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
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