PA Hillclimb

Keep them coming Ron!!!! I know some of the Trans-Am/GT-1 cars are up soon!!!

I know right....should have started this thread earlier...I want to get to current times by race time!!

As the 70's come to an end…a familiar face takes his place at the top of the mountain. Oscar Koveleski makes wins his last FTD at Giant's in 1979; running a 46.110 in a McLaren Mk65B. Like John Meyer…Oscar accumulates 6 overall titles at Giant's Despair. He breaks sets the hill record 4 times. He battles off Oz Sr. & Eric Wagner

Enter the 80's!! 1980, and enter Robert Oswald Sr . and the VW-powered Kellison. Oz takes FTD honors running a time of 51.185. Oz fends of the David & Bob Schuler, Jerry Coffee & Scott Beshore.

Giant's Despair Hill Climb enters a period of hibernation from 1981 - 1985. Hill climb racing was in a doldrum…the number of events were limited, driver turnout was less than stellar and the overall driver numbers were down.

When 1986 rolls around, new life has been breathed into the lungs of the Giant! July 12th & 13th brought nearly 80 participants back to the hill! Who landed on top for this "rebirth"? Tommy Van Scoy driving a Ralt RT1 formula continental sets at time of 49.666.

July 1987……a familiar name to those close to hill climbing today takes the FTD at Giant's Despair. George Bowland in his LeGrand crests the peek of the mountain in a time of 49.110. George is the only one to go under 50 seconds at the event with a slew of guys right behind him including, Todd Bowland, Jim Oswald, Jim Cosner Jr., Al & Charlie Harding, Jon Valentine and Chris Berns.

In 1988 another veteran of the PHA circuit, Jerry Coffee, takes his turn as FTD winner at Giant's Despair. He takes two timed runs and on the last attempt puts down a 45.840 in his March formula Atlantic. George Bowland & Jon Valentine were in the mix for FTD as well.

Tommy Van Scoy is back at the top in 1989. Jerry Coffee and he have a monumental battle for FA class and FTD rights. Neither take their first two runs and start their day on the third set. Van Scoy comes out with a 48.482 and Coffee runs a 50.390. On run 4, Tommy go 47.676 but Jerry nips the time down to a 47.033. On runs 5, Coffee goes faster hitting 46.243, while Van Scoy is down to 47.226. On the 6th and final run of the event Van Scoy takes FTD with a 45.368…Coffee couldn't match, running a 46.350 on his last run.

The decade of the 80's is over but it was exciting, it was pretty much ruled by the formula cars. In 1990, however, Carl Jones and his Chevy "sports racer" attacks the hill. On his last run of the day…he takes FTD with a time of 49.786. Jim Cosner & Peter McCarthy stayed in the hunt.

In 1991, Jerry Coffee is back as King of the Mountain. The March and he cross the finish line with a time of 45.485. Carl Jones and John Habling were on his tail!

Ron - absolutely awesome work - you are the Mann!

thanks Mike....

John Habling gets on top in 1992…not only does he win FTD, he resets the hill record that was set in 1977. John lowers the bar to 43.491 in a GT-1 Chevy Camaro. The ever present Jerry Coffee and Jim Cosner Jr. were chasing him down!

1993 sees the return of the GT-1 Camaro driven by John Habling. He is pursued, again, by Jerry Coffee, Jim Oswald, Merlin Miller, Bill Johnson & Jon Valentine to name a few. His time….43.919.

1994 sees the third person to "threepeat". John Habling holds off the field and sets a new hill record. The Camaro drops the record to a time of 42.632! Drivers are now wondering if sub 40 is possible?!? Merlin Miller, Jim Oswald and Ted Klaus were pushing to catch Habling this year.

In 1995, Habling's attempt to be the first to go four for four was "robbed"….by the Bandit!! Jerry Kieft, in his Mazda powered special nabbed the FTD running a 44.308 on his last attempt…Habling ran a 44.341 on his last attempt……whew!!!

John Habling gets his revenge in 1996 when he retakes the title of King running a time of 45.213. This would be Habling's last stand at the top…4 FTD's and two record breaking runs…not too shabby!!

1997 saw the arrival of Ron Moreck atop of the pack. His Formula Reynard special, rockets to the top of Giant's Despair in a time of 43.320. The "winged" specials go at it with Jerry Kieft and the Bandit right on his heels!

Moreck is back…and back on top. The Reynard runs a time of 43.784 in 1998. The field, including; David Beccaris, Tom Wasman, Jerry Hartman, Rolf Mair, John Habling, are laying down awesome times the only one close is Kieft whom ran a 44.191.