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The Inter-University Hill Climb
Cambridge Defeat Oxford By 38 Points.
Published in "Motor
Sport", April 1928
This year the Annual Inter-University Hill-Climb
took place as before, at Ewelme Down, on March 3rd,
and resulted in a complete triumph for Cambridge, the
scores being 61 to 23.
There is no doubt that the Cambridge team were mounted
on very much faster machines, as a whole, than their
Oxford rivals, and were, in addition, perfectly adequate
to handle their swifter vehicles.
The venue at Ewelme Down is very excellent for an event
of this nature, offering ample natural parking space
and safe view points for spectators. The hill itself
is about 1,240 yards long, and of rather deceptive gradient.
The steepest portion is about 1 in io, while the average
gradient must be about I in 14.
The hill commences with a rolling start of twenty yards—which
is in effect a standing start—and continues on
the level through a left-hand bend, a righthand bend,
and then a long straight rising steadily to the steepest
part with an awkward, long, right-hand bend at the top,
and then the finish.
Competitors were allowed two runs, fastest time to count,
the even numbers represmting Oxford, Cambridge carrying
the odd.
On March 3rd the day was perfect, the sun beating doWn
with appreciable heat ; but the gravel road was wet
under the surface, becoming rapidly cut up—being
especially loose on the top bend. This was obviously
the section calling for the most skill in driving, and
here we therefore took our stand. The programme opened
with the class for 350 C.C. solos, the first man up
being H. W. Taylor (Cantab), A. J.S., who opened the
proceedings by making fastest time of the day on his
first run-66.i m.p.h. His riding was in a class by itself,
and was an outstanding example of hill-climb technique.
C. R. Horton (Oxon) on an A. J.S. was five seconds longer
on the course, but secured second place, the third falling
to 0. Williams (Oxon) on a 347 single-port Sunbeam.
In the 5oo class, K. Dobson (Cantab) made a very spectacular
climb on a 494 Douglas, taking the first bend flat out,
nonchalantly holding the bars from underneath and banking
flat. T. G. Moore (Oxon), Rudge, was also very fast,
and secured second place to Taylor (A. J .S.) , who
won all three solo classes. In the unlimited Solo class,
L. Currie (Cantab) on a 998 Brough was but two seconds
slower than Taylor's 38.35 secs, making a very thrilling
ascent, footing on the top bend in the loose gravel.
J. S. Antony (Cantab), Scott, fell off on the top bend
through his goggles sliding off his hat—indicating
what an absurd place it is to push them—and apparently
crossed the line on his neck.
Then followed the Racing Car class, which also provided
good sport and many displays of skilful driving. The
first man up (but only just) was R. A. Beaver (Oxon)
on an antique G.N., followed by R. J. Lockett (Oxon)
on a little Fiat which sounded nice, but did not 'go
very quickly. Next an Austin Seven in the hands of M.
J. Morgan (Oxon) hummed up quite well, followed slowly
by I. H. Leschallas (Oxon) on a Rover. The next climb
was the more dramatic for the dull ones previous to
it ; there was the high-pitched whine of a six-cylinder,
with the shrill scream of a supercharger, and an Amilcar
" Six " driven by A. S. Llewellyn (Cantab)
howled round the bend in a shower of gravel with his
rear wheels slithering in a diverting manner.
Another Cambridge supercharged Amilcar, driven by A.
A. Arnold, next came up very fast, and was rather more
hectic on the bend. Next followed Ellis (Cantab), Austin
Seven, quite good ; E. C. Peel (Oxon) Amilcar, slow
; C. Winslow Taylor (Oxon), Frazer-Nash, fast and unspectacular
; T. G. Moore (Oxon), 4i litre Bentley four seater,
very fast and very spectacular. Followed E. K. H. Karslake
(Oxon) who rejoiced the hearts of all beholders with
his stripped "Alfonso "-an Hispano-Suiza of
pre-war vintage, which came up very impressively, if
not very rapidly.
G. M. Miller's (Cantab) supercharged Amilcar was missing,
Williamson's (Cantab) V.B.S. a weird hybrid motor--was
good ; then C. W. Arnott (Cantab) on his Alvis created
the next diversion by manfully keeping the taps open
despite broadside skids, hitting the bank and nearly
overturning. How the photographers enjoyed themselves!
The last of the first run was a Ballot, missing badly.
The fastest on the first run was Moore's Bentley, with
Llewellyn's Amilcar second.
The second run was a more decorous version of the first.
Llewellyn was faster and very steady, Moore was still
rather lurid, "Alfonso" went quicker, -Arnott
saved the seconds he wasted on the previous run, while
both the V.B.S. and Miller's Amilcar were going much
better.
The second run reversed the positions, leaving Llewelahead
of Moore.
The name of "T. S. Constantapoulos " (Oxon)
filled the crowd with jubilation, but this gentleman
and his Morgan failed to materialise. Perhaps this "
Greek " had met another Greek.
The three-wheelers' second attempt was disappointing
in that Currie's Brough was not going so well and misfiring
badly. Collins had not cured this defect in his Rudge,
and F. E. Buckland towed up, something having spoilt
his run lower down. Naylor made a still better climb,
with his Morgan very steady on the loose gravel.
The new class for touring cars was easy meat for Moore's
Bentley, which ran with such touring adjuncts as hood,
spare wheel and screen. Shenstone's Bugatti (Cantab)
was good, but seemed to trouble the driver with his
change down on the first run.
The next class was that for three-wheelers, and produced
an excellent flat-out climb by L. C. Currie (Cantab)
whose Brough and sidecar swept round the bend in one
colossal skid, his forks visibly flexed under the strain.
Twist's New Imperial (Cantab) was slow, T. G. Moore,
this time on a Rudge, was fair, while Collin's Rudge
(Cantab) was missing. Naylor (Cantab) produced a good
Morgan climb, and was steady on the bend, apparently
cutting out twice. D. H. Thornton (Oxon), Isolta-Franschini,
made a very majestic ascent in a large coupe, C. Hamilton
Turner (Oxon), Frazer-Nash, was steady M. V. Craik (Cantab)
drove his Alvis quite well, and R. A. Norman (Cantab),
Frazer-Nash, was quite fast.
Altogether a very enjoyable afternoon, and the organisation
could hardly have been better, except for the rather
extended intervals between the climbs and classes.
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