South Harting hill climb 1905-1924

ISBN: 0-9552485-0-7, 264 pages, Newlands Press, Hillcroft, Bighton Lane, Bishops Sutton, Alresford, Hants SO24 0AU, £35 inc P&P

A number of books are starting to appear about speed trials and hillclimbs. Shelsley Walsh is well represented and there is a recent book on the Lewes speed trials. Now Graham Orme-Bannister, who drives a Bristol 403, has followed with South Harting Hill Climb about the one-time Hampshire hill venue. His coverage includes over 120 pictures, which exactly convey the atmosphere of the time, obtained at considerable cost to the author, with the help of LAT. Nonetheless, the price of this welcome addition to motoring history is very modest indeed.

There are long reports of all the South Harting meetings and an appendix covering entries in detail, the history of speed limits, the organising clubs, with new history, and over 25 pages on the life of Earl Russell, the founder of the South Harting ’climb, and his cars, and the author has carefully researched controversial factors in contemporary reports. WB