<VV> Hershey Vintage Hillclimb-long

[Levair@aol.com]

All old car and old driver lovers,
   We old car/Corvair lovers attacked the Hershey PA. hill this past weekend; 
May 1. and 2. 
   We truly expected to have our heads or other parts handed to us as we were 
playing in their home turf with no prior experience any where. 
   Mark Gillispie, Jeff Rapp , Michael LeVeque, and myself, made this 12 plus 
hour trip in the pouring rain with little hope of any dry runs. It was a 
glorious 80 degree weekend with pouring rain again on the trip home---perfect.
   Upon arriving Fri. night for the tech inspection, we were already 
delighted. Sixty five of the most gorgeous vintage race cars were in line. Aston 
Martins, Saabs, Abarth Zagatos, Morgans, Cobras, big block Vettes, and many 
production cars in their original livery, as we remembered.
  They extended the allowed years to 1979, wich I disagree with, and included 
several formula cars such as Super Vees. It was obvious that "King of the 
Hill" was way out of reach.  The 2002 winner was a full tube frame GT2 Sunbeam 
Tiger and the 2003 winner was a Formula Ford. It was obvious to us that the 2004 
winner was to be a Super Vee.
   Tech inspection was just as I remember SCCA Nationals to be regarding the 
driver equipment, including baclavas, and arm restraints. The cars were jacked 
up under a canopy to be inspected. The older revered cars were given a 
respectfull examination. As I had the only 100% home built, the inspection was 
brutal , but thorough.
   Mark Gillispie (also in original livery) , who instigated this trip had 
entered a Stage III Yenko Stinger Corvair D production racer. Since the Stinger 
was produced in Cannonsburg PA, It was pretty much the star of the show and 
had a full page layout on the inside cover of the program. Mark was interviewed 
by several magazines and over the PA system; repeatedly. Michael LeVeque was 
the "out of town gunslinger" hired to showcase this car at it's best on the 
hill. The pressure had to be enormous on him. 
   I had entered my 1964 Corvair Spyder(roadster) EM autocrosser as an 
A/Sports racer(Can Am)  car. This was a crowd favorite because it looked "cute" as 
well as old. It was hoped to be a "sleeper". Many renowned Corvair owners, 
builders, celebrities, and admirers showed up to encourage us.
   As the Stinger had two drivers, and was the featured car, it got a lot of 
publicity. It was picture perfectly prepared and left with a few honorable 
"patina" battle scars. 
   The hill climb is actually an "event" much as the June Sprints is in SCCA. 
It had a very much carnival atmosphere. There were loud speakers, vendors, 
and port a johns every where even all the way up the hill. Ten thousand 
spectators were reportedly there. Jeff Rapp was our unoffical reporter, photograper, 
and scout as we drivers couldn't find the time to spectate. The spectator areas 
were glorious. The sound of the cars alone was glorious. 
   The hill itself is .7 miles with a 200 foot rise. The beginning curved 
straight is about 90-100 miles per hour in medium powered cars. The entire course 
is totally bordered with trees. Visibility is nil. Reportedly Don Yenko made 
one easy lap in his Corvette in the 60s and loaded up and went home, saying 
"you guys have to be nuts to race in a wooden tunnel".
   Michael and I made three trips up the hill on a motorscooter to try to get 
some familiarization in advance. We also had parade laps up the hill in our 
race cars. 
    The road is supposedly 13 ft. wide of which I think only 10 ft. is 
usable. It is also considerably crowned and bumpy. Even on the straight, you cannot 
see around the bend to spot the 3,2, 1 braking markers ahead of time. You must 
have a lot of faith to keep it floored. The next five turns are nearly 180 
switch backs to be taken at the red line in second gear or at the middle  of 
third. 
  The high third gear finish is over a left hand crested hill. Several, used 
to be beautiful, cars encountered a tree on the outside of this finish. Again, 
it was hard to keep it floored while looking at the tire tracks into the 
trees. Nearly the entire course was bordered by haybales and no one was injured. 
Some drivers , who  had near incidents ( some out of town, very brave hired 
gunfighters among them) received couseling.
   As expected, the Super Vee was king of the hill, followed by the 2003 
Formula Ford champion and then by the 2002 GT2 Sunbeam Tiger champion.
   The first car, after these expected winners, by a few tenths, was the 
"sleeper" red 1964 Corvair Spyder!!!
   Wait, there's more! The next car and in my opinion, the first actual 
vintage production car was Michael LeVeque in Mark Gilispie's Yenko 
Stinger(Corvair) YS037!!!!!  Mark was also in the top 8 or so.
   We won't have a comlete list of times until their website is updated: 
   www.SVVSCC.org
  Here is a sort of official list of the entries in no particular order so 
that you can see just what you missed:
Sunbeam Alpine
MiniCooper 1962
Dodge Omni
Jaguar XK120
Porsche 911
Porsche 914 (3.0 liter)
BMWTii
FFord T340 Lola
Beach FV MK5
Beach FV MK5
Lotus Super 7
Porsche911
Fiat 850 Spyder
VW Notchback
Sunbeam Tiger (full tube GT2)
Chev Camaroi
Datsun 510
Triumph TR4
MGC-GTS Sebring
Yenko Stinger stage III
Datsun 510
Datrsun 510
SAAB 93F
AH Sprite
MGB
MGB
Eldon F Super Vee
Datsun 2000
TVR 2500M
Ford Mustand
Mini Cooper S
Austin Mini
MGB GT
AH Sprite MK3
A Cooper 1275S
Caldwell D9
Aston Martin DBR2
Corvair Spyder '64
SAAB Sonnett
AC Cobra
BMW 2002
Ford Fiesta
Lotus Elan
Yenko Stinger
A.C. Bristol ACE
AH Sprite
MGB Roadster
Porsche 914 (with tall wing)
A Martin DBR2
SAAB 93F
Porsche 356A
Volvo P144
Corvette (A/P 427)
Abarth Zagato
Ford Mustang Mach 1
SAAB 93F

This is only the cars in competition; many, more unique cars were driving 
around, in corrals or in shows.
    Now, I need a vacation from my vacation.
Warren