30 replies to this topic

[pierrefrogeye]

I was taking part in the Bognor Regis Motor Club Sprint  at Goodwood a few weeks ago. Whilst in the paddock I was approached by a gentlemen who told me that he worked on my car in the sixties and knew the second owner , Charles Page. He also told me that the car raced at Ditcham Hillclimb in  Sussex which I did not know. I assume this may have been any years from 1960 to 1964. I wonder if anyone had information about the hillclimb itself and also possibly some old programmes so I could check entries for a gentlemen name Charles Page from Chichester, racing an Austin Healey Sprite MK1 with either a 948cc or 1098 cc in it. Any help would be appreciated. More information about the car can be found on

www.cyberspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

[Rupertlt1]

Pierre,

 

Ditcham Hill Climb was held at Petersfield, Hampshire. See:

 

https://www.google.c...llclimb&tbm=bks

 

There are no references in Motor Sport in the sixties.

 

From a Harewood programme:

 

16th June 1968
Down In Hampshire

"the 1967 Hill Climb Champion, Tony Marsh, is opening
a new 880 yard venue at Ditcham near Petersfield,..."

 

Another lost venue in the south. Any further information much appreciated. RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 May 2014 - 00:48.

[Allan Lupton]

The well-known (in these circles) Motorsport Explorer confirms Ditcham was in use from June1968 to September 1972.

Chichester MC are said to have been the main organiser, in collaboration with BARC in 1970, so your man from Chichester would have been at home there.

[pierrefrogeye]

Thank you Rupert and Allan, this is useful information. I guess my chap must have confused the car or  the venue as Charles Page (second owner of 2080 PO)  sold the car in 64 I believe. If you had some knowledge of other hillclimb not too distant from brighton or chischester  and that were active from 1960 to 1968 this would be useful.I know about Firle Hill and Brighton speed trials but wonder if they were some other local venues where the car could have appeared.....detective work !

 

Thank you and good wee end

Edited by pierrefrogeye, 09 May 2014 - 16:50.

[Rupertlt1]

Bodiam? Brunton? RGDS RLT

[pierrefrogeye]

thank you Rupert

[Rupertlt1]

31 May 1970:

Autosport: "At Ditcham, Don Harris won overall in his DMF-Climax,..."

"Reports next week."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 March 2017 - 11:36.

[RobMk2a]

See link to photos of Ditcham, the caption indicates 1973.

http://www.robertcla...o.uk/p136923142

Rob

[RAP]

I went to Ditcham twice in 1970. Events were organised by the Chichester Motoring Club and BARC (SE Centre). It ran up the north side of the South Downs, near the famous 1920s venue South Harting. The actual location was on the B2148. If you use Google Maps for Old Ditcham Farm you will see a triangle of minor tracks to the south, near Hurst. The course ran from the "point" of the triangle round a 90 left then hairpin right followed by fast left across the finish. These can be seen on the map. 

 

For spectators it was poor as there were lots of trees and the viewing was restricted to the outside of the first left-hander and the inside of the hairpin, which could be quite exciting, but you could not see anything else due to the trees. 

 

The "programme" said that the hill was first used in June 68 with the opening by Tony Marsh who ascended the 780 yds in 30.22". A further event was held in Sept 68 and two in 1969. 

 

The 31.05.70 event class winners according to my "on-the-day" records were (no cc limits were given in the entry list)

Series Prod Saloon classes 

Wally Pratt (Fiat Abarth) 40.98

Alan Mussard (Cooper S)  40.96

A Abrams ( Escort TC) 40.32

Mod Saloons

E M Rogers (Cooper S 999) 40.03

T Hart (Cooper S 1275)  36.31

M Bowers (Anglia 1650) 38.40

Mod Sports

B Liddell (Sprite) 45.74

C Hilton (Elan)  37.64

J Henley (E type) 38.31

Spl GT

T Brown (Sprite 1440) 39.08

A J Birch (Sunbeam Tiger)  42.15

Spt Rcg

D H Harris (DMF 5) 34.92 BTD

D B Bridges (Lotus 7 1650)  37.90

Run off Top Ten on % improvement Tony Bean (Midget)

 

13 .09.70 a round of the Assoc Of Central South MC Championship from Official Results (again no cc for classes)

It was wet. I seem to recall retiring to the pub in South Harting to dry out ! 

