Rest and Be Thankful Speed Hill Climb
Introduction Glen Croe viewed from ''Rest and be thankful'' viewpoint'''Rest and Be Thankful Hill Climb''' is a disused hillclimbing course in Glen Croe, Argyll, Scotland. The first known use of the road for a hillclimb was in 1906.The event used to count towards the British Hill Climb Championship. It is named for the Rest and be thankful, a section of the A83.
Descriptions In 1952 ''Motor Sport'' described the course: "The three danger spots on this course which is  long, and rises over , are Stone Bridge, Cobblers Corner and the hairpin bend at the finish and of course there is always the occasional sheep that has to be driven off the road. "On 1 July 1961 Jackie Stewart drove a Ford 105E-engined Marcos at an event here. He said: "it's a special place for me, the cradle of my life in motor racing. "In 1970 ''Motor'' wrote:"The Rest, the famous Scottish Rest and Be Thankful Hill climb, will be used for the last time this year. Like many long established venues, time has overtaken it from the safety angle. A lot of money needs to be spent on barriers and banks and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club who run the National Open Hill Climb there say it will cost far too much; so this year it will only be used by clubs for restricted events and then no more. "The venue has also been used for rally special stages and classic car events. The "Friends of the Rest" are working to revive the course (2009).In September 2018 a project to establish a Scottish Motorsport Heritage Centre at the Rest and Be Thankful was granted official charitable status.
Rest and Be Thankful Hill Climb past winners YearDriverVehicleTimeNotes1906Broome WhiteMercedes 60 h.p.2m 19sec Distance about 1 mile.1949Raymond MaysE.R.A.68.00 sec 9 July; 1,800 yards.1950Dennis PooreAlfa Romeo #6557.60 sec 1 July.1951Dennis PooreAlfa Romeo56.32 sec 7 July; 1,425 yards; wet.1952Ken WhartonCooper54.23 sec '''R''' 5 July; 1,425 yards; fine.1953Michael ChristieCooper-J.A.P. 1,100 c.c.55.81 sec 4 July. 1954Michael ChristieCooper 1,098 c.c. s/c63.87 sec 3 July; 1,425 yards; wet.1955Tony MarshCooper #9656.12 sec 1956Tony MarshCooper 1,100 c.c.53.75 sec '''R'''1957Tony MarshCooper-J.A.P.56.31 sec Showers.1958David Boshier-JonesCooper-J.A.P.53.82 sec1959David Boshier-JonesCooper-J.A.P.55.45 sec 4 July.1960David Boshier-JonesCooper-J.A.P.52.05 sec 1 July.1961Tony MarshLotus-Climax 1,500 c.c.54.04 sec 1 July, wet to sunny.1962Tony MarshMarsh Special52.52 sec1963Peter WestburyFelday-Daimler 2.6-litre s/c  29 June.196427 June.1965Peter MeldrumLotus 20-Allard s/c1966Peter Boshier-JonesLotus-Climax 1,200 c.c.50.88 sec 2 July.1967Tony MarshMarsh Special 2 July.1968Martin BrainCooper T81B F1-1-67-Chrysler V8 7.2-litre 29 June.1969David HepworthHepworth Traco FF Chevrolet 4.5-litre53.07 sec1970 Ted Clark Lotus 51 55.26 sec 16 May. Round 2 of the inaugural Scottish Hillclimb Championship. Jim Dickson BVRT Mini 58.63 sec 12 September. Round 5 of the inaugural Scottish Hillclimb Championship. Final hillclimb event at the Rest and Be Thankful.Key: '''R''' = Course Record.
See also * Bo'ness Hill Climb* Doune Hillclimb* Fintray Hillclimb* Forrestburn Hillclimb
Footnotes