If you’re looking for a sport that combines some of the best
aspects of autocross, rally and road racing, then hillclimbing
may be for you. Defined as a category 1 Solo event (along with
time trials and acceleration runs), hillclimbing takes you off
the track and puts you on the side of a mountain. Actually, its
very much like autocrossing, except that the pylons are made of
stone and wood (boulders and trees), and if you go “off
course”, the consequences are likely to be more serious. So
instead of joking with your autocross friends in the parking lot
about the mistake you made on your last run, a similar mistake in
hillclimbing may result in discussing your blood type and trying
to determine how many fingers the paramedic is holding up in
front of your face on your way to the nearest hospital. But don’t
let us scare you out of trying this great sport (. . . on second
thought, the less people come to the events, the more runs we
get). In England, hillclimbing has been extremely popular for
decades, but for some reason here in the U.S., it has not yet
caught on. Seriously, we can’t understand why more drivers
don’t hillclimb. Besides the obvious rush, it’s a great
test of driving ability and car preparation. The scenery is
usually breathtaking, and the people at the events are extremely
friendly and supportive, especially to beginners. Not to mention,
the sport is ripe for making your mark. Since it is not as
popular as other forms of motorsports, a talented novice could be
successful (depending on the class) in just his or her first
season. Very often, you can find yourself competing in major
events against cars that have not been prepared to the limit of
the rules. And depending on your experience, certain hills favor
particular styles of driving. Autocrossers can have a distinct
advantage on hills that offer many second gear twists and turns,
while road racers tend to dominate on the high-speed hills where
precision braking and heel/toe downshifting is required. So no
matter what your background, there is a hill for you.
GO CLIMB A HILL:
HOW TO GET STARTED
If you already participate in Solo 1 or Road Racing, simply show
up at an event with your car and log book. That’s all there
is to it. Events sanctioned by the SCCA require a National SCCA
membership. You can usually join right at the event (bring your
Visa Card). Entry fees range between $50 - $100. But if you are
an autocrosser, you have some work to do. Here is an overview of
the safety requirements necessary in order to participate in Solo
1 events.
Safety First!
This is the theme of hillclimbing. Safety first; fun second. And
the tech inspectors take this very seriously. There are two parts
to a properly prepared hillclimber: a safe car and a safe body.
Remember, your body needs to last a lifetime, so don’t skimp
on the gear. First, you will need a Snell SA85 or better helmet.
We recommend at least an SA90, since the SA85 is no longer legal
for most clubs. Better yet, the new SA95 helmets are even a
smater choice. So what’s the difference between an SA90 and
the SA95? The Snell foundation performs a series of tests before
they will put their stamp of approval on a particular helmet
design. The SA90 successfully passed all of this year’s
tests except for the updated impact test, which now calls for a
higher standard of resistance. To be in compliance with the new
regulations, manufacturers needed to increase the thickness of
the helmet’s inner lining. As a result, the SA95 models have
a slightly larger shell to accomodate the thicker padding, and
carry a slightly larger price tag (up about 5% over last year’s
designs). Since there will likely be a Snell 2000 or 2001, the
SA95 helmets will be on sale soon for big savings.
Moving on to the rest of your body, the tech inspector will also
want to look at your Nomex: socks, long underwear (top and
bottom), and a balaclava (head sock) which is mandatory if you
have facial hair. Prices range from between $150 - $300 for these
goodies. You will also need fire resistant gloves and shoes
(leather sneakers will do). Finally, you will need a driver’s
suit. When shopping for a suit, remember the advice your father
gave you: “you get what you pay for”. Some of the newer
suits are very high tech and will keep you safe as well as cool,
but they can be expensive ($300-$1,300). For the bare minimum
needed to get through tech (assuming you already have a legal
helmet), expect to pay at least $500 (now you know what to ask
for on your next birthday).
If God wanted me to
go racing, then my car would have come with a cage.
