183 riders – a new record – attempted the notorious Red Marley slope for the annual “Freak Hill Climb” at Walsgrove Farm, near Great Witley. Organisers also estimated the crowd at more than 10,000 – again, the highest in the event’s history.
Three time champion Arthur Browning took the prize for the fastest time at 19.95 seconds on his 500cc Jawa.
Just reaching the top of the hill is a major achievement, with the gradient rising from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5 to 1 in 1.5 – almost vertical. The bikes are pre-1970s classics ranging from 200cc to 600cc with some bikes dating back as far as the 1930s. The event is very popular with the over 55s, with 52 competitors being 55 or over.
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