Giants Despair Hillclimb

g350h · Post by **g350h** » Wed. Jun. 29, 2011 10:40 am

The annual giants despair hillclimb is running July 9,10 this year.free admission, free parking,a few different food vendors. road was just paved a few days ago.usually get around 100 cars, all different types, its located on east northhampton street in laurel run pa.18702.any questions pm me. Thanks.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Wed. Jun. 29, 2011 11:09 pm

Wish I were closer. Hillclimbs are always a good time.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Thu. Jun. 30, 2011 6:22 am

Good fun! One year we took out Trials bikes to a hill climb and entered. My buddy Charlie went first. There was laughter as he started because he had no speed compared the "the hillclimbers", but, the laughter died off as he went higher and higher then turned to cheers as he topped the hill. All three of us made it to the top, but our speed was too low to bring home trophies.

Post by **Richard S.** » Thu. Jun. 30, 2011 8:23 am

Went up and down that hill so many times in the coal truck I hate to think about it. 2nd gear all the way. Used to take about 10 minutes, this guy did it in 50 seconds.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Fri. Jul. 01, 2011 5:44 am

Heyyyy... that looks like fun! When you said "hillclimb" I pictured motorcycles going up steep dirt. I never knew they had hill climbs on pavement. You guys have the most fun!

Post by **Richard S.** » Fri. Jul. 01, 2011 10:16 am

The video doesn't do it justice. It's 650 foot climb which may not sound like much but it's very short road distance.

According to Wikipedia the first event was in 1906 but there is big gap from 1917-1950.

Carol Shelby won it in 1956 and Roger Penske in 1959.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giants_Despair_Hillclimb

The Giants Despair Hillclimb is a hillclimb established in 1906 just outside Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in Laurel Run, Pennsylvania, United States.[1] The contest was first run in conjunction with Wilkes-Barre's centennial celebration.[2] It is the oldest continuing motorsport event in Pennsylvania.[2] Race drivers from across the nation gather annually on East Northampton Street, the name of the road that winds its way through a 1 mile (1.6 km) section of Pennsylvania's steep mountains. Rising 650 feet (200 m), the course reaches grades up to 20% and has six turns—including the 110 "Devil's Elbow"— in the race to the top.[1][2] The original race was won in 2 minutes 11.2 seconds.[2]

In its first years, the race was used as a proving grounds by the biggest names in the automotive industry. Louis Chevrolet raced the hill in 1909 driving for Buick. He won Event No. 2, Gasoline stock cars, selling from $851 to $1,250 in a time of 2:34.4 sec, his car being the only entry in the class. He is chiefly remembered for an accident: "A Buick with Louis Chevrolet driving, turned turtle on the course and narrowly missed a group of people. Chevrolet was not badly injured." [3]

Bill Milliken drove the AJB/FWD Butterball Special, #111, in 1955 finishing third overall in a time of 63.771 sec. [4]

Carroll Shelby [5], Roger Penske, and Oscar Koveleski are just a few of the famous drivers that set out to tackle the mile. The hill has been paved many times and the records have been shattered. The current record holder is Darryl Danko, who ran the course in 38.360 seconds in 2007.[1] Today, the Hillclimb is run on the second weekend of July and is organized by the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association (PHA). [6]