Giants Despair Hillclimb

Last updated
Giants Despair Hillclimb
Location Laurel Run, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates 41°13′18″N75°51′33″W / 41.221551°N 75.859201°W / 41.221551; -75.859201
Opened1906
Hill Length1 mile (1.6 km)
Turns6
Hill Record38.024 s (John Burke [1] , 2014)

The Giants Despair Hillclimb is a hillclimb established in 1906 in Laurel Run, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, just southeast of its border to Wilkes-Barre Township. [2] The contest was first run in conjunction with Wilkes-Barre's centennial celebration. [3] It is the oldest continuing motorsport event in Pennsylvania. [3] Race drivers from across the nation gather annually on East Northampton Street, a 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 degree "Devil's Elbow"— on the way to the top. [2] [3] The original race was won in 2 minutes 11.2 seconds. [3]

Contents

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." [4]

Bill Milliken drove the AJB/FWD Butterball Special, #111, in 1955 finishing third overall in a time of 63.771 sec. [5]

Carroll Shelby, [6] 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 John Burke, who ran the course in 38.024 seconds in 2014. [7] Today, the Hillclimb is run on the second weekend of July and is organized by the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association (PHA). [8]

Giants Despair events and past winners

YearDriverVehicleTimeNotes
1906Hugh N. Harding English Daimler 35 h.p.2:11.2 sec R [9] May 10.
1907William WraySimplex-Peugeot (Motorcycle)1:40.0 sec [10] May 30.
Walter C. White White Steamer (Steam car)1:49.8 sec
J.B. Ryall Matheson 60 h.p. (Gasoline car)1:59.2 sec R
1908Willi HauptGreat Chadwick 6-cylinder1:38.4 sec R [11] May 30.
1909 David Bruce-Brown Benz 120 h.p.1:31.6 sec R [12]
1910 Ralph DePalma Fiat 200 h.p.1:28.4 sec R [13] June 14.
1911-1915 No events.
1916Fred Junk Chalmers 1:41.0 sec [14] Oct 7.
1917-1950 No events.
1951Dellevan Lee Allard-Cadillac1:07.5 sec R [15] May 11/12.
1952 Phil Walters Cunningham CR-4K 1:02.3 sec R [16] July 24/26.
1953Dellevan Lee Allard J2 1:04.4 sec [17] July 24.
1954A. Erwin GoldschmidtFerrari 4.51:01.26 R [18] July 24/25.
1955Duncan BlackFerrari 4.5 #441:02.4 sec [5] July 22.
1956 Carroll Shelby GP Ferrari 4.5-liter58.768 sec R [19] July 20.
1957Dr. Louis WinklerChevrolet Corvette58.35 sec R [20] July 19.
1958J. Robert BucherAllard-Cadillac1:00.933 sec [21] July 18/19.
1959 Roger Penske Porsche RSK59.1734 secJuly 30/Aug 1.
1960John MeyerMeyer Special57.5 sec R [22] July 29/31.
1961John MeyerPontiac Spl.56.576 sec R [23] July 30.
1962John MeyerMeyer Special55.858 sec R [24]
1963Charlie KurtzPorsche RS-6156.3543 sec [25] July 27.
1964Hal Keck A.C. Shelby Cobra 4.7-litre55.6619 sec R [26] July 24/25.
1965Harold KeckA.C. Shelby Cobra 7-litre51.9152 sec R [27] July 24/25.
1966Oscar KoveleskiCooper-Chevy50.336 sec RJuly 30.
1967John MeyerCooper-Ford53.281 secJuly 29.
1968John Meyer Lola T70-Chevrolet49.100 sec R [28] July 27.
1969Oscar KoveleskiMcLaren Mk6B47.636 sec R [29] July 27.
1970John MeyerLola T7052.524 sec
1971Jerry McKownCaldwell Super Vee [30] 54.391 sec
1972 Cancelled.
1973Craig SmithCooper-Chevy51.551 sec
1974Don SmithMcLaren Mk8B Chevy48.455 sec
1975Oscar KoveleskiMcLaren Mk6B Chevy45.123 sec
1976Oscar KoveleskiMcLaren Mk6B Chevy45.206 secJuly 17/18.
1977Oscar KoveleskiMcLaren Mk6B Chevy44.127 sec
1978Jim WillauerLeGrand 500048.661 sec
1979Oscar KoveleskiMcLaren Mk6B Chevy46.110 sec
1980Robert Oswald Sr.VW-Kellison51.185 sec
1981-1985 No event run.
1986Tommy Van Scoy Ralt RT1 Formula Continental49.666 sec
1987George BowlandLeGrand Formula Continental49.110 sec
1988Jerry CoffeeMarch Formula Atlantic45.840 sec
1989Tommy Van ScoyMarch Formula Atlantic45.368 sec
1990Carl JonesOpen Chevy Sports Racer49.786 sec
1991Jerry CoffeeMarch Formula Atlantic45.485 sec
1992John HalbingChevy Camaro GT-143.491 sec R
1993John HalbingChevy Camaro GT-143.919 sec
1994John HalbingChevy Camaro GT-142.632 sec R
1995Jerry KieftThe Bandit S244.308 sec
1996John HalbingChevy Camaro GT-145.213 sec
1997Ron MoreckFormula Reynard S343.320 sec
1998Ron MoreckFormula Reynard S343.784 sec
1999Ron MoreckFormula Reynard S343.259 sec
2000Ron MoreckFormula Reynard S343.595 sec
2001Ron MoreckFormula Reynard S339.914 sec R
2002Ron MoreckFormula Reynard S340.865 sec
2003Barry GriffithSwift Formula Continental44.743 sec
2004Mark MashburnChevy Camaro GT-144.309 sec
2005Darryl DankoSwift Formula Atlantic43.559 sec
2006Darryl Danko Lola TB900 Special 339.000 sec RJuly 7–9.
2007Darryl DankoLola TB900 Special 338.360 sec R
2008Darryl DankoLola TB900 Special 340.047 sec
2009Darryl DankoLola TB900 Special 341.157 sec
2010George BowlandBBR Shark40.917 secJuly 11/12.
2011Darryl DankoGurney Eagle42.187July 9/10
2012Darrly DankoLola TB900 Special 340.100July 14/15
2013John Burke1997 Reynard Champ Car39.672 secJuly 13/14.
2014John Burke1997 Reynard Champ Car38.024 sec RJuly 12/13.
2015John Burke1997 Reynard Champ Car38.277 secJuly 11/12.
2016John Burke1997 Reynard Champ Car38.583 secJuly 9/10.

