Racing lines: Surrey's gentle hillclimb is a Shere Delight

“The idea had been knocking about for years,” he said, “but when we went to the local council, their response was: ‘Oh no, this sort of thing doesn’t happen in Surrey.’ Then the 2012 Olympics happened and they closed Staple Lane for the cyclists. If they could do it for them, why not for us?”

It’s easy to imagine the obstacles that Warner and his chums faced. First, he had to win over sceptical and even hostile resistance from the residents of West Horsley, just down the A246, while closing a road for a car-based event was always going to face all kinds of prejudice that a cycling race for the biggest sporting occasion in the world wouldn’t be subjected to. But Warner comes across as one of those sorts who have a gift for persuasion. He didn’t take no for an answer and made key allies both in the local community and on the council, over “18 months of planning, pleading and grovelling, plus completing what felt like several hundred risk assessments”.

The perfect place for Shere novices

What really makes the difference at Shere is how the event gives back in the way that counts the most for one day of light inconvenience.

“The costs of organising and running it are covered by our sponsors, who support us, plus the entry fees, which are £100 for what amounts to three runs on the day,” says Warner. “The ticket sales are mostly the profit, and that goes to local charities.”

He estimated that about £20,000 was raised this year. The entry for the first event back in 2013 numbered 125. That was up this year to a bumper 240, with hundreds more on the waiting list. A stroll around the paddock, labelled after famous bits of race track around the world, such as Eau Rouge, Mulsanne, Woodcote and Druids, revealed a pleasing mix of all sorts, from modern supercars to pristine classics of every vintage.

Warner reckoned that only 20-30% of entrants were competition licence holders, making it a perfect event for those without motorsport experience who just want to show off and have a blast in their pride and joy.

In truth, Shere stretches the term motorsport; Warner has sensibly avoided chasing a Motorsport UK licence, which would bring all sorts of added complications. This isn’t a competitive event, so times aren’t recorded for the one-mile climb, up a straight hill with a kink and a few half-hearted straw-bale chicanes. But a local motor club runs the day and an ‘orange army’ of volunteer marshals are present to make it feel like a proper racing event, without the need for roll-cages and crash helmets.

Plus, this year, 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner and McLaren chief test driver Kenny Bräck added a bit of glitter. It’s as gentle as motorsport gets, but that makes it accessible for novices, decent value for money and a delightful way to spend a pleasant Sunday. Keep an eye out next year.

An old/new F1 favourite

Speaking of the ‘orange army’, what a sight it was to see 70,000 deeply partisan fans going wild as Max Verstappen sent them into rapture at the first Dutch Grand Prix for 36 years.

Formula 1 quickly moves on – and by the time you read this, events at Monza will be in focus – but memories of Zandvoort’s return will linger long, even if the race was no classic. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG threw all they could at Verstappen and Red Bull-Honda, but they always seemed destined to come up short on Max’s home turf.