The motor-racing heritage of Aston Hill in Buckinghamshire, UK, will be honoured on Saturday May 17, 2025, with the Aston Hill Centenary, commemorating 100 years since the final hillclimb event took place in 1925. The venue hosted some of the UK’s most significant motor sport events between 1904 and 1925, leaving a lasting legacy in motor-racing history.
The Aston Hill Centenary is being organised in collaboration with Aston Clinton Parish Council, the Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC), and the Herts County Auto and Aero Club (HCAAC), the same organisation behind the original events at Aston Hill.
At the heart of the centenary celebrations will be The Climb, where motor cars that competed in the original events will retrace their wheel tracks to the summit of Aston Hill. Organisers are inviting owners of eligible cars to participate in this special celebration, and more information can be found here.
Those taking part in The Climb will receive commemorative rally plates and two vehicle passes to the event, as well as complimentary event programmes. In return, a small contribution to support nominated charities and event marshals is requested. The Climb will be run under a Motorsport UK permit, echoing the permit originally issued for the final event in May 1925, which was sadly cancelled due to a nationwide ban on speed contests following a tragic accident at nearby Kop Hill.
The event will also feature the Aston Hill Vintage and Classic Vehicle Show, set in a large field at Hill Farm beyond the original finish line. The show will focus on veteran, vintage and classic vehicles manufactured prior to 1980, with a particular emphasis on pre-1939 vintage as well as 1939-1979 classic vehicles from European manufacturers that originally competed at Aston Hill. Visitors can also enjoy food, drink and purchase goods from a variety of stands.
The event timetable for May 17, 2025 is as follows:
- 09:00: Participating cars and motorcycles assemble at Aston Clinton Park, where they will be on public display during scrutineering by Motorsport UK-qualified experts.
- 10:00: Motorsport UK will present HCAAC with a replacement permit for the 1925 event.
- 10:05: Participants’ briefing.
- 10:30-11:30: Vehicles will be flagged off from the start, following a scenic three-mile route through Aston Clinton before ascending Aston Hill to the historic finish line. Marshals will manage the route, which remains open to other traffic.
- Upon arrival at The Show: Participants will form the centrepiece of the Aston Hill Vintage and Classic Vehicle Show, where select drivers and owners will be interviewed.
- 12:00-17:00: Participants and spectators can enjoy the full Aston Hill Centenary Show, featuring an impressive display of historic vehicles, live commentary and motor sport heritage exhibits.
For tickets and more information about the Aston Hill Centenary, click here.