Key: R = Course Record.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ STAFF REPORT (14 July 2014). "Burke sets Giants Despair mark". thetimes-tribune.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Giants Despair Hillclimb - Laurel Run, PA". Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Nardone, Ralph (May 30, 2006). "Giant's Despair Hill Climb marks centennial". Northeast Business Journal. Northeast PA Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  4. ↑ The Patriot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, June 2, 1909, Page 6.
  5. 1 2 Sports Car, S.C.C.A. magazine, Sept-Oct 1955, Page 27.
  6. ↑ Dallas Morning News, July 21, 1956, Page 11.
  7. ↑ Pennsylvania Hillcimb Association. "John Burke takes Giants Despair record from Darryl Danko". Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association. Archived from the original on 2015-01-29. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Hillcimb Association. "Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association".
  9. ↑ Trenton Evening Times, May 11, 1906, Page 15; New York Times, May 11, 1906, Page 10.
  10. ↑ New York Times, May 31, 1907, Page 10.
  11. ↑ New York Times, May 31, 1908, Page S1.
  12. ↑ New York Times, Jun 1, 1909, Page 11.
  13. ↑ Chicago Daily Tribune, June 15, 1910, Page 12.
  14. ↑ Chicago Daily Tribune, October 22, 1916, Page F9.
  15. ↑ New York Times, May 12, 1951, Page 30.
  16. ↑ National Newsletter, S.C.C.A., No.2, July 30, 1952. Coupled with Brynfan Tyddyn road races.
  17. ↑ National Newsletter, S.C.C.A., No.7, July 31, 1953.
  18. ↑ Sports Car, S.C.C.A. magazine, Sept-Oct 1954, Pages 14-16, 18-20, 22, 44; Road & Track, November 1954, Page 28. Coupled with Brynfan Tyddyn road races.
  19. ↑ National Newsletter, S.C.C.A., No.25, August 10, 1956; Dallas Morning News, July 21, 1956, Part 1, Page 11.
  20. ↑ New York Times, July 24, 1957, Page 22; Sports Car, S.C.C.A. magazine, Sept-Oct 1957, Pages 20-22.
  21. ↑ New York Times, July 19, 1958, Page 10.
  22. ↑ Competition Press, August 27, 1960, Page 3.
  23. ↑ Road & Track's Competition Press, Vol.7-No.3, Aug 12, 1961, Page 1; Sports Car, S.C.C.A. magazine, Sept 1961, Page 35.
  24. ↑ New York Times, July 29, 1962, Page 122.
  25. ↑ Road & Track's Competition Press, Vol.11-No.3, Aug 17, 1963, Page 6. See also obit: Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.11-No.3, Aug 22-Sep 11, 1964, Page 3.
  26. ↑ Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.11-No.3, Aug 22-Sep 11, 1964, Page 6.
  27. ↑ Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.15-No.4, Aug 28, 1965, Page 9.
  28. ↑ Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.18-No.33, Aug 31, 1968, Page 9.
  29. ↑ Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.19-No.33, Aug 30, 1969, Page 23.
  30. ↑ For the story of Ray Caldwell, race car constructor, see: Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.21-No.33, Aug 28, 1971, Page 5; Competition Press and Auto Week, Vol.21-No.34, Sep 4, 1971, Page 5.
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