28-06-2019, 07:09 PM
This afternoon seemed a perfect time to leap into the Ruby and whiz to Brecon for a little detective work. Like any motor sport history anorak, I'd wondered whether there had been a hillclimb at Brecon in 1921, and whether there were cars as well as motorbikes. An hour or so going cross eyed in front of the microfilm reader studying local papers came up with the answer. Wednesday 17th August 1921 saw a hillclimb up Warren Road, just to the west of the town. Primarily motorbike entries, but there was a class for Light Cars. Best time, of 1 min 30 secs went to Luther Davies in his Morgan, C. Morgan driving a GN came second with 1 min 41 secs. The reports did not indicate if they were the only two, or just the award winners. Luther also took best time for 350cc class, his Cotton Blackburne doing 1 min 26 secs. The hill was 1 ⅛ miles long, and not very tortuous. It is also not very steep, being third gear all the way up in a Ruby so not quite like Shelsley.
Luther Davies must be well known to motor cycling historians. He offered competition bikes for sale from his works in Garnant both before and afterWW1, as well as claiming speed and hillclimbing as his speciality. For someone wanting to try a second hand bike he said "Choose your hill and name the time!"
Scanning local papers can be puzzling. In the twenties there seemed to be continual disputes as to whether boating should be allowed on a Sunday. So no matter how badly LCES entrants may behave at the Metropole in Llandod on a Saturday night, no boating on the lake on Sunday morning! Like any of the forum readership with a group G licence I was worried by the headline referring to a steam roller "bolting" out of control in Knighton. It mounted the pavement and hit the Swan Hotel, be careful now, Hedd!
Luther Davies must be well known to motor cycling historians. He offered competition bikes for sale from his works in Garnant both before and afterWW1, as well as claiming speed and hillclimbing as his speciality. For someone wanting to try a second hand bike he said "Choose your hill and name the time!"
Scanning local papers can be puzzling. In the twenties there seemed to be continual disputes as to whether boating should be allowed on a Sunday. So no matter how badly LCES entrants may behave at the Metropole in Llandod on a Saturday night, no boating on the lake on Sunday morning! Like any of the forum readership with a group G licence I was worried by the headline referring to a steam roller "bolting" out of control in Knighton. It mounted the pavement and hit the Swan Hotel, be careful now, Hedd!
Looking down the steepest bit with mountains in the distant heat haze.