Hillclimb

From the first fragile automobiles struggling up steep public roads to electric prototypes climbing above the clouds, hillclimbing has remained one of motor sport’s purest and most demanding contests. Hillclimb: Drivers, Machines and Mountain Roads Where Every Second Counts traces the worldwide history of uphill competition through the drivers, manufacturers and extraordinary roads that shaped it. It follows the birth of organised hillclimbing at La Turbie, the enduring traditions of Shelsley Walsh and Prescott, the great European mountain championships and the century-long evolution of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The story moves through the age of Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union, Porsche, Ferrari, Abarth and Alfa Romeo; the lightweight revolution led by Cooper and Lotus; the Unser family’s remarkable connection with Pikes Peak; and the arrival of Audi, Peugeot, turbocharging, four-wheel drive, advanced aerodynamics and electric power. Along the way, the book explains how engineers learned to balance power, weight, traction, gearing, cooling and downforce on roads where drivers receive only one opportunity to produce a perfect ascent. It also examines the risks carried by competitors, the safety developments shaped by tragedy and the volunteers and local communities that continue to make hillclimbing possible. Written as a flowing, fact-based narrative, this is the complete story of a sport in which the driver starts alone, the mountain offers no second chance and every fraction of a second matters. Disclaimer: This is an independent, unofficial work of motor-sport history. It has not been authorised, sponsored, endorsed or approved by any racing organisation, championship, event organiser, governing body, automobile manufacturer, racing team, driver, estate or other rights holder mentioned in the text. All trademarks, registered trademarks, event names, team names, vehicle names, logos and other proprietary terms are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification, historical reference, commentary and informational purposes. No association or affiliation with any trademark owner or organisation is implied.