Hillclimbing is somewhat more risky than autocrossing, so in
order to properly prepare you may need to make some adjustments
to both your car and your attitude. If you primarily drive in
Solo II events, the first thing you need to accept is the fact
that you could be hurt in this sport. Not just the other guy, but
you. You’ve seen vehicles sporting the popular “No Fear”
decals? This type of denial is what most novices need to overcome
in order to make the successful transition to hillclimbing. Many
hillclimbers have decals that read “Some Fear”. So the
first lesson that must be stressed to a racer who wants to break
into this sport is: accept the fact that you will roll your car.
It may not be today to tomorrow, but it will happen and you need
to prepare for it. This year, the SCCA Solo Board delayed action
requiring a full cage, but starting soon, some clubs may require
a cage, not just the roll bar that is currently mandated. Of
course all cages and bars need to be SCCA legal, and the tech
inspectors will check. There has been much discussion within the
SCCA regarding this rule. The SCCA Solo 1 rule book and the GCR
have specifications as to the thickness of the material used in
the cage construction based on the weight of the car. Depending
on your vehicle, expect to pay between $400-800 for a cage.
Empty your Bladder
If you hear the crowd cheering deliriously as you race by, and
you look out your window to see the sky where the ground was, you’ll
will wish you had a leak proof fuel cell bladder. After all,
there is no need to test your new Nomex suit to see if it’s
really fire resistant. And for the few drivers that have their
race cars insured for collision, you will have a tough time
explaining to the insurance company how the car ended up on its
roof: “A chipmunk ran out in front of the car and I had to
take evasive action. Pay no attention to the roll bar and racing
decals on the side of the car.” For this reason alone it is
a good idea to keep your investment from going up in flames (have
you ever seen aluminum racing carburetors after they have been
exposed to extreme heat?). But before you pick up the phone, be
aware that installing a fuel cell is usually not a simple “bolt-in”
procedure. It is true that some units completely replace your
existing gas tank. These are popular with the showroom stock road
racers, however expect to pay big bucks for being able to
preserve the original look of your car. The most popular units
with the IT racing crowd are the “rotary moulded”
(plastic) bladders available for as little as $170 for the
smaller 5 gallon size. If you prefer a flexible bladder design
(non-plastic), then expect to pay at least $400. Sizes range from
5 to 22 gallons depending on what’s best for your car and
your budget.
Quick, Where’s the Bottle?
Speaking of fire, all Solo 1 vehicles need to be equiped with a
fire bottle/extinguisher or a fire system. Bottles must be
mounted to insure easy access to both driver and rescue workers,
and they must have an approved mounting bracket. In other words,
the “off the shelf” WalMart special may be a good
extinguisher, but is likely to have a cheap, plastic bracket. The
best value we could find was through Racer Wholesale who markets
a 2.5 lb. rechargable dry chemical unit for $29.95. You can also
go with a complete fire system, such as the Phoenix unit
available through HiFi Racing for $249. They supply all you need
to extinguish fires in both the engine compartment and cockpit
with just the push of a button. It is recommended that you still
have a separate 2.5 lb. bottle handy in case of a small fire,
since recharging the complete system is very costly. But if you
find yourself upside-down and see flames, you will be glad that
big red button is within reach.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The typical hillclimbing weekend begins with registration and
tech on Friday evening. Pre-registration is required for most
events, but you still must check-in and get your car to tech.
