Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race
Encyclopedia
The Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, also known as the Climb to the Clouds, is a timed hillclimb
auto race
up the Mount Washington Auto Road
to the summit of Mount Washington
in New Hampshire
. It is one of the oldest auto races in the country, first run on July 11th and 12th, 1904, predating the Indianapolis 500
and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. The event is being revived in 2011.
, a Finnish rally driver, and 11-time Sports Car Club of America
(SCCA) ProRally champion, John Buffum
, brought the race back.
Originally created by early auto manufactures to showcase their vehicles, the Auto Road was chosen to prove the ability of these "horseless carriages". The inaugural "Climb to the Clouds" featured many makes of cars including Rambler
, Mercedes
, Oldsmobile
, Stanley Steamer
, Pierce
, and a single Daimler
, which were placed in categories based on their price. Although the Daimler and the Stanley Steamer driven by F. E. Stanley were favored, Harry Harkness
drove to victory in a Mercedes, which ascended the 7.4 miles (11.9 km) course in 24 minutes, 37 seconds. This was quite impressive compared to the 2 hours, 10 minutes it took the first automobile to climb the Auto Road in 1899, a Stanley Locomobile
.
The event was won by Erwin "Cannonball" Baker in 1928 with a time of 14:49.6 seconds, driving a Franklin
. Ab Jenkins
won in 1930. Baker won again in 1932. Carroll Shelby
drove a specially prepared Ferrari
roadster to a record run of 10 minutes 21.8 seconds on his way to victory in 1956. In 1961, Bill Rutan drove a Porsche Carrera
-powered Volkswagen
to set a record time of 9:13.0, which stood until the race returned in 1990. Upon the race's return, Tim O'Neil
set a time of 7:45, driving a VW Golf rally car. The current record is 6 minutes, 41.99 seconds, set by Frank Sprongl of Mississauga, Ontario
, Canada, driving an Audi S2 in 1998. The fastest speed ever clocked was 113 mph by 6-time New England Hillclimb Champion Jerry Driscoll of East Randolph, Vermont, driving a 600 hp "Hillclimb Special" in 1999.
The last fullblown hillclimb race was in 2001, won by Paul Choiniere with a time of 4:59.73 on a weather-shortened course in his 500 hp methanol
-fueled, all wheel drive Hyundai Tiburon
.
In 2004 the event was restarted as a historic event, with emphasis placed on vintage cars.
Key: R = Course Record.
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
auto race
Auto Race
is a Japanese version of motorcycle speedway, but combines gambling added into it and is held on an asphalt course, throughout Japan. It is regulated by the JKA Foundation.A typical Auto Race bike is 599㏄. Autorace is predominantly a gambling sport...
up the Mount Washington Auto Road
Mount Washington Auto Road
The Mount Washington Auto Road is a toll road that extends from New Hampshire Route 16 in Pinkham Notch to the summit of Mount Washington in the White Mountains of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The road climbs from an altitude of at the bottom to at the top, an average gradient of 11.6%...
to the summit of Mount Washington
Mount Washington (New Hampshire)
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at , famous for dangerously erratic weather. For 76 years, a weather observatory on the summit held the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, , on the afternoon of April 12, 1934...
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. It is one of the oldest auto races in the country, first run on July 11th and 12th, 1904, predating the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. The event is being revived in 2011.
History
The Mount Washington Hill Climb Auto Race was held off and on from 1904-1961, then not again until 1990, when Howie Wemyss, manager of the Auto Road, Robert BrotherusBrotherus
Brotherus is a surname used first around 1600 by Stephan Sigfridi Brotherus who was a priest in the town of Vantaa in Finland. Nowadays there are about 100 people alive with this surname, most of who are living in Finland....
, a Finnish rally driver, and 11-time Sports Car Club of America
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
(SCCA) ProRally champion, John Buffum
John Buffum
John Buffum is the most successful U.S. rally driver ever, winning 11 national titles and 117 national championship events....
, brought the race back.