Prod Saloon

J Andrews (Imp) 51.29

M Grove (Cooper) 51.40

J Mason (Cooper S) 46.14

A Abrams (Escort TC) 43.84

R Choules (Capri 3.0) 46.45

Mod Saloon

D Clement (Mini 848) 43.53

G Brookes (Mini 999) 41.30

R Powell (Cooper 1275)  40.81

M Jones (Anglia 1650)  44.55

T King (Morris Minor sc) 42.29

Mod Sports

P Barnes (Honda S800)  43.51

Tony Bean (Midget) 41.10

N Cochrane (Elva Courier) 42.86

R Staples (E type) 40.55  BTD 

GT (merged)

Norman Lefton (Chevron B8) 41.07

Spts Rcg

R Axon (Lola Climax) 43.01

= D Bridges (Lotus 7) & R York (Crossle BMW) 44.49

 

At the time the course records was 34.45 set by R Bell in Sept 69

 

Richard Page

www.formulaoneregister.com 

[RAP]

Results of 1st Mtg 16 June 68

BTD T Marsh (4.2 Marsh Spl)  30.22

FWD Saloon 1000 Andy Elwin (Cooper S) 39.04

>1000 Francis Wilson (Cooper S) 41.66

RWD Saloon 1200 Alistair McHardy (Imp) 36.03

>1200 Alan Mussard (Anglia 1650) 36.22

Prod Spts Ian Kean (Midget) 40.61

Mike Day (TVR Ruscan) 36.09

Spts Rcg

Peter Voight (DRW Imp) 35.40

Tim Westbury-Jones (Lotus 7) 37.70

Mike Barker (Alton Jaguar) 36.66

Rcg 1100 Tom Fackrell (Cooper JAP) 41.56

Lloyd Richards (Lotus 31) 37.22

> Marsh

Richard Page

www.formulaoneregister.com 

Edited by RAP, 07 March 2017 - 10:13.

[RobMk2a]

Richard,

Do you have the engine capacity for Mike Day's TVR Tuscan.

(as an aside I think Alastair McHardy in an Imp June 68 above raced a lightweight TVR Grantura Mk3 in 1963-65. Also is R Staples in the E Type Sept 70 BTD, Bob Staples who raced an Ace Bristol VPL 442).

Thanks

Rob

Update - Rupert has provided a report from Motoring News, Mike Day's TVR is a Tuscan V8 36.09 sec from Bob Staples E Type 36.58.

Filby reports Mike Day's TVR as being a Griffith (it looks like a SWB Tuscan) and Mike won the Players No. 6 National Autocross Championship at Woburn Abbey in 1969.

Edited by RobMk2a, 07 March 2017 - 13:57.

[RAP]

The only info in the MN report says 4.7; I confirm the report says Tuscan.

[Rupertlt1]

Event on 4 June 1972?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 April 2017 - 15:30.

[RAP]

I have found a list of events at Ditcham produced by the Chichester MC

16 June 68  Tony Marsh (Marsh Spl) 30.22

Sept 68 event abandoned floods

8 June 69 G Wilkins TVR Griffith 36.37 - record for longer course

14 Sept 69 R Bell Piper Martin GT 34.45 - record

31 May 70 D M Harris DMF  34.92

13 Sept 70 R A V Staples E Type 40.55

13 June 71 P Bosworth Chapman 4 35.65

12 Sept 71 ditto  35.70

4 June 72 C Rogers Morris Cooper S 40.40

10 Sept 72 J Hill U2 Mk11B  33.43 - record

3 June 73  N Hutchins U2 Mk8  33.39 - record

9 Sept 73   Ditto  33.86

As previously said, racing cars were not allowed after the first event, which was run over 780 yards. All later events were 800 yards 

Richard Page 

www.formulaoneregister.co.uk 

[Rupertlt1]

13 June 1971:

FTD Peter Bosworth (5.3 Chapman 4, 4WD) 35.65

Class Winners:

Wally Pratt (0.85 Fiat Abarth) 43.96

Peter Brierley (1.0 Cooper S) 44.05

Bob Connor (1.3 Cooper S) 42.46

Alan Keefe (1.6 Ford Escort RS) 39.23

R. Bowers (4.5 Plymouth Barracuda) 42.56

Jack Astley (0.85 Saab 96) 40.78

Colin Rogers (1.0 Cooper S) 36.51

Robert Powell (1.3 Cooper S) 37.62

Ray Payne (1.6 Ford Anglia) 37.21

Keith Baker (2.5 Triumph PI) 42.84

Mike Northover (1.0 MG Midget) 40.65

Tony Bean (1.3 MG Midget) 38.26

Mike Bowers (1.6 Turner Ford) 37.35

Peter Harris (4.2 Jaguar E) 36.90

Peter Pickett (1.0 Unipower GT) 41.12

Terry Brown (1.4 Lenham Sprite) 36.86

Mrs. T. Green (1.6 MG-Ford Midget) 37.83

Robert Morgans (1.5 Lotus 7) 37.01

Norman Hutchings (1.8 BEL Mk II) 40.25

 

Source: Motoring News, 24 June 1971

Report states that event held on public road, with the startline in Hampshire and finish line in Sussex!

