Mike will provide an overview of the remarkable events that took place at Aston Hill, explain why it was one of the leading motorsport venues of the period, and share some of the incredible stories of the cars, motorcycles, drivers and riders who competed there.

Aston Hill, in the parish of Aston Clinton, was one of the first and most important motorsport venues during the pioneering years of the sport at the beginning of the 20th century. The first event was held in 1904, and over the next twenty-one years more than two hundred different car and motorcycle manufacturers competed there, as did the leading drivers and riders of the period, striving to gain the prestige of winning at one the country’s premier venues. However, the fascinating story of the hillclimb events held at Aston Hill from 1904 to 1925 remained untold until the publication earlier this year of the book The Motorsport History of Aston Hill, the result of detailed research by local enthusiasts Mike Stark and Steve Akers.

During his talk on 6 September, Mike will provide an overview of the remarkable events that took place at Aston Hill, explain why it was one of the leading motorsport venues of the period, and share some of the incredible stories of the cars, motorcycles, drivers and riders who competed there.

Mike Stark is a life-long motorsport enthusiast and competitor who has participated in many forms of racing over the past 40 years. After racing powerboats in the 1980s and 1990s, and then participating in the rather strange sport of lawn mower racing in the 2000s, Mike switched to cars in 2010 and has since competed regularly in hillclimb and sprint events in various Alfa Romeos. Mike lives in Aston Clinton, and after retiring from the pharmaceutical industry in 2020 he spent much time researching the history of Aston Hill, along with his friend Steve Akers. Mike also led the team of volunteers that organised the successful Aston Hill Centenary event that took place in May.

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