By Rob Van Wegen
The Noosa Hillclimb began as an idea in 1996. Ahead of a drivers only race to be staged this weekend founding member and vice-president Rob van Wegen recounts the history of the event regarded as the country’s toughest hillclimb.It was in 1996, I had to go to Cooroy and decided to drive up the old main road, which is Gyndier Drive, instead of the boring new road up the big hill. An idea sprang up to investigate the possibility of holding a Hillclimb event on this marvellous 3.3 klm old road, which was no longer used, other than to dump rubbish and the lads to hoon.
A video of the section proposed was made and presented to the Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland. They had the expertise to run events and the Noosa Car Club and its members were to prepare the track. Council was approached and after some meetings and lots of drawings , to explain our plans, we were given the go ahead for a one event trial. The huge task of preparing began, with many members and many working bees. This involved many hours clearing rubbish and cutting back the undergrowth that had crept in from years of neglect. The road was also in need of patching in many places. Concrete blocks were made from left over jobs at the Sellars Concrete plant. Member Bob Haines made moulds for them and as they were made, they were placed on the most critical bends with big drop offs. A 1 klm section was chosen as the most exciting for the time trial events. This grew to 1.5 klms after the first event.
A pit area was handed over to us by the National Parks and we turned a virtual rubbish dump into a nice park, we’re all the competitors and race cars could congregate.
The Hillclimb has the reputation as Australia Toughest Hillclimb and competitors come from all over the state to challenge the Hill.
There are 10 grandstands at 14 of the various corners and a Bus to transport people up and down the hill, as well as a walking track all the way up to turn 10. The corners are never more than 20 mtrs from view, so spectators can see the action as they walk the track. We have up to 150 cars competing and the action is continual. The event runs twice each year. Winter and Summer.
The road has now become an Assett to the community, being used daily by bike riders, walkers and skaters. It is part of the Noosa Triathalon course. After lobbying to Council, the road is now closed to all vehicular traffic, with bollards and gates. All in all, a very proud achievement for Noosa Beach Classic Car Club.
This weekend 14 and 15 November Noosa Beach Classic Car Club will host the Summer Hill Challenge at Gyndier Drive, Tewantin.
Due to Covid, it is a ‘Closed Event’, open only to drivers, not spectators.There will be an eclectic mix of more than 130 cars set to run up the extended 1.5km course.
