PA Hillclimb

1962 comes…and with it, a familiar face. John Meyer successfully defends his position as king of the mountain by yet again, breaking the Giant's Despair record for the third time in a row. This time the familiar Meyers Special runs a 55.858. He get tough competition from: Bud Faust & Oscar Koveleski.

I'm not 100% sure when the Hollenbeck trophy was "retired" as the award for FTD…but as you saw, Mr. Meyer was receiving another trophy. This was the Sunday Independent Trophy…later to be named the Bud Faust Trophy.

The Meyer's streak comes to an end in 1963. Charlie Kurtz III of Clearfield, PA charges to the top of the Giant in his Porsche RSK in 56.3543. The 1962 record of Meyers still stands. The Bud Faust trophy, formerly the Sunday Independent Trophy, is now given in Memory of Bud Faust. Bud was a regular at Giant's Despair and was killed at Watkin's Glen the previous September. John Meyer was second fastest and Bob Bucher, another previous FTD winner, was third fastest

In 1964 American muscle makes its mark! Hal Keck in this Cobra attacks Giant's Despair and sets a new record. He sets the new record at 55.6619. He out runs Oscar and defending King...Kurtz.

learn more:

http://www.historicracing.com/drivers_a ... phaIndex=K

Keck returns and defends his claim as King of The Hill in 1965. This time the Cobra really drops the Hill record. Keck runs a 51.9152…is it possible someone will run under 50 seconds, in the 60's?????

1966, the year Oscar claims king! Oscar Koveleski and the Super Cooper drop the record even lower…their time: 50.336!! Getting very close to going under 50 seconds!!! Oscar had to beat out Keck and John Meyer!

1967 found a familiar face back to the top…John Meyer. John is now piloting a Cooper-Ford he runs a time of 53.281. He is slightly off record setting pace…but conditions were noted as being "rain". He holds off a slew of fast drivers including: Oscar, Jack Strouse, John Bolton & the Blue Goose, and Joe Welch.

John Meyer defends his title as King of the Hill in 1968. This time he brings out a Lola T-70 and sets a new hill record. He is the first person to go sub 50 seconds…he runs a 49.100.

Oscar strikes back in 1969. Koveleski is now running a McClaren Mk6B…he snatches back the hill record and sets the bar at 47.631. The show downs at Giant's Despair are becoming legendary!!

In 1970, John Meyer is back on top. It is safe to say, to this point, Meyer has been dominant at Giant's Despair. This will be his 6th overall title…and being second or third overall in the year's he wasn't first. He set a new record on four occasions (60, 61, 62, 68). He is the first to go under 50 seconds(68).
The competiton for FTD at Giant's has been a who's-who's of PHA's fastest. This would be Meyer's last stand at the top of Giant's Despair. He runs the Lola T-70 again with a time of 52.524. He holds off Jack Strouse and Fred Brandt.

1971 presents the return of the formula car…Jerry McKown pilots his Caldwell Super Vee to the summit in a time of 54.391. Word on the street is that this car is currently in the hands of a current PHA driver.

We took the year off in 1972. Hurricane Agnes caused the event too be cancelled. I've read that not only was Wilkes-Barre a little messed up…but I also read that many hill climbers lost cars due to the massive flooding/damage all over PA. Regardless, This is the first interruption to this event.

Learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Agnes

Craig Smith takes top glory at Giant's Despair in 1973…he takes the Cooper-Chevy to the peek in a time of 51.551. I believe, from what I've read that this is the same car Oscar drove to numerous FTD titles.

In 1974, another McLaren makes it's mark at Giant's Despair. This one is piloted by Don Smith. The car was fast enough to win FTD running a time of 48.455…

Oscar is back in 1975 and the string of McLaren wins is continued. Oscar wows the crowd with a time of 45.123 setting a new hill record!!

Ron Mann wrote:In 1974, another McLaren makes it's mark at Giant's Despair. This one is piloted by Don Smith. The car was fast enough to win FTD running a time of 48.455…but it also meets it's demise at Giant's by having an accident and burning up near the finish line…a very close call for those in the area at the time.

Is this the same Don Smith that showed up a few years ago with his son Lance with some pretty cool Historic race cars at Duryea? Lance was back a couple of years ago with a Chevelle? Don't remember if they were at Giants with the Spirit of 76/ Greenwood Corvette but they have been at Duryea?

I saw Oscar at the Indy race at Watkins Glenn last weekend. He was talking with someone at a vendor tent that was selling retro tee shirts. I walked up and asked the clerk if he had any Oscar Koveleski Shirts? He turned around to see who was asking. We both laughed and I introduced myself. Apparently the clerk nor anyone else standing around knew who he was (like how many people do?)

Dave Y

That is correct....same Don Smith.

The spirit of 76 is with Oscar Kovelseki again….he defends his title as king and almost breaks the hill record with the McLaren with a time of 45.206.

For only the second time…a driver takes 3 FTD's in a row. The 1977 event is won by Oscar driving his McLaren lowering the hill record to 44.127. Oscar holds off the likes of Dennis Frick & John Watts.

In 1978 we have the return of the formula car. Jim Willauer, of Lititz, in a LeGrand F5000 runs the hill in a time of 48.661. Took some good sleuthing to get this info!!!