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(♪ guitar strumming)
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(upbeat instrumental music)
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Ah, it's Spring, and the sun is out
There's nothing like the sound of race engines
And the smell of petrol mixed with race tires
It's what we've been waiting for since last Fall
Our first race of the season
Oh, sorry. I'm Eli Sharp
And this is CHASING GIANTS
(♪ upbeat music, engines racing)
Hillclimbing is a unique form of motorsports
Although popular in England
It's overshadowed by NASCAR and drag racing here in the states
This documentary CHASING GIANTS
focuses on men and women
with competition licenses
who race their cars up public roads
that have been closed for the weekend
but as you will see
there's much more to it than that
There are 5 events on our schedule
Weatherly Hillclimb dates back to the 1960's
and is held in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania
Duryea Hillclimb, which is just outside of Reading Pennsylvania
started in 1951
and it's named after Charles Duryea
and his brother, Frank
who together produced America's first
gasoline-powered automobiles way back in 1893
Pagoda is another Hillclimb that we run on the same venue
as Duryea
and basically it's a shortened version of the Duryea Hillclimb
Polish Mountain which is just outside of Maryland, Cumberland
was not run for decades
although it really is and old hillclimb
until the National Road Autosport
and the Sports Car Club of America
revived it in 2007
and then, there's this one
held just outside of Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania
Giants Despair
is the oldest American motorsport event
and it goes all the way back to 1906
We're literally racing in the wheeltracks of legends like
Carroll Shelby, Louis Chevrolet
Roger Penske, and Oscar Koveleski
just to name a few
This year there are well over 100 competitors
ready to tackle the hill
and I can't wait to get out there
So wish me luck!
(♪ guitar strumming and indistinct chatter)
Hillclimbers come from all walks of life
Most are not gearheads
The typical hillclimber actually works in a professional field
Many are brothers
Some fathers and daughters
Fathers and sons
Grandfathers and granddaughters
and several are married couples
Some of these couples share the same car
while others race in separate cars
Hi, I'm Michele and I'm Mark
and we both hillclimb
Yeah, exciting Yeah, very exciting
So I drive a 2012 BMW 135i
And I drive a 1997 BMW M3 with, uh, Chevy power
Michele: Chevy power Mark: LS3 - swap. Yay
Lot's more power than my car
Hmm, anyway
Mark: How long you been married for?
Uh, we've been married a little over 8 years
Mark: Awesome Michele: You remember the date?
February 17th?
Michele: Close Mark: Close
Mark: 13th - 13th Michele: Yes
Snowed a lot Weekend before
Michele: It did snow a lot that weekend
Mark: Yeah it did - anyway
Yeah, it was one of those blizzards of Pittsburgh
We met in 8th grade
It's a great story
It's almost like a (bleep) comedy movie or something
Yeah, Mark liked me and I didn't like him at that point
Yeah, you were just trying to act like you didn't
Yeah, I guess so
What do you do for work?
(laugh) I'm a business process engineer
very exciting
I drive a truck. It's much much less exciting
Well at least you get out and about and see people
Mark: Yeah, grocery store, great Michele: You don't sit in an office all day
How long have you been hillclimbing for?
So I started hillclimbing in 2015
My first hillclimb was Giants Despair
Michele: We went up for a Sunday
What?
We went up for a Sunday
Went up for a Sunday?
We were't there for the whole weekend
Yeah we were. We were there on Saturday
No we weren't
You were there on Saturday You wrecked on Sunday
Ah, Okay
Anyway, what's your favorite hillclimb?
My favorite hillclimb is Duryea
Who do you like it so much?
I like it because it's the longest hill that we run
and I would say it's the most intense
Mark: By far Michele: By far
By far it's the most intense
Mark: Not even close
I also love the Duryea hillclimb
Mark: It's our mecca. If there is one
Mark: Not that I want to offend anybody
Mark: but it's the best one we do by far
Is there anything fun about hillclimbing besides the actual racing part of it?
