For Immediate Release:
June 30, 2005

CONTACT:
Jesse Mosston
Mt. Washington
Auto Road
P.O. Box 278,
Gorham, NH 03581
(603) 466-3988
Fax: (603) 466-3328

PHOTOS:
Brooks Dodge

   CLIMB TO THE CLOUDS VINTAGE CAR WEEKEND JULY 9 - 10

Pinkham Notch, NH – It was first held in 1904 to demonstrate the abilities of the new invention, the automobile, and it was called the Climb to the Clouds. Auto manufacturers wanted to show the public that these horseless carriages could not only make it to the summit of 6,288 Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, they could race up the mountain where harsh terrain and weather make it a challenge of the highest order. At the time, mountain wagons with teams of six horses were leading guests to the summit in about four hours, and traveling down in two during the eight mile journey where the grade is as steep as 22 percent and averages 12 percent.

The first Climb to the Clouds was held over two days, July 11 and 12, 1904 and featured thirty cars and two motorcycles. The event was won by Harry Harkness in an $18,000 60 H.P. Mercedes, a noteworthy standard considering that many of the other automobiles entered cost less than $650. His time of 24 minutes 37 3/5 seconds was certainly regarded as remarkable when compared to the “record” set the previous year by L.J. Phelps with a time of one hour 45 minutes. The first motorized ascent of Mt. Washington was in 1899 by F.O. Stanley of Stanley Steamer fame, driving a “Locomobile” and achieved in two hours and 10 minutes.

Held on and off over the years, the 1930’s and 1990’s were the years when the event ran with consistency and relative popularity. Many well-known drivers competed and won the event such as "Cannonball" Baker in 1928 & 1932 and Carroll Shelby in 1956. Driving a Franklin in 1928, Baker raced to a time of 14 minutes 49.6 seconds. Shelby, driving a specially prepared Ferrari roadster, posted a record run of 10 minutes 21.8 seconds on his way to victory in 1956. Frank Sprongl’s current course record of 6 minutes 41.99 seconds set in 1998 and Jerry Driscoll’s incredible top speed of 113 mph in 1999 stand as two of the more memorable milestones on the steep and narrow Auto Road. The event as it was once held was discontinued in 2001 due to the cost of putting on a full blown race to the summit. The successful Climb to the Clouds Centennial Celebration in 2004 set the stage for a revised event featuring vintage cars in both a Hillclimb to halfway up Mt. Washington and car show at the base.

This 2005 Climb to the Clouds Vintage Car Weekend, presented by the Volkswagen Dealers of New Hampshire is scheduled for July 9-10. The Vintage Sports Car Club of America returns as the organizer of the Vintage Hillclimb and more than 20 significant and historic vehicle are schedule to compete in the Hillclimb. The club’s mission is the preservation and active use of vintage sports and racing cars.

Practice runs for the Hillclimb will be on Saturday, July 9, from 8:30 am – 11:00 am with the official Hillclimb on Sunday, July 10, from 8:30 -11:00 am. One of the vehicles that will be competing in the Hillclimb this year that has a significant history at the Climb to the Clouds is the “Old Gray Mare”, having twice set the record on the Auto Road. It’s a Ford Special that was first raced by John C. Reuter in 1935 in a record time of 12 minutes 46.6 seconds that stood until 1938 when Lem Ladd broke that record with a time of 12 minutes 17.6 seconds driving the same car. After sitting in a barn for over 40 years the Old Gray Mare was carefully restored and competed in the 2004 Climb to the Clouds.

This year will feature the “Grand Stutz 2005”, where the Stutz Club of America displays some of their significant cars. Six Stutz cars will be on display and George Holman will be driving his 1929 Pikes Peak Stutz Special in the Vintage Hillclimb. Other manufactures registered for the Hillclimb include Porsche, Bentley, Allard, Bugatti, MG, and Sunbeam.

The challenge for driver in the Vintage Hillclimb is to be consistent between two timed runs, not having the fastest time, although many drivers come off the starting line very aggressively. The driver with the closest matching times is declared the winner. The cars start at the Toll House at 1565 feet above sea level and drive to 4,100 feet, to just above treeline, which is about halfway up the Auto Road.

Also returning to the site of America’s oldest manmade attraction is a vintage car exhibition organized by the Granite Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (A.A.C.A.). The car show will be held on Saturday July 9, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Last year featured nearly 100 vintage cars in the field at the base of the Auto Road. Many notable cars are expected this year including a 1934 Lancia Belna Eclipse that won Best of Class, European Custom Coachwork, at the Amelia Island Concours D’ Elegance, a 1911 Mercer Runabout, 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet, as well as Jaguars, Studebakers, Cadillac’s and Packard’s. Admission to view the Hillclimb and the car show is free.

The village of Jackson, NH will be participating in this year’s event with Vintage Viewing and BBQ’ing. Area restaurants will be in the park in Jackson from noon until 6:00 pm holding a “Rib Cook Off”. From 4:30 to 6:30, vintage cars from the car show will be on display in the park.

Opened in 1861 and celebrating its 144th consecutive season in 2005, the Mt. Washington Auto Road has been the route each year for tens of thousands of visitors traveling to the top of New England.

The presenting sponsor is the Volkswagen Dealers of New Hampshire; Media Sponsors are 94.9 WHOM-FM and RSN TV 16.

For more information about the 2005 Climb to the Clouds Vintage Car Weekend call 603-466-3988 or visit the event website at www.ClimbtotheClouds.com.