The report of the 'recent' Castel Farm hillclimb says Colin Priddey set FTD in his Lotus 20. The report of the June hillclimb refers to the installation of a new chicane which broke up in practice and couldn't be used for the actual event, whereas I have a photo and lots of references to the chicane being used in the 'recent' event. So all a bit of a mystery. I wondered whether they had got the club wrong and it was in fact the South Wales Automobile Club and I found an October hillclimb organised by them but that wasn't until 31 October, eg after the Autosport report had been published!

[2F-001]

Yes, the 33 sec time might suggest the use of the chicane - and thus a later meeting.

Edited by 2F-001, 29 October 2021 - 14:26.

[Michael Oliver]

According to the Swansea Motor Club website, the 7 June 1965 meeting (held on a Monday) Brian Field set FTD in 25.73 secs so it can't be that one.  It might be worth contacting them at

 

http://www.swanmoco.com/1960-to-1969/

Thanks, that tallies with what I've just written in my reply to Tony. That is a good suggestion re contacting the club directly, I will do that!

[Michael Oliver]

Yes, the 33 sec time might suggest the use of the chicane - and thus a later meeting.

Indeed...I've emailed Swansea Motor Club to see if they can add anything.

[RAP]

Motoring News also reported it, in their issue of 14 Oct 65 but do not give a date.  

 

Nothing listed in MN's Forthcoming events 

 

Richard PAGE

[Michael Oliver]

Motoring News also reported it, in their issue of 14 Oct 65 but do not give a date.  

 

Nothing listed in MN's Forthcoming events 

 

Richard PAGE

Thanks Richard! The mystery deepens...

[Rupertlt1]

The South Wales A.C. have a new course for their hill-climb at Castel Farm Hill,

near Bridgend, on Easter Monday, 11th April. The new course leads off the old

one, and should prove to be more interesting than before, with a number of

twists and corners. . . .

Autosport, 25 March 1955, Page 374

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

1955:

South Wales A.C.—Held in perfect weather

on Easter Monday, the Castel Farm hill-climb

was watched by a crowd of 2,500. J. A.

Williamson in his Vintage 4½-litre Bentley

gained the best time of the day with a run

of 34 seconds, and the ladies' award went to

Miss S. Grainger (M.G.).

RESULTS

Cars up to 1,100 c.c.: 1. Morris (Mrs. V. G.

Bevan), 48.2s; 2. Morris (G. Houston), 48.3s; 3.

M.G. (J. F. Andrews), 49.5s. 1,101 to 1,500: 1.

Buckler (C. D. F. Buckler), 35.2s; 2. Buckler

(G. E. Tapp), 36.1s; 3. M.G. (C. Griffiths), 37.2s.

1,501 to 2,500: 1. Triumph TR2 (M. Seal), 34.9s;

2. Triumph TR2 (B. Bartlett), 35.4s; 3. Triumph

TR2 (H. Giles), 36.3s. Over 2,500: 1. Bentley

(J. A. Williamson), 34s; 2. Jaguar (T. C. Storey),

34.8s; 3 (tie), Allard (T. J. Williams) and Austin-

Healey (P. L. Thompson), 35.5s. Saloon car

handicap: 1. Ford (M. Seal); 2. M.G. (E. Davies);

3. Jaguar (R. S. Bevan).

Inter-club competition: 1. Bugatti O.C.; 2. Vint-

age S.C.C.; 3. South Wales A.C.

Autocar, 22 April 1955, Page 570

 

Note: FTD has increased by about ten seconds compared to the equivalent meeting the previous year, due to the new course (see previous post).

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 January 2022 - 07:07.

[Rupertlt1]

I bumped into Spencer Elton at Shelsley Walsh some weeks ago —  he seemed to think that hill climbing at Castel Farm ended with an accident?

The fatal accident involving Ricky Fuchs was in September 1964.

 

Also met Deri Nicklin, who raced a Lotus 22.

 

No report/results for S.W.A.C., 31 October 1965?

 

17 April 1966? Easter?

 

June 1966: https://forums.autos...k/#entry8579975

Was this the end of May?

 

Any later dates?

.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 October 2024 - 16:29.

[dgs]

Castel Farm Hill Climb held 31st May 1959

 

I have programme entry for No 18  Tony Marsh, Lotus 1500cc, entered in Racing Cars +1100cc class.

 

Does anyone know if he entered this event, and if possible a time  ?

 

This entry I presume would have been with Lotus 12, chassis 358, that Tony Marsh modified and renamed  'Motus'