Hot rod hill climbs

I've noticed a bit of talk of hill climbs lately. Why is this hot rod? Does it date back to the early racing before pavement?

 

Pikes Peak started in 1916, so I'd guess that makes hill climbs pretty darn traditional!

 

Go to youtube search hot rod hill climb a bombers hill climb or prescott hill climb georgetown colorado coming up has a large thread on here,big presence of early equipment flat heads and bangers. and to answer the time period question yes they have been doing it a long time.

 

That recent Colorado thread is worth the long reads, and has a bunch of great pics.

As far as re-entacting old type racing, it might be the "new" trend for rods and rodders. The 40s style beach racing in NJ, as well as the hotrod dirt-tracking in Pa, seems to have sparked a lot of interest in actually doing something with the cars, rather than just parking at a show.

Nothing wrong with parking to be able to see more cars, as I think all of these events will also have a show for non competing cars.

 

I had a hot rod hill-climb happening in 1967.

 

I watched a few videos. That actually looks like a lot of fun.

 

I ran the Maryhill, Wa. climb many times in the old dayze. A very impressive hill.
I would like to see hot rod hill climbing in general revived.

Here's a video from 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N2chz90iqn4

 

I hope I can get up there this month to see the races!