Originally created by early auto manufactures to showcase their vehicles, the Auto Road was chosen to prove the ability of these "horseless carriages". The inaugural "Climb to the Clouds" featured many makes of cars including Rambler
Rambler (automobile)
Rambler was an automobile brand name used by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company between 1900 and 1914, then by its successor, Nash Motors from 1950 to 1954, and finally by Nash's successor, American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1969...
, Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
, Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
, Stanley Steamer
Stanley Steamer
The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was a manufacturer of steam-engine vehicles; it operated from 1902 to 1924. The cars made by the company were colloquially called Stanley Steamers, although several different models were produced.-Early history:...
, Pierce
Pierce-Arrow
Pierce-Arrow was an American automobile manufacturer based in Buffalo, New York, which was active from 1901-1938. Although best known for its expensive luxury cars, Pierce-Arrow also manufactured commercial trucks, fire trucks, camp trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles.-Early history:The forerunner...
, and a single Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
, which were placed in categories based on their price. Although the Daimler and the Stanley Steamer driven by F. E. Stanley were favored, Harry Harkness
Harry Harkness
Harry Stephen Harkness was an early American aviator and racing driver. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, of a wealthy family and son of Standard Oil investor Lamon V. Harkness, Harkness financed the building of many early airplanes...
drove to victory in a Mercedes, which ascended the 7.4 miles (11.9 km) course in 24 minutes, 37 seconds. This was quite impressive compared to the 2 hours, 10 minutes it took the first automobile to climb the Auto Road in 1899, a Stanley Locomobile
Locomobile
The Locomobile Company of America was an automobile manufacturer founded in 1899. For the first two years it was located in Watertown, Massachusetts, but production was transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut during 1900 where it remained until the company's demise in 1929...
.
The event was won by Erwin "Cannonball" Baker in 1928 with a time of 14:49.6 seconds, driving a Franklin
Franklin (automobile)
The Franklin Automobile Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in the United States between 1902 and 1934 in Syracuse, New York. Herbert H. Franklin, the founder, began his career in the metal die casting business before establishing his automobile enterprise.Franklin founded the H. H. Franklin...
. Ab Jenkins
Ab Jenkins
David Abbott "Ab" Jenkins was the 24th mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah from 1940 to 1944 and was a professional race car driver. Jenkins' interest in motorsports began with racing motorcycles on dirt tracks and cross country. He then became interested in land speed records at the Bonneville Salt...
won in 1930. Baker won again in 1932. Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
drove a specially prepared Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
roadster to a record run of 10 minutes 21.8 seconds on his way to victory in 1956. In 1961, Bill Rutan drove a Porsche Carrera
Porsche Carrera
Carrera is a trademarked name exclusively used by Porsche for its models to honor the company's success in the Carrera Panamericana race.The following vehicles have been called Carrera:* Porsche 356* Porsche 904* Porsche 911...
-powered Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
to set a record time of 9:13.0, which stood until the race returned in 1990. Upon the race's return, Tim O'Neil
Tim O'Neil
Tim O'Neil is an American rally racing driver, and the winner of five North American rally championships. He has driven both as a privateer, and as a factory driver for Volkswagen and Mitsubishi.-1980s:...
set a time of 7:45, driving a VW Golf rally car. The current record is 6 minutes, 41.99 seconds, set by Frank Sprongl of Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
, Canada, driving an Audi S2 in 1998. The fastest speed ever clocked was 113 mph by 6-time New England Hillclimb Champion Jerry Driscoll of East Randolph, Vermont, driving a 600 hp "Hillclimb Special" in 1999.
The last fullblown hillclimb race was in 2001, won by Paul Choiniere with a time of 4:59.73 on a weather-shortened course in his 500 hp methanol
Methanol
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH3OH . It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol...
-fueled, all wheel drive Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai Tiburon
-RC :Tiburon first began production in late 1996. It was available in a few foreign markets with engine choices of either 1.6L or 1.8L. In the United States, the Tiburon was first offered in 1997 with base models using the Elantra's 1.8L engine while the upscale FX received a 2.0L four-cylinder...
.
In 2004 the event was restarted as a historic event, with emphasis placed on vintage cars.
