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#1 pierrefrogeye

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Posted 06 May 2014 - 20:07

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

 

 

 

 



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#2 Rupertlt1

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Posted 09 May 2014 - 00:23

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.


#3 Allan Lupton

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Posted 09 May 2014 - 07:09

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.



#4 pierrefrogeye

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Posted 09 May 2014 - 16:50

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.


#5 Rupertlt1

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Posted 10 May 2014 - 00:53

Bodiam? Brunton? RGDS RLT



#6 pierrefrogeye

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Posted 12 May 2014 - 09:02

thank you Rupert



#7 Rupertlt1

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Posted 06 March 2017 - 11:34

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.


#8 RobMk2a

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Posted 06 March 2017 - 13:18

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

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

Rob

#9 RAP

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Posted 06 March 2017 - 20:33

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 



#10 RAP

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Posted 07 March 2017 - 10:11

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.


#11 RobMk2a

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Posted 07 March 2017 - 11:18

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.


#12 RAP

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Posted 07 March 2017 - 19:36

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



#13 Rupertlt1

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Posted 15 April 2017 - 15:30

Event on 4 June 1972?

 

RGDS RLT


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


#14 RAP

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Posted 25 November 2017 - 14:17

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 



#15 Rupertlt1

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Posted 11 April 2019 - 14:10

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

  



#16 Rupertlt1

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Posted 12 April 2019 - 17:59

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.


#17 Rupertlt1

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Posted 02 May 2019 - 11:08

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