the first event at prescott was staged in april 1938, on what is now the short course. as announced in "motor sport": "the opening rally on april 10th will comprise an assembly at cheltenham for lunch, followed by a run to prescott and possibly timed runs up the hill, followed by tea at the prescott club-house. prescott will be ready for the first official meeting on sunday, may 15th." unofficial fastest time in april was set by i. craig in a 4.9-litre supercharged bugatti in a time of 55.58 seconds. fastest time of the day at the inaugural meeting in may was set by arthur baron in a 2,270 c.c. supercharged bugatti in a new record time of 50.70 seconds. sydney allard set the sports car record driving hutchison's v12 lincoln-engined allard special in a time of 54.35 seconds. on 3 july 1938 george abecassis broke the prescott outright record with a climb of 47.85 seconds in his supercharged 1½ litre alta. joe fry bettered this unofficially when he climbed in 47.62 seconds in the 1,100 c.c. "freikaiserwagen", on 27 august 1938. raymond mays (2-litre e.r.a.) took the record on 30 july 1939 in a time of 46.14 seconds. second overall at that meeting was jean-pierre wimille in a 4.7-litre supercharged bugatti, in the first international meeting held at prescott.