Today marks a historic day for British motorsport when cars get back on track as Covid-19 lockdown eases. The Bugatti Owners’ Club, owners and operators of Prescott Hill Climb play their part in the celebrations with a private non-competitive event today behind closed doors.
This event will see BOC Members take to the hill in a variety of cars from 9am, but poignantly, the hill will be reopened by BOC stalwart Charles Knill-Jones in a Bugatti. Other cars visiting the hill today include Aston Martins, Ferraris, Alfas, Renaults, Fiats, Subaru and an ex-Stirling Moss Jaguar.
The reopening of motorsport after an enforced shutdown is nothing new for the BOC and Prescott, as the club has experienced this several times before. Notably, the outbreak of World War II in 1939 resulted in activities being suspended until 1946 when the hill returned to action.
There have been a number of other disruptions following on from this initial closure, including 1947 due to petrol rationing, 1956 due to the Suez Crisis, 1972 due to adverse weather, 2001 due to Foot and Mouth and 2007 due to severe flooding.
So all told, the BOC and Prescott have weathered the storms over the years, with today marking another chapter in the tale of the perseverance and survival of one of the longest standing motorsport clubs and hill climb venues in the country.
Long may this resilience continue.