It's fun - once you're done hang out - go to dinner
Sit, relax, talk about the day Look at the sheets
Both: Bench race
Mark: See friends Michele: See how fast you went for the day
Mark: Extended family members
Yeah, it's like a second family Mark: yeah, East Coast people
For those of you who have never been racing . . .
We thought it might be fun to show you what a typical hillclimb car looks like
outside and inside
Looks like someone just put a bunch of decals on a street car
But if you look closer you'll see there's much more than that
The best way to get into hillclimbing, autocross or time trials
is to start with a car you may be driving right now
Like Mazda Miatas, Volkswagen GTIs, Honda Civics
older Mustangs, Camaros or Firebirds
They all make excellent entry level race cars
Anywho, the best approach to hillclimbing is to start with a car you can afford to crash
like this one
or this one
Both: or this one
(engine starts)
Mike: Racing doesn't have to be expensive
for example, this Dodge Neon was purchased for only $2,000
Actually for most hillclimb classes only a roll bar and fire extinguisher is required
however it's a good idea to install a full cage if you have the budget
Now many classes also allow for weight reduction
and as you can see this car is fully gutted
however it's a good idea to check the rules
before you go tearing your car apart
Each year we meet a competitor who has made one modification too many
for the class they want to run in and they get stuck in a
class that have cars that have double their horsepower
Did I mention to check the rules before you do anything
Now a racing seat is recommended
and an up to date 5-point harness is also a requirement
Many drivers choose to install an aftermarket suspension like the one you see here
It allows for height, camber and caster adjustments
That'll make precise chassis alignment and corner-balancing much easier
Racing tires like these Hoosiers complement the suspension upgrades
Remember your class will change based on the modifications you choose to make
This Neon retains the stock 2.0 liter engine
with some aftermarket bolt-ons
such as a cold air intake
exhaust header - and
performance computer
You don't have to spend $50,000 on a race car
You can if you want
and there are people that have spent several hundred thousand dollars on race cars
and typically the more you spend the faster your car is
but not necessarily
In this garage right here these are 2 of my race cars
one is a 1986 Honda Civic which is completely gutted and has
dual sidedraft Mikuni carburetors
and an engine with a cam in it
it weighs 1600 lbs and uses very lightweight wheels and racing slicks
and its very, very fast
and I don't think I have 7 or 8 thousand dollars in that car
Mike: Besides having a car that will pass a technical inspection at the event
the driver must also meet certain safety requirements
this includes a driver's suit
fireproof or Nomex socks
gloves - racing shoes and a Snell-rated helmet
and if you have facial hair
you're gonna need a balaclava
So now you're ready to go racing
(race engine revving)
(crowd cheering)
One of the best things about Pennsylvania Hillclimb events
is that 2 drivers can share the same car
That's exactly what Vince and I do
He runs in group 1 and I run in group 2
and that way we race against each other in the same car
Now competing in a 2-driver car can be quite rewarding
but it also does come with it's fair share of challenges I can tell you
To demonstrate, let me introduce Timm Murphy and Dan Ennis
Mike (OC): Okay cut That's a wrap
You can get out of the car now, Kenny
No way, this is a lot faster than my car
Hey Moose, Rocco come help Kenny find his way out of the car will ya?
(♪ guitar strumming)
Timm: So there we were. Dan: 2 guys sittin in chairs in a garage
Dan: And somebody showed up with a camera
We autocrossed together for years and years
And when I bought the Miata to hillclimb in I offered him the invitation to do a co-drive
way back when and haven't got rid of him since
In spite all that I'm still here
There's gonna be a lot of editing (background laughter) Timm: a lot of editing
A metric (bleep) ton of editing
Mike (OC) So who owns the car?
