Fall Hershey Hill Climb 1961...history lesson

[Ron Mann]

HERSHEY HILL CLIMB
Appalachian Sports Car Club Newsletter
December, 1961

Scott Tagg really must have breathed a sigh of relief the Monday morning after the running of the seventh Hershey Hill Climb, when he first saw the snow that could have easily ruined the previous two days of wonderful Indian summer.

All in all, this running must be called the most successful ever run. The entrants filled every possible space, more time records were set than ever before, news agencies gave more space in print and time “on the air”, and the small problems of any hill climb were handled smoothly.

Yes, we had the complaints – mostly from people who do not believe in entering early along with a few minor delays while parts were swept from the course.

Special mention for excellent handling of their jobs should also be included; Bill Morris governed the pits with polish. Skip and Brownie manned the start line for two days without relief. The phone men crisply cleared the course with while the Kellers and the Hilbishes turned in the best timing job ever. Jon Campbell lined up news spacein five newspapers, two television stations and five radio stations. We must not slight the deserving seven who set up the Hill and returned and cleaned it up.

The best time of the day race on Sunday proved to be the highlight of the event. Tom Robinson turned in a hot first time, Ray Gross tried it on the third turn to ruin a good run while Bud Faust was bouncing from tree to tree on the fourth turn during his first run. All returned to better their times on the second run with Tom finally nailing it down, Bud Faust taking second and Ray placing third.

Class races were hot also with ten new class records set. Along the class lines also was the interesting fact that all Pennsylvania Hill Climb Championships but one (the Ladies over 1500 cc) were decided at the Hershey Hill Climb.


OFFICIAL TIMED RESULTS FOR THE HERSHEY HILL CLIMB
SEVENTH RUNNING
November 19, 1961

CLASS FORMULA III

NAME MAKE TIME
Tom Robinson Cooper BSA 56.0743*+
Wayne Dellinger Cooper Mark V 60.9603
Jay Heizer Cooper Mark V DNF
George Meszaros Cooper Mark V DNR


CLASS B PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
Al Loquasto, Jr. Corvette 57.8390*
James Sayre Corvette 58.8390
Steve Elfenbein Corvette 58.8757
Joe Moranz Corvette 63.9343

CLASS B MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
James Ladd III Jaguar XKE 57.3207*

CLASS C PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
William Knepshield Jaguar 58.9964*
Jack Spies AC Bristol 60.7793
Ron Kistler AC Bristol 60.9302
Peter Weisberg Austin Healy 3000 62.5625


CLASS C MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
Bud Faust Chevrolet Ferrari 56.5929*
Jack Deren Jasta Special 62.7438

CLASS D PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
Hans Zeireis Porsche Super 1600 59.2267*
Sam Price Austin Healy 59.9509
Stuart Allwoerden Porsche Super 1600 60.2709
Joe Tomita Austin Healy 100-6 61.5937
Harry Wardlow Porsche Super 1600 63.1283
Richard Ruh Alfa Veloce 1300 63.4850
Richard Sweigart Austin Healy 100-4 64.4252
Richard Ay Austin Healy 100 67.6323


CLASS D MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
Harry Reynolds Morgan Plus 4 59.9407


CLASS E PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
Barry Batchin Triumph TR3 61.8262
Ken Williamson MGA twin cam 62.7571
Carroll Moorehead Triumph TR3 62.8063
Al Sablosky Triumph TR3 63.1265
Gene Hollinger Triumph TR3 64.8694
Jon Campbell Triumph TR3 66.0252
Sam O’Connell Morgan Four 66.2379
Carl Mugford Triumph TR3 68.5355


CLASS E MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
Ray Gross Devon Porsche special 57.0631
Murray Sperling Sabra Sport 64.6069

CLASS F PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
Don Peterson Porsche 1600N 60.5449
Dick Grimm Porsche 1600N 60.5865
Jack Rabold Porsche speedster 1600 60.7307
Ben Laquasto Porsche 1600N 61.3982
D. J. Torpy Porsche 1600N 62.0492
Fred Drabenstadt Porsche 1600N 62.4867
Chet Horst MGA 1500 63.2168
Len Amatc Sunbeam Alpine 63.5359
Carl Reber Porsche 1600N 63.9488
Gale Patton Porsche 1600S 64.4247
Fred Gerstner MGA 1600 65.5840
Larry Keeney MGA 65.6950
George Hoffsommer MGA 1500 66.8442
Charles Stoner MGA 1500 67.2895
Dick Grime MGA 1600 67.3096
Joanne Mayer Porsche 1600N 67.5885
Tom Yeagle MGA 1500 68.7540
Bob Lowdermilk MGA 1500 68.8378
William Watson Porsche 1600N 69.1402
Dorothy Park MGA 1500 69.3771
Tom Braun Sunbeam Alpine 71.3567
Richard Horst MGA 1500 75.9587
Jim Oxenreider MGA 76.1031