Remember, they tech both you and your car so have your personal
safety equipment handy for inspection. And don’t forget
about having a completed log book including vehicle photos. Log
books can be ordered through the SCCA: (303) 694-7222 and are
required by all SCCA-sanctioned events. Racing usually begins
Saturday morning, and cars are divided into racing groups and
assigned to heats. SCCA Solo 1 classes are used for most events
and are a combination of autocross and road racing classes, for
example SSGT, SSA, SSB and SSC are road racing classes, as are
the Production groups: E, F, G, H. Stock autocross vehicles, for
example, would compete in showroom stock. Street-prepared cars,
on the other hand, would have a choice of running in ASP, BSP
(which includes ESP and rear-drive turbos), CSP, and DSP or
competing in the popular Improved touring classes: ITS, ITA, ITB,
ITC. Autocross AP thru EP would need to run in GT1, GT2, GT3, GT4
or GT5. Other classes can include ASR, CSR, DSR (sports racers),
Spec Racer Ford and Renault, FF, FV, FA, FC, CF, F440, and one or
two special/unlimited classes. The battle for King of the Hill
can be very exciting. This type of action is unique to Solo 1
hillclimbs, as the overall winner often comes down to a race
between two entirely different vehicles. For example, last year’s
Giants Despair Hillclimb featured Jerry Kieft (piloting a
home-made go-cart on steroids) running against John Halbing
(driving a GT1 NASCAR-looking Camaro). Halbing, on his home
court, had led all weekend until Kieft and his Formula Mazda
edged Halbing on the 7th and final run by 33 thousands of a
second. So consider attending a local hillclimb, either as a
driver or a spectator, and bring your camera!
TRAVELOGUE: A Tour
Of Some Of The Best Hills In The Pennsylvania
If hillclimbing is your thing (or you want to get started), then
you don’t know how lucky you are to be living in this
region. The mountains in this part of the country are beautiful,
and there are more hillclimb events here than anywhere else. The
Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association (PHA) was founded in 1961 and
has so many events that they sponsor a yearly championship points
series. The series includes a stop at the oldest hillclimb race
in the nation, even older than Pike’s Peak or Chimney Rock.
All the hills run by the PHA are sanctioned by the SCCA, and
therefore you must be an SCCA member to participate. You can join
the SCCA the morning of registration, and log books are also
available on site. If you don’t already have an SCCA Solo 1
license, you can be issued a novice permit on the spot after
completing a medical history form. The PHA also offers an
excellent novice orientation program to help you prepare to
challenge some of the following classic mountain courses.
Giant’s
Despair (mid July)
is located just off Interstate 80 outside of Wilkes-Barre, PA and
will celebrate it’s 90th year in 1996, and GRM will be there
to report on the festivities. The Giant is a one mile long high
speed climb, with only five turns on the way to the top of the
mountain. There are very dedicated racing fans in Wilkes-Barre,
and they turn out in force to cheer (or boo) their favorite
drivers. Surrounding turn two (known as “Devil’s Elbow”)
are often two hundred fans packed 5 deep. They enjoy giving a
Siskel and Ebert impression as to the amount of guts exhibited by
the drivers as they enter the turn. Conservative drivers are
often booed, given “thumbs down”, and in the old days
were sometimes pelted with empty beer cans on the parade lap back
down the mountain. But when a driver enter the turn aggressively,
the rewards are just as forthcoming. One of the best feelings you
can have in racing is to charge the elbow topped out in third
gear with your stomach in your throat, waiting for the last
possible second to brake and downshift, then hanging out the
rear-end through the 120 degree turn while hearing the cheers of
the fans follow you through the next two turns. And at the
starting line, the atmosphere is just as festive. There’s a
Carnival/NASCAR/World Wide Wrestling Federation flavor to the
event which is extremely well attended, with spectators
encouraged to tour the pits and mingle with the racers. Even
novice drivers will occasionally be asked to autograph the event
program. If you are any type of racing fan within a day’s
drive, put the Giant on your schedule and you won’t be
disappointed. Contact event organizer Dan Lipperini at (717)
654-0560 for info/registration.
Duryea (late
August) The Blue
Mountain Region SCCA hosts the longest hill in the PHA series.
Named for the obscure automobile maker and following the same
route that Charles Duryea used to test his cars, this is a 2.5
mile hill located in a beautiful city park in downtown Reading,
PA. With a history dating back to 1951, festivities this year
will include a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the
automobile. Possibly the most diverse and challenging hill in the
Northeast, Duryea boasts 11 turns (most of which are negotiated
in the first half of the course) coupled with some high speeds at
the top.
