Rest and Be Thankful Hillclimb (1949-1970)

[Angus Theape]

Found a fellow who knows exactly. The patches were there in the 1960s during the hillclimb period. The fellow holds the bike record set during the last Loch Lomond MC climb in 1969 and he was for obvious reasons noting where the tarmac changed.
The last event as a car climb was mid summer 1970 and was not an RAC championship event.

[Adam43]

I've just heard on the radio that the A83 by Rest and Be Thankful is closed because of a landslide.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/loca...-glasgow.shtml

Originally Posted by beeb travel

closed
A83 Argyll And Bute - Closed both ways due to landslip between Inveraray and Arrochar. Diversion in operation - Eastbound from Inverary onto the A819 North to Dalmally onto the A85 to Crianlarich then South on the A82 to rejoin the A83 at Arrochar. Vice versa for traffic Westbound at Arrochar.

Last updated: 8th September 2009 at 18:48, ending: 15th September 2009

I wonder if it has effected the old hill climb road, or maybe it is just a fall of the hillside down onto the A83, rather than A83 down onto the climb?

Edit: Here is a news article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/8244247.stm

Originally Posted by beeb news

Engineers were due to assess the landslip which brought a torrent of mud down the hillside.

The road was closed for several weeks in October 2007 after 400 tons of soil and rock dislodged following several weeks of heavy rain.

Looks like it is down onto the A83 rather than onto the climb.

[Cameron Winton]

That was a fall onto the "new" road. As noted by the BBC, it has happened before.
August was rather wet on the west coast of Scotland!

[Adam43]

Allan McNish has just posted a link to a video of Rest Anx Be Thankful from 1950 on twitter
“@AllanMcNish: A excellent bit of Scottish Motorsport video history, back where it started for so many. Enjoy lads & lassies. http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=2120”

[Cameron Winton]

Don't know if anyone knows but the hillclimb has been or will be resurfaced. There has been so many landslides that they have funded it as a relief road. The only alternative route takes about 2 1/2 hrs longer
Potential for a revival event? It was the closest thing to an alpine style hillclimb in the UK. I think one of the land owners is pro Motorsport

[Adam43]

The story was if you turned up with a decent bottle he'd let you drive it. I've also seen a lot of tours that take in the actual climb, so I think you're right the owner is sympathetic towards motoring.

A reply to McNish's tweet says it has been resurfaced. It is a good reason, it is a long way round.

I'd love to have a proper go.

[Bodysnatcher]

It has been resurfaced.
As the BBC explains, it's a backup if the main road gets blocked again. I'll be heading that way in a couple of weeks, now all I have to do is to get Mrs B to agree to a stop at the Lochgoilhead turning. here

[Adam43]

To have a look, or to block the road so you can have a go on the diversion?

[Bodysnatcher]

but seriously, if the road has been resurfaced to modern standards there's got to be a hope of a Revival type event as Cameron has already said. Cut off point of Group B era of course.
I'm in.

[Adam43]

I'm in too.
Cut off Group B with a class for Pikes Peak. Perhaps more realistically the eligibility can't be either anything the what about '48 to '70. Or those in that spirit.

I feel we may be getting ahead of ourselves!

[Derwent Motorsp]

The issue was that the hill was far too fast in the 60's and very bumpy. The only corners are in the last few hundred yards. There were some big offs including I think Tony Marsh and the RAC pulled the track licence. Unfonrtuately the new smooth surface will have made the lower part of the track even faster and it would need a huge amount of work and barriers to get an event there again.

[Malcolm Smith]

The history of the Scottish Hill Climb Championship 1970-1984 notes
that the ' course would require extensive resurfacing and safety barriers if it were to be allowed to continue.'
This didn't happen and the last event took place on 12th September 1970,
won by Jim Dickson (BVRT Mini) in a time of 58.63 seconds.

Pictures of the resurfaced road and news of a classic car run which will use the Rest and be Thankful are at :
http://www.caledonianmsc.freeuk.com/n_argyll13pre.html

Information regarding The Friends of the Rest ,a group of enthusiasts who are interested in restoring the old Rest and Be Thankful road as a motoring heritage site can be found at :
http://www.friendsoftherest.co.uk/

[philriley427]

Hi, I just happened to come across this thread during a search, as yesterday I posted a clip I made of my drive up the 'Rest' a couple of weeks ago.

I can confirm the road is nice and smooth – which makes it faster – but there's more chance of making mistakes owing to all the twists, crests and dips.

My run was non-competitive, as it was part of a tour.

Amateur film, from an amateur driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzgNjWjScAk

[Adam43]

Thanks for the footage. A nicer day that that one years ago when I was there.

Do you know if your start was where the original start was?

[philriley427]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Do you know if your start was where the original start was?

As far as I know, yes. Scaffold posts have been sunk into the ground to mark the start and finish.

I spoke with the landowner the day after the event – They are so very enthusiastic about the road being used for more historic events.

[philriley427]

I've just seen the 1st draft (pre-publishing) of a small report by Classic & Sportscar Magazine covering this recent event at the 'Rest'. It will be in their next edition.

[philriley427]

Here's another movie I made briefly featuring Le Mans AC Cobra Coupe (A98) on the 'Rest'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOSz6PAGkAU

[Adam43]

Belated thanks for the information and link.

I see there are early plans for a visitor centre:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/1...racing_legend/