If you’re looking for good Porsche action try Hill Climbs. Porsche has a long winning history at these events and you can carry on the tradition right here in the Pacific Northwest. Hill Climbs, like Pikes Peak only not on dirt and not nearly as long. They are the most fun I’ve found for my skill level, pocket book and nearly stock 2.0 liter 69-911T.
I get all the track time I need on Friday open test days at Thunderhill but for shear heart pounding adrenalin rushes charging wide open up a tree-lined rock walled narrow steep canyon without guard rails on a not quite two lane asphalt surfaced mountain road really takes me out of the box.
The best-kept secret, the most entertaining, and major thrills are at the Virginia City (Nevada) Hill Climb.
First organized in 1972 by Hans Tanner a former president of the Ferrari owners club. Hans saw the opportunity to use the Hwy 341 truck route, which was originally built for silver ore trucks between Silver City and Virginia City. The road is 5.2 miles and climbs from about 5000 to 6200 feet above sea level. There were exciting times (and speeds) in the early days as there were no sanctions regarding open wheels or “prepared” machines. In the late eighties Reg Howell took his 1969 Lola T70Mk3 and set a record time of 3.22, very fast even by today’s standards and that record stood for ten years!!!
Well, the state of Nevada is notoriously liberal when it comes to having fun but too much became enough and so cars now must be street legal, registered and insured. Even still in 1999 $750,000 worth of machinery was hauled off the mountain, before the clocks were running!!! A couple of Rufs, a new twin turbo, a Saleen Mustang and a F355 into the wall at turn 4 ran the tab up mighty quickly.
There were a couple of minor mishaps in 2000; Amir Rosenbaum’s new brakes on his F-40 weren’t ready for the challenge and after clearing brush and rocks for a quarter mile or so at 90+ he then spent the better part of the afternoon working with a roll of blue 100 mile an hour tape hoping to make the machine sort of race worthy (it wasn’t) and one poor fellow sadly lost the gear box on his Porsche GT-3 on the first run but that was the extent of the misfortunes I observed.
Fastest time last year was Steve Beddor driving a Ruf CTR-2 at 3:13.085, average mph was 96.952. By comparison I was 50th out of 59 at 4:18.454, average 72.430 mph. Four seconds faster than the year before!!! (I have since learned that my centrifugal advance was frozen, the Webers were set way too rich and who knows how much power was being lost…these items are now right so I expect to make a better showing this year!!!)
Cars are not classed; it’s you against the clock…and the mountain. Limited to 60 cars, first come first served. By the time you read this it most probably will be too late but try the number at the bottom and see. It’s a challenge and fun.
My next favorite contest is the Bogus Basin climb put on by the Boise Silver Sage PCA chapter. It’s a challenging hill, good road, well run, tons of good Porsche folks with FUN being the primary goal. I like the way they class the cars…old 911s, new 911s, very new 911s etc. The only hitch in (this classification system) is that you may be running in the old
911 class but what’s under the hood is entirely up to the individual owner/racer. Needless to say there are sleepers in Boise, too.
Silver Sage awards first, second and third in each class and the enchanting BBBBBB (Bogus Basin Bacchanalia Biggest BOO-BOO) award. In 1998 it was appropriately bestowed upon a gentleman who borrowed a brand new 993 from a fellow PCA club member and first run up the hill missed the last hairpin and landed in a tree...not at the base…in the tree!!! The owner wasn’t a bit fazed; she borrowed someone else’s car and proceeded to win her class!!!
In 1999 I won the BBBBBB, much to my amazement. You already know that Californians in Idaho are not particularly popular. The Porsche folks are very welcoming BUT they ponder life somewhat different than we do.
Late Saturday evening I was tucked into my motor home bed when the chapter president came knocking with a bottle of good scotch tucked under his arm and insisted that I join the gang in the condo complex hot tubs. What could I say???
I threw on a robe and off we went to soak with the 15 or so merry racers lounging in the two small steaming pools. Off came my robe and I splashed into the co-ed bacchanalia. When the scotch was gone and the pools became ‘intimate’ I took my leave, retiring with hopes that I’d not damaged my prudent teenage judgment appreciably.
