1955 Giants Despair....history lesson from Road & Track

[Ron Mann]

GIANTS DESPAIR
HILL CLIMB

By Alix Lafontant
Road & Track November, 1955


An old time classic which brings to automobile lovers nostalgic thoughts of a past era, the Giant’s Despair Hill Climb was inaugurated on May 10 1906, at which time, H. N. Harding on a flying start covered the 1.08 miles in 2 minutes 16 seconds. A remarkable feat on a dirt road endowed with one sharp elbow of 20% grade, justly named The Devil’s Elbow, and the “S” turn of a topographic not much tamer. Abandoned after 1910, due to lack of interest in the sport, a revival was held in 1916, but this event was doomed for a long sleep. It was not until May 12, 1951, that, through the combined effort of the Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Sports Car Club of America, the old Giant came out of lethargy to become a yearly national event.

Today, the course, though paved and reduced to one mile, still offers the same challenge to the son that it did to the father. The magic mile, a minute remains just out of reach, in spite of the improvements in modern machines.

This year’s event was run under a blazing sun which softened the pavement so much that wheel slippage was not uncommon at the turns. Keeping cool was the motto of the day to thousands who had come out to enjoy the yearly classic. The celebrated hill took an air of carnival as umbrellas, “sombreros”, and improvised tents in a multitude of gay colors were strung along back and forth behind the fences in quest of a vantage point.

Some competent pieces of machinery were on hand: the four-wheel drive of Bill Milliken powered by the engine of an Austrian tank, the Meyer’s Special of John Meyer, the C Jaguar of Dr. Wyllie, the 4.5 Ferrari of Duncan Black, etc. Black made the best time of the day1:02.04 topping the time of his most redoubtable competitors, Meyer and Millilken who respectively posted a mark of 1:02.98 and 1:03.77.

Assuming the ability of all drivers being equal, it is interesting to compare the time of a few popular marks. In class C production, which included all Jaguars, the first place went to Dic Perrin in an XK-120 (1:09.61) followed by Robin Buerki (1:09.97) and Peggy Wyllie (1:11.53) both driving XK-140MC. Arthur Simmons had the best time in class D production (1:07.45) in a Mercedes 300SL. The subsequent four places were captured by Roudabush’s 300SL (1:14.06), Hebb’s Morgan (1:14.57), Andrey’s Morgan (1:15.37), and Dervee’s Lancia Spyder (1:17.22). Then came Irwin Buxham leading the pack of Austin Healys with a time of 1:17.34. In the MG department, Bob Bucker came first with a time of 1:28.90 driving a TC. Frank Dominiani came out of retirement with his Crosley powered Giaur to take the trophy in class H modified, defeating the old master Candy Poole and his PBX by 0:00.81.

Many of last year marks were broken in all classes, but Erwin Goldschmidt’s record of 1:01.26 established in 1954 in his 4.5 Ferrari still stands. Many predictions had indicated that in 1955, the mile-a-minute challenge would be met, but so far the Giant’s Despair has remained unconquered