PA Hillclimb

Bill Rutan came to Giant's with that car in 2006 and 2007, setting a new V1 record. He raced this same car at Giant's in 1966 -- forty years earlier! He does not think he changed the tires in that interim. That car still holds the outright unpaved record at Mt. Washington set in 1962. In 2008 it finished third behind 2 modern 4WD turbo Porsches at Mt. Washington, beating a host of modern BMWs and all the vintage iron from VSCCA. I do not know how fast that thing really is but Bill must be one of the fastest drivers I've ever ran across. In 1968 he qualified for the Lime Rock F5000 race with a 1 liter formula C Lotus, running less than a second slower than the the 3rd place qualifier (the sister car to my McKee). In 1957 he came in second to Carroll Shelby at Lime Rock. Shelby lapped the entire field except for Bill. Shelby was driving a huge 4.5 liter Maserati V8, Bill was driving a 1250 cc MG! Bill is close to 80 yet he won the 2009 Mt. Equinox hill climb in his 1963 Squantum formula car. Back in the sixties he drove for both the Saab and Volvo factories. Bill also built hs son Dan's NEHA record holding Sirocco/Buick. He also races go-karts on his own backyard CT. track. These races attract the best N.E. drivers to include NASCAR types and professional road racers.

Rutan's Volvo at Pike's Peek

next on the list with 5...is the, before mentioned, Craig Smith.

Here is one that most of you will know...Merlin Miller!

Where is the tech police, no hood(er, British car, no bonnet) on Merlin's car. Certainly can not be approved to run.

Rich

rounding out our 5 timers....they call it the Bandit....Jerry Kieft and his Mazda powered special.

the next group of drivers are tied at 4 FTDs....

Jim Oswald and the Viper SR-1

Go back in time now....with Jim Ladd, pictured here at the 1962 Weatherly event.

next up....Henry Zimmerman.....hmmmm an "AP" driver!

Might as well keep the Cobra love going...Jim Dantzer is also tied here!

Next up...Fred Brandt formerly from Hershey!

Early hill climber, Ray Gross, rounds out our 4 timers! VW powered at first, Porsche later...this Devon was tough to beat! Photographed here at Hershey's start line.

Now we'll check out those guys that have had 3 FTDs....starting with Al Knepper! Photo from 1972 Pine Grove HC

What do you know...Jack Strouse is here as well!!

In the early 80's Robert Oswald Sr. snagged 3 FTD's with his Kellison

Around the same time as Oz's FTD's were...Frank Troxell was racking some up too.

Next in this group: Don Peterson....early Vette driver. Photo is from Spring Hershey 1965, Dr. Peterson was more of a regular at this event.

going pre-PHA with this guy....but must be noted! Alexis Dupont

In with these guys....Kurt Eikenberg!!

Last of the three timers....someone we've spoke about in the Kings of Duryea and Giant's threads....Tommy Van Scoy