10:30am-ish.
We have arrived for our first ever visit to Oliver's Mount.
Drove up yesterday and we're staying in Pickering for 3 nights.
Journey took 4.5 hours, we had a 30min break en route, and we averaged just under 50mph
(just to give you an idea of the amount of traffic around).
Negotiating the steps down to Quarry Hill.
Hmmm, could be a slow climb back up to the car park.
View of part of the venue, with Scarborough beyond, from Quarry Hill.
Taking photos (or trying to) on the way down Quarry Hill to Mere Hairpin.
Clint Davies - 550cc Aprilia SXV - attacks Quarry Hill.
Darryl Ward - 1963 225cc Lambretta.
Mums - all over the world - are convinced that scooters are much safer for their little-just-left-school-darlings to ride than those big horrid nasty motorcycle-thingies.
They've obviously never seen Paul Priestley on his 1963 250cc Lambretta Li 150.
11:15-ish.
We're in The Paddock now and this is Andrew Lupton and his 125cc Honda RS.
Had a good chat with Andrew and it all took us right back to Donington Park and Loris Capirossi (who's still Vicky's all-time favourite) when he was top dog in the 125 GP class in the early nineties.
You can't beat great memories.
Chief Paddock Marshall on patrol.
11:45-ish and we've had our first cuppa tea in The Paddock Diner.
Just afterwards this olde-fella watches riders lining up for their pre-startline Decibel Test-thingy.
This will be a nice close spot for some photos, Vic.
1:30-ish.
It's close and the riders fly by on this downhill stretch to Mere Hairpin.
This is Peter Mills on his 600cc Suzuki GSXR doing just that.
Mike Tilley - 491cc Honda CR - rounds Mere Hairpin.
Howard takes a break from photography at Mere Hairpin.
Alan Dry - 1270cc OMS PR - you should know the name of this corner by now.
Oli Taylor - 1299cc Hitech DP 1600/02 - at the start of the climb up Quarry Hill.
Wheeeeeeelieeeeeee!
Graham Stephenson - 909cc MV Augusta F4.
2:30-ish.
Back in The Paddock again and……..why didn't we think of this back in the day?
Charles Rich Pittman has removed the CB750cc FA engine
and replaced it with a 1127cc Suzuki engine.
And why not. Innovation. This is why we love hill climbs.
Vicky making more friends within the hillclimbing fraternity.
This is Charlie - a Cockerpoo (and his owner).
Nigel Critchley and his immaculate 600cc Honda CBR.
We had an entertaining chat with him about his hillclimbing and his son's circuit racing career.
Many a cautionary tale.
15:30-ish.
It's time to make our way back to the car park now.
It's gonna take a while tho' 'cos of the incline and all the canine members of the
hill climbing fraternity to make friends with as we do.
One last look at the splendid view across this one small quarter of Oliver's Mount.
Can't wait to come back to see a Road Race event.
Yay! Somebody going from right to left!
Len Auckland - 1964 344cc Aermacchi El Doro Rep - aims at the top of Quarry Hill.
The fast way up Quarry Hill.
David, Vicky, and Howard, trudging up the hill and back to the car park, fortunately, just out of shot.
16:00-ish.
We're heading back to Pickering now and have stopped in Thornton Dale for a cuppa tea and a slice of cake and then a little walk around a fairly large pond………….
..….where we find a Canada goose keeping her two (or three - we're not quite sure how many are on the right) goslings nice and cosy.
Not a bad way to finish the day.
Back to the hotel for summat to eat now.
