Seaside set to host hillclimb this weekend

THIS weekend, February 14 and 15, will see the first event of the 2026 South Eastern Automobile Club’s busy year of motorsport.

Paul Height and his band of willing helpers will assemble the road course needed, to run for the 11th year no less, the Twin Peaks Hillclimb at the Western roadway at Port MacDonnell.

Quite a task, to convert the scenic tourist roadway into the two tracks that form the hillclimb, run each course at least once on each day to register a time, then pack up all the equipment that is needed for race safety and return it to where it is sourced from, after completion, makes for a very busy week.

The reward that Paul gets for all this effort, is to oversee a near capacity field of competitors try to get a better time than on their last run and not to do too much gardening on the way to the finish line.

Track 1, on the Eastern side, is quite a challenge to get ‘right’ with many turns, some off camber and ever tightening either direction, add in some wind-blown sand from the picturesque seaside location and you can get ‘off track’ quite easily anywhere along the 1300metres from start to finish.

On the Western run to Fingerpoint look out, there is a total of 1700metres to really get some speed up, processing a chicane on the way up and back, to pull the speed back a little, a crest just before entering the lookout carpark to test out just how far around the corner you can leave it to hit the brakes hard and turn around to head back to a tight corner at the finish line.

Spectators are welcome on both days of action but be aware that the track layout roadways are closed off approx. 7.30am each day, so park along side the road and walk up to the monument area for viewing.

Catering will be at the pit area at the monument lookout, where food and drinks can be purchased.

Competition will get underway at approx. 8.30am Saturday and finish at approximately 5pm, to return at 8.15am Sunday, with trophy presentation after the last run and timing completed mid-afternoon Sunday.

This is also the first round of the 2026 Hillclimb series, so there will be some serious competition from those that are involved in the series, as well as those that are just there for a couple of days of enjoyable driving.

Next event on the calendar, is a Khanacross at the Heywood Wood, Wine and Roses Festival, held on February 28 at the Heywood football oval complex.

Previous event pictures of most SEAC events can be found on Turn8 Photography website.

Darren should be commended for the work that he does with his camera in all conditions and is images are available for purchase direct from Turn8.