RGDS RLT

  

[Rupertlt1]

Ditcham Hill Climb, 10 September 1972
FTD Jeff Hill (Mallock U2 Mk11B) 33.43

Class Winners:

Wally Pratt (0.85 Fiat Abarth) 41.29

Roger Conner (1.0 Mini Cooper S) 42.97

F. Marriott (1.3 Mini Cooper S) 39.70

A. McHardy (1.5 Hillman Avenger Tiger) 40.88

Alan Mussard (3.0 Ford Capri) 39.21

Ed Upton (850 Mini) 41.00

Jack Davies (1.3 Mini Cooper S) 35.54

Dave Bray (1.8 Yarbspeed Escort RS) 35.18

John Colburn (3.8 Jaguar) 39.47

D. Moore (1.3 MG Midget) 42.54

I. Hilton (1.6 Lotus Elan Sprint) 38.70

T. Hilton (4.7 AC Cobra) 35.50

A. Bean (1.1 MG Midget) 37.93

R. Hare (1.6 Ginetta G12) 33.88

Bob Staples (4.2 Jaguar E-Type) 35.43

H. Morten (4.4 Bentley) 38.43

Derek Stevens (1.1 Greyford-Climax Special) 39.36

N. Hutchins (1.8 BEL Mk2) 35.53

 

Source: Motoring News, 21 September 1972.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 April 2019 - 18:00.

[Rupertlt1]

BARC joint promotion

at Ditcham

The BARC South Eastern Centre

has reached an agreement with

the Chichester Motor Club for

joint promotion of the Ditcham

hill-climb for 1970. In view of the

troubles with Firle hill-climb, this

comes as good news to the

BARC hill climb types.

The first event under the joint

promotion takes place on May

31: the hill actually crosses the

Sussex/Hampshire border. Further

details, regs etc from G.W.

Wright, Robin Hill Lodge, Fair-

field Road, Eastbourne, Sussex.

Motoring News, Thursday, May 21, 1970.

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Ditcham Hill Climb, Chichester Motoring Club:

Sunday 2 June 1974 (Cancelled)

Sunday 8 September 1974

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 October 2024 - 03:34.

[Rupertlt1]

Clive Sayer was Chief Marshal for the very wet 1974 event — "last time it ran as had become an organisational nightmare!"

"The June 74 event was cancelled well before any regulations were issued. September suffered from dreadful weather in the run up and on the day."

(The hardest task with research is finding out if a scheduled event actually took place.)

See Autosport, 12 September 1974, Page 60

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 September 2024 - 07:42.

[Geoff E]

"The June 74 event was cancelled well before any regulations were issued. September suffered from dreadful weather in the run up and on the day."

(The hardest task with research is finding out if a scheduled event actually took place.)

See Autosport, 12 September 1974, Page 60

RGDS RLT 

 

Eastbourne Herald, 21 Sept 1974

 

(In a report of the Brighton Speed Trials)

"The week before, Malcolm (Knights) won the Ditcham Hillclimb at Chichester."

 

Leading to...

Eastbourne Gazette, 11 Sept 1974

 

Malcolm - the flying dentist

THE FLYING DENTIST... that's Malcolm Knight, 42, a dental surgeon ...

winning the Chichester Motor Club hill climb at Ditcham for the second year running

when he drove a Ferrari with a 246 GT engine.  

[Rupertlt1]

Eastbourne Herald, 21 Sept 1974

 

(In a report of the Brighton Speed Trials)

"The week before, Malcolm (Knights) won the Ditcham Hillclimb at Chichester."

 

Leading to...

Eastbourne Gazette, 11 Sept 1974

 

Malcolm - the flying dentist

THE FLYING DENTIST... that's Malcolm Knight, 42, a dental surgeon ...

winning the Chichester Motor Club hill climb at Ditcham for the second year running

when he drove a Ferrari with a 246 GT engine.  

Sunday 8 September 1974:

"One of the closest class battles of the day

was between a Ferrari and a Porsche in the

over two litre class. Malcolm Knights' Fer-

rari 246 GT finally got the better of Jack

Henley's Porsche 911S, but only by eight-tenths

of a second."

Winning time 41.14 sec

Autosport, 12 September 1974, Page 60

Malcolm Knights was a regular at Firle etc.

