Lyn Hatton Racing
1970-1977 · New Zealand

Hill-climb map

Every hill-climb and sprint in Lyn Hatton's scrapbook, from Wellington to South Otago, in the Cooper S, the Mini Sprint and the Terrapin. Pick a car to follow its story across the map; each meeting lists the result, what the report says and where it comes from.

Lyn Hatton's Mini Sprint at Gebbies Pass, 1976 Christchurch · April 1976 Gebbies Pass The New Zealand Gold Star inter-island final, won by the Minisprint, and the 1976 national title with it. Open the Gebbies Pass page →

Every climb, on the map

Scroll down the list and the map follows each meeting, or press play to follow Lyn from hill to hill. Tap a venue for all its meetings.

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  1. 1974In the Mini Cooper S: a win at the Redwood Pass time test and seconds at Rosedale and in the Labour Day Gold Star climb.
  2. May 1974

    Marlborough Car Club bent sprint

    Tua Marina · north of Blenheim, Marlborough

    Venue of the Marlborough Car Club's bent sprint, about 0.6 mile. Map position approximate.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonBent sprint · 40.8 · 2nd to L. Owens' Formula Ford (38.6) · A. McKenzie (Mini Sprint) 3rd
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Marlborough Express, 21 May 1974

  3. 3 Aug 1974

    Marlborough Car Club time-test hill-climb

    Redwood Pass · south of Blenheim, Marlborough

    The Marlborough Car Club's home hill-climb: about 1.12 km (0.6 mile) of gravel with four hairpins, steep, tight and Lyn's local benchmark. Map position approximate.

    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonTime-test hill-climb for the Gold Star meeting · 1:04
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Marlborough Express, 5 August 1974

  4. 24 Aug 1974

    Nelson Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Rosedale · Nelson district

    The Nelson Car Club's Gold Star hill-climb. Map position approximate.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonGold Star round 1 · 69.19, beaten by 0.02 s by Peter Leversedge's V8
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Nelson Evening Post, 26 August 1974

  5. 28 Oct 1974

    Mills-Toyota Gold Star hill-climb

    Redwood Pass · south of Blenheim, Marlborough
    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonLabour Day Mills-Toyota Gold Star · 2nd to Ron Nicholls · 1300 cc class winner, 1:02.74
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Marlborough Express, 29 October 1974

  6. Late 1974

    Gold Star round, one of eight in the South Island

    Gebbies Pass · Banks Peninsula, Christchurch

    Steep, winding pass road over Banks Peninsula, venue of the 1976 NZ Gold Star inter-island final.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn Hatton1:50.05 in a 1300 cc Mini, next best to John Rush's unofficial FTD (1:46.3)
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: "Hillclimb driver has lucky escape", undated clipping

  7. 19752nd in the 1974-75 South Island series and 6th in the New Zealand final. In October the new Mini Sprint arrives and sets a Redwood Pass record first time out.
  8. 1 Mar 1975

    South Canterbury Car Club hill-climb

    Craigmore · inland from Timaru, South Canterbury

    Shingle climb in South Canterbury, where Lyn broke a two-year-old course record in 1977. Map position approximate.

    3rd
    LH
    Lyn Hatton57.2 · the day Leo Leonard set the 56.0 record
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Timaru Herald, 2 March 1975

  9. Mar 1975

    Otago Sports Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Castlewood Road / Castle Hill Road · Otago Peninsula, Dunedin

    The Otago Sports Car Club's annual sealed climb on the Larnach Castle road, about half a mile with over 20 corners. Map position approximate.

    3rd
    LH
    Lyn HattonOtago Gold Star round · 81.58 · Austin Cooper 1293 cc
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Motoraction, 21 March 1975

  10. 26 Apr 1975

    NZ Gold Star national final

    Houghton Bay · Wellington

    Wellington Car Club climb on the city's south coast, venue of the 1975 New Zealand final. Map position approximate.

