Hey everyone!

I want to get into doing some form of competitive motor sport next year and want to keep it reasonably low-key & cost effective, which kind of has me thinking about hillclimbing since it appears on the surface to fit the above bill pretty well.

I've noticed a fair few people on here are into the sport and wanted to pick fellow dubbers brains about what you all get out of it?

I would also like to know a fair bit about the classes, what you guys run in & why?

OK - first thing is that hillclimb is VERY addictive, so be warned !!!



The main thing I get out of it is fun, and heaps of it.

The fun isn't just limited to driving - there's a really social atmosphere at the track, talking lines, changes to make, helping fix busted cars etc. All important stuff when in a whole day at the track you get maybe 5 or 6 runs @ 50-60 odd seconds each.

Hillclimb has also led into other sorts of motorsport for me -I've also been doing navigation runs regularly, the odd motorkhana, Bug-In and hopefully Valla and even a low-level tarmac rally last year. This year I'm also keen to possibly try a couple of sprint events, depending on how many weekends I have free.

How expensive it is is up to you really - there are guys running dedicated hillclimb cars that cost well over the $100k mark, while other run regularly (and consistently) with cars that they've spent only a few grand on. Entry is pretty cheap - normally around $80-100 for the day - you use bugger all fuel or tyres, and the whole thing is generally pretty easy on the car if you don't go too nuts.

My car Jezebel is a 1970 Bug, BJ + IRS, 1916 with twin 44 IDF's. I'm pretty safety minded so have a cage, race seats, 4 point harnesses etc., but you don't have to go that far - just safe and roadworthy is it really.

Here in Qld there's a "Road Registered" which is what I run in, but most everywhere with a VW you could run in Improved Production, Sports Car Closed or possibly even Sports Sedan categories. Class depends on engine capacity - most common for a VW is 1601-2000cc.

Best idea to get started is head along to the track you're most likely to run at when they run an event, talk with a few people and see how you go... most guys I've met are hugely willing to help/guide someone getting started.

Gday Cam,hillclimbing is just dam good fun.You get out of it what you put in,you can go mega serious and spend heaps of money(not my go) or you can spend what you can afford met some great people and some life long friends,the choice is yours.
The most popular class for beetles is Improved Production,and guys like Nathan Abbott,Heath Campbell Craig Torrens and myself run in this class.Its also split into capacity so 0-1600, 1601-2000,2000-3000 etc.So in this catagory,without boring you to much the rules are,
Motor and gearbox unlimited, but must be in original position and vw case.
Brakes and suspension also free.
Body as standard ie all steel no fibreglass all bumpers all glass.
Can strip the interior out but must run door trims.
Tyres are usually R spec but you can run any road tyre also.
Most guys run a roll cage, now i am not sure if this is now mandatory so maybe someone can clarify this for us.
Same goes for harness and seat.Either way when it comes to safety can you be to carefull?.
Not sure about tracks or round locations in Vic but in NSW we run at places like Bathurst, which is just awesome.
Can,t speak for the others but the main reason i compete is for the adrenalin rush and trying to go faster than i did last event.Thers nothing better than getting out of your car after a quick run and your hands are shaking and your knees are wobbly.You dont have to look at the time sheet then you just know that was bloody quick!
Hope this helps a little and if i missed something which i probably did,maybe someone can chime in.

Cheers Col.

Beat me too it Sides.

But in a nutshell as Sides said FUN FUN FUN.

Cheers Col

from my quick look around on the web there doesnt seem to be classes for standard road cars in vic. That to me is quite bad. It would turn away lots of young guys that we get at huntley driving dead stock barinas and excels and stuff.

Anyhow I assume you'd want to go into Imp Production anyway.
http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/3category/0728_Group_3J_Q208.pdf 

Unless you think you are going to be chasing a class win, just build the car you want and let others take care of the classing. Just race the clock/yourself.

Cool, cheers guys!

Going to cruise out to the Rob Roy Hillclimb tomorrow morning, is classified as a Historic event but should still get a feel for things.

So Cam, how did the day at Rob Roy go... interesting enough to ya that we're going to see another hillclimb Volksy created ???

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, was... bearded

A couple of early formula vees there and that was about the only VW presence. The whole track was taped off so all we could see was the start & first two corners.
Being a vintage meet there were some interesting vehicles and a couple of people up for a chat, but probably the worst meet to pick in regards to getting a feel for the sport