On 24 Nov 2012 at 12:04pm Peter Mason. wrote:
Hello folks.
Back in the 50's I was a very keen Rally Driver using a VW Bettle but entered the Firle Hill Climb driving my Jaguar XK150'S', at suicide corner I spun out and was written-off the books! Dave King sent me a video of the climb as it is now.
Anyone else have a go at it? A pre-war Bentley driven by a senior in the same event wiped the board...
My old driving and shooting friend Cecil Raymond Chandless of Sherrington Manor died just recently in Calgary Alberta , he was a very well known character in Lewes in the 1960's.
Regards,
Peter.
On 24 Nov 2012 at 12:38pm Chris Evans wrote:
I didn't know there were any hills in Firle.
On 24 Nov 2012 at 1:35pm IMEYOU wrote:
The road that lead to the beacon
On 24 Nov 2012 at 2:46pm Peter Pan wrote:
It was at Bo Beep hill ,closer to Alciston than Firle.Ran from 1958 untill 1967 Average entry about 120 4 events per year 3 run by B.A.R.C and 1 by the Bently drivers club Many famous cars and drivers competed there,was closed in 1967 after a Lotus Elan went off the track and into the crowd injuring 3 spectators . The R.A.C.( governing body of motor sport ) decided that the cars had got too fast for the narrow hill ,with no run off areas compeated there myself in a Triumph TR3A and also a T.V.R Rupert Lioyd Thomas a Lewes Guy now living in Canada has been researching the event in great detail and if you Google Firle hill climb you will find lot's of info
On 24 Nov 2012 at 2:48pm IMEYOU wrote:
Held events at the motor road in Lewes as well
On 24 Nov 2012 at 3:12pm Peter Pan wrote:
Lewes ran before the war , up to the race course. In 1947 they ran a hill climb at Stanmer Park ( my first ever motor event went with my petrolhead dad I was 9 year old ) Stirling Moss's 2nd event, I think he was 19 driving his Mums Riley Special he didnt disgrace himself but cant remember if he won his class Ken Walton made F.T.D.( fastest time of day ) A pre war G.P.and Brooklands driver driving a E.R.A
On 24 Nov 2012 at 6:22pm IMEYOU wrote:
Sounds like it was great fun. Would loved to have seen it
On 24 Nov 2012 at 9:06pm Teacher wrote:
Many years ago I cleared an old shed and amongst the junk I found a bronze coloured medal dated September 28th 1910. There is a picture of an old motorbike on one side and on the other is an inscription that reads 'Lewes motor cycle hill climb G.J. Lloyd. 2nd on Formula'. I was wondering if anyone could throw some light on it and who was G. J. Lloyd.
On 24 Nov 2012 at 9:59pm Peter Pan wrote:
Teacher, Lewes had a very strong Motor cycle club that was active from before the 1st W.W called ( I think ) Lewes Unity M.C. club it was still running in the late 1960s and might still be running ,perhaps someone could confirm that There main interest was holding Trials and Scrambles on the downs above Iford and Kingston I suspect your old medal relates to that ,not worth a lot of money ,but what a lovely thing to have
As you might have guest by my post's I am a total petrol head Blame my old Man and Stanmer Park
On 25 Nov 2012 at 3:08pm Chris Evans wrote:
Yes IMEYOU. I was kidding. Probably the steepest hill in Sussex. Irony at it's best!
On 25 Nov 2012 at 3:13pm teacher wrote:
Thanks for the info Peter, if I could trace any of G.J.Lloyds relatives they would be welcome to have it.
On 25 Nov 2012 at 8:52pm Phfellow2004 wrote:
What a refreshingly excellent thread about a genuine matter of local interest. Sherrington Manor has been touched with further sadness this year. Thank you Peter Mason for initiating this thread.
On 26 Nov 2012 at 2:05am Judge Montal wrote:
If anyone is interested you might have a look at a book called 'Speed on the Downs' Lewes Speed Trials 1924-39 by Jeremy Wood (he lives in Billingshurst West Sussex).
Also you might be interested in 'British Trial Drivers 1904 to 1914' British Trial Drivers 1919 to 1928' and 'British Trial Drivers 1929 to 1939' Also 'British Rally Drivers 1925 to 1939' all four books are by Donald Cowbourne and quite big books.
