UPHILL RIVALS: THE BATTLE FOR THE HILLCLIMB TITLE
The record books will show that Wallace Menzies clinched a hat-trick of British Hillclimb titles in 2022. But that success only came after a season-long battle with his main rival Alex Summers in what was another golden year for this branch of the sport as it celebrated 75 years of the British Championship.
It is common across sport, including motorsport, for arch rivals to be sworn enemies, with bad blood and infighting underpinning the main competition. That could not be further from the case in top flight hillclimbing, where respect, sportsmanship and friendship are key elements of the package. Of course, when the clock is running, the competition is still just as fierce.
It is a little after 0800hrs in the Loton Park paddock on the final day of the BHC season and the beautiful parkland is awakening in the early sunshine. In a few hours, either Menzies or Summers will be champion and