    6th
    LH
    Lyn HattonNZ Gold Star final · fastest South Islander · 2nd in the 1974-75 South Island series
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Marlborough Express, 29 April 1975

  11. 17 May 1975

    Marlborough Car Club bent sprint

    Tua Marina · north of Blenheim, Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonBent sprint · new record 45.95
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Marlborough Express, 19 May 1975

  12. Aug 1975

    Marlborough Car Club's first hill-climb of the season

    Moenui · near Havelock, Marlborough

    The Marlborough Car Club opened its 1975-76 hill-climb season here in August 1975. Map position approximate.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn Hatton44.5 · 0.1 s behind Ross Hore's Escort · Athol Smart 3rd
    		Mini Cooper S

    Source: Marlborough Express, 14 August 1975

  13. Sep 1975

    Marlborough Car Club gravel sprint

    Tua Marina · north of Blenheim, Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton0.8-mile gravel sprint · 44.8 record · his first drive in the Mini Sprint
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 23 September 1975

  14. 25 Oct 1975

    Nelson Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Rosedale · Nelson district
    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonFirst Gold Star round for the new Mini Sprint · 1:09.6 · equal 2nd overall
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Nelson Car Club Certificate of Merit

  15. 26 Oct 1975

    Marlborough Car Club Gold Star round

    Redwood Pass · south of Blenheim, Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton61.6 · course record, 0.6 s under the old one
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 28 October 1975

  16. 15 Nov 1975

    Oamaru Autoworld Gold Star hill-climb

    Ngapara · inland from Oamaru, North Otago

    North Otago Car Club climb, John Rush's home ground. Map position approximate.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn Hatton54.230 · both he and Russell Greer (53.890) beat the old record
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Motoraction, 12 December 1975

  17. Nov 1975

    Marlborough Car Club bent sprint

    Tua Marina · north of Blenheim, Marlborough
    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonGravel bent sprint, about 0.6 mile · 37.4, 0.1 s behind Russell Greer's Stanton Corvette
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 26 November 1975

  18. Dec 1975

    Marlborough Car Club flying and standing quarter-mile

    Waihopai · Marlborough

    Marlborough Car Club sprints: standing and flying quarter-miles. Map position approximate.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonStanding quarter-mile · 15.1 s in the Middle Park Clubman, behind Russell Greer (13.2)
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 13 December 1975

  19. 1976New Zealand Gold Star Hill-Climb Champion: five wins, two seconds, then the inter-island final at Gebbies Pass by four seconds.
  20. 21 Feb 1976

    South Otago Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Kaitangata · near Balclutha, South Otago

    The South Otago Car Club's gravel climb, where Lyn set a course record. Map position approximate.

    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton55.29 · broke a five-year-old 60 s record on his first run
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Report, 23 February 1976

  21. 28 Feb 1976

    Westland Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Garveys Creek Road, Reefton · Buller, West Coast

    The Westland Car Club's 2.8 km gravel climb near Reefton, a Gold Star round in 1976 and 1976-77. Map position approximate.

    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonGarveys Creek, 2.8 km gravel · 147.18 aggregate · record
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Westland paper, 1 March 1976

  22. 6 Mar 1976

    Otago Sports Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Castlewood Road / Castle Hill Road · Otago Peninsula, Dunedin
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonFourth series win · points lead now unbeatable
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Report, 9 March 1976

  23. 4 Apr 1976

    South Island Gold Star round

    Craigmore · inland from Timaru, South Canterbury
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonShingle · FTD 56.65 · 0.65 s off Leo Leonard's record
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Timaru Herald, 5 April 1976

  24. 24 Apr 1976

    NZ Gold Star inter-island final

    Gebbies Pass · Banks Peninsula, Christchurch
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonNZ Gold Star inter-island final · 1:48.67, 4 s clear · 1976 New Zealand champion
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Christchurch Press, 26 April 1976

  25. 11 Sep 1976

    Marlborough Car Club bent sprint

    Tua Marina · north of Blenheim, Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton0.6-mile bent sprint · 44.0 · 29 starters · drizzle
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 13 September 1976

