Going Like the Clappers – the 1907/8 Sharpenhoe Speed Motor Hill Climbs. Talk by Byran Marsh

In the early days of motoring, hill climb competitions were very popular. Originally, the challenge was simply to get up the steepest of hills but, as the climbing ability of vehicles improved, the challenge changed to see who could go up the fastest. This is the story of a series of speed events, mainly for motorcycles, held on Sharpenhoe Hill, near Barton-le-Clay, during 1907 and 1908. Now largely forgotten, the events were hugely popular and attracted large crowds and some of the top riders and drivers of the day.

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