The Australian Hillclimb Championship is an Australian motor sport competition which determines Australia's annual hillclimbing champion. The championship has traditionally been awarded to the driver setting fastest time at a single meeting [1] however the 1958 title was awarded based on the combined results of two meetings [2] and a multi round pointscore series was employed from 1972 to 1975. [1]
The championship has been sanctioned by Motorsport Australia (formerly known as the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport) since 1954. [3] Prior to this it was sanctioned by the Australian Automobile Association, [4] with two events having national championship status in 1949. [5]
The term Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Championship has been used by Motorsport Australia for the title since 2020. [6]
In 2022, history was made when Dean Tighe won the championship, 58 years after his father Ivan, making them the first father and son duo to both win the championship.
Year [5] | Venue [5] | State [5] | Date | Champion [5] | Car [5] |
1938 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 13 June [7] | Peter Whitehead [8] | ERA R10B [9] |
1947 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 2 November [7] | Arthur Wylie [1] | Ford A Special [1] |
1948 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 2 November [10] | Frank Kleinig [1] | Hudson Special [1] |
1949 | Hawkesbury | NSW | 20 March [11] | Frank Kleinig [12] | Hudson Special [13] |
1949 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 1 November [7] | John Barraclough [1] | MG K3 Magnette [1] |
1950 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 7 November [14] | Keith Martin [1] | Cooper JAP 1000 [15] |
1951 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 6 November [14] | Jack Brabham [1] | Twin Special Speedcar |
1952 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 4 November [16] | John Crouch [1] | Cooper 1100 [1] |
1953 | Rob Roy | Vic. | 2 November [17] | Reg Hunt [1] | Hunt Vincent 1000 Special [1] |
1954 | Collingrove | SA | 19 April [18] | Bill Patterson [16] | Cooper Mk. V JAP 1000 [16] |
1955 | Toowoomba | Qld. | 17 September [19] | Lex Davison [1] | Cooper Mk. IV [20] Vincent |
1956 | Bathurst | NSW | 21 October [21] | Lex Davison [1] | Cooper Mk. IV [20] Vincent |
1957 | Albany | WA | 20 April [22] | Lex Davison [1] | Cooper Mk. IV [20] Irving |
1958 | Templestowe & Rob Roy [23] | Vic. | 2 November & 4 November [23] | Bruce Walton [1] | Walton Cooper |
1959 | Queens Domain, Hobart [24] | Tas. | 14 November [25] | Bruce Walton [25] | Walton Cooper [25] |
1960 | Collingrove | SA | 17 October [2] | Bruce Walton [1] | Walton Cooper |
1961 | Toowoomba | Qld. | 24 September [26] | Bruce Walton [1] | Walton Cooper |
1962 | Silverdale | NSW | 22 July [27] | Bruce Walton [1] | Walton Cooper |
1963 | Silverdale | NSW | 21 July [2] | Bruce Walton [1] | Walton Cooper |
1964 | Silverdale | NSW | 19 July [2] | Ivan Tighe [1] | Tighe Vincent |
1965 | Lakeland | Vic. | 28 March [2] | Tim Schenken [1] | White 500 |
1966 | Collingrove | SA | 8 October [2] | Alan Hamilton [1] | Porsche 904 Bergspyder [28] |
1967 | Bathurst | NSW | 26 November [2] | Greg Cusack [1] | Repco Brabham [5] BT23A [29] |
1968 | Templestowe | Vic. | 17 November [2] | Dick White [1] | White 1500 |
1969 | Silverdale | NSW | 21 & 22 June [30] | Dick White [1] | White 2000 Volkswagen s/c [31] |
1970 | Mount Cotton | Qld. | 14 June [2] | Paul England [1] | Ausca Volkswagen [1] |
1971 | Collingrove | SA | 10 April [2] | Alan Hamilton [1] | Porsche 906 [1] |
1972 | Three round series [1] | N/A | N/A | Murray Bingham [1] | Bingham Cobra |
1973 | Four round series [1] | N/A | N/A | Paul England [1] | Ausca Volkswagen |
1974 | Four round series [1] | N/A | N/A | Paul England [1] | Ausca Volkswagen |
1975 | Four round series [1] | N/A | N/A | Stan Keen [1] | Elfin MR5 Ford [32] |
1976 | Bathurst | NSW | 7 November [2] | Peter Hollinger [1] | Holinger Repco [33] |
1977 | Morwell | Vic. | 27 November [2] | Ian Judd [1] | Cheetah Oldsmobile |
1978 | Collingrove | SA | 8 October [2] | Peter Holinger [1] | Holinger Repco [34] |
1979 | Mount Cotton | Qld. | 10 June [2] | Peter Holinger [1] | Holinger Repco [35] |
