Geograph - photograph every grid square

Compiled by Brian Robert Marshall

Today at Dyrham there is an event organised by the Bristol Motor Club Link that relives the heady days of the early 1960s when hillclimb events were held for five years from 1961 to 1966. From their website:

"On Sunday 2nd October 2011, the Bristol Motor Club, in partnership with the National Trust, is organising a spectacular SPIRIT OF THE 60s day at the Dyrham Park Estate near Bath.

50 years ago, the National Trust took over the running of the Estate. Also in 1961, the then Bristol Motor Cycle & Light Car Club organised the first Dyrham Park Speed Hillclimb. SPIRIT OF THE 60s is a celebration of these two anniversaries, which also fall in the year that Bristol Motor Club is celebrating its centenary.

The Dyrham event developed into one of the most popular hillclimbs in the country, and became a regular fixture in the National Championship Calendar. At the final event in September 1966 the RAC Trophy was presented to Champion Tony Marsh, a fitting climax to the season and an appropriate way to mark the sad end of the Dyrham Park Speed Hillclimb.

Many of the cars that took part in this legendary event during its five years’ existence will be on display on 2nd October, and visitors will be able to wander freely amongst them and talk to their drivers. There will also be opportunities during the day to experience again the sight and sound of motorsport in the Park, as the cars will perform escorted runs up the historic drive from the East Front of this elegant 17th-Century House. It will be a nostalgic and emotional reunion between drivers, their cars, and the unique atmosphere of Dyrham Park, which will no doubt be shared by the many spectators that are expected on the day.

The record time for the 800yds Dyrham course stands at 30.05 secs; it was set at the last meeting in September 1966 by Bryan Eccles who, 45 years on, will be joining the celebration. He will be reunited with one of the cars he owned in the 60s, a Brabham BT18 single-seater racing car powered by a Buick 3500cc V8 engine. Visitors can also expect to see a plethora of Morgans, Triumph TRs, Jaguars and Austin-Healeys; plus examples of gone-but-not-forgotten British marques like Buckler, Fairthorpe, Gilbern, Tornado and Turner."