I had an interest after I acquired a couple of MCC Winners Medals (MCC - Motor Cycling Club). I bought all the mentioned books and I could trace when and where they had been won. There are loads of photographic records recording the history of the Races/Trials too.
It makes for an interested thing to do if your that way inclined.
I've acquired MCC Silver Ashtray Awards and Silver Awards of many types but I've yet to find a Gold Award (First) they are mainly Silver and Bronze that you can find.
I live in the centre of Lewes and would like to see the sport brought back, I wish. I was in Reeves the photographers and they had a photograph of a big crowd of motorcyclist and car drivers all met up by the Law Courts they were on their way to a Trials meeting in Lewes the day was called something like 'The Retards Outing'. Well.. It was about 1925/35.
On 26 Nov 2012 at 7:05am Judge Montal wrote:
Further to my previous post.
I was inquiring about any photographs that Reeves the photographers might hold and apart from the one I mentioned before, Ms Reeve? told me that the previous Mr Reeve was a Christian and that he would of been at Church more likely than not as the Lewes Speed Trials were run on a Sunday. But she would try and have a look. By all accounts their photographic archive spans for many years and is in quite a mess. I can imagine.
Having put on hold my interest of Pre War Motorcycles, which is my main interest, and Pre War Racing Motorcars a close second this thread has rekindled my interest somewhat. Thanks for That..
It reminds me of the need to do something with my motorcycles!
They're sat doing very little at the moment!
On 26 Nov 2012 at 8:10am Ducatipete wrote:
Bikes rock!
On 26 Nov 2012 at 1:53pm Jeremy Clarkson wrote:
On a separate note I've often thought Lewes should have some sort of motoring event, at least as a 1-off. My idea was either a classic car rally along Cliffe (close the road to non-classics for an afternoon so we can gawp at the cars parked up which would draw in shoppers as well as car nuts) OR, time trials from Cuilfail roundabout to A27 roundabout! The tunnel's pretty much made for loud engine noise bouncing off it!! Given so many car clubs pass through Lewes on Sundays I'm sure we could drum up some interest!
On 26 Nov 2012 at 3:39pm Judge Montal wrote:
You mean re-start the Lewes Trials?
On 27 Nov 2012 at 12:40am IMEYOU wrote:
I done a hill jump on Cliffe Bridge once !
When the traffic was allowed to travel the other way, I floored it one day in my trusty Fiesta from the Nat West Bank to the Bridge, my brother caught all four wheels leaving the apex, oh what fun !
On 27 Nov 2012 at 11:38pm Hell Yeah! wrote:
Lets do it ! Lewes is such a quiet and boring town with no annual events at all that the authorities would love to close down and spoil all our fun....................
On 14 Apr 2014 at 12:40pm doug K wrote:
Hello Teacher & Peter Pan.
I have great memories of the Unity Motorcycle Club giving skills displays, Such things as jumping over obstacles and through rings of fire. Also pyramids of riders on one two or more bikes. I remember also that their displays always ended with one of the riders being towed around the field on little more than a tin tray, I saw them at the Dripping Pan and wonder what the Lewes F C would think about that now.
On 14 Apr 2014 at 5:52pm Peter Pan wrote:
Hi Doug
Nice to no that I am not the only one that remembers Lewes Unity ,M.C I am a little surprised that the club has not been reactived with all the bikes that we have about now
On 18 Aug 2015 at 8:55pm Chris H S wrote:
My uncle Leonard Humphrey was a keen member of Lewes Unity MC club. Pre Second World War he took part in many events and then after his national service re started his biking and represented Britain in several trials competitions in Europe . He won quite a few cups and trophies ,sadly he passed away in May this year aged 95.
On 18 Aug 2015 at 9:03pm Chris H S wrote:
Just a continuation of my last post ,the Unity MC club used to meet at the Anchor Inn public house in Ringmer East Sussex.
On 19 Feb 2017 at 4:30pm C marlow wrote:
Have several loose pages about the club from 1958
Also south eastern centre gazette mags 1957/8 9 off
Please email
Cheers cliff
On 17 Oct 2017 at 8:40pm roland hill wrote:
i remember going to some events here in the 50's&60s with a friend on our motor bikes.i think events were run by the sunbeam motoring club.nowadays it is used annually by the vmcc for a bike trial,its not go as fast as you can but over 2 or 3 runs up the hill in the same time.