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.

Photo supplied by Warren LeVeque

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 Camaro
Datsun 510	Triumph TR4	MGC-GTS Sebring	Yenko Stinger stage III
Datsun 510	Datsun 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.