Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb to return in 2019

Tuesday, 30 October 2018 / Published in News

Organisers of the ground-breaking Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb in Cornwall can confirm that the motorsport weekend will become an annual event and take place for a second time on 14th/15th September 2019.

After a successful first event, promoters Truro and District Motor Club, Newquay Auto Club and Plymouth Motor Club are also looking at making changes to the hill to offer a greater challenge for competitors and better viewing for fans throughout the course.

Plans are well underway to re-create the weekend and make it bigger and better than last September’s offering. The inaugural event saw 90 drivers each day compete along the 720-metre course which winds its way along the B3276 coast road between Padstow and Newquay.

Sanctioned by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) which governs the sport in the UK, the event marked the first hillclimb to take place on a closed public road since the passing of legislation in Parliament in 2017 which enabled the suspension of the Road Traffic Act for motorsport.

Thousands of spectators and motorsport fans flocked to the seaside resort from all over the country during the weekend, which enabled the event to donate its profits to its designated charities, Cornwall Air Ambulance and Cornwall Food Foundation.

The brainchild of Truro and District Motor Club Competition Secretary Dave Brenton, Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb was a culmination of over five years of planning and he is delighted to be able to announce a date for 2019.

“It’s very exciting to be able to formally announce a date for 2019 and the return of the Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb” he says.

“The entire committee worked tirelessly to ensure the debut event was a success and I was so very proud that we managed to do that considering it was the first event of its kind in the country. We learnt very fast and that means we can now take our experiences into next year and make it bigger and better than before”.

Brenton has listened to all the feedback from competitors and spectators in September and is working on some significant changes for the second event.

“Of course, we knew there would be things that needed adapting and altering going forwards, that’s was always the intention for our first one. We now have some exciting new plans in the pipeline for competitors and spectators alike. There is a lot of work to do but if it comes off, we are sure that it will be a popular addition for all. We hope that announcing the date early gives people time to plan their diaries for next year and we look forward to seeing everyone on the North Cornwall coast in September 2019”.

Inaugural Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb a “remarkable motorsport success”

Monday, 17 September 2018 / Published in News

Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb is set to become an annual event after the successful running of the inaugural meeting at the weekend, which saw 90 drivers per day compete against the clock near Newquay in a first-for-motorsport in the UK.

The event, jointly organised by Truro and District Motor Club, Newquay Auto Club and Plymouth Motor Club marked the first hillclimb to take place on a closed public road since the passing of a law in Parliament in 2017 which enabled the suspension of the Road Traffic Act for motorsport.

The event would wind its way along the B3276 coast road between Padstow and Newquay and attracted bumper crowds to the venue for the weekend as motorsport fans and followers watched a diverse range of cars tackle the 720-metre course.

Sanctioned by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) which governs the sport in the UK, the event was a culmination of over five years of planning by Truro Motor Club Competition Secretary and Deputy Event Director Dave Brenton, attracting spectators and drivers from all over the UK to the region.

Bottom paddock

A busy bottom paddock at Watergate Bay. – click to download high res version –
Image credit: Samuel Crosby – Watergate Bay Hotel

From almost standard road cars, to fully modified racers, there was success for local crews on both days. Tavistock’s Doug Bennett had the honour of taking the opening fastest time on the Saturday event in his powerful Sylva Striker kit-car, with a time of 24.74 seconds during his first timed run of the afternoon.

Fastest time of the day on Sunday went to Chard-based Stewart Lillington and his Radical SR4 kit-car, setting an impressive 23.57 second run and bagging a new hill record in the process.

Bottom paddock

Doug Bennett took the very first fastest time at Saturday’s event. – click to download high res version –
Image credit: Howie Fowler

Local charities were also able to benefit from the weekend, with all profits being donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance and Cornwall Food Foundation, which includes Jamie Oliver’s apprentice training scheme at the nearby Fifteen restaurant. Whilst organisers are still awaiting the official figures, initial estimates are that over £10,000 will be donated.

Crowds flocked to the seaside resort, with some able to enjoy a mix of surfing and motorsport within a few hundred metres of each other. Organisers estimate that over 1000 people per day passed through the spectator entrance to enjoy the action, as well as getting up close to the drivers and cars in the dedicated paddock area at the top of the hill.  Spectators were also able to chat with the drivers in the bottom paddock in the Fifteen restaurant car park in the heart of Watergate Bay.