  26. 23 Oct 1976

    Westland Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Garveys Creek Road, Reefton · Buller, West Coast
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonRadio 3ZA hill-climb, Garveys Creek · from Alan Hewlett and John Rush
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Christchurch Press, 25 October 1976

  27. 24 Oct 1976

    Marlborough Car Club Gold Star round

    Redwood Pass · south of Blenheim, Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton1.12 km gravel · 62.95 · 3.2 s clear · newly painted red, Kinross Motors
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 28 & 29 October 1976

  28. 6 Nov 1976

    South Island Gold Star round

    Coronet Peak road · Queenstown, Central Otago

    The 2.7 km sealed ski-field road above Queenstown, a South Island series round. Ian Tulloch won it every year from 1976 to 1981. Map position approximate.

    2nd
    LH
    Lyn Hatton1:04.95 behind Ian Tulloch's Camaro Z28 (1:02.88, a course record) · light snow · Ramada Cup for the hardest trier, his first series defeat
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 8 November 1976; "Hill Climb To Tulloch"

  29. 1977South Island champion again with 130 of 140 points and four course records; 5th in the national final, then a new Mini-powered Terrapin.
  30. 26 Feb 1977

    Otago Sports Car Club hill-climb

    Castlewood Road / Castle Hill Road · Otago Peninsula, Dunedin
    2nd
    LH
    Lyn HattonTar-seal · 80.23 behind Graham Jenkins' Formula Ford · the paper's "first loss in the series"
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 28 February 1977

  31. 27 Feb 1977

    South Otago Car Club hill-climb

    Kaitangata · near Balclutha, South Otago
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonGravel · 60.66 · second year running · South Island title with two rounds to spare
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 28 February 1977; Motoraction, 25 March 1977

  32. 2 Apr 1977

    North Otago Car Club hill-climb

    Ngapara · inland from Oamaru, North Otago
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton55.529 · John Rush 0.16 s behind in a gusting wind
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 4 April 1977; Motoraction, 6 May 1977

  33. 3 Apr 1977

    South Island Gold Star round

    Craigmore · inland from Timaru, South Canterbury
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton55.95 · breaks Leo Leonard's two-year-old record · 130 of 140 points
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Marlborough Express, 4 April 1977

  34. 9 Apr 1977

    NZ Gold Star national final

    Admiral Road, Masterton · Wairarapa

    A 0.9 km sealed climb, venue of the 1977 New Zealand Gold Star national final. Map position approximate.

    5th
    LH
    Lyn HattonNZ Gold Star final, Admiral Road · 41.62 · 3rd in the championship · title to Kevin Ingram
    		Mini Sprint (1293 cc)

    Source: Motoraction, 6 May 1977

  35. Jun 1977

    Marlborough Car Club sprints

    Waihopai · Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn HattonStanding quarter-mile · first outing reported for his new Mini-powered Terrapin
    		Mini-powered Terrapin

    Source: Marlborough Express, 7 June 1977

  36. 23 Oct 1977

    Marlborough Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Redwood Pass · south of Blenheim, Marlborough
    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton1:03.14 · only his second run in the Terrapin · 25 starters · windy and dusty
    		Mini-powered Terrapin

    Source: Marlborough Express, 25 October 1977

  37. 1978Back after a year's layoff, the Terrapin wins at Mahakipawa. The clipping isn't dated, so the year is a guess.
  38. Later · date not known

    Marlborough Car Club Gold Star hill-climb

    Mahakipawa Hill · between Havelock and Picton, Marlborough

    A longer climb of about 2.5 km on tar-seal on the Havelock side. Map position approximate.

    1st
    LH
    Lyn Hatton2.5 km tar-seal · 1:57.44, from Russell Greer · back after a year's layoff
    		Mini-powered Terrapin

    Source: Marlborough Express, undated

Help fill the gaps

Most venue positions on the map are approximate, placed from the place names in the reports. If you know exactly where a climb started and finished, or have programmes and results sheets, especially for Coronet Peak, Houghton Bay 1975, the other 1975-76 rounds and the Terrapin years, please get in touch.