2006 Hershey Hillclimb Report


The Hershey Hillclimb was a blast! I took it slow at first and worked my times down to a very fast 51.390 second run on Sunday afternoon and backed it up with a 51.862 proving that a 51 second run was within my reach and not a fluke.

I was faster than all but one Formula car and one Production car. Ken Taggert in his Formula Super Vee took FTD with a 47.499, and Merlin Miller took 2nd with a 49.253 blast in his Sunbeam Tiger. My time put me in 3rd overall and 1st in class – not too bad for a hillclimb rookie!

There was more time to be taken off my run, but the risk was just too great. The paved road is just 13ft wide with trees on each side (some at the edge of the pavement) and winds .7 miles and up 200 ft to the old Hershey Hotel. I drove comfortably and not over my head. I took advantage of all the touring runs on Sat and Sun. while the others sat in their cars just to get more seat time and I think it paid off. I was able to learn a few more reference points on the Sun morning touring runs that I use for braking markers and turn in / apex points. The biggest pucker factor was the “straight” up the hill, where the speed is magnified by the trees flashing by and the sunlight and shadows flickering as you pass by.

After a weekend of racing up the hill over 100mph (yes, I was well into 4th gear on the “straight”) without injury, I ended up falling off the trailer’s tongue while trying to take the canopy down. Doh! I landed on my left ankle and rolled it over. I’m lucky I didn’t break it, but it is just a sprain and I should be OK for walking around Carlisle next week.

Just call me Grace…


Here is a in-car video of my run up the hill:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...04574159263932

 

That's bas ***. How do I get in on this event?

 

Congrats! That in-car vid was nice!

 

NIce driving work Brian! I dig the song, "what does it take to be #1?"
Hope the ankle heals up fast.

 

One bad thing is that this event is only for cars 25 years old or older.
The good news is that the early 1st gen RX-7's are elegible to run.
Here is the entry for and rules:
http://www.svvscc.org/pages/pdf_page...gistration.pdf

>>>>Hope the ankle heals up fast

Thanks. I can walk on it, but no running or driving a clutch for a few more days
Not that I run very often...

 

Hey I saw you run Saturday a Hershey. Nice job!! I also ran the an auto-X at the community college in Allentown last summer which was the firs time I saw your car. Really nice job on building it. I don't know how you guys have the ***** the go flat out up that road with as narrow as the asphalt is and nothing but trees right next to the road the whole way up.

Our club, York Area Mazda Society (yamscarclub.com), will be at the Carlisle Import/kitcar show next week. Make sure you stop buy our location and say hello.

-Jeff

 

I will be there at booth IA60 and A60. It is on the same row of vendors as Grassroots magazine, but closer to the food court. I'll try to find you guys.

Brian

 

Aw man, had I known your car would be there I would have made the trip to watch. And do some photography. I'll be doing Carlisle on Saturday though, so I hope to drop by.

Are you planning to do any other events in central PA?

 

Brian,
That kicked ***! Awesome bro...Congrats...

 

Great vid. I have both an RX-7 and a Midget. I got to ride with you a couple years ago at Rosecroft during a MAzda club autox.

 

That was sweet run man, nice driving. I've known a few MG and Triumph owners in the area (all cars sold as far as I know however). They're definitely fun littl cars.

Was the Tiger dark green? I saw a green one trailoring a white wagon behind it on 83N a little while ago. Just curious

 

No, the one that I ran against was a full GT-2 race car. Here is a pic of it from a few years ago.

http://www.classictiger.com/pictures/tigerhil.jpg

 

awsome run! congrats

 

Hey Brian,
It was good to get another close-up look at your car Sat. at the Carlisle Import/kitcar show and nice talking with you briefly about it. It really is a nice setup you have built.
Hope to see it run again sometime soon.

-Jeff
www.yamscarclub.com

 

Thanks Jeff,

Carlisle was a bit crazy. It would get mobbed and would only slow down for about 5-10 min. I never had a chance to wander out to the show field to look for anyone else from YAMS. Oh well, thanks and see ya around. I'll be at Summit Point this weekend for the Spring Jefferson Time Trial.

Brian

 

Well I had some bad luck driving home from the show Saturday. I ran the SCCA school in the afternoon and my '89 RX-7 was running great at that time. On the way home about a 1/2 mile from my house doing 30mph I broke an apex seal in the front rotor. I managed to get it to my house on one rotor untill it died drifting into my driveway. No compression at all in that rotor.

Needless to say I have some work to do before I can do any more autocrossing this summer.

Kick a$$ at Jefferson this weekend!

-Jeff
www.yamscarclub.com