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Spectators parking and admission is in a field at the top of the valley near Blackbury Camp ( a Iron Age Earthwork Hill Fort). Spectators can then either walk downhill to the paddock and start line or, into the tree line to the esses and finish. It is possible to walk the length of the course during the meeting to take advantage of different viewing positions.
The hill climb course is a section of the tarmac driveway to Wiscombe House. The house itself is in a secluded valley with the driveway climbing steeply up out of the valley to the top of the slope.
The start line and paddock are down at the bottom of the valley in open grassland. Immediatly after the start, the competitors cross a bridge over a small stream before a sharp left turn bend at Wis Corner then uphill through open parkland along the Wis Straight.
The course then enters the tree line at 'the Gate' after which the course gets steeper and tighter, all under tree cover. After 'the Gate its uphill to a sharp right at 'Sawbench Hairpin and to 'Castle Straight'. At the end of the straight is a sharp left at 'Martini Hairpin' and up to the finish line.
The spectating positions are all on the uphill side of the course, with spectators crossing over at Castle Straight between heats. Competitors race in the 'classes' in which their vehicles have been entered with each class climbing the hill in turn. When all of the current class have completed their heat and are in the paddock at the top of the hill, the whole group turn round and drive slowly back down the hill to the main paddock.
Practice sessions are usually held in the morning, with a break for lunch with the competion starting in the afternoon after the break.
Wiscombe Hill Climb
Situated at the bottom of a secluded valley in a delightful setting is Wiscombe House.
Hill climbing first took place at Wiscombe House in 1958, with the cars and motorcycles climbing up the twisty and winding single track driveway that leads to the house.
Starting at the foot of the slope, the course is 1000 yards long with an average gradient of 1 in 13.6 with the steepest section at the final hairpin bend where it is 1 in 6.9.
The fastest sections of the course are Wis and Castle Straights where speeds in excess of 100 mph are attained.
The outright hill record stands at 34.16 seconds to Adam Fleetwood (Gould GR55 3.5 XB V8) and was set on July 25th 2004.
Wiscombe has its own flourishing championship and between April and September in 2010 there will be 12 action packed days of hill climbing.There are a varied selection of events featuring classes of vehicles from modern day production cars to historic vintage cars and motorcycles.
The classes also include modified production and kit cars as well as sports and single seater racing cars. The motorcycle classes include both solo and sidecar combination machines.
Catering facilities are available in the competitors paddock where a selection of food and drinks are available, both hot and cold, including cooked breakfasts rolls etc. A licensed bar will also be open at the appropriate hours.There is no additional charge to spectators for admission to the paddock.
Wiscombe Park is 5½ miles from Seaton and is located between Farway Country Park and Blackbury Castle, west of the village of Southleigh. On race weekends follow signposts from the A3052 near Seaton, Sidmouth and from Honiton.