The event was an emotional one for originator Dave Brenton who has dedicated the past few years to see the event get off the ground.

“This has very much been a labour of love for a long time now and to see that first car leave the start line on Saturday morning was a very special moment for me and all of the organising team,” he says.

“It’s been a mammoth task and like all events of this size, there have been some issues that we worked hard to overcome during the weekend. But the atmosphere was amazing throughout and each competitor I have spoken to loved every second. It’s been a remarkable motorsport success and I can’t thank everyone enough for their support, from our sponsors, partners and charities, to the marshals and spectators who turned up to watch”.

Crowds

Crowds helped to raise significant sum for Cornwall charities – click to download high res version – 
Image credit: Howie Fowler

Despite the clearing up operation still underway, Brenton is already looking at next year.

“There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the event so we are already looking at how to improve in 2019. We know spectators viewing was limited at times so will be addressing that and we are even investigating the possibility of extending the course. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in Cornwall in September 2019 for the second running of the Hillclimb.”

A wide variety of cars took part – click to download high res version –  Image credit: Howie Fowler

More information, including results can be found at: www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk

You can catch up with all the latest news from the event on its social media feeds:
http://www.twitter.com/watergatehill
http://www.facebook.com/watergatebayhillclimb/

-ENDS

Cornish motorsport event set to make history at Watergate Bay

Sunday, 09 September 2018 / Published in News

Cornwall will be making motorsport history this weekend as the ground-breaking Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb takes place on the North Cornish coast near Newquay (15/16 September).

Around 90 cars and drivers from across the UK will compete against the clock, tackling the 720-metre course along the B3276 coast road between Padstow and Newquay. The event marks the first Speed Hillclimb to take place on a closed public road, since the passing of a law in Parliament in 2017 which enables the suspension of the Road Traffic Act for motorsport events. It will be sanctioned by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) which governs the sport in the UK.

From an idea in 2013 by Truro Motor Club Competition Secretary and now Deputy Event Director of Watergate Bay Hillclimb Dave Brenton, the concept has grown significantly in strength and has gained support from a wealth of local businesses who are keen to see the event become an annual event.

Local charities benefit from the weekend, with all profits being donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance and Cornwall Food Foundation, which includes Jamie Oliver’s apprentice training scheme at the nearby Fifteen restaurant.

Organisers have been inundated with entries for the weekend which boasts a fantastic mix of personalities and local competitors all eager to play a part in making motorsport history.  Ginetta GT5 racer and motorsport star Charlie Martin. is a notable entry on the list, bringing her own Mini Cooper to Cornwall after spending the previous week enjoying the Cornish hospitality and surf in the region.

Sadly, FIA World Rallycross ace and Monster Energy Athlete Liam Doran has had to withdraw due to be called up to contest the next round of the series in Latvia by Prodrive.

There will be a wide range of cars competing throughout the weekend, divided into 12 classes, ranging from totally standard road going examples to highly modified racers and rally cars.

Local drivers have been eager to contest the event which is aiming to become an annual celebration of the sport for the region. Husband and wife team Helen and Gary Pitt from Camborne will be sharing their Suzuki Swift in class A1 (Roadgoing). Whilst they have four other contenders in the class, their biggest rival will undoubtedly be each other.

Shelley Deacon has been involved in the organising team of the event, but switches to the driver’s seat during the weekend. Deacon, from St Dennis will drive her Audi TT which she has been using with great success in the British Women Racing Drivers Club Hillclimb and Sprint championships this season.

The Watergate Bay Hotel Rally Car Class is well supported, with event sponsor Neil Yates bringing his Rally Prep backed BMW E30 the three or so miles from his St Columb workshop to the hillclimb. A rare MG Metro 6R4, driven by Andy Slade will make the trip from Plymouth and motorsport fans will be in for a treat, undoubtedly hearing the car before seeing it.

Spectators will be well catered for during the weekend with trade displays and the chance to walk around the paddock area, as well as scenic spectator areas to watch the action. The Hillclimb will start from 9am on each day and entry to the event costs £10 per adult and the spectator car park can be accessed by travelling along the B3276 from Newquay towards Watergate Bay. There will also be a First Bus service from Newquay to the venue in operation.

Deputy Event Director Dave Brenton is delighted with the response to the Hillclimb.

