NEWCASTLE (NSW)
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1951 KING EDWARD PARK HILLCLIMB
The first hill climb event at King Edward Park was hosted by the Hunter Valley Sporting Car Club on the 28th of April 1951 as part of the Newcastle Jubilee Celebrations.
The close proximity to Newcastle and Nobby's Beach nade it an ideal picturesque location, There were two hairpin bends.
Despite rain showers about six thousand spectators watched the forty seven odd cars brave the slippery track. The overall winner on the day was JF Crouch, a hill climb specialist in his Cooper Special.
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1952 - KING EDWARD PARK HILL CLIMB 25th October 1952
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Everyone that was involved was keen to see this as an annual event but when it was presented to the Newcastle City Council there were objections on the grounds that it had cost one hundred and fifty pounds to restore the trampled gardens in the park, Eventually permission was granted.
The second event took place on the 25th of October 1952 and succeeded in securing the state title previously held at Mount Panorama, One thousand sand bags had been placed to protect spectators, There were thirty nine nominations, Once again the rain limited the spectators to about four thousand, The winner driving a Cooper Special was R.E. Cobden of Sydney.
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1953 - KING EDWARD PARK HILL CLIMB
It was reported in 1953 that the Hunter Valley Sporting Car Club would try to host the Australasian Hill Climb Championships.
There were no newspaper reports of the 1953 event but it may have been run at King Edward Park or at a differant venue.
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1954 - KING EDWARD PARK HILL CLIMB
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1954 - About 5,000 spectators saw R Tauranac set the fastest time in his Ralt 500.
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1955 - KING EDWARD PARK HILLCLIMB
To date no newspaper or magazine reports have been found on events during 1955.
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1956 - KING EDWARD PARK HILLCLIMB
To date no newspaper or magazine reports have been found on events during 1956.
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1969 - NEWCASTLE MG CAR CLUB
1969 - The Newcastle MG Car Club ran the later Hill Climb events at King Edward Park. Photo: unknown.
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1970 - AUSTRALIAN AUTO SPORTS MAGAZINE REPORTED
October 1970
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1971 - ALLAN GRICE
1971 - Allan Grice takes on the King Edward Park Hillclimb in his GTR-XU1 Torana. Photo: James Semple.
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2011 - KING EDWARD PARK HILL CLIMB September 2011 |
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2015 - KING EDWARD PARK HILL CLIMB
The last hill climb event to be held at the King Edward Park venue was on the 3rd to the 5th of October long weekend in 2015, this final event would be the fifty eight running of the hill climb.
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2015 - NEWCASTLE HERALD REPORTED 23rd August 2015The first competition was held in 1951 but was forced into a six year hiatus after the 1956 event when changes to government legislation almost sounded the death knell on motor sports. But it was revived as the Mattara Hill Climb in 1963 and has run every October long weekend since.Its attracted some of racing's biggest names over the years - With Sir Jack Brabham among those who have tackled the course's challenging bends, it was Sir Jack who labelled the King Edward Park course "The most demanding and best set up hill climb in all of Australia"The cars have got quicker over the years and the safety laws stricter. |
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Some memories from King Edward Park in the Newcastle Herald newspaper 23rd August 2015
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2016 - RINGWOOD PARK MOTORSPORT COMPLEX
From 2016 the Mattara Hill Climb would be held at the Ringwood Park Motorsport Complex near Raymond Terrace.
Re-search and editorials John Campbell
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2006 - KING EDWARD PARK HILL CLIMB LOCATION
