The first event, in 1962, established the course as one of the best hill climbs in the country.
 | | The view from the hot seat |
The sole aim of a hill climb is to get your car up the course to the finish in the shortest time possible. The fastest drivers can flash past the finishing line, 1448 metres away, in less than 50 seconds, that's a speed of over 130mph. So Nicola folded herself into the cockpit of the highly tuned Westfield SE for her attempt to crack the track record. The power comes from a two-litre Ford engine, with a 264 brake horsepower that pings the driver from 0 to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, making it one of the most powerful cars in its class. Nicola, as with all drivers, attended her briefing session, learning about the lines, corners and building up a mental image of the track.
 | | Nicola spins off |
There are of course some curious names to the corners and straights including Clark's, Chippy's, Willow, Orchard, Farmhouse and Quarry. After the two runs Nicola had been bitten by the bug. "What a fantastic event… I can honestly say that it was one of the best things I've ever done. I might not have won… or even come close… but I've met some great people and had an amazing experience. I'll definitely be back next year." Inside Out is a regional current affairs programme broadcast weekly on BBC One, it returns for a new series on Monday 11 September 2006 at 7.30pm. | 