Murphy owns the car
We have an arrangement that if he wrecks the car he writes a check
There is an agreed to price ahead of time
and Dan has wrecked the car
(engine racing)
And it was not totaled, he replaced every single part
that needed to be replaced after he wrecked it
and he put the car back probably in better shape than it was
so that's a good part of the deal
That's not what you said at the time
It was a whole different thing
Timm: Time has mellowed me out
Dan: What did you do to my car?
Timm: That's how the story goes Dan: Yeah you stick to that one
We could embellish it more through the years I'm sure
We got 2 formula Mazdas
Someone asked the question: Why do you have 2?
Well, after purchasing this one and running it for 5 - 6 years very dependable
the competition and I were talking
and he said I ought to sell it to you and Dan
and I thought about it for 30 seconds and blurted out
well, why not?
so I figured this is a faster car has more horsepower
what could go wrong?
(Dan laughs hysterically)
This is the most finicky SOB car
You have to be able to run a computer to talk to the car
and I can't do that
This is so dependable. I'm still selling this car
I'd like to sell this car, I figured it would be easy to sell the car
It's been for sale for a year
but its a good thing I didn't sell it because
while this car was down, the other car was serviceable
and we ran it and it was still quick as hell
They're within a second of each other still
Mike (OC) Dan, you come over like every other Saturday
In hillclimb season we're racing one weekend
second weekend is maintenance weekend
We come over, tear the thing apart - rebuild it
make sure nothing's broken
That's my Saturdays in season
and we drink
Timm: We have a beer or 2 Dan: or 3 - or 4
Mike (OC): That seems to be a theme with the hillclimbers
Yeah, its a drinking group with a racing problem
Yes, do I have to get up and get in the car and run now - Okay.
More fun sittin around BS'n sometimes
Depending on the weather
Well you crazy bastards that camp at the place
You drink all night Get up at the crack of dawn
In stay in hotels like a civilized person
He's a hotel guy
When Patti and I show up its the Wankerville Traveling Circus
We have a large trailer We carry 4 tents
Probably at least 10 chairs
We have other Pittsburghers help set everything up
Um, its a traveling circus
We get there - we set up tents
At the end of the event all the tents come back down
and the circus goes back on the road again
The Wankerville Traveling Circus does pack a lot of stuff
and it is so great because
when we get there and we caravan
and meet up with people they are so wonderful
Everybody helps you out
If it wasn't for other people helping us
I would not - I would not want to do this
I would like - I would probably be totally fed up with it
But it's really fun and it's really nice
and family oriented I really, really love it
We both fit in the same car (OC laughter)
It's amazing sometimes (Dan laughs)
Timm: We did the Miata hillclimb thing I'm thinking like 3 years
and I wanted to do something a little bit quicker
and I bought the Formula Mazda
not really knowing what I was gonna get into
and it's been an experience
open wheels - so much different than having a full car around ya
being able to see those wheels when you're going into turns
Dan: And spray water at you when you make the turn
Timm: When it's raining it's no fun
and I've gotten away from doing it in the rain
Dan: I actually like driving in the rain
But Timm get's that
"Oh My God don't take my car out in the rain" face
So it's like I can't do that
Eli: There is an overwhelming sense of comradery
within the hillclimb community
Several factors play into this
including that it's both exhilarating and dangerous
Because such a small portion of the general population
participates in hillclimbing
Co-workers and friends back home
usually can't relate to the range of emotions
experienced over the course of a racing weekend
This can lead to strong bonds between the drivers
Hi, I'm Vince and I think you all know Eli
Hi
We've been together about 3 years now
Uh, we met on a hill hillclimbing
and, uh, started we were racing with different cars at first
and then just got to know one another and realized
how much we had in common
and, uh, besides the fact she's kinda cute. (Eli laughs)
and, um, ah just started dating
and had a wonderful time hillclimbing these last few years
um, Eli has had a long career racing in England
Yeah, I started when I was 18 hillclimbing in England
and then I did some road rallying and some stage rallying
and ended up doing a track racing series called
Super Mighty Minis which was a lot of fun
and then I had a 10 year break and moved to America