We don't know much about 1973?

3 June, 9 Sept.

So Ditcham ran 1968-1974.

Not quite the end of hill climbs in the south-east.

After a break Bodiam carried on 1978-1986. But Firle finished 1967, Brunton 1970.

Gurston took over from Brunton, somewhat west in Wiltshire, as the home of B.A.R.C. SW.

Farthingloe was a flash in the pan in 1979-1981.

Valence, Frant, Sedlescombe, Rotherfield.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 September 2024 - 06:48.

[Rupertlt1]

Chichester Motoring Club Ltd.

Event: Ditcham Park, near Petersfield, Hampshire, Sunday 14 September 1969.

A.C.S.M.C. Championship round

Enter from Petersfield-South Harting road (B2146). Follow signs.

FTD Bob Bell, Godalming, Piper sports/racing, 34.45 sec, record

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 October 2024 - 03:36.

[Rupertlt1]

Ditcham Speed-Hillclimb, Chichester Motoring Club, 16th June 1968:

Class 5: Sports cars up to 1,200 c.c.

47. Terry Bean, M.G. Midget 1100 BARC

48. Mrs.Iris Moore, M.G. Midget 1098 CMC

49. Ian Kean, M.G. Midget 1198 CMC+

50. Dudley Hagger, M.G. Midget 948 CMC+

51. Derek Talbot, M.G. Midget 1098 CMC+

Class 6: Sports cars over 1,200 c.c.

52. Tony Hellier M.G.B. 1798 SMC

53. Miss Judith Day, Marcos 1498 SMC

54. Keith Glendenning, M.G.B. 1798 CMC

55. Roy Galton, M.G. Midget 1275 CMC

56. Mrs. Pat Uren, M.G. Midget 1275 CMC+

57. Mike Day T.V.R. Tuscan 4700 BARC

58. Mike Wallaker T.V.R. Grantura 1588 CMC+

59. Dudley Hearne M.G.B. 1798 BARC 

60. Patrick Mann M.G.B. 1798 CMC

61. Roy Hunnisett T.V.R. Mk IIA 1598 BARC

62. Ernie Willer Aston Martin DB4 4235 BARC

63. Pierre Rohan Jaguar C Type 4235 BARC

64. Bob Staples Jaguar E Type 3800 BARC

Class 7: Specials & sports racing cars up to 1,000 c.c.

65. Peter Voigt D.R.W.Imp 998 BARC

Class 8: Specials & sports racing cars 1,001 to 1500.

66. Tim Westbury-Jones, Lotus 7 1498 BARC

67. Martyn Jackson, Lotus 7 1498 CMC

68. Colin Rennie-Fowler, Welstor-Ford 1198 BARC

69. Peter Hinkin Lotus 7, 1498 BARC

Class 9: Specials and Sports racing cars over 1501

70. Don Bridges Lotus 7 1650 BARC

71. Mike Barker Alton Jaguar 3782 BARC

72. Jack Levy A.C.Jaguar 3781 BARC

Class 10: Single seat racing cars up to 500 c.c.

73. David Latham Kieft Jap 500 SCC

74. Roger Matthews Wasp 500 BARC

75. Tom Fackrell Cooper Mk V 500 BARC

Class 11: Single seater racing cars 501 - 1100 c.c.

76. David Wilson, Caravelle Ford 997 SCC

77. Tim Wilson, Caravelle Ford 1098 BARC

Class 12: Racings cars over 1101 c.c. (single seat)

78. Tony Marsh, Marsh Special 4200 CMC+

79. John Fenwick, Brabham BT18 1594 CMC+

80. Will Heaton-Rudd, Rudeani 1498 BARC

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 14 November 2024 - 06:15.

[BRG]

I went to Ditcham twice in 1970. Events were organised by the Chichester Motoring Club and BARC (SE Centre). It ran up the north side of the South Downs, near the famous 1920s venue South Harting. The actual location was on the B2148. If you use Google Maps for Old Ditcham Farm you will see a triangle of minor tracks to the south, near Hurst. The course ran from the "point" of the triangle round a 90 left then hairpin right followed by fast left across the finish. These can be seen on the map. 

 

For spectators it was poor as there were lots of trees and the viewing was restricted to the outside of the first left-hander and the inside of the hairpin, which could be quite exciting, but you could not see anything else due to the trees. 

I have always been a bit puzzled about Ditcham, as the course appears to be a public highway, shown on OS maps as a 'yellow' unclassified road.  Private roads are generally shown as white on OS maps.   On the Seventh Series of OS1" maps (1952-73) it appeared in white. Possibly it was previously private but was adopted by Sussex County Council to become public, hence the end of its use from 1972?  

