49 Seconds of Fun on the Shortest Detour Ever
The 1,000-yard course of the historic Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb may take less than a minute to run, but it’s an experience not to be forgotten.
Cars and drivers have been testing themselves on the steep slope at Shelsley Walsh in Worcestershire since 1905. That makes it the oldest serving motorsport venue in the world, which is reason enough to pay a visit.
If you get the opportunity to take a run up the hill, as Detour did, at the recent Hagerty Hill Climb event, then all the better.
The course record is a scarcely-believable 22.37 seconds in a purpose-built 600-horsepower slicks-n-wings F1-style race car. In the 70 bhp Detour EnduroKA, it was always going to take rather longer.
Just before the start line is a tyre-warming area, where it turns out that the little KA can actually spin its wheels. That’s something that I’ve never had to try before as all EnduroKA races begin with a rolling start.
Onboard from the @HagertyUK Hill Climb on our 49.15 second run up @shelsleywalsh - is this an @ka_enduro record? pic.twitter.com/AXv2NWJxSx
— AFK_Racing (@afk_racing) May 13, 2024
Up to the marshals’ post and a couple of the volunteer orange army that keep all motorsport in the UK moving help me position the car just behind a timing beam. One sticks a chock behind a rear wheel to stop me rolling backwards while the other points me to watch the start lights.
The good news is that a quick reaction isn’t necessary as you can go any time after the lights turn green. I engage first gear, bring up just under 5,000 rpm on the rev counter and then sidestep the clutch.
Amazingly there’s just the right amount of slip in the tyres to stop the engine bogging down and soon I’m changing up to second gear just before the first left kink known as Kennel Bend. There’s no need to lift off at all in the KA, or indeed for the slight left at Crossing, by which time I’m into third.
The speedo just touches 50mph before Bottom S, a tight left-right, where a quick dab of brake and a downshift is necessary. I touch the inside kerb and then bury the throttle again through Top S and on to the finish straight, crossing the line at 55mph
A time of 49.15 seconds won’t get me into the record books, but it’s still a thrill to have run up the hill.
If you fancy a go yourself then it’s a relatively inexpensive and low-risk way into motor sport. Find out more.
Photo Ian Covey
From tortuous mountain passes to empty desert highways, from curvaceous coast roads to scenic country drives, Detour 101 invites you to take the longer way on the world’s best road trips.