and then started here and met you
She heard about the club and came and made friends here
and started hillclimbing
I had first seen about hillclimbing in Vermont
and felt that was something I wanted to do
and I found out there was this club in Pennsylvania
Uh, so I said: "I have to try that"
Uh, I had autocrossed before and done track days
Uh, but had never hillclimbed
and so I first started hillclimbing in 2013
and I have a 1998 Acura Integra
that I competed successfully in DSP for a couple of years
and that car is kinda no more competitive in that class
So I decided to - we're working on putting a turbocharger
in that car moving to a class where you're allowed to do
more power, more aerodynamics and make it faster
so we're gonna see how we can do with that car in a new class
and meanwhile this year while that car is slowing being
put together, we're running the Mini
and, uh, it's a lot of fun
I think the most fun about the way we run together
we race together is that we're so close in abilities
is that, you know she'll go up the hill and set a time
I'll run up the hill - she'll tell me like what she did
I'll go up and beat that time
I'll , you know I'll tell her what I did
She'll come up, run the hill and beat my time
and we'll just leap frog
back and forth
and that's happened race after race after race
Eli: Yep. Vince: And then it's kinda, like, you know
a crap shoot who's fastest that day
because, you know, it depends on the conditions and the weather
and, you know, that last little bit of luck getting up the hill
and getting the most out of the car
and it's just - it's - it's just a lot of fun
Although it's slightly annoying when you beat me in my car
or you beat me in my car. Okay, alright (laughs)
Eli: Hillclimbers are a dedicated group
Many have been racing for 20 years or more
But even more dedicated are the workers and volunteers
who organize and staff the events
When we go to a hillclimb
Uh, I particularly think about
the one near Hazleton, Pennsylvania
called the Weatherly Hillclimb
We really just kinda take over the town
The local foundry lets us park in their parking lot
Uh, they close the roads down for the whole weekend
and you've got the Boy Scouts and the Rotary Club
and all these non-profits that come out and set up
food booths and other kind of things
and Friday Night at the Weatherly Hillclimb
they have a parade - and
you can drive your race car right though the middle of town
It's a really neat and quaint town
Uh, and there's kids that line the roads
like in any parade
There's - and at the end there's, you know
fire engines and I don't know how much equipment they bring
and a lot of the - you can even if you have a formula car
that's not street legal in way uh, shape or form
you can take that in the parade right down the main street
You know, uh, some of the other roads with kids on either side
and, uh, a lot of times the locals kinda like us to
you know, light up the tires
so a lot of people oblige in that
In fact, one of the guys, Ray Kochin
Who, uh, he has a modified car one you'd see dirt tracking
Um, and he has, it's painted up like the General Lee
Uh, he, like I said, he's local to Weatherly
and I think right in front of the police station
this past year
he just lit up the tires and did this giant burnout
and when can you ever get the chance to do that?
One of my favorite stories since I've been in the PHA
for about, I think it's close to 5 years now - pretty close
was Fall Jefferson, uh which is a track trial
Uh, we did a couple years ago
Um, It was me and Jason Ackerman
and Jason's car is a turbocharged VW GTI making double what
my car makes on any good day with the wind pushing it
and my car has better handling and it was a track trial, so
you know, horsepower was not that big of a deal
Um, and we knew it was gonna be a battle going into the event
We were, we'd talk and we knew it was gonna be kinda tough
Every run we went out we were leap-frogging the other guy
This went on for 2 days straight
and it was like like nerve wracking because
it was just a little bit every single time we went out
and the funniest part was I think I got ahead of him
because he had to go home early on Saturday
and it kinda kept me on the top side of that going into Sunday
and, um, it was nice cause you wanna have someone push you
and it makes the event, you know a lot more fun, and
I'll still never forget it's like it was slightly terrifying
cause like you couldn't really enjoy yourself cause you were
so close the entire time
but it was also probably the most fun I've had
driving - period! In a competition environment
and I really enjoyed it, so yeah, my favorite time
(♪ piano music)
So, Kelsey, how did you get involved in racing?
