David Hepworth (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
David Hepworth was a British
racing driver, who won the British Hill Climb Championship
twice, in 1969 and 1971.
In the early-mid 1960s Hepworth drove an Austin-Healey 3000
fitted with a Chevrolet
engine in both rallies
and circuit racing, but by 1968 he was driving a Hepworth-Oldsmobile
; in this he won a Formula Libre
race at Croft
late in that season.
In hillclimbing, Hepworth competed in a Repco-Brabham before turning to a self-constructed Hepworth-FF four-wheel drive
special. With this car he won the British Hill Climb Championship
in 1969 and 1971, in the latter year also becoming the first driver to break the 30-second barrier at Shelsley Walsh
.
He drove a BRM-Chevrolet
P154 (and later a P167) in Interserie
racing (a European version of CanAm
) between 1972 and 1974. Years later, a team run by Hepworth obtained the last ever BRM, the 1979 P230, and had it modified to CanAm spec, but the car was crashed and damaged by their test driver before it could be raced.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
racing driver, who won the British Hill Climb Championship
British Hill Climb Championship
The British Hill Climb Championship is the most prestigious Hillclimbing championship in Great Britain. Hillclimbing in the British Isles has a rich history and this event has been held every year since 1947.All British Champions have been British...
twice, in 1969 and 1971.
In the early-mid 1960s Hepworth drove an Austin-Healey 3000
Austin-Healey 3000
The Austin-Healey 3000 is a British sports car built from 1959 to 1967, and is the best known of the "big" Healey models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors, and the vehicles were assembled at the BMC Abingdon works....
fitted with a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
engine in both rallies
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
and circuit racing, but by 1968 he was driving a Hepworth-Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
; in this he won a Formula Libre
Formula Libre
Formula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...
race at Croft
Croft Circuit
Croft Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac circuit is just over long and is based on the lands of an airfield, but has long since moved on from being a basic airfield circuit...
late in that season.
In hillclimbing, Hepworth competed in a Repco-Brabham before turning to a self-constructed Hepworth-FF four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
special. With this car he won the British Hill Climb Championship
British Hill Climb Championship
The British Hill Climb Championship is the most prestigious Hillclimbing championship in Great Britain. Hillclimbing in the British Isles has a rich history and this event has been held every year since 1947.All British Champions have been British...
in 1969 and 1971, in the latter year also becoming the first driver to break the 30-second barrier at Shelsley Walsh
Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb
The Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb is a hillclimb in Worcestershire, England, organised by the Midland Automobile Club . It is one of the oldest motorsport events in the world, and is in fact the oldest to have been staged continuously on its original course, first having been run in 1905...
.
He drove a BRM-Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
P154 (and later a P167) in Interserie
Interserie
Interserie is the name of a European-based motorsport series started in 1970 that allows for a wide variety of racing cars from various eras and series to compete with less limited rules than in other series....
racing (a European version of CanAm
CanAm
The Canadian-American Challenge Cup or Can-Am, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1986.-History:Can-Am started out as a race series for Group 7 sports racers with two races in Canada and four races in the United States of America . The series was initially sponsored by Johnson...
) between 1972 and 1974. Years later, a team run by Hepworth obtained the last ever BRM, the 1979 P230, and had it modified to CanAm spec, but the car was crashed and damaged by their test driver before it could be raced.