CLASS G PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
Charles Beidler Porsche 1300S 62.0094*
Fred Hummel Alfa Romeo Normal 69.8494
Dick Marsh Alfa Romeo Sprint 69.9878


CLASS G MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
Everett Williams Elva Mark V 70.6697


CLASS H PRODUCTION

NAME MAKE TIME
Chuck Stein Fiat Abarth 750 64.7286
Dr. Schmarin Austin Healy Sprite 66.3477
Brent Peabody Austin Healy Sprite 66.6602
Roy Keiser Austin Healy Sprite 67.4598
Toni Keiser Austin Healy Sprite 68.4091
Brad Christ Austin Healy Sprite 69.4535
Bill Oram Austin Healy Sprite 69.5239
Jack Schaible Austin Healy Sprite 69.5503
Barry Promos NSU Sports Prinz 71.4837
Frank Johannesen Austin Healy Sprite 71.5977
Rick Oram Austin Healy Sprite 72.5060


CLASS H MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
James McDevitt Flintstone Special 64.5885
Harry Gardner Flintstone Special 65.6992
Gus Gosthnian Wertzville Cornpicker 71.6633


CLASS TOURING UNDER 1300 cc

NAME MAKE TIME
Peter Szasz Volkswagen 68.6352*
Larry Person NSU Sedan 70.0761
Sam Gingrich Saab 73.1375
Roger Kephart Saab 77.7331


CLASS TOURING OVER 1300 cc

NAME MAKE TIME
Bob Stadel Volvo 65.0144*
Tom Dawkins Volvo 66.8916
Bob Stockman Volvo 67.8916

CLASS TOURING UNDER 1300 MODIFIED

NAME MAKE TIME
Anthony Scalia Volkswagen Special 63.9845*
Dave Latsha Saab 64.0477
Bob Sinclair Saab 65.4167
John Eisenhaurer BMW seda 66.0658
Jerry Long Saab 69.0119
Jack Schwab Saab 69.1485
Joe Lauver Saab 69.7672
Harry Tisdale Volkswagen 69.9379
Phil Krantz Saab 70.6569
James Buck Saab 71.1514
Roy Walter Saab 72.9041


CLASS COMPACT

NAME MAKE TIME
Paul Reuger Ford Falcon 68.0004
Ray Heisey Corvair Monza 68.1175
Bill Waddell Valiant 68.7504
Art Whiteman Valiant 71.9554


CLASS LADIES - determined by comparing the contestants score to the average of the top three mens cars in the class that the vehicle would normally be placed if it were driven by a man.

NAME MAKE TIME
Toni Keiser Austin Healy Sprite 68.4091
Joanne Mayer Porsche 1600 67.5885
Dorothy Park MGA 1600 69.3771
Marion Schwab Saab 79.5845

BEST TIME OF DAY

NAME MAKE TIME
Tom Robinson Cooper BSA 56.0743
Bud Faust Chevrolet Ferrari 56.5959
Ray Gross Devon Porsche 57.0631
James Ladd III Jaguar XKE 57.3207
Al Loquasto Corvette 57.6484


At the conclusion of the 1961 Fall Hershey Hill Climb, the Pennsylvania Hill Climb Association season champions were announced by Mrs. Muriel Watson, the secretary of the PHA.

PHA 1961 Champions

CLASS B PRODUCTION: Al Loquasto; Easton, PA - Corvette
CLASS C PRODCTION: Jack Spies; Sciota, PA - AC Bristol
CLASS D PRODUCTION: Sam Price; Sugarloaf, PA - Austin Healy
CLASS E PRODUCTION: Barry Batchin - Triumph TR3
CLASS F PRODUCTION: Fred Drabenstadt; Landisville, PA - Porsche 1600N
CLASS G PRODUCTION: Charles Beider; Langhorne, PA - Porsche Super 1300
CLASS H PRODUCTION: Toni Keiser; Royersford, PA - Austin Healy Sprite
CLASS A-D MODIFIED: Bud Faust - Chevrolet Ferrari
CLASS E-G MODIFIED: Ray Gross - Devon Porsche Special
CLASS LADIES UNDER 1500cc: Toni Keiser; Royersford, PA - Austin Healy Sprite
CLASS LADIES OVER 1500cc: Shirley Allwoerden - Porsche 1600S

[Ron Mann]

Tom Robinson & his Cooper powered by a BSA motorcycle engine.