History of Hershey Hill Climb presentation...

[Ron Mann]

Charlie Demmy and I will be presenting the history of the Hershey Hill Climb for the Derry Township/Hershey Historical Society on Thursday Feb. 21st at 7pm.
The event will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Hershey. 64 West Chocolate Ave...right down town.

outline includes:
What is hill climb racing?
How/When it all got started in PA
How/When Hershey got cranked up
Insiders view of Hershey Hill Climb (Charlie's part...40+ years with ASCC club and an original hill chairman)
Hershey and local driver recognition (does ANYONE have Fred Brandt contact info?!?)
video footage from the last Hershey Hill Climb and possibly more if time permits

If you think you might attend...give me a shout out...we could hit Houlihan's for a beer afterwards, I'll probably need it!

http://hersheyhistory.org/programs.html

[Ron Mann]

bumping to the top!

found and talked to Fred Brandt since I first posted this. For those of you that remember Fred, B Production Corvette driver (67 & 68 class champ), he is living in Ramona California. His home barely escaped the fires around San Diego last year...does not race anymore.

the video that I'll be presenting will be about 30 minutes...included is an in car ride with Brian Kraus in the RX Midget! The classic footage includes shots of some PHA heavy weights from 1967, 1968 & 1970 events. Included: Lloyd Geib, Keith Kendig, Ray Heisey, Paul Sweigart, Dick Sweigart Sr., Joe Cam, Jack Rabold, Palmer Smeltz, Ron Light, Dennis Gilbert, Scott Beshore, Jim Sariano, Dave Walter, Harry Schmalbach, John Bolton (in the Goose), Fred Brandt, Jack Strouse, George Frey, Dennis Frick, Dave Smith, Fred Heistand, Jesse Holshouser, Oscar Koveleski (Super Cooper), Jim Dantzer, John Brandt Jr., Tom Davenhall, Ron Glick, Kerry Hitt & Tim Musser…just to name a few!! Most of the footage I have seems to be shot on Sunday events (some E, F, C, D, B & A Production classes…Modifieds & Formula classes.

Once I get this presentation under my belt…I'll be open to do presentations for car clubs or other historical societies.

[svann]

Ron,
For those of us with a interest, but too far away to attend, do you think you could have the Hershey presentation videoed so that we might see it? Just asking.

[Ron Mann]

ah Stan...I was really hoping to see you!! yes...I plan to tape the presentation.

[svann]

Ron,
I'll see you at the Hershey Hillclimb, for sure. First time since 2004. Here's a car I'm tryng to talk the owner into entering. Perhaps not the horse for the course but a crowd pleaser I'm sure. http://www.glennbunch.com/

[Ron Mann]

sounds good...this year's Hershey could prove to be VERY interesting.

[RX-Midget]

Ron,
I'll see you at the Hershey Hillclimb, for sure. First time since 2004. Here's a car I'm tryng to talk the owner into entering. Perhaps not the horse for the course but a crowd pleaser I'm sure. http://www.glennbunch.com/

Stan,
They better widen the road to get that car to fit! He will be scraping the sidewalls on both sides, at the same time

It should be a crowd pleaser for sure!

B.

[Ron Mann]

last night's gig went down like a charm...over 100 people came out for the presentation. It was good to see some current drivers in the crowed: Rich Rock, Gordon Wise, Joe Hoover & Dennis Williams, made it nice to see some familar faces!

There was also a nice spattering of hill climb vets in the crowd as well, including:
Dave Walter
Ray Gross - 4 time FTD winner at Hershey
Murray Sperling
Charles Stoner
George Wagner
Tim Musser - fastest ever at original Hershey
Sam Armstong - 1968 B Production champion
Dave Smith
Tom Hartman - PHA President 1972 *corrected*
Jim Buck
Dave Latsha - Hershey first FTD winner
Mearl Gross
Brad Christ - 1965 D Production champion
John Gearhart
Bill Wissmisser
Ray Hesiey - 1967 G Production champ, 1972 D Production champ & Hershey resident

Was a good time!

[Rich Rock]

Ron,

You and Charley teamed up to make a very enjoyable presentation. By the end of the evening I was READY to make a run up the hill! Thanks, and keep up the great work!

Rich Rock

[Rich Sweigart]

Ron,

Tom Hartman was the 72 president, Gerstein was the 70 president with my Dad as vice president.

Rich

[Ron Mann]

yea...you're right. I was going by what Tommy told me...should have looked it up!

[FV195]

Ron, you should know you can't trust anything Tom Hartman says, he is too old to remember anything except that he has the oldest Beach FV, right Morg?
THOR

[Ron Mann]

yea...well, you know...resepect thy elders!

[Ron Mann]

Since I did similar postings for the Fleetwood presentation attendees...thought I'd do the same for the Hershey one.

[Ron Mann]

Dave Walter 1970 - 1980. AP Corvette; 1970 Spring Hershey & Topton AP champ, 1977 Pagoda, York Solo, Weatherly and season winning AP champ.

[Ron Mann]

Murray Sperling 1961~~1966. all types of cars! 1966 Formula 2 champ at Spring Hershey, Duryea & Hobbie/Green Mountain.

[Ron Mann]

Jim Buck 1961~~1963 Saab GT

Charles Stoner MGA 1961 - 1963

Mearl Gross 1959 Fall Hershey HP champ

John Gearhart 1970 Austin Healey 3000

[Ron Mann]

Ray Gross 1959 -1961 Devon VW/Porsche. 1959 Spring Hershey FTD, Hyner View & Duryea E Mod champ, 1960 Spring Hershey FTD, Spring Springtown FTD, Duryea, Fall Hershey FTD & 1960 season E mod champ. 1961 Dureya, Spring Hershey, Giant's Despair, Fall Hershey and season champ for E Mod.

[Ron Mann]

George Wagner Austin Healey 3000 1968 - 1971 You may recognize George if you run the Hershey events

[Ron Mann]

Tim Musser 1970 & 1973 Merlyn. 1970 Spring Hershey, Jefferson, Fall Hershey (and fastest ever) FTD in Formula 1 and 1973 Camp Shand Formula 2 champ and FTD winner.