Well, I remember as a kid being
really excited to go to the
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
with my family
and watch my Dad drive around in his white Jaguar convertible
and remember loving the sounds of the engines
and smell of exhaust
and the adrenaline I felt for him
while he was out there doing his laps
I kind of knew I was destined
to fall into the driver's seat of a race car
Yep I've been wanting to do that event since I was in my 30's
I had a Triumph TR4 back then
So when did that get started?
1983. It's the only closed street vintage race course
in the country
and that makes it kind of extra special
but also partners and works with charities and organizations
within the city such as law enforcement
different schools and even Boys and Girls Scouts
and I know another one. I worked at
Allegheny Valley School for many years
and the proceeds from just that one race had such a major impact
on our mentally and physically challenged clients
Yes, indeed. I think it's been 5 about 5 million dollars
had been donated over the years
mostly to the Autism Society of Pittsburgh
"Unk", we called him "Unk" Alan Patterson, Sr.
who had a hand in founding the race
decided that autism in children was something that
wasn't quite talked about enough
Mike: No. Kelsey: That kind of fueled
his desire to donate the proceeds from the race
to the cause
and last year it did a little over $400,000
Mike: $400,000! Kelsey: Big bucks
You must be really proud to be part of the
Patterson Racing Team legacy
I am - we all are. It's a family sport
Um, Alan Sr. raced up until the year that he died
and it trickled down to both of his sons
His nephew, my dad, Peter and my brother and I
and hopefully soon his granddaughter, Abagail
how old's Abagail?
Kelsey: 13 Mike: Oh, man!
Kelsey: so we're get them started young and fast
Yeah, hillclimbing is, uh, also a real family affair
and a lot of hillclimbers have actually run in the
Vintage Grand Prix
but I'm not one of them, um Kelsey: Not yet.
But, uh, you can find three generations of
Oswalds, um, and DeHarts
at any given event at any time
Uh, sharing the same car Racing different cars
and, uh, the patriarchs Bob Oswald Sr. and Don DeHart
they've been at it for, like, 5 decades
But as you know, hillclimbing goes back way further than that
Indeed it does
(engine roaring)
Hillclimbing in Pennsylvania dates back to 1906
when men and women wearing their Sunday best
lined the streets near Wilkes-Barre
to experience Giants Despair
It is the oldest motorsports event in the country - period!
even pre-dating the Indy 500
Giants Despair attracted drivers and machines
from all over the world
in an attempt to be the first to reach the top
it regularly drew over 100,000 spectators
who gave witness to automotive destruction
at the hands of large boulders deep ravines and trees
When the Duryea Hillclimb in Reading was born in 1951
drivers began to flock to Pennsylvania
to run these 2 challenging events
However each hill had different rules for drivers
and car classification
to make competition more uniform
the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association
otherwise known as the PHA
was formed in 1959 to
bring consistency to the sport
The PHA standardized the rules for competition
and car preparation
providing a class structure that was uniform
and fair for all the hills
Soon, the PHA became overall sanctioning body
for all the hillclimb events in Pennsylvania
and began issuing licenses to drivers
Also, a points series was developed
so that an overall champion could be recognized
But as years went on, insurance costs began to rise
making it difficult for independent clubs
with smaller budgets
The only clubs that survived were those affiliated
with the Sports Car Club of America - the SCCA
who at the time was offering affordable competition insurance
Once the SCCA became the sanctioning body for the hills
PHA competition licenses were no longer being honored
Drivers were forced to join the SCCA
if they wanted to continue hillclimbing.
