About Us

Risborough Area Community Action (RACA) has been set up with the aim of promoting the Risborough area for residents and visitors alike by encouraging economic activity. RACA is supported by Bucks County Council, Wycombe District Council and Princes Risborough Town Council and includes representatives from local community organisations. The Kop Hill Climb Project is just one of the events being organised by RACA. The objective of the project is to raise funds for local charities.

Contacts:-

Accommodation

• The Peacock at Henton is associated with the Kop Hill Climb event.
• Whilst the organisers cannot accept any liaibility for the service provided we would be happy to use the hotel ourselves.
• Please mention Kop Hill when booking, rooms have been reserved and the Peacock is donating their booking fee to our charities.

• A particularly quiet country Inn just 5 miles from Kop Hill.
• 25 rooms most of which have recently been refurbished.
• Large Car Park with covered and locked parking option.
• Camping has been arranged next to the Inn.
• Please contact www.peacock.uk.com directly.

For those seeking "bed and breakfast" click on The Chilterns Accommodation Association

Other Accommodation options are

• contact "The Risborough Information Centre" telephone 01844 274795.
• or click The Guide

Other applicant Hotels and Inns who would like to be featured should contact Reg Taylor.

Activities

Kop Hill Climb Archive

Photographs from the 1999 revival are at www.bolide.co.uk.

Photographs from the 2009 revival are at www.photoboxgallery.com/kophill2009

The archive material below has been scanned from photocopies of early pages from the Motor and Autocar held at the VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) and Motor Cycling held at the VMCC (Veteran Motor Cycle Club) libraries. We are indebted to both the VSCC and VMCC for the help and access they gave us.

• "The Motor Cycling Club's Hill-Climb" from Motor Cycling, May 2^nd 1910.
• "Herts. County A.C. Members' Hill-Climb" from Motor Cycling, April 4^th 1911.
• "A Record Open Hill-Climb" from Motor Cycling, April 11^th 1911.
• "Herts. County A.C. Open Hill-Climb" from Motor Cycling, May 9^th 1911.
• "First Impressions of an Open Hill-Climb" from Motor Cycling, May 16^th 1911.
• "Hill Climbing at Kop" from Motor Cycling, March 18^th 1913.
• "The M.C.C. Hill-Climb" from Motor Cycling, April 15^th 1913.
• "More Assaults on a Famous Hill" from Motor Cycling, August 12^th 1913.
• "Hill Climbing in a Deluge" from Motor Cycling, March 17^th 1919.
• "The First Open Hill Climb" from The Motor March 31^st 1920.
• "Open Hill Climb at Kop.pdf" from Motor Cycling, March 31^th 1920.
• "Club Activities" from The Autocar April 3^rd 1920.
• "Another Hill-Climb at Kop" from Motor Cycling, May 5^th 1920
• "High Speeds at Kop Hill" from The Motor April 6^th 1921.
• "Excellent Hill-Climb at Kop" from Motor Cycling, April 6^th 1921
• "High Speeds at Kop Hill" from The Motor April 6^th 1921.
• "High Speeds at Kop Hill" from The Autocar April 9^th 1921.
• "Oxford M.C.'s Sporting Event at Kop Hill" from Motor Cycling, May 11^th 1921
• "A Good Sporting Climb" from The Motor May 11^th 1921.
• "Oxford Clubs at Kop" from Motor Cycling, June 8^th 1921
• "Oxford Clubs Hill Climb at Kop" from The Motor June 8^th 1921.
• "First Big Open Hill Climb of the Year" from The Motor March 29^th 1922.
• "Essex Club's Hill-Climb at Kop" from Motor Cycling, March 29^th 1922
• "ACU Centre Open Hill Climb at Kop" from The Motor May 3^rd 1922.
• "Good Sport at Kop" from Motor Cycling, May 3^rd 1922
• "First Big Open Hill Climb of the Year" from The Motor March 29^th 1922.
• "Essex MC Open Hill Climb at Kop" from The Motor March 27^th 1923.
• "Easy Ascents of Kop" from The Motor May 1^st 1923.
• "Racing Cars at Kop" from The Autocar March 30^th 1923.
• "High Speeds at Kop" from Motor Cycling, April 2^nd 1924
• "Big Crowds Watch Fast Cars at Kop" from The Autocar April 4^th 1924.
• "The Varsities at Kop Hill" from Motor Cycling, May 7^th 1924
• "Kop Hill Record Equalled" from The Autocar October 24^th 1924.
• "Terrific Speeds up Kop Hill" from Motor Cycling, April 1^st 1925
• "Kop Hill Climb" from The Autocar April 3^rd 1925.
• "Essex MC at Kop" from The Autocar April 3^rd 1925.
• "Correspondence" from The Autocar April 3^rd 1925.
• "The Accident at Kop Hill" from The Motor April 14^th 1925 page 505.

