PA Hillclimb

With Duryea on the horizon...let's take a peek at the folks that have been "King of the Hill" over the years....

The first Duryea Hill Climb was run in 1951. There was a bit of controversy over FTD right of the bat…Walter Hansgen was proclaimed fastest in his Jaguar XK-120 (2:43.9), but in actuality Alexis DuPont was faster in his Cooper Formula III (2:42.2). He was not given the award because, "the Cooper was not a sports car".

1952's running brought yet another sports car racing legend to the top of Duryea. Erwin Goldschmidt ran a 2:43.6 in a Cadillac-Allard. Here is a shot of his car, I'm thinking this is what was then turn #1...we now start...where he is heading. What do you think?

1953 - Mr. John Negley another regular on the sports car scene tops them all at Duryea in a Chrysler powered Allard this time. He ran a 2:53.4 which set a new hill record. At this time I have no photos of John. Duryea was run on June 14th (one day only back then) he was killed in an accident while practing for the races at Turner Air Force Base in October of 1953.

1954 & 1955 - Alexis DuPont finally gets his revenge with back to back FTD's at Duryea! The acceptance of his Cooper brings him to the top of the hill in first. In 1954 he ran a 2:35.9, just flirting with the hill record. 1955's outing was a little slower with a 2:36.11. And Yes…he is one of those DuPonts.

1956 - Robert Bucher regains the hill with yet another Cadillac- Allard. He runs a 2:40.07. This photo shows Bucher at an early Giant's Despair in the Allard. He later ran MGA's with much success.

1957 - Frank "Pete" Neff brings Porsche to the forefront at Duryea. He drives a Porsche Speedster and sets, on all the reports I've seen, a confusing time of 3:32.57…a whole minute slower than an average run of years prior. So either there has been an error in recording…OR…there was some real bad weather. I don't have a photo nor results from the event. This will need some more exploration in the future!!

**actually found a photo of Pete. He was also the Hill Climb chairman for 1957 as well***

1958 - Local, Bob Holbert comes right back with yet another Porsche…this time he has an RS. He sets a new hill record with a 2:28.59. Holbert's race career was huge. Bob passed away a little under a year ago…November 2007. He was a major player in Porsche and later drove on Shelby's factory Cobra team

1959 - A gentleman by the name of Vernon Bennett takes FTD with what is called the Schultz Special. I have no pixs and no info on this car and driver. He ran a 2:38.62…that's about all I can dig up right now!

1960 & 1961 - Enter Bud Faust and his Chevy - Ferrari. Faust took back to back FTD's the first person since DuPont in 54 - 55! He ran a 2:35.44 in 60 & a 2:31.419 in 61. Bud was killed in an accident at Watkins Glen in 1962. He owned an MG/Healey shop in Kingston, PA.

1962 - Jim Ladd takes the top honor at Duryea. At this time he is running a Jaguar XKE and his on his way to a PHA championship this year. He runs the hill with a 2:32.712. Jim too is later killed racing at Riverside in 1964. Jim Ladd Jr. was one of the finest Austin Healey racers in the country. He was 29, and had achieved second in National standings in his class in 1964 and second Nationally in E Production the previous year. His total of more than 90 trophies included the award as overall Pennsylvania Hillclimb Champion in 1962.

1963 - 1965 - Here comes "little Al"…Al Loquasto hits the scene at Duryea and is King Of The Hill for three years straight. Driving a Corvette Stingray…the first of many times that a Corvette will be on top of Duryea…he nearly nabs Holbert's (58) hill record in '63 with a 2:29.964. He comes back to get in 1964 with a 2:26.855 and betters it even more in 1965 by running a 2:26.789. The folks that I've talked to that knew and ran with Al says he was fearless…watching him on film, I would have to agree! He is the first driver to put three FTD's in a row at Duryea. Al was killed in a plance accident near Kutztown.

1966 - Gene Miller of Birdsboro pilots yet another Corvette 327 Stingray to the top of Duryea. He gets the hill record from Loquasto by running a 2:26.639. This would be the last Duryea that is "full length"….in 1967 is will be shortened, as we know it to 2.2 miles.

Ron Mann wrote:1952's running brought yet another sports car racing legend to the top of Duryea. Erwin Goldschmidt ran a 2:43.6 in a Cadillac-Allard. Here is a shot of his car, I'm thinking this is what was then turn #1...we now start...where he is heading. What do you think?

I'm saying yes...the photo was most likely taken from the bank off what is now Turn Two, and the shadow angle as well as the storm drain confirm it. The figure closest to the apex pointing is thought to be Morgan Wilson.

Unless it's really Dealey Plaza and the picture is taken from the Texas School Book Depository. Morgan was there, too.

Leaping Lizards! How does Morg get into every thread?

Ok...here we go again.

The course has now been cut down to what we run today...let's being:
1967 - Hail the Blue Goose…John Bolton pilots the Corvette powered Devin to yet another hill record. Bolton sets the new Duryea mark at 2:17.296. Bolton and the Goose go on to have a great season taking the Mod 3 championship as well as the overall FTD championship!!

1968 - Here comes Oscar and the Super Cooper. Oscar takes Duryea's top honor in a time of 2:03.970 smashing the hill record!! Oscar who popped up here and there on the hill circuit…was always a contender for FTD when he was at an event. Oscar was recently inducted into the road race hall of fame.

1969 - Another road race hall of famer is this year's FTD winner, Hal Keck in his big 427 Cobra. Again, Keck's presence at a hill usually meant there would be some extra competition for FTD. He runs a 2:07.489.

1970 - In with the 70's and back to an open wheeled car winning FTD…first since DuPont's in 1955! Lyle Heck hits the hill with his Lotus - Ford Formula 1 car. He drops under the previous year's time with a 2:05.515 but is off the hill record.

1971 - Corvette is back on top…this time it is Fred Brandt of Hershey (have to plug my hometown hero!). He tops the hill with a time of 2:07.051. Again, for those folks that knew Fred or watched him run…he was another "on the edge" driver and would gain many future FTD wins.

Was reading a 1957 Duryea program and it states, "A replica of the John Negley Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the driver whose car records the fastest time of the day. His name will be engraved on the permanent trophy and he will keep it for one year."

Is this thing still around somewhere?