Driven to climb Mount
Penn
By
Jeffrey Fazio
DriveTime Columnist
Next
weekend I am going to scorch my tires with an asphalt-blistering
launch at the base of Mount Penn as I start an attack on Duryea Drive.
With complete disregard for the posted 25-mph speed limit, I am going
to drive as fast a s possible. At times I will quadruple the posted
limit.
My
intention is going to be to get to the entrance to the Fire Tower as
quickly as possible starting from the edge of City Park. In my quest
to traverse the mountain in the shortest amount of time, I am even
willing to use the on-coming lane when it offer s a better line
through the many curves that lead up to the Pagoda. Racing up Duryea
Drive like this is simply irresistible since it has more twists and
turns than an Arby's curly fry. The layout of the road practically
begs to have cars raced on it.
It's
highly likely that a member or two of the Reading police department
will witness my bold dash up the hill, but I suspect they will not
attempt to pull me over for this performance display. In fact, I dare
them to come out and watch the full-throttle show. Actually, everyone
is welcome to come out and see what is going on next weekend on Mount
Penn.
Since
I will not be the only driver racing up Duryea Drive there is going to
be plenty to see. There will be approximately 100 other drivers in all
types of vehicles competing to be the fastest from the beginning of
Duryea Drive at the edge of City Park to the stone stairs by the Fire
Tower along Skyline Drive. Next weekend is the annual running of the
Duryea Hill Climb run by Blue Mountain Region of the Sports Car Club
of America. This event was first held in 1951.
A
hill climb race is a timed event that takes place on a mountain road
that tests drivers ability to traverse a marked distance in the
shortest amount of time. The racers assail the hill one at a time, so
they are not racing wheel-to-wheel, which offers the opportunity to
use the full width of the road in their pursuit of being quickest.
The
Hill Climbs are by far the most exciting motor-sports event that I
have ever participated in. Having the chance to really let loose on a
mountain road offers an adrenaline rush that is second to none. To my
naive mind, participating in a hill climb event seems a lot like I
would expect a World Rally Championship race to be like without the
snow, gravel, ice, loose dirt, stones and general insanity.
As
is the case with many exhilarating activities, there is a very real
danger to racing in hill climbs which is why you will see the drivers
in full race suits and all of the cars outfitted with roll bars and
safety harnesses. Unlike a road course, where you frequently have
ample run-off or a solid barrier protecting you from leaving the
racing environment, the hills offer very little room for straying too
far off of t he racing line. The margin for error at these events is
slimmer than Paris Hilton on a diet.
The
actual racing will be happening on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20 and
21, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event is free for spectators. It's a
wonderful opportunity to pack a picnic lunch and relax in the shade
while watching a diverse group of race cars make there way, at speed,
up to Skyline Drive. There are four spots dotted along the hill for
spectators to view the action from a variety of angles. \par More
information about this event and the other five Pennsylvania hill
climb races can be found on the Pennsylvania Hill Climb Associations
Web site, www.pahillclimb.org. See you next weekend on Mount Penn.
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