It is envisaged that further information and photographs from Kop Hill in the early days will be collected and published here. Any reader who has anything that would help us to complete our record should contact webdesign@kophillclimb.org.uk

Advertisers

Last year we issued nearly 2000 Souvenir Programmes to participants and spectators. This year's programme will be in full colour and A5 in size. It will contain details about the run, its history, background to the event and a listing of all the vehicles taking part. The cost for the premium pages (inside page of the front cover, inside page of the back cover, and back cover) is £300 for a full page, £150 for half page, £75 for quarter page. Other pages are charged at £200 full page, £100 half page, £50 quarter page and £25 for 1/8th page. To make bookings or to get further information contact Reg Taylor.

An advert on our web site will cost £50, which typically will include some text, a logo, and a link to your own web site. To make bookings or to get further information contact Reg Taylor.

Classics/Clubs

Kop Hill Centenary Climb

On Saturday, 25^th and Sunday, 26^thSeptember 2010.

The big change for the Centenary year is that a special area in the paddock will be set aside for any pre-booked

• Classic Vehicles
• Car and Bike Clubs

This innovation will enable owners to display their vehicles in the paddock although they will not be able to ascend the hill. Owners of these vehicles will of course be closer to many of the traders and exhibitors than they would if in the public car park.

Vehicles in this area will be eligble for an award, voted on by the public, for "the car or bike they would most like to take home".

Individuals with pre-1973 vehicles wishing to pre-book and park in the paddock should click the "Pre-Book" tab on the lefthand menu. The cost for a car is £15 per day, which includes one passenger (extra passengers charged £5 on the day) and for bikes £8.

Secretaries of Car or Bike Clubs may book a space in the paddock to display members vehicles together with the usual flags, banners and stalls. The cost for up to 10 cars is £250 for the weekend (for Bike Clubs the equivalent cost is £125). Those who want to book space for their members in the paddock should contact Mike Greasby.

Commercial

We are extremely grateful to our Sponsors, Advertisers and Traders who all contribute to our financial success and thereby our donations to Charity. Of special note are the contributions from the four service providers who have made no charge.

Dress Code

There is no dress code at Kop Hill Climb.

However, if you would like to come in period clothing it would add to the fun, spectacle and atmosphere; you would not be on your own!
Drivers and mechanics could be in white overalls.
Some of the ladies in period clothes matching that of the car.
Spectators could enter into the spirit of this historic event on the Chilterns and join in with country clothes. How about it?

Entrants

How to Enter the Kop Hill Centenary Climb

On Saturday, 25^th and Sunday, 26^thSeptember 2010.

Last year Kop Hill was a sell out and it is likely that the centenary will be even more popular, consequently it is advisable to book as soon as possible.

If your entry for the climb is not accepted do not give up. We have organised for classic cars and motorcycles to be displayed in a separate area within the paddock. For more details click on the "Classics/Clubs" tab at the top of the page.

Because we expect to be oversubscribed but want to give as many as possible a chance to run up the hill we are restricting entries of post-war vehicles to either of Saturday or Sunday, but not both. However, if you want to come on both days why not enter the Hill Climb for one day and pre-book into the paddock on the other (see the "Classics/Clubs" tab at the top of the page).

The 'Centenary Run' will be divided into classes for different types of vehicle according to their age. Entries will only be accepted from pre-1973 vehicles. Priority will be given to the older vehicles that could have competed in the early days of the Hill Climb. A few modern exotic cars will be present by invitation only.

Acceptance of entries will be at the sole discretion of the event organisers whose decision will be final. Entry fees will be refunded in full if an entry is not accepted.

Entry fees received for accepted entries are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by the organisers. If the weather is extremely wet and the grass paddock is not usable, entrants will be marshalled in hard standing areas prior to their run.

Dogs are not permitted on the site except on a short lead.

The Entry fees are

• Motorcars £25 for one day and £40 for two.
• Motorcycles £12.50 for one day and £20 for two.

The fee includes

• a copy of the Souvenir Programme.
• a Kop Hill Climb event plate.
• for motorcars the driver and one passenger. Extra passengers are £5 collected at the gate.

The booking process is started by clicking on the "Bookings" tab on the side menu.

