1952 Duryea & Burke Hill climbs...history lesson II

[Ron Mann]

HILL CLIMBS CAN BE FUN
Auto Sport Review
October, 1952



Driving a car up a hill is loads of fun. You test not only the car being used, but also the ability of the person behind the wheel. Ability to change gears at the correct second coupled with good cornering and judgments as regards braking and acceleration are prerequisites for the novice who looks towards road-racing as a future hobby. Since speeds on such uphill circuits as Burke Mountain and Duryea Drive are always below the danger point a beginner rarely finds himself in trouble.

A few weeks ago, both Reading, Pennsylvania and Lyndonville, Vermont were the scenes of sports car hill climbs. The Duryea Drive Hill Climb attracted some 5,000 spectators and was sponsored by the MG Car Club. Up in Vermont, the Burke Mt. Climb sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America also had some 5,000 visitors.

Burke Mt. course stretches some 2.7 miles and rises 1,700 feet from start to finish. The hard surface road has numerous sharp turns and is rough enough to cause severe wheelspin at more than one spot.

Bob Wilder, driving his J2 Allard powered with the Ford-Ardun engine, made the fastest time of the day, covering the distance in 3:08.2 minutes. The Coopers (Formula III cars) with their high power-to-weight ratio succeeded in obtaining times very close to Wilder’s. Alex DuPont clocked 3:12.6 and Maurice Hoopes did 3:09.2.

Sherwood Johnston’s much-modified Jaguar XK tied Hoope’s time of 3:09.2 for second spot. The three-litre Maserati driven by George Weaver, who up to then held the hill record, was unable to better the very creditable time of 3:10.6.

Max Hoffman, driving the Glockler-Porsche and John Gordon Bennett with a supercharged MGTD, put up a fine scrap, both turning in times of 3:21.4 in the under 1500 cc class. Bobby Said’s Cisitalia broke up the Porsche sweep by attaining 4th place.

The fastest stock MG time was 4:12 made by F. T. Bowers with Sinon and Devany close behind. It’s interesting to note that both Hoffman and Benett, both managed to cover the 2.7 miles in better time than the unmodified Jags, a remarkable feat. P. J. Crocker’s XK was the only stock Jag to break the 3.5 minute mark.

In the big car class, J. L. Negley’s Chrysler-powered Allard vanquished all the Cadillac-powered entries with a time of 3:11.3. Preston Gray at the wheel of the Cad-Allard turned 3:14.6. The Meyer Special with Johnny Meyer at the controls clocked 3:15.6 and Jim Hoe drove his model “J” Duesenberg past the finish line in 3:25.5.



1952 DURYEA HILLLCIMB RESULTS

CLASS B

NAME CAR TIME
Erwin Goldschmidt Cad-Allard 2:43.6
Alex DuPont Cad-Allard 2:46.2


CLASS C

NAME CAR TIME
William Brudereck Jaguar XK120 2:52.0
R. Leibensperger Jaguar XK 120 2:54.2


CLASS D

NAME CAR TIME
B. Kousar Aston Martin 3:05.5
N. Robson MG-Ford 3:12.6


CLASS E

NAME CAR TIME
C. G. Benett MGTD Mk II* 2:54.0
Guy Atkins MGTD* 3:06.3


CLASS F

NAME CAR TIME
Dave Ash MG Special 3:05.3
Bruce Baily MGTD Special 3:09.6


CLASS H

NAME CAR TIME
Paul Hessler Siata Spider 3:18.3
R. Publicker Siata Spider 3:21.3




FORMULA II

NAME CAR TIME
Alex DuPont Cooper 2:44.1
Gordon Lipe Cooper 2:48.0


LADIES’ RACE

NAME CAR TIME
Anese Ash MG Special 3:16.8
Honey Roth MGTD 3:34.4


* = cars that are supercharged

[Devil's Elbow Fan]

Hey Ron, nice article!

Just a thought. Why doesn't someone take the program covers from these "old" events and make the cover into a poster? I think a lot of car folks would like a vintage poster of thses early events. Th e proceeds could go to the PHA after expenses.
Just a thought!

Best,
Rich

[Ron Mann]

Would love to do such a thing! The Archives has a nice collection of programs...but not a complete set. In the near future I'm going to compile a list of what we have and what we need.