Martin Squires Automotive Illustration: Kop Hill Climb Report 2012

Kop Hill has been used by motorcycles since 1910. Cars were first raced on the hill in 1911 at the Essex Motor Cycling Club's meeting on the 13th May. The hill was then used occasionally until the 1920s when it's reputation as one of the most important hill climbs was established. In 1925 an accident involving a spectator and car caused the RAC Stewards to ban the Essex MC meeting. This incident in turn brought a ban to all road events in Britain. The Kop Hill Climb was not used until 1999 when the Bean Motor Club ran the first event in 74 years. It is now established as an annual two day event .

This year I finally made it to the Kop Hill Climb. I'd heard a huge amount about the event and it had been strongly recommended by many people on my travels. I definitely wasn't disappointed, a huge range of cars and bikes of all ages turned up to climb this unusual hill climb.

For more information on the Kop Hill Climb please Visit the website:

http://www.kophillclimb.org.uk

1923 Bequet Delage

(ink sketch)

This Stunning 12 litre Delage was my first subject on the Saturday. With it's great lines and engine emerging from the bonnet, the design of the car has been executed with such elegance that I had to take the opportunity to sketch this wonderful car.

1952 Jensen Bodied Austin A40 Sports

(ink sketch)

On my first glance of this car I thought "That's a bit small for an american car", of course it turned out to be an A40.

This was a particularly original example of the Jensen bodied A40 designed by Eric Neale

1949 Nor-Vin Hybrid Manx

(ink sketch)
I'm always fascinated by the organic heart like design of H.R.D. engines and coupled with the Manx Norton this was a real joy sketch.

1924 Trojan Utility

(ink sketch)

After having sketched a Trojan cycle motor a while back at Mallory I was thrilled to see this Trojan car made by the same Croydon based company. Unfortunately the mascot was not on the radiator when I was sketching it early on the Sunday Morning.