“A few years ago, this was just an idea and now this weekend, after many months of hard work, it becomes a reality” he said.

“Cornwall is a fantastic place for motorsport and has a very healthy scene which tends to hide itself away, so Watergate Bay is effectively bringing motorsport to the people. We have had lots of support from the MSA and our sponsors, all of which have helped to make this happen and it really is exciting to be making history in the sport. We have a great entry lined up and we think it will be a great weekend for all to enjoy and the plan is certainly to make it an annual event”.

More information, including maps, spectator information, media information and a full entry list of participants can be found at: www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk

Inaugural Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb attracts capacity entry

Friday, 24 August 2018 / Published in News

The trailblazing Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb has attracted a packed entry list for the inaugural running of the 15/16 September motorsport event, with an impressive array of cars and drivers set to head for the North Cornwall coast.

Just hours after opening entries for the ground-breaking event, organisers were over subscribed and 90 cars on each day are set to tackle the landmark event which takes place along the B3276 coast road between Padstow and Newquay. This exciting speed event will become the first closed public-road Hillclimb to take place in England.

FIA World Rallycross ace and Monster Energy Athlete Liam Doran is a notable entry on the list. Doran, famed for his impressive grit and determination on the motorsport scene, will bring his impressive and ultra-rare Ford RS200 Pikes Peak edition to tackle the hill.

With almost 1000 brake-horse-power under his right foot, Doran is one of the favourites to take the maiden hill record.

Ginetta GT5 racer and motorsport personality Charlie Martin will also head for Watergate Bay next month but will feel as comfortable on the hill as she does on the circuits around the UK. Martin is no stranger to the sport of hillclimbing, having started her motorsport career in the category and competing in events across Europe.

Martin has been contesting the ultra-competitive single make Ginetta series but is chasing a dream to one day contest the infamous Le Mans 24 Hours. Her weekend in Cornwall will see her back behind the wheel of a BMW Mini Cooper however as she heads back to her roots.

“It may be the shortest race on my 2018 calendar, but that has no bearing on how excited I am to be competing at Watergate Bay Hillclimb for this historical race” says Martin.

“The first ever hillclimb being held on the beachfront, crucially it’s also the first event of its kind being held in the UK since legislation was passed last year allowing the MSA to run closed road motorsport. 

It’s a great feeling to be one of the first competitors to tackle this picturesque course, especially as I’ll be spending the week before surfing in the area”.

Jointly organised by Truro and District Motor Club, Newquay Auto Club and Plymouth Motor Club, Watergate will mark a first for Cornwall and the UK thanks to the passing of a new law in Parliament which enables the suspension of the Road Traffic Act for motorsport events. It will be sanctioned by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) which governs the sport in the UK.

Spectators will be well catered for during the weekend with trade displays and the chance to walk around the paddock area, as well as scenic spectator areas to watch the action. The hillclimb will start from 9am on each day and entry to the event costs £10 per adult and the spectator car park can be accessed by travelling along the B3276 from Newquay towards Watergate Bay. There will also be a First Bus service from Newquay to the venue in operation.

A full entry list of participants can be found at: www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk/competitors

Watergate Speed Hillclimb supports Cornwall Food Foundation

Wednesday, 01 August 2018 / Published in News

The inaugural Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb has pledged to ensure local charities will benefit from the ground-breaking motorsport event by donating profits to worthy causes. As well as Cornwall Air Ambulance, the Cornwall Food Foundation will be a recipient of funds from the event.

Cornwall Food Foundation

We inspire people in Cornwall through food and enable those in greatest need to achieve meaningful change. We do this through training, employment and better life opportunities, while adding real value to the local economy.

Who we are:

We are best known for managing the Fifteen Cornwall Apprentice Programme and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall restaurant. With the success of the apprentice programme, we made a conscious decision to further our work within the county through people and food. We are now working on some exciting new projects involving vocational training opportunities and engaging communities through food-related activities focusing on health, education and employment.

What we do:

  • Run great food enterprises
  • Deliver award-winning training and development programmes with appropriate welfare support
  • Improve Cornwall’s food skills through community-based activities, focusing on health, education, skills and employment

The Foundation is an ever-evolving charity using food to ignite inspiration and change in us all. It has bigger ambitions. As the Foundation grows, so does its need for further support.

We would love to hear from you. Please contact us at: info@cornwallfoodfoundation.org