The Bruce Wells Collection - 1964 Silverdale Hillclimb

[Steve Holmes]

14269

OK, very short thread this one, from the 1964 Silverdale Hillclimb. This was quite a renowned event, with some pretty impressive cars racing here over the years. Is this event still held?

Anyway, I really don't have any info on the cars pictured, but they're such a colourful and varied crop, it makes for an interesting chapter.

If anyone can ID any of the cars, please don't hesitate to jump in and do so.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[neale]

I dont think the track has been used in years. Although it is still there but very run down.
You can see it here on Google maps
http://goo.gl/maps/4mLXU

Or this is a GPS location
33°55'33"S 150°37'57"E

I stumbled across this link a little while ago. which shows some pictures of its current state.
http://www.vscca.org.au/12-silverdale.html


In 2009 and 2010 the RTA (Roads & Traffic Authority or NSW State Government)acquired the Silverdale Hill Climb Site along with some other land. In acquiring the land the RTA stated that it was for the purpose of compensatory habitat. There has been talks by the community of using part of the overall site as an open air convention centre.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Neale, thats really great info.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Rod Grimwood]

That Bellvedere ? would have been a handfull, and look at the angle of those Holdens, good stuff. Even the little Coopers etc going hard.

[Steve Holmes]

Yep agreed Rod, the damn thing is as wide as the road, with really no room for error.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

Here are the last two, as I said, a very short chapter.

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[tbro]

The driver in the Dodge was Jim Cutler driving Lionel Larsons car. His times were 43.5sec with the car being stock std, no slippery diff no fancy tyres.
Lionel sold this car and purchased a Plymouth Sport Fury that Jim ran and did a best of 41.93s

Will try and find more pics from Jim's days of racing in the 60s and 70s + appendix Js.

Terry

[Greg Mackie]

Tom Sulman in the Lotus 11, #99.
John Uren in the Lotus Cortina, 62E.

The Dodge was indeed well driven by Jim Cutler. I was helping Arthur Garthon with scrutineering that day, and had a very interesting natter with Lionel, about the 'home-made' wheels. It turned out that they were fabricated alloy centres, bolted into steel rims.....unusual back then.

Greg

[Steve Holmes]

Terry, Greg, thanks so much for filling in the details here for us. Great to have you both here.

[dennis tobin]

Perhaps Max Brunninghauser (?) in SP250 Daimler

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Dennis, great work!

[Jim robson/Mark Robson]

Hi my name is actually Eli Robson the Grandson of Jim Robson and son of Mark Robson.
As some of you probably realize my grandfather (Jim to most but maybe some knew him as James) was the owner of the Silverdale Hill Climb back when it was all happening.
It was actually my grandfather finding this post of the old property and it was good seeing more of it back when it was in use (I was born regretfully after its closer although we still owned the property). If anyone is interested I have access to numerous pictures of the track and its history (yes Jim is with us still at a young age of 98!) so im more than happy to scan the old pictures and post them along with the accounts of the events and general history of the track. so if you are interested please respond to this post or message me at Eli.Robson@hotmail.com.au.

Also a huge thanks to everyone posting in this thread as it really made all our day to see people are still talking about silverdale still!

[Jim robson/Mark Robson]

oh and also as to the closure of the event it was due to (as most of you guessed it) to a lack of finances. Along with the obvious insurances and general upkeep of the track part of the hillclimb collapsed one winter and was sadly the final straw that lead to its closure.

[Dale Harvey]

By all means, post as much as you can Eli. I am sure it would be appreciated by everyone on here.
Dale.

[Greg Mackie]

Great to hear from you, Eli.....any Silverdale photos would be marvelous.

I lived a few doors from the Robsons' printing business a Caringbah. Jim never seemed to worry about anything...maybe that's his secret?

[Steve Holmes]

Hi my name is actually Eli Robson the Grandson of Jim Robson and son of Mark Robson.
As some of you probably realize my grandfather (Jim to most but maybe some knew him as James) was the owner of the Silverdale Hill Climb back when it was all happening.
It was actually my grandfather finding this post of the old property and it was good seeing more of it back when it was in use (I was born regretfully after its closer although we still owned the property). If anyone is interested I have access to numerous pictures of the track and its history (yes Jim is with us still at a young age of 98!) so im more than happy to scan the old pictures and post them along with the accounts of the events and general history of the track. so if you are interested please respond to this post or message me at Eli.Robson@hotmail.com.au.

Also a huge thanks to everyone posting in this thread as it really made all our day to see people are still talking about silverdale still!

Eli, its fantastic to have you on here, thanks so much for taking the time to register. I'd absolutely love to see more photos from the Silverdale Hillclimb. You could either post them on this thread or create a dedicated thread. But they'd be great to see.

[Greg Mackie]

Silverdale records.

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab172/happydaze8/Race%20cars/volkswagen006_zpse2d2f15d.jpg (http://s861.photobucket.com/user/happydaze8/media/Race%20cars/volkswagen006_zpse2d2f15d.jpg.html)

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks so much for posting this Greg, makes for interesting reading. I see your name on the record book for 1962!

[Norm Pleasance]

Eli, great to see a thread on Silverdale......so many memories. My dad was Norm Pleasance secretary of the ASCC from just before the war until approx 1950. Following this he surveyed and directed all three of the Redex Trials. I recall as a very young bloke meeting Jim and Tom Sulman with Norm on many a Saturday afternoon at the hill climb. Some years later in my teens I got involved with motorcycle trials and can clearly remember when Jim opened up "The Silverdale Trial" around 1973 /1974 which provided a terrific venue to practice and ride in the day.I used to use the spectator access areas as "sections" and the big grassed area as a sort of long track circuit. We were not allowed to ride on the actual hill climb circuit however the return road was 'legal" An enjoyable run on a bike!!
My early bikes included a stable of old Honda S and CL 90's in various states of repair however the highlight was the day I christened my newly purchased TY250A Yamaha at "the Silverdale Trail" I recall the stickers black writing on a chrome background--"I've ridden the Silverdale Trail"--- From memory your dad Mark had a Montesa Cota at this time and there was a guy called Frank who was a dedicated Bultaco Sherpa man. Both very pedigreed bikes of the era. Would love to see any photos of the hillclimb and "trail" days and was wondering when the actual last hillclimb event was held.
Regards
John Pleasance

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks John, wonderful recollections.

[275 GTB]

Good to see a Silverdale thread here...some of my pics (have been posted elsewhere on the interweb)

Ted Smith

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/9YaTaH/MOTORSPORT/img203aa_zps3d81b5df.jpg

Racing Car News pic of the Houston Control Centre :-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/9YaTaH/MOTORSPORT/P1020354RCN10Aug62SilverdaleStartShed_zps9280d2b6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/9YaTaH/MOTORSPORT/PICT0051_zpsa99465cd.jpg

Bricks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/9YaTaH/AUSMINI/MiniatSilverdale0002Large.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/9YaTaH/AUSMINI/MidasatSilverdale0001Large.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, these are fantastic! I love the Marcos(?) at the end. Thanks for posting.