BO'NESS 6Oth ANNIVERSARY
RE-UNION 17th MAY, 2007
The 17th of May marked the 60th anniversary of the very first round of the inaugural RAC British Hill Climb Championship, which was held at Bo'ness.
To celebrate this historic event a reunion of drivers, cars and enthusiasts was held at Kinneil Estate in front of Kinneil House.
This was to be the catalyst which resulted in the Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival we see today.
Twenty cars were present along with many ex-competitors. A special presentation was made on the occasion to Dr Mirrlees Chassels and Mrs Mabel Chassels who have a long association with Bo'ness and who both competed in the 17th May 1947 meeting.
Falkirk Council was very supportive of this event and arranged for the worst parts of the old track to be repaired to allow a parade of cars up the hill.
This was the first time racing cars had been driven on the hill since 1966 and the snarl of tuned engines once more reverberated around the famous Courtyard.
(The above is an extract from Kenny Baird's book "Bo'ness Speed Hill Climb)
The following Jim Moir photographs capture the atmosphere at the Reunion perfectly.
Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival
Copyright 2009. http://www.bonesshillclimb.org.uk
Last updated 3 January 2009
BHCR Competition Secretary Alex Brown hustles the
4.2 litre Fairley Mercury into Old Paddock Bend.
A selection of Bentleys with Kinneil House in the
background.
Cars typical of the type which competed at Bo'ness in
the 1940's and 1950's wait patiently for the Revival meeting.
Wild Garlic borders the old track on the run up to Old
Paddock Bend. When the track first opened there were
no trees on the left.
Alex Brown presents Mrs Chassells with a framed
photograph of her driving her Mercury engined Fraser
Nash at Bo'ness in 1949.
BHCR Secretary Bill Drysdale explains the intricacies
of the Fairley Mercury to Bill Martin and his son Alex.
Bill was the Clerk of the Course at Charterhall and is
wearing extremely well for 102. Bill Martin that is!
Tony Marsh leaves the line in a cloud of tyre smoke