1980 | Silverdale | NSW | 8–9 November [36] | Kym Rohrlach [1] | Volkswagen Special |
1981 | Ararat | Vic. | 15 November [37] | Alan Hamilton [1] | Porsche Special |
1982 | Collingrove | SA | 9–10 October [38] | Kym Rohrlach [1] | Volkswagen Special |
1983 | Mount Cotton | Qld. | 5 June [39] | Roger Harrison [1] | Elfin 600C Repco Brabham [40] |
1984 | Huntley Hill, Dapto | NSW | 28 October [41] | Warren Brown [1] | Sceptre V8 |
1985 | Mount Leura | Vic. | 20 October [42] | Ivan Tighe [43] | Chevron B37 Chevrolet [44] |
1986 | Collingrove | SA | 12 October [45] | Kym Rohrlach [46] | Volkswagen Special [46] |
1987 | Mount Cotton | Qld. | 31 May [47] | Kym Rohrlach [46] | Volkswagen Special |
1988 | Fairbairn Park | ACT | 8 May [48] | Peter Holinger [49] | Holinger Repco |
1989 | Gippsland Park | Vic. | 15 October [50] | Alan Hamilton [50] | Lola T8750 Buick [50] |
1990 | Collingrove | SA | 16 September [51] | Garry McFadyen [51] | Bowin |
1991 | Mount Cotton | Qld. | 2 June [43] | Ivan Tighe [43] | Kaditcha |
1992 | Mountain View, Grafton [52] | NSW | 13 September [53] | John Davies [52] | DBF Suzuki [52] |
1993 | One Tree Hill, Ararat [54] | Vic. | 19–21 November [54] | Stan Keen [55] | Shrike |
1994 | Collingrove | SA | 15 & 16 October [56] | Roger Harrison [57] | Tiga FA83 Repco Brabham [40] |
1995 | Mount Cotton | Qld. | 3–4 June [58] | John Davies [59] | DBF Suzuki [59] |
1996 | Bathurst | NSW | 4–7 April [60] | Peter Gumley [61] | SCV |
1997 | Mount Leura, Camperdown [62] | Vic. | 16–19 October [62] | Roger Harrison [63] | Tiga FA83 Repco Brabham |
1998 | Collingrove | SA | 20 September [64] | Peter Gumley [61] | SCV |
1999 | Gippsland Park, Morwell [65] | Vic. | 29–31 October [65] | Peter Gumley [65] | SCV [65] |
2000 | Mount Panorama, Bathurst [66] | NSW | 29 September – 1 October [66] | Peter Gumley [66] | SCV [66] |
2001 | Mount Cotton [67] | Qld. | 28–30 September [67] | Peter Gumley [67] | SCV [67] |
2002 | Grafton | NSW | 14–15 September [68] | Peter Gumley [61] | SCV |
2003 | Collingrove | SA | 18,19&21 April [18] | Peter Gumley [61] | SCV |
2004 | Gippsland Park, Morwell, [69] | Vic. | 29–31 October [69] | Gary West [69] | Lola F3000 [69] |
2005 | Collingrove | SA | 2 October [61] | Peter Gumley [61] | SCV Volkswagen [61] |
2006 | Bathurst | NSW | 3–5 November [70] | Gary West [71] | Lola F3000 |
2007 | Mount Cotton [72] | Qld. | 3–4 November [73] | Peter Gumley [72] | Wortmeyer SCV [73] |
2008 | Mount Panorama, Bathurst [74] | NSW | 7–9 October [74] | Gary West [75] [76] | Lola T8750 [75] |
2009 | Bryant Park | Vic. | 29 October – 1 November [77] | Brett Hayward [75] | Hayward 09 [78] |
2010 | Collingrove | SA | 15–17 October [79] | Peter Gumley [80] | Wortmeyer SCV Volkswagen [81] |
2011 | Bryant Park, Yallourn [82] | Vic. | 30 October [83] | Brett Hayward [83] | Hayward 09 [83] |
2012 | Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst [84] | NSW | 3 & 4 November [84] | Tim Edmondson [84] | Gould GR55B Nicholson McLaren [84] |
2013 | Mount Cotton [85] | Qld | 1–3 November [85] | Greg Ackland [85] | Ackland GA8 [86] |
2014 | Ringwood Park Motorsport Complex [87] | NSW | 1–2 November [87] | Malcolm Oastler [87] | OMS 28 [87] |
2015 | Jacks Hill [88] | WA | 6–8 November [88] | Malcolm Oastler [89] | OMS 28 [90] |
2016 | Bryant Park, Yallourn [91] | Vic. | 27–30 October [91] | Malcolm Oastler [92] | OMS 28 [92] |
2017 | Collingrove [93] | SA | 28–29 October [93] | Brett Hayward [93] | Hayward [93] |
2018 | Bryant Park, Yallourn [94] | Vic. | 26–28 October [94] | Malcolm Oastler [95] | OMS 28 [95] |
2019 | Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst [96] | NSW | 1–3 November [96] | Malcolm Oastler [96] [97] | OMS 28 |
2020 | Mount Cotton [6] | Qld. | 5–8 November [6] | Cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions [98] | |
2021 | Mount Cotton [6] | Qld. | 25–28 November | Cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions | |
2022 | Mount Cotton [99] | Qld. | 22–23 October [99] | Dean Tighe [99] | Empire Wraith [99] |
2023 | Ringwood Park Motorsport Complex [100] | NSW | 27–29 October [100] | Dean Amos [101] | Gould GR55B Nicholson McLaren V8 [101] |
2024 | Bryant Park, Yallourn [102] | Vic. | 24–27 October [102] | Dean Amos [103] | Gould GR55B Nicholson McLaren V8 [103] |
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