Steve:
Thanks for the report. Hillclimbs are indeed a lot of fun. We just returned
from the Ferrari Club's 28th Annual Hillclimb at Virginia City, Nevada. This
one is 5.2 miles of paved asphalt, with 1200 ft. of elevation change, and 23
or so turns. It runs Nevada route 341 from Silver City to Virginia City, and
you can loop back and return on the "old" road, now route 342. Hillclimb
record time here is something like 3:23, with anything under 4 minutes
feeling VERY fast. It is also somewhat dangerous with limited guardrails,
and lots of rock cliffs to eat cars. Over the years there have been 2
fatalities, and numerous cars consumed. This year, our group lost one late
model Mustang who broke and axle and rolled off the side (no injuries, only
to the wallet).
There are actually 2 Virginia City Hillclimbs now, and there almost were 3
this year. The two Ferrari Clubs each have one. The Ferrari Owner's Club
(LA based) combine with the Audi Quattro club and do one in the spring that
usually allows a wide variety of cars, and the Ferrari Club of America (SF
Pacfic Region) teams with the Shelby club in late September, and is primarily
Ferraris, Shelby's and related Ford cars (Tigers, Mustangs, Cobras) with a
few Brand-X's accepted (Vipers, ZR-1s. Cortinas).
NASA (the racing organziation) almost put one on this year also , but it
didn't happen.
I've been going for something like 14 years now, and have a blast each time.
Too bad there aren't more hillclimb events to try.
Regards,
Myles H. Kitchen
1965 Lotus (3:51 @ VIrginia City) Cortina Mk1 #128
1978 Ferrari (4:02 @ Virginia City) 308GTS
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