Hershey Hillclimb 1966

[Bill Lehman]

We don't have a "Hillclimb" forum so I decided to post it here. This was my "Drivers Ed", you might see Rich Sweigart Sr in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w53Fipwi3yo

[cjbcpa]

That was some awesome footage Bill! Great to see folks hard charging in cars that most would be too skittish about putting on the PA Tpk today. Do you recall what the class designations meant? I saw "DP" and "CP" a few of the cars and others with nothing but a number.

CB

[Bill Lehman]

Those were SCCA Production Classes. Corvettes were AP or BP depending on engine. Most of the Porsches were EP. At one time there were so many EP cars that EP was split into 3 classes, Porsches, MGBs, and everything else.

[pahillclimber]

Bill,

Thanks for sharing the video and yes, I think I saw my Dad in the video(silver speedster 171), this was before PHA had a number system which my Dad was always # 5.
EP was split into Porsche 356, Triumph TR3, and MGB plus everything else, in 1975 it changed to MGB and everything else.
Speaking of Sweigart Porsches and #5, I made my return to hillclimbing this year at Duryea in a 79 924H running in D Street Prepared.

Rich Sweigart, Jr.
ps I do need a gas tank for my Holbert 924!

[ccm911]

Bill, if you look up PA Hillclimb on Facebook there is a page devoted to past climbs like the Reading hillclimb, and Giant's Despair in Wilkes Barre. Plenty of pictures of Oscar Kovaleski and some other famous folks. There is even a photo of one of our initial members running his 356(Biedler). Glad to see other folks enjoying the hill climb photos and films.

[pahillclimber]

Ron Mann(diehard vw guy) has done a wonderful job with the PHA archives which has lead to a couple of nice articles about Jess Holshouser and Tom Beil. He has also done a few presentations on various hillclimbs.
Charlie Beidler was PHA's 1st president and incorporated PHA in 1963.

Rich