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NYracefan
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
I would like to check out the hillclinb they run every year in the Scranton area, or maybe it is in the Wilkes-Barre area. I know it is one of those 2 towns anyway. I understand it brings a good field of cars.
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Jeff Nicol
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3/16/2007, 12:36 pm
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Mike Kamm
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
quote:
NYracefan wrote:
I would like to check out the hillclinb they run every year in the Scranton area, or maybe it is in the Wilkes-Barre area. I know it is one of those 2 towns anyway. I understand it brings a good field of cars.
Yes I believe that one's called the "Giants Despair" or something like that. It's got quite a history behind it as well.
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3/16/2007, 1:30 pm
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RiK7
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
Note: Mt.Cathalia, originally called Mt. Meenahga, was built in 1882 by U.H. Terwilliger. The name came from Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha" with the word meenahga meaning blueberry. Plenty of blueberries still grow on the Shawangunk Ridge. The Terwilliger family sold it in 1922. The hotel complex changed hands a few times and by the late 1960's was owned by Jo Tso of Ellenville. I talked to Jo recently and he still ownes the property but the road belongs to the town of Wawarsing. It's not maintained because all the buildings were either torn or burned down. Jo Tso created a ski area there and it was called Mt. Cathalia because he was from China. Cathay means China and Cathalia means "a little bit of China".
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3/16/2007, 4:23 pm
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Mike Kamm
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
Great stuff Rik! Much appreciated. My interest in this old hill climb event has piqued RiK's interest and as he lives somewhat locally to the area has a lot of connections for historical info out that way.
Another gold mine for Ellenville Hill Climb info has been V.S.C.N.A. President Bruce Turk, who forwarded me this event poster from back in the day.
Bruce reported that at the inagural event in 1957 Bob Weyman won best in class driving his Saab 93!
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3/16/2007, 5:23 pm
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krazy8s
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
cool stuff guys are there any plan for an event there??? maybe carving out a course in the spring. my old car still his lots of gas ,only used two gallon at lake george.this could be something cool.also great to hear from our forefathers lets make them proud and relive the clime. rick
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Rick @ 8-ball racing
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3/16/2007, 6:20 pm
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chutch84
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
I'm starting to smell a HILL CLIMB in AMEC's future!!!
Claude
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Claude Hutchings
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3/16/2007, 7:37 pm
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Mike Kamm
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
Now hold on guys. 
Yes the thought had crossed my mind, but it was merely wishful thinking. Bruce Turk would have beaten us to it anyway, as he has long since made contact with the appropriate people about having the road repaved with no success.
I'm going over there to take in the sights and try to imagine what these events were like 40 years ago. I might give the hill a little "try" though, while going around the potholes. 
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3/16/2007, 8:03 pm
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Mike Kamm
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
Greg Rickes sent me THIS link from the Hershey Vintage Hillclimb event last summer. Low and behold there's Bruce Turk's Saab 96 Rallye Car again! Does he ever miss an event anywhere? I think he's done everything you can possibly do with that car!
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3/17/2007, 11:01 am
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Mike Kamm
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Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
I just watched Richard Vedder's excellent vintage video footage of the Ellenville hill climb again. Great stuff. To all of our present members, I can't stress enough the importance of shooting video at our current events.
Al Duval is there holding up a beer while standing next to his black Sunbeam Alpine [after the event of course]. And then I recognized Sherm Haven standing in as the starter as Richard's race prepped Saab 96 bursts off of the starting line. Reportedly, the road had a few too many rough spots for Sherm's very low riding Buick Nailhead powered homebuilt "Special" to run on. There is also a nice shot of the Mt. Cathalia ski lodge and hotel, both of which are no longer there. Wow, it was a bright sunny day and it looked like you guys had a great time out there back in June of 1972. I was only 10 years old at that time and was probably busy building plastic scale car models and "customizing" my stingray bicycle back then.
Last edited by Mike Kamm, 3/17/2007, 11:50 pm
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3/17/2007, 11:15 am
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Bruce T
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 Re: Historical - Ellenville Hill Climb
Mike,
I guess I'm way older then you because back in 1972 I was 12 and sitting in the mountain laurel on the inside of turn one with my father. I loved spending time with my dad watching the cars spin out, hit trees and blow engines! Having been born and raised in Ellenville, I am very familiar with the Hill Climb and the now infamous Mt. Cathalia. I'm sure you moto-cross fans remember the races on the old ski slopes back in the early 70's too.
The hill climb road was named Mt Mongola Rd a few years ago. It has only one residence, built by a local dentist and later sold to some kind of religious group. When I approached the town supervisor to inquire about having the road repaved so I could resurrect the hill climb, I was told the expense couldn’t be justified.
He was right; the road requires more then just new blacktop. The old surface needs to be broken up and removed, followed by grading and resurfacing. It would cost the town a fortune. The good news is if I ever hit the lottery it's on my to-do list!
I frequently take the old hill climb road on my home from work; it really helps me relax....
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3/17/2007, 7:52 pm
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