Many refused - which led to the decline in participation
in PHA events
Hillclimbing in Pennsylvania gradually began fading away
and as the 90's approached many thought the sport
would not survive
But a few individuals and businesses stepped up to
provide financial and organizational support
long enough to see a resurgence in the sport
Weatherly, founded in 1960, is located near Hazleton
and is held every Spring and Fall
Local politicians and congressmen
actively support the hill
and in 2018, the Weatherly Hillclimb was voted
the #1 tourist attraction in Carbon County
Today there are so many competitors wanting to run
the Pagoda and Duryea Hillclimbs
in Reading
that registration fills up
in less than 24 hours
Meanwhile, Giants Despair just celebrated it's
112th anniversary
in 2018
Um, we met through, um
Special Olympics
Um, Gibby was coaching
Special Olympics
my sister was an athlete
and, uh, my Dad asked me to you know, come and help out
and that's kinda how we met
We were good friends for many years
and we took our first team to
the international Special Olympics
and after 2 weeks of that we figured
well, we can do that. Why not try dating?
and that's how we got together
I'm a paper cutter in a print shop
Um, kinda run the bindery
And I'm in IT
So I spend all day in front of a laptop
yelling at people. So, yeah, so
Gibby: Um, we drive a 1999 Chevy Camaro
in the ESP class
Kris: We've done this hillclimbing since 2010
Kris: So, um, we're in the same class - same car
very competitive
She's competitive
(Kris laughs) Yes. I try to be within a second or 2 of him
Occasionally I've won, but only occasionally
But good enough, so
Um, we both watch each other's times
very closely
One of us will be at the bottom
and as soon as there's a time we'll be texting each other
back and forth, so, um but, yeah
One of our best memories is actually when the car broke
We were at Duryea, and top of the hill after the
first day of competition
and I went to take the car out
just for a reconnaissance run
we're semi-street legal
and I went to pull out and the engine
went all kinda funny noises
pulled it back in
and before we even stopped
there was a crowd around the car
Now, we're in pits that had no power
No lights - no nothing, and suddenly
we had at least 10-20 people working on the car
trying to figure out what broke in the engine
and it got to be dusk
and all these folks missed the dinner
We told "hey you can go" - No
They were pulling apart the engine to find out what it was
with flashlights and people throwing tools at it
And lights, and compression - compression testers
and pulling injectors and everything out
injectors and different things out
Till finally it realized that this was major internal
and you gotta go home
(car engine sounds)
So the last time you were at Giants, tell us what happened
So I went to Giants Despair
knowing I had to change my head gasket
Mike (OC): Again
Matt: Again
So first thing I pull into the
parking lot into the pits it's 10 O'clock at night
everyone's standing there like Hey, we hear, you know, you
got some mechanical work to do
And I said: "Yeah"
And they're like: "Let's do it now!"
before the car was even off the dolly
there's people with wrenches tryin' to get the hood open, so
Uh, we changed the head gasket out - pitch black
You know - 10:30/11:00 at night
And the, that was done, so party ensued - and
Saturday morning made a run up the hill
come up to the next session made that run up the hill
And, came, coming back from turnaround
There's a crest that you go over
and there's some of the locals are standin' out in the yards
watching all the cars go up the hill
So everyone's showboating and doing burnouts
and revving the engines when they go past, so
I play along and, you know, spin the tires through 2nd gear
and we crest over the hill
and as soon I lift off the throttle
I could hear: "clunk clunk clunk clunk clunk clunk"
I said: "Oh no!"
