What to Know About Hill Climb Racing (Photos)
Hill climb racing has been around for many years, however, it has stayed a relatively unknown sport in the world of motorcycle racing, unless you live near a big hill. Here are some interesting facts you should know about this grassroots sport.
1. It's Been Around
You may be surprised to know that motorcycle hill climb racing has been around almost as long as motorcycles have been. As early as 1905, hill climb races have been taking place among Triumph owners, while it took another five years before Harley Davidson entered the scene. The goal of hill climb racing is to get to the top of the peak in the fastest time, or to get the furthest up the hill before your bike stops. Imagine one at a time drag racing, up a hill, against the clock, or a tractor pull with motorcycles vs. a hill instead of a weighted sled.
2. A Triumphant Start
In the earliest days of motorized vehicles, any hill was a challenge, and hill climbs took place all over the country on roads you would hardly notice in a modern car. One such race in England was the Dashwood hillclimb, in Buckinghamshire, which started in 1899 and is still an occasional event for antique cars. A 1905 Triumph motorcycle won its class at the race that year, much like the one in the vintage picture above.
3. Harley Domination
In 1910, Harley Davidson not only joined the hill climb frenzy, they dominated the hill climb as well as many other forms of motorcycle racing that year. There are no pictures to be found of that first Harley hill climb bike, but above are William Harley and Walter Davidson on specially prepared production bikes taking place in an endurance event. Chances are the hill climb bike was something similar.
4. Indian Takes Over
It took some time, but 1928 marked the start of the era of the Indian in hill climb racing. Indian and Excelsior beat Harley in both the 61ci, and 45 ci classes in 1928, 29, 30 and 31. Here is an excellent museum video with more details about this bike and a later Indian hill climber from Wheels Through Time. Harley-Davidson and Indian went head to head in all forms of competition all the way up until Indian went out of business in 1953. Today a new HD vs. Indian is starting on the dirt tracks of America.
5. The Early Tracks
The early days of hill climb racing wasn't much more than a struggle to reach the top, which engine power vs. gravity. The goal was to merely cross the peak of the hill in the least amount of time, if you could make it. By the 1920s it was more like drag racing, with a struggle of alcohol burning engine power vs. the limited traction available on the dirt. As bikes, motors and tires got better, the hill got steeper, until by the depression they were racing up hills that would be impossible to walk up without a rope.
6. Pikes Peak, Mount Washington and Others
Another form of hill climb racing is more like a time trial rally stage, only set on a mountain like Pikes Peak or the Mount Washington Auto Road. Mount Washington in New Hampshire has held a race to the top periodically since 1904, and Pikes Peak started just ten years later and is still going strong. The sport typically includes both dirt and pavement with plenty of twists and hair pin turns just to make things interesting, and the weather and power changing as you climb.
7. Modern Hill Climb
These days, on various hills all over the country, professional and amateur hill climb competition still takes place. Typically the bikes used are big air cooled Japanese 4 cylinder Kawasaki and Suzuki motors, stuffed into an old dirt bike frame with a 24" swingarm extension to keep from flipping over backwards. Some people still prefer the torque that comes with a Harley V-twin, and there are plenty of bikes like the one above still racing up the hills. You can find the official AMA Pro Hill Climb schedule here.
For tips on keeping your Harley in tip top shape, check out the how to section of HDForums.com