For those booking both days why not stay locally and make a weekend of it by clicking on our "Accommodation" tab on the side menu.

How to Find Kop Hill

Kop Hill Climb History

Kop Hill Climb Centenary

Kop Hill Climb's exciting revival last year propelled it into one of the "must attend" events on the historic motorsport calendar. Kop Hill near Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire, was one of the most popular speed hill climbs in the country for motorcycles and motorcars in the period between 1910 and 1925.

• This year's centenary event celebrates the first recorded races by motorcyclists in 1910. A year later they were joined by motorcars. The hill was in regular use by motorcycles and motorcars until 1925 when, as a result of an accident on the hill, all racing on public roads in Britain was banned.
• For owners of vintage, veteran and classic motorcars there is the opportunity to follow in the slipstream of Malcolm Campbell in his "Bluebird", Henry Segrave in his Sunbeam, or for motorcyclists, Freddie Dixon on his Douglas.
• For two days, Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th of September the hill will be returned to its glorious past. Storming the hill this year will be over 250 historic vehicles from the earliest days through to post-war classics. These will be leavened by a few modern exotic cars showing how motoring has developed over the last 100 years.
• The event will not be a speed hill climb but rather a commemorative run to recall Kop Hill's exciting past.
• Spectators will be able to see and hear the vehicles roar up the Hill and have a close up view of the vehicles in the paddock.

This event is an opportunity for Drivers, Riders, Classic Owners and Spectators to support the revival of this exciting and historic Hill Climb, at the same time as raising money for worthy local charities.

Kop Hill Climb Links

Mementos from 2009

Kop Hill Profile

Spectating at Kop Hill

Kop Hill Climb Sponsors

Sponsors List

Bonhams	Hagerty Insurance
Beechdean Motorsport	Airbase Group	Team Modena	Ace Cafe
Prime Time Land Speed

We are grateful to all our sponsors for their support.

Our Gold Sposors buy into a promotional package including start-line banners, programme advertising and run plate logos.

Additional sponsors can associate themselves with the Centenary Hill Climb, which should bring into Princes Risborough more than last year's 5000 spectators and 250 participants. The following options are available to link your organisation with the Centenary Hill Climb.

Options

• Banners will line the course opposite the spectator areas. These can be colour printed to your specification for £250. If you supply your own banner the charge is £150.
• Each vehicle on the run will display a run plate. There is space on the plate for several sponsors and the cost is £500 each.

Further information from Peter Thompson

It may be that advertising on our web site, or in our programme, or participating as an exhibitor or trader on the day is more in your line. If so click on the "Traders" or "Advertisers" tab on the left menu.

Stop Press

• 10/Feb/2010 - We are now accepting entries for the Kop Hill Centenary Event
• 5/March/2010 - Bonhams become our first Gold Sponsor - see the "Commercial" and then "Sponsors" tab;

Kop Hill

The Hill

• Kop Hill is just over 1000 metres long to the summit and rises by 100 metres.
• It starts with a gentle slope and is 1 in 6 at the half way mark. The road then eases off before it gets even steeper at 1 in 4 just before the summit.
• The finish of the run is before the summit to allow vehicles to slow down. From start to finish the run is 860 metres. The road is well surfaced.

Traders

Over 5000 people attended last year' Kop Hill. In the Centenary year we are planning to accomodate double the number of spectators. There are opportunities for food and other traders to take additional space in the paddock and public viewing area.

On the field traders will be grouped together by type.There will be specific areas for:-

• Motor Traders
• Auto Jumble
• Food Court
• Charities
• Clothing

Food and catering traders should contact Jim Bounden others should contact Andy Beaumont

The Video

Volunteers

This is your opportunity to join an enthusiastic team that, in one year, have

• made Kop Hill one of the most prestigious events in the historic motorsport calendar.
• at the same time raised substantial sums for local charities.
• raised the public profile of Princes Risborough and contributed to its economic activity.

We want to thank all the volunteers who helped last year. However, we need more volunteers to ensure that Kop Hill Climb capitalises on its success and develops in the future.

• Please contact Pat Voss if you are available at the weekend to work on two hour shifts as
  • Payment Stewards
  • Control Stewards
• Please contact Peter Lewis if you could lend a hand
  • laying out and clearing the site.
  • erecting signs.
  • general activities.

For real enthusiasts who can devote time in the run up to the event there are responsible roles waiting on our committee. For example we are looking for a project manager who would be responsible for organising Kop Hill's promotion at other events. If you would like to discuss how you might help contact Tony Davies.