If the words “hill climb” mean a picturesque mountain asphalt conquered by elegant sports cars, then you know almost nothing about hill climbs. Welcome to Gloucestershire, England, where this form of motorsport probably originated. Every February, the Stroud & District Motor Club hosts the Cotswold Clouds here. So you understand: the event has been held since 1950! That is, the first such race took place three months earlier than the very first Formula 1 Grand Prix! In 2023, around 80 crew members from across England gathered in Gloucestershire in a variety of vehicles – from pre-war to modern vehicles.
This exciting action is carried out in several stages – the racers have to complete a whole series of off-road sections. Each of the tracks is very compact and spectators, located on the surrounding hills, can watch the passage from beginning to end. One of the sections is known as the most difficult: it is Crooked Mustard, which literally translates as “crooked mustard”. Let’s give the British their due: a more accurate name could hardly have been found…
- But we’ve got something even crazier for you: it’s soapbox racing from around the world.
- “Behind the Wheel” can be seen on RuTube.
Video: Youtube / Urban Pictures UK