So what is a hillclimb you say?

Well it's probably one of the most exciting form of ametuer motorsports competition that just about anybody can participate in. It's not for the faint hearted and it's not unusual for at least one car to find it's way into a ditch or tree, but if you like to autocross or roadrace, hillclimbs are pretty much right there in between. Essentially it's just you, a winding, paved mountain road, and a time to beat getting to the top of the course. There aint no 110% in this sport however, just ask me about how I ended up with a totalled MR2 Turbo if you aren't trackin' me yet.

Anyway, as I implied, a hillclimb is a timed event where one car at a time races to the top of a closed course paved mountain road as quickly as possible. There are no cones to hit (usually) and no other cars to worry about (hopefully), and there are no time penalties. Classes are similar to SCCA Solo II with a few exceptions and differences in naming, and you don't need to have a race car to participate, just a lick of sanity and adequate safety equipment to include a 5BC fire extinguisher (mounted on a metal bracket within easy reach), and of course a roll bar is highly recommended in closed top cars (required in convertibles).

Enough talk, check out the video! (~30MB)
UPDATE!!! Lower resolution version MPEG-1 now available at only 15.3MB.

(Download directly into Media Player as it does not work in Quicktime for some reason:  File > Open URL > http://www.kipanderson.net/hillclimb/hillclimb.avi)

It's one of my slower runs at the Larison Rock Hillclimb (a 2:07 I think). It's just over 2 minutes long and set to a groovy techno soundtrack.  The larger format one has almost enough detail to play full screen - if you sit back a few feet that is . .

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