History 1953 & 1954 Hot Rod Hill Climb - Georgetown, Colorado

A long overdue history lesson....

In 1953 a group of young boys called the Strippers got together and took on the challenge of a Hill Climb in Georgetown Colorado. It had been done the year before by the Denver Sports Car Club, primarily a group of "doctors and lawyers" that owned MG's, Jaguars, Allards, and Jag-illacs. They called it the Alpine Trials, and they returned in June of 1953. When these young Strippers got the invite to challenge high society street cars with thier old hop-ups, the Hot Rod Hill Climb was born!

The Strippers car club was a member of the Colorado Timing Association (C.T.A.). The Early Club plaques had the members number on it. Only this one is known to exist in a private collection.


The C.T.A. consisted of twelve clubs at the time of the 1953 Hill Climb.

• The Strippers of Denver
• Piston Pushers of Lakewood
• Dragons of Denver
• Panthers of Denver
• Boulder Timing Association of Boulder
• Dolphins of Denver
• Ignitors of Denver
• Chevrons of Englewood
• Road Dusters of Golden
• Denver Timing Association
• Cam Winders of Colorado Springs
• Rocky Mountain Hot Rod Club of Denver

The C.T.A was the primary conduit for the clubs to organize events and activities of individual clubs. Members of each club would send members to the C.T.A. meetings to gather and share information.

The Strippers of Denver were born from the old Dragons Club. Some members sought more organized meetings and escape from the caos, so ten members adopted "Roberts Rules of Order" and started the provocatively named club. The Strippers Club was only 5 months old when they took on the Hot Rod Hill Climb. Seen here in the Alpine Inn Georgetown, Colorado in 1953 after the Hot Rod Hill Climb.



A few of the members are still around. Far left front row is Bob "Pete" Garramone who has graciously let me use photos he took of the Hot Rod Hill Climb, many of them you will see here. Back row far left is Gordon Lawlor, second row second from left is Don Joy, to his right is Bob Marchese.

Don Joy is the second owner of his 1932 Ford Vicky that he has owned for 62 years. Seen here in Georgetown 1953 with his Hot Rod Vicky.



And shooting up Rose Street...



And a few weeks ago sharing his photos with me.







Strousse Park was the central parking area for the cars, the starting line was on 5th & Rose Street. Gordon Lawlor on the right near the telephone pole.



The scene from the Fire Tower. (notice the tee-pee in the upper-left corner, more about that later)



And a shot of the Fire Tower from the course



This shot was taken by Ted Spencer and included in the Hot Rod Magazine Article March 1954 that was written by Denver's Jim McKindley. Jim was very good friends with Wally Parks at the time, this relationship was instrumental in bringing the Drag Safari to Denver in 1955 and 1956.



In the above photo you may notice a strange little roadster, its a 1934 shortened Chevy roadster body on a 1936 Chevy PU chassis. This purpose built rig was the creation of co-workers Cal Kennedy and Don Scroggs. This car got a Wayne twelve port motor before the 1954 Hot Rod Hill Climb. Vern Holmes was at the finish line in 1954, he said "You could hear that Wayne coming from Denver".

Seen here blasting up Rose Street



And navigating the tight left above the town



Cal and Don were members of the DTA, the clubs sported a letter designation for the club followed by a number, theirs was "T-33"

Seen here in 1954 with the Wayne motor



The trophy they won that year



Here at the local Ford Ice Cream social, Cal was the only guy allowed to drive his 1935 Chevy Roadster. Cal on the left, Vern and Art.



Don's son, Dave owns 98d

 

Back to the Strippers... Leo Belmeyer and Ted Weaver with the unique early flame job.





Bob Graham, fastest time in 1954, Bob frequented the dirt tracks and knew how to handle the dirt.



AJ DeVorss with a rear fendered 26 T Roadster on deuce rails



Bob Ipson



The Timing Truck

 

The Cam Winders of Colorado Springs, founded in 1952

Major Martin



Tom Carroll with a super unique bobbed 1934 ford coupe



Doug Cimino who later had Ardun heads on this car

 

The Boulder Timing Association's Jim Gaines

 

The Denver Timing Association

T-77 unknown



T-33 Cal Kennedy and Don Scroggs



T-21 Del Wilson and his 1932 Plymouth Roadster



T-5 Jack Richards, the same car he went 140 mph in at Bonneville





T-75 The Bell Roadster, owned by the Bell Plumbing and Heating family and campaigned by O'Connor and Van Fleet

 

The Denver Dolphins, the name seems odd for Colorado. The story goes, one of the member saw the plaque in a magazine and it seemed the best choice...

This years Honorary Hot Rod Hill Climb Legend, Jim Neilsen. This is his plaque painted with Model A green motor paint



The Coupe he drove to top his class, the car belonged to Netherly, the motor to Ken Rexrodes and Jim worked the pedals!



N-7 Jim 'Slim' Babcock with the 1953 fastest time of 2:45:50





N-9 A very unique car, Westcock
(Ryan thinks he has info on this car)

 

The March 1954 HRM

 

The April 1955 HRM

 

Press

 

So if you haven't heard..... We are recreating this event September 14th, 2013!

Fifty 1954 or older Hot Rods all as close to early 50's Hot Rods as we can get!

These cars will run take on the same road, take a ride here.....



And learn more here

Check us out online at http://hotrodhillclimb.com

And if you want to support the cause, buy a reallly sweet Norwell Equipped Shirt here!

 

Where is Georgetown ....



And the Course..

 

Neat stuff. Thanx a zillion for putting it all in one place. Gary

Forgot to ask, do the records you've seen indicate the what the times were for the sporty cars versus the hot rods in subsequent events?

 

Fantastic!

 

You're doing a great thing Mike!

 

Nice job getting all that together.

Can't wait!!!

I hope my hill climb number will be V-33...

 

Did you ever call HRM about covering the event this year?

 

I believe he has a few mags that will be attending....

 

Well done, looks like a helluva lotta fun!

 

Can't wait, gonna be a great weekend!

 

This event is going to beyond cool and thank you for putting forth the ENORMOUS effort to make this happen!!! I can't wait!!!!

 

Love the artwork Jeff!

 

Looks like a fun event with some awesome machines.

 

What a great history lesson!! (Lived in Colorado in the 70s, Georgetown was a favorite destination, but never associated it with the hill climb), thanks for posting, hope the event goes well...

 

Thanks for posting this Mike, everyone that can possibly attend, Make plans to do so!!!

Setting the Beginning to an annual event from History here!

 

I'll be there. Thanks for doing this!