Kop Hill Climb
A charity event held annually near Princes Risborough in Oxfordshire UK.
One of the earliest forms of motorsport, the hill climb events at Kop Hill started with motorbikes in 1910. Motor cars joined in the fun a year later. In those days the road was just a dirt track up the steep hill. Famous drivers who competed on it's rough surface include Malcolm Campbell and Henry Seagrave.
Fastest ever up the hill was Freddie Dixon on a motor bike averaging 81 mph.
Competitive events ended in 1925 when the RAC, responsible for issuing road racing permits refused to issue any more. This decision was made after a spectator failed to get out of the way at the Kop Hill event and suffered a broken leg.
Today the event is classed as a commemorative run and is not timed. It was revived in 1999 as part of the Risborough festival. The current run of events started in 2009.
As a fundraising event, Kop Hill Climb raised £106,000 for local charities in 2019.
The charity donates to projects associated with homelessness, young peoples education, those with life limiting illness and those with special needs.
TV personality Edd China is interviewed.
Joy, exhilaration, exitement, concentration and maybe fear. The faces tell the story.
The Kop Hill Climb Festival has received The Queens Award for Voluntary Service. Equivalent to a MBE given to individuals, it is the highest honour bestowed upon local volunteer groups to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.
Entry priority is given to historic or interesting cars and motorbikes, so a visit on either the Saturday or Sunday will be rewarded with views of very interesting machinery. The sight and sound of them flat out up the hill is an added bonus.
