Great Auclum National Speed Hill Climb, Historic racing course in Burghfield Common, England
The Great Auclum course stretches 440 yards through the grounds of a former country estate and features sharp turns along with a banked corner near Reading. The layout varies between uphill and downhill sections, creating a technical challenge that demanded different driving skills throughout.
The speed hill climb operated as part of the RAC British Hill Climb Championship until 1974, attracting celebrated drivers such as Stirling Moss and Ken Wharton. It served as an important testing ground where driving talents could develop and compete at a high level.
The racing events brought together amateur and professional drivers across different vehicle classes, creating an active motorsport community in the Berkshire area. These meetings served as an important social gathering for local enthusiasts to share knowledge and experiences.
The course is no longer in operation and the original grounds are not open to the public for driving or tours. Information about the site can be found through local motorsport heritage societies and archives that document this chapter of racing history.
The unusually short course positioned its finish line at the same elevation as the start, despite climbing and descending throughout its quarter-mile length. This distinctive configuration made it a unique testing ground where compression and precision mattered far more than raw horsepower.
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