Hillclimbing presents unique challenges that can only be
experienced in this venue of motorsports. A perfect example can
be found in turn 6 at Duryea. This turn has a nickname (which
cannot be printed in this magazine) that describes the mood of a
driver as they discover they have hit the brake either too early
or too late. The challenge faced here is the quintessential
dilemma of hillclimbing: how long can you stay on the gas when
entering the turn without causing the course workers to scramble
into the woods? Some drivers fight the urge to break early only
to find themselves too deep into the turn, thus causing an
involuntary muttering of the turn’s nickname before
proceeding into the hay bails. On the other hand, even veteran
drivers will sometimes be fall prey to the optical illusion that
causes the braking point to look closer than it actually is. The
result is premature breaking (ask your therapist). In baseball
terms, it’s like starting your slide into homeplate halfway
between home and third base (very embarassing to say the least).
Consequently, this is the most popular turn for spectators. But
if using your right foot is the reason you race, then welcome to
the top of Duryea. Your thoughts turn to horsepower and freedom
as you downshift into second or first gear, trying to keep your
momentum around the hairpin turn 10, knowing that what awaits
around the bend is a long, steep straightaway. Radar guns have
clocked some cars at 140mph on the way to the checkered flag.
Then again, if your car handles better than it accelerates, we
suggest you bring along a copy of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine
to catch up on your reading and to help pass the time as your car
chugs its way up to the finish line. Contact Lynne Dehart at
(717) 626-1982 for information.
Pagoda (mid May) The British cars get their revenge at this
event, which is run on the same mountain as Duryea. Named after
the Pagoda which decorates turn 8, this is a handling course
which offers the all the challenges of turns 2-8 (including the
famous turn 6), while leaving out the high horsepower final
straight of Duryea. Once again, your contact is Lynne Dehart,
president of the PHA and chief steward of the NEDIV.
Rose Valley (late
Sept) The Glen
Region SCCA is proud to be sponsoring Rose Valley this year, and
they have a great event planned. Located in Trout Run, just above
Williamsport, PA, this is a 1.3 mile hill that consists of eight
turns, five of which will challenge even the best drivers.
Picture a 90 degree bend that leads into a blind hairpin,
followed by some high speed kinks and you have an idea of what to
expect at Rose Valley. This is also a nice area to spend the
weekend and boasts loyal fans who assemble at 6AM waiting for the
action to begin.
Weatherly (early
June and mid Sept)
If you like finesse, a chance to use your head, and aren’t
afraid of heights then Weatherly is for you. Nestled in a
beautiful park located outside of Hazelton, PA, this hill is run
twice a year and consists of a one mile course with 6 very
challenging turns. Some of these turns are so steep that taking
an inside line could cause the front end of your car to kiss the
pavement. For instance, one of the questions you will ask
yourself when viewing turn 3 is: how in the world were they able
to get the paving equipment onto this turn? The answer: cables,
pulleys, sweat, and lots of beer for the workers. Beside the
steep hairpins, Weatherly boasts one the the most unique turns in
hillclimbing. Turn 5 is a 40-50 mph, 90 degree, right-hander that
crests near the exit apex and causes most vehicles to become
airborne. This is a Kodak photo opportunity, and is very popular
with spectators. There are countless gouges in the road where
heavier cars carrying too much speed leave their mark as they
come crashing down to earth. And if you’re lucky, you won’t
visit “Stu”. Years ago, someone painted the name “Stu”
on a boulder near the exit of turn 5. Stu has gone on to claim
many victims in the hill’s 35 year history. This year’s
celebration will include a 5K run, a craft show and bazaar,
numerous venders and food stands sponsored by local churches and
the little league. Contact event organizer Danny Lipperini at
(717) 654-0560 for the spring event, or Lynne Dehart, who
organizes the fall festivities.