[Rupertlt1]

As shown above Ditcham concluded 8 September 1974.

I think it ceased due to organisational difficulties. The club was struggling.

The last event being the last straw. It had a run of bad luck due to poor weather.

The course ran through trees and was difficult to observe.

I am due to meet Clive Sayer, former chief marshal, and will report back.

RGDS RLT 

[Rupertlt1]

Roy Hunnisett says ref 16th June 1968 (see Post #23 above):

"Forgotten about that Horrible Hill.

Car fitted BMC B series, fairly standard,

red colour, a bit tatty needed money spent on it (which I

hadn’t got) not very competitive, ran it for a couple

of years. The track into the event was like a rally

stage, all pot holes and mud and water. The TVR

was very low and a rock punctured the fuel tank,

which caused all sorts of problems with the

scrutinising. I did eventually get it through, but I

never went back. (I think I bought it from Jim Boothby.)"

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 October 2024 - 04:43.

[Rupertlt1]

From a Harewood programme:

 

16th June 1968
Down In Hampshire

"the 1967 Hill Climb Champion, Tony Marsh, is opening
a new 880 yard venue at Ditcham near Petersfield,..."

 

Tony Marsh played a key part in the opening of Ditcham Hill Climb in 1968.

He was also involved in setting up Gurston Down in 1967 — "planned with the aid of Tony Marsh"

We now know he was a member of the Chichester Motoring Club — no doubt other clubs too.

There is a book about him — does it shed light?

Where was he based at this time?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 November 2024 - 08:22.

[dgs]

Tony Marsh in his Autobiography states he moved from Kinver (West Midlands) to a farm in Petersfield (Hampshire) during 1962. He bought the farm in March 1962.

 

He also mentions (page 127) whilst discussing his flying experiences "One significant flying day I remember was 22nd March 1967 when I flew to Gurston Down Farm just outside Salisbury where the BARC South West Centre were building a new hill climb course. They had asked me to go down and give them the benefit of my experience so I flew down, landed on the top of the hill near to where the finish line now is, gave my advice and then flew home"  

[Rupertlt1]

I did not know Tony Marsh was a pilot. Does it say what plane he flew and where it was kept?

(There can't be many hill climb courses where you could land a plane?)

Does the book cover Ditcham?

RGDS RLT

[dgs]

I did not know Tony Marsh was a pilot. Does it say what plane he flew and where it was kept?

(There can't be many hill climb courses where you could land a plane?)

Does the book cover Ditcham?

RGDS RLT

 Tony Marsh devotes a complete chapter in his autobiography to flying. First lesson 8th July 1963, pilot licence within 30 days. Took other tests to take passengers, night time flying, etc.

Three planes mentioned, first Cessna 175, second Cesna 182 Skylane, third Twin engined Piper Apache.

Not much mentioned on where kept. Did mention landing the Piper Apache at Soal Farm (home) a few times but not suitable, so kept at Goodwood.

 

In list at back of book on circuits used, no mention of Ditcham. However he did compete at Ditcham's first meeting 16-06-1968, when be competed in his Marsh GM-Buick, 4wd car, recording BTD of 30.22"  (only time single seat cars allowed to compete).

After this event Tony Marsh gave up on motorsport and turned to Ski Bobbing. Only returning to hillclimbs/sprints in 1988

Tony Marsh's autobiography is not a 'blow by blow' account of every event he competed in and does not have a listing of events as an appendix (that would take a big book) 

[Rupertlt1]

I was taking part in the Bognor Regis Motor Club Sprint  at Goodwood a few weeks ago. Whilst in the paddock I was approached by a gentlemen who told me that he worked on my car in the sixties and knew the second owner , Charles Page. He also told me that the car raced at Ditcham Hillclimb in  Sussex which I did not know. I assume this may have been any years from 1960 to 1964. I wonder if anyone had information about the hillclimb itself and also possibly some old programmes so I could check entries for a gentlemen name Charles Page from Chichester, racing an Austin Healey Sprite MK1 with either a 948cc or 1098 cc in it. Any help would be appreciated. More information about the car can be found on

www.cyberspot.co.uk

 

Ditcham Speed-Hillclimb, Chichester Motoring Club, 16th June 1968:

Class 5 Reserves

R.14 Mike Brown, Austin Healey Sprite, 1098 CMC+

R.19 John Denning, Austin Healey Sprite, 948 CMC+

(Above was the first event held at Ditcham.)

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 November 2024 - 08:33.