Chris (OC): I never heard this part
So I start coming back down the hill
and, like, ooo, I push my foot on the clutch
and kinda went away. And I'm, like, listening
I can hear a little bit of ticking noise
Start taking my foot back off the clutch
as soon as the clutch engages: "clunk clunk clunk clunk"
the transmission's making all kind of noises
I'm just like - cold sweat Instant like, barf feeling
(laughter)
So, uh, I get to the bottom of the hill
like coast all the way down the hill
Roll into my pit spot, and uh,
try to pretend like nothing's wrong
back of my mind I knew something was wrong
After we come down from the elbow, uh
I'm starting to think, like
Who do I know that has Honda parts in the area
cause I'm 5 hours from home at this, you know, particular hill
So I call up a couple people and I end up with, uh
Jeff Arvil who is racing the LeMons Honda Del Sol car
this year
and I know he's got a D-Series motor in it
And he's gotta have some parts
Mike (OC): You had just met him
Yeah, I've met him only once or twice beforehand
And, uh, so I called Jeff I say, hey I'm looking for
a final drive gear set for my car
He said: "Oh, let me call a buddy of mine."
He called back like 15 minutes later, and he's like:
"So, you need a whole transmission?"
"You need a limited slip?"
"You need this ratio? You need that ratio?"
"What do you want?"
and he gave me like 10 options
and I was like: "Whoa!" So I picked one, and
He, actually I didn't know this at the time
but he had driven to New Jersey
to his friend's house and get the parts
and then drove all the way back from New Jersey to Wilkes-Barre
and got there around, again,
probably 11:00 at night when he showed up
and I had already pulled the transmission
out of the car and had gears and shift forks
and synchronizers all over the ground
Mike (OC): It happened in the pits
Matt: In the pits, yeah
In the middle of the night, and
we put a new final drive in the transmission
put it all back together
and he's telling me, you know:
"I'll be back - I'll be there in, like, 2 hours"
I said: "What's gonna take so long?"
"Oh, like, I'm driving to New Jersey"
I'm like: "You can't do that"
Like, don't, that's - I'm gonna pack the car up
I'll go home
He's like: "No, think of the adventure we're gonna have"
I'm like: "Adventure?"
"You're driving on the highway, I'm sittin in a chair
waiting for you
(group laughter)
Uh, you know, sure enough he - that's the kind of people
we are around at these events
Everyone is ... Yeah, something happens
and 40 people are there waiting to come to your rescue
or aid, or whatever it is you need
So while I wasn't looking forward to it going in, but
driving home I was thinking to myself:
What an amazing weekend that was Eli: Yeah.
and it was, uh, definitely because of Jeff for sure
and everybody else in the pits
that made changing the gasket
such an enjoyable time, and
that was that, so ...
So a lot of my friends that
don't know what hillclimbing is
ask me: well, what do you get?
you know, money, that kind of
no - there's no money
um, there's - there's little plaques that you can get
for a trophy that you have to buy, actually
so you don't get anything out of it other than
the amazing comradery with all of your friends
(Priest over PA system) Teach us to use our cars
for your glory
May we never miss the beauty of your world
even thought we travel at a high rate of speed
(Sarah Minnick singing the National Anthem)
(singing ends - loud applause)
(Joe Sibel over PA system) Thank you Sarah
Announcer: Now at the line car #213 a VW Scirocco
(indistinct chatter)
(race car engine noise)
(over PA system) #178 a Chevy Pickup driven by
Charles King, of New Hampshire. He's retired
(loud V8 engine revs)
(indistinct chatter)
(loud engines revving)
(PA announcement) Workers please make you way back to the pits
(car engine revving)
(loud engine racing)
Matt: I hear you had a pretty successful time at Giants
Giants was pretty good for me this year
Um, broke a record in, uh, BSP
Mark: First one
Michele: first record, yeah
Standing for a long time, too
2013
I was determined to break it
Mark wasn't having a great, uh, weekend at Giants
No, so - so - Dan Reed, Mike Robinson and me
are working on the car for like 15 hours
all day Saturday all day Sunday
I made one run up the hill and I was down like 100 horsepower
I said: "We're done".