Climb to the Clouds events and past winners
| Year | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | Harry Harkness Harry Harkness Harry Stephen Harkness was an early American aviator and racing driver. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, of a wealthy family and son of Standard Oil investor Lamon V. Harkness, Harkness financed the building of many early airplanes... |
Mercedes 60 h.p. | 24:37.6 sec | July 11/12. |
| 1905 | William M. Hilliard | Napier 40-60 h.p. | 20:58.4 sec | Passenger Frank Townsend. |
| Oscar Hedstrom Oscar Hedstrom Oscar Hedstrom was a co-founder of the Indian Manufacturing Company, makers of the Indian .-Childhood and adolescence:... |
Indian motorcycle | 20:59.2 sec | July 17/18. Event held during Glidden Tour Glidden Tour The Glidden Tours were promotional events held during the automotive Brass Era by the American Automobile Association . The AAA, a proponent for safer roads, acceptance of the automobile and automotive-friendly legislation, started the tour to promote public acceptance and bring awareness of their... . |
|
| 1923 | Ralph Mulford | Chandler Chandler Motor Car The Chandler Motor Company produced automobiles in the United States of America during the 1910s and 1920s.-Corporate strategy:It was incorporated in 1913, with Frederick C. Chandler as President, headquartered and with its factory in Cleveland, Ohio. Chandler was a former designer for the Lozier... |
17.00.0 sec | |
| 1928 | "Cannonball" Baker | Franklin | 14:49.6 sec | |
| 1930 | Ab Jenkins Ab Jenkins David Abbott "Ab" Jenkins was the 24th mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah from 1940 to 1944 and was a professional race car driver. Jenkins' interest in motorsports began with racing motorcycles on dirt tracks and cross country. He then became interested in land speed records at the Bonneville Salt... |
Studebaker President Studebaker President The Studebaker President was the premier automobile model manufactured by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1926-1942. The nameplate was reintroduced in 1955 and used until the end of the 1958 model when the name was retired.... 8 |
14:23.0 sec | |
| 1932 | "Cannonball" Baker | Graham eight | 13:26.0 sec | |
| 1934 | Al Miller | Hudson eight | 13:20.6 sec | |
| 1935 | J. Rueter | Ford V8 Special | 12:46.4 sec R | July 7. |
| 1936 | L. Quimby | Willys 77 Willys 77 The Willys 77 was an American car first sold in 1933 by Willys-Overland from Toledo. It was a successor to the Willys Whippet.In the same year Willys-Overland went into receivership but the 77 was still released on the market.... |
13:45.0 sec | July 26. |
| 1937 | B. Collier Jr | Alfa Romeo 8C Alfa Romeo 8C -1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from... 23000 |
14:50.5 sec | July 11. |
| 1938 | L. Ladd | Ford V8 Special | 12:17.6 sec R | July 28. |
| 1939 | John Ewell | BMW | 12:53.1 sec | Aug 26. |
| 1940 | Lemuel Ladd | Ford V8 Special | 12:34.4 sec | Aug 25. |
| 1953 | Sherwood Johnson | 10:46.6 sec R | Aug 15/16. | |
| 1954 | Sherwood Johnson | Jaguar Special | 10:44.8 sec R | Aug 15. |
| 1955 | Aug 14. | |||
| 1956 | Carroll Shelby | Ferrari GP 4.5-litre | 10.21.8 sec R | Aug 14/15. |
Key: R = Course Record.
See also
- Giants Despair HillclimbGiants Despair HillclimbThe Giants Despair Hillclimb is a hillclimb established in 1906 just outside Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in Laurel Run, Pennsylvania, United States. The contest was first run in conjunction with Wilkes-Barre's centennial celebration. It is the oldest continuing motorsport event in Pennsylvania...
- Hillclimbing in the USAHillclimbing in the USAIn the United States, hill climbs have a long tradition stretching back to the early days of motoring competition. Some are in the European-style and take place on long mountain courses, and in many cases spectators are either banned or heavily restricted for safety or insurance reasons.- Pikes...
- Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
External links
- New England Hillclimb Association: http://www.hillclimb.org/