1952:
The S.C.C.A. MT. EQUINOX HILLCLIMB IN VERMONT.
by Bill Close
Mt. Equinox is a real hell of a climb (pardon my Canadian
American English) six miles long and rising 3200 feet in
that distance. There are two peaks, Big Equinox and
Little Equinox, joined by a ridge. From the start the
road climbs steadily (except for one short down grade)
via innumerable twists and bends and six hairpin bends
almost to the top of Little Equinox, then dips down along
the ridge in a series of humps and bumps (with a drop of
several thousand feet either side to the bottom of the
valley) and via four more hairpins arrives at the summit
of Big Equinox.
The road is dirt (so called) but has lots of stones and
rocks in it as well, and has water taps about every mile
for those making the climb. I should explain that it is
a privately owned Toll road and anyone who cares may
venture to the top on payment of $3.00.
My Hudson boiled twice on the way up, and despite careful
use of the gears on the way down required considerable applic-
ation of the brakes as well.
To return to the event however, there was practice on
Saturday (one timed rum for each competitor) and two timed
runs on Sunday (one in the morning and one in the after-
noon) the fastest run to count.
Here are the results:–
Class 6 – up to 1½ litres standard
1. J. Bentley, Porsche, 8 min 16.4 secs
2. F.W. Proctor, Porsche, 8 min 23.4 secs
3. M. Hoffman, Porsche, 8 min 38.8 secs
Class 6 – up to 1½ litres modified
1. F. Koster, Porsche, 7 min 28.9 secs
2. R. Thorpe, Porsche, 7 min 35.5 secs
3. B. Lloyd, M.G.–Offy, 7 min 55 secs
Offy midget engind
Class 3 – up to 5 litres (?) modified
1. B. Wilder, Ardun-Allard, 6 min 38.1 secs
2. S. Johnston, XK120 Jaguar Spec.body, 6 min 54.5 secs
3. P. Timmins, XK Jaguar, 7 min 22.5 secs
Class 3 – standard.
1. P. Crocker, XK120, 7 min 25.2 secs
2. H. Fahnestock, XK120, 7 min 29.6 secs
3. D. McComb, XK120, 7 min 38.5 secs
Classes 1 and 2 (run together)
1. P. Gray, Cadillac Allard, 6 min 50.7 secs
2. J. Meyer, Meyer Spec.Cad.Eng., 7 min 01.6 secs
3. J. Hoe, Duesenberg (430Cub.In), 7 min 09.5 secs
Unrestricted Class
1. Geo.Weaver, 3-litre Maserati, 6 min 23.1 secs
2. Bill Milliken, F.W.D. Miller, 6 min 26.1 secs
3. F. White, Ladd Special, 7 min 04. secs
The old Gray Mare
There must have been a years production of Porsche's
present. Certainly there were more than either the M.G.'s
or XK120's.
Cars were started at 3 minute intervals approx. depending
on relative speed of cars. The only entry in Class 8
(up to 1000 c.c.) was a Crosley Hotshot which took 10 min.
19.6 secs. and was passed near the top by the Porsche
which ran next, thereby causing consternation amongst the
oficials.
The single entry in Class 7 was a special Crosley with a
one piece Fibreglass body and a supercharger as big as
the engine. The long legged driver's knees came above
the top of the cowl and as it had four small exhaust
pipes it actually managed to make as much noise as the
big jobs in the unrestricted class. However, it only
made one practice run.
The previous record unofficial by Geo.Weaver was 6 mins
59.1 secs. This was broken five times including practice
runs. We, of the Milliken team, were naturally disappoint-
ed at not getting Fastest Time of Day, but as the Miller
broke the record three times out of the five, I suppose
we should not feel too bad.
Phil Cade was present with another 3 litre V–8 super–
charged Maserati, similar to Weaver's except for full
independent suspension at the rear instead of the swing
axles on the Weaver car. However, despite managing to
get the motor started it was reluctant to keep on
running.
Bob Wilders Ardun-Allard was the original car run by
Arkus–Duntov at Watkins Glen about three years ago.
Our next racing engagement is the S.C.C.A. Mt. Burke
Hillclimb near St.Johnsbury, Vermont on July 4th and
5th.
P.S. Met Reg.Ogilvie from Ottawa and some Montreal
enthusiasts but there was only one Canadian entry and
he was from Montreal.
B.E.M.C. Bulletin, July 1952, Pages 16-18.
See post #103.
[We need an entry list for this event? Was #21 the Porsche of Marshall Smith Green from Montreal?
The supercharged Crosley with one-piece fibreglass body was not only an early fibreglass body, but a one-piece also.
Possibly a first? Thought to be #4.]
Keywords: fiberglass, Harris Fahnestock
RGDS RLT
Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 April 2022 - 08:06.