So Dan and I walk up the hill
and like she was going up and we knew it was gonna be that run
and I had my camera out
and then when she did I was checking my phone
the entire time. It was like almost like
waterfall, I was so happy for her
It was, like, the best moment like, of our, like, ever
it was like having her first
record was - was amazing
But, teah, my weekend sucked.
But that made it so much better
Well he was - he was on his side so I'm coming down the hill
and looking for him as I'm coming down
and I see him like at the bottom
so then he's throwing numbers out at me
He's like, you know, signing
Yeah, I"m like (gestures)
and I can't remember what the last one was: 6-4-9-5
Michele: 4-9-5
And she's like: What the (bleep) you trying to say?
(loud laughter)
I'm like handing over the orange railing and all these people
staring at me like I'm crazy
(laughter)
Michele: "Yes!"
Yeah, it was a good good - good ending to it
Yeah, it was good
And then it ended up being the dumbest problem
on the face of the earth
that I will forever not admit what it was
that we should have found in about 5 minutes
and after 35 hours Dan and I finally found it, but, yeah
But hillclimbing is more than just racing and cars
There's great camaraderie
and drinking ...
and hanging out with friends
and drinking ...
and great food
Glenn: "What?"
(Eli laughs)
Actually, I wanted to mention there's also parades
and campfires
and fireworks
Actually, it takes a lot of volunteers to put on
an event like this
Yeah, without our workers
our event officials
and our organizers
and our timing and scoring folks
and technical inspectors
and also our registrars
to all of you, we would like to say
Thank you!
(crowd and car racing noises)
(car engine racing)
Brenda: "Chasing Giants. Jefferson Circuit
scene 2, take 6" (clapper)
(Butch and Mikie laughing)
Mike (OC): "Action"
We're here in the pits
and as you can see behind me there's a lot going on
Let's take a closer look
Uh, whattaya doing?
We're trying to film a documentary about hillclimbing
Uh, you realize when people
see this they're gonna wanna
come out and try it, right?
Well, some I guess
And the more people that come to the hillclimbs
the less runs we're all gonna get
Ah, right
Alright, turn the camera over
Listen, this is dangerous
And these people - they're not very nice
You should probably just stay home
Yeah, stay home!
Mike (OC): cut - cut
Hi, guys
Hi, what's happening?
This is Mike Ancas He's the director
So you realize we're committed
to finishing this documentary, right?
Eli/Chris/Matt: Yes, Yeah, Yep
And hopefully, some people will see it
Eli/Chris/Matt: Yes, Yeah, Yep
So can we get on with it?
Eli/Chris/Matt: Sure, Yeah, Yep
Don't you guys have something to do like checking tire pressures
or changing a head gasket, or
Matt: I got a couple head gaskets I could swap
Chris: Yeah, we could do that
Well - get to it
Chris/Matt: Alright, Okay, Geez
Don't look at me They're your friends too
Yeah
Okay, everybody back to your places
we're gonna do another take
Mike (OC): Action
Let's take a walk through the pits - follow me
(indistinct crowd chatter)
(♪ upbeat music and car racing/engine noise)
(♪ music continues with indistinct chatter)
(♪ upbeat music with car racing/engine noise)
Oh, I completely forgot sorry, guys. (laughter)
Barry: "Jack, what happened in turn 1 today?
Billy/Darryl: (laughter)
Barry: "How ya doing, Dad?"
Uh, to demonstrate let me introduce
I've completely stuffed that
(Mike laughing OC)
(♪ music - no dialogue)
As I look forward in my life
I can't imagine ever stopping this
If it gets to the point where I can't drive anymore
I'll still go to the events and volunteer and work
and things like that
So, I - this has been one of the, uh
most important things I've ever done in my life
Um, and I'm lucky to have my wife, Brenda
with me at all the events, uh
So, uh, maybe at some point
We'll see some of you at one of the hillclimbs
So until then
Good luck, and, uh, make sure you keep your car upright
(♪ soothing instrumental music No other sounds)
(♪ soothing music)