I placed third in class on Sunday, very respectable for my then very stock car AND much to my amazement the final honor too was mine: the much-ballyhooed BBBBBB--toilet seat and plaque awarded with enormous amusement by all on behalf of my naked hot tub appearance. That’s Idaho for you!!!
Another race is Hoopa. A super hill. 2.2 miles straight up (320’ to 1480’), nasty loops and hairpins, no speed limit except, the coarse is on an Indian Reservation (Hoopa) so there are restrictions about where you can crash!!! No kidding!!.
Among the 12 turns are “The Graveyard” and, “Not the Graveyard” They look exactly the same. You may not crash at the “Graveyard” hairpin. You will be disqualified and banned for life and there’s no telling what Indian spirits my haunt you thereafter. It’s a superb hill, on the banks of the Trinity River and merits the effort at least once.
Make sure your clutch is perfect, bring sunshade and lots of water and patience. The Redwood Sports Car Club puts on the event and they (as at most events) are volunteers and can be somewhat provincial and dictatorial. Remember it’s an Indian Reservation so be very cautious driving and leave nothing unguarded. (I’m NOT being disparate…the locals advise this as well). King of the Hill at Hoopa times are 2:07 or so.
Next on my list of must do’s is Larison Rock. The Emerald Empire Sports Car Club has been putting this one together for 14 years and it’s a real hair-raiser.
Narrow, moss slick natural tree lined and rock terrain; steep canyon falls and some amazing trick double blind switch-backs, (I thought I already did this corner???) and a steep finishing twitch that is taken at full power and really breath taking. I managed the last turn pretty well but the high horsepower guys often go through the gates sideways!!!
I took a second place trophy home but can’t find the final time sheets, something around 2:20 I think.. The hill record for the 1.9 mile 23 turn “rock” is held by Kenny Ritchens driving a very pretty yellow Griffith at 1.44.500. His significant other Susan Hageman, a former SCCA Porsche champion, is only one half second behind him.
The local town, Oakridge, Oregon is quaint and welcoming. I found a B&B called Westfir Lodge which is owned and operated by a couple of fellows with wonderful history, great Hollywood stories, superb food and unsurpassed congeniality. It’s a few miles (nice bike ride) from town and worth the effort. This is beautiful country, lots of water, rivers, lakes and long lovely views.
BEWARE: Oregon has no sales tax so they make their accounts balance with radar enforcement. Thanks to Valentine One I was allowed through without paying taxes but I swear I thought the device had malfunctioned on the first 50 miles of Hiway 58, it never stopped screaming at me but it was right!!!!
Perhaps I’ve got you interested??? Except for the Virginia City and Bogus Basin PCA event all others are Northwest Hill Climb Association sanctioned and that’s the chafe as far as I’m concerned. They class by SCCA rules, which puts M3s and such in my lane, AStock. I’m not willing to spend the dollars to push BMWs around and it’s not fun for me to have a novice wife eat my lunch with a $50,000 showroom stock computerized yuppie mobile. So I won’t be seen at NWHA events until they get the playing field level.
My files contain references to nine events in the Pacific Northwest (including Virginia City). Below are the best phone numbers and contacts I have but the players change and the Northwest Hill Climb Association is all volunteer, look them up at rainbowtees.com/nha.htm. You’ll find the event schedule there.
Silver Sage PCA, Carl Somerton, 5165 Qulnella Court, Garden City, ID 83714-1415 Monday, May 28, 2001. Limited to 45 total drivers. Maximum two drivers per car. Half the field must be PCA members. Entry deadline is May 19th OR when the field is full. No phone entries accepted. Cost is $30.00 per driver. www.pca.org/ss/ has all details and the entry form.
Virginia City Hill Climb: June 16/17 2001. Call for registration form: Audi Quattro Club USA, 612-474-8628. As previously noted you need to jump on this if you’re interested. Virginia City Chamber of Commerce for hotel/motels 775-847-0311.
See you at Cambria!!!
Ed Barnett 530-345-3371