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MG MGA - World's best asphalt hill climb track?

Is the Gippsland Car Club track at Haunted Hills, 145 kilometres east of Melbourne, the best tarmac hill climb track in the world?
The track was constructed new in 2008 when the local power utility company wanted the coal under the old track! The track is 1275 metres long, closed circuit (with an exit point) and constructed in a step valley. You start at the top of the valley and dive down a series of bends to the bottom of the valley and then climb back up another series of bends - grade difference from highest to lowest point on the track is about 100 metres. Cars can be run in either direction on the track and there is a cross over at the mid point that allows it to run in a figure 8 or you can even go down and come back up the same hill using the lower loop (I make that about 6 combinations!). Some bends are reverse camber and there are two blind crests in the circuit - one drops away very sharply! For Aussies it is like mini Bathurst circuit.
The attached video link courtesy of the Porsche Club Victoria (sorry about that) gives you the idea.
http://www.truveo.com/PCV-Haunted-Hills-Hill-Climb/id/657293545
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I assume that as this thread didn't get any comment it is because people thought it wasn't relevant to MGAs (or you Northerners are jealous of this fine asset).
In fact MGAs do compete on this circuit and their drivers love it.
To give you some perspective about the track:-
Lap record - 48.32 sec Gould GR55B (Formula Libre 2001 and over)
1:00.37 MGB race car (hot)
1:07.38 MGA race car (hot)
1:09.78 MGA ex Sebring Works MGA coupe (no. 44)
1:11.15 MGA coupe (warm 1800 motor), good driver
1:16.36 MGA 1600 bog standard, shiny wheels, average driver (me)
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Okay, it looks like fun to me, just not in my neighborhood. 300 feet is not all that much change of elevation for a hill climb, and it looks pretty fast all the way around. This strikes me as a nifty little time trials track with a few hills tossed in for general interest. I always thought of hill climbs as being pretty steep and tall, and one direction only. If you could do multiple laps in quick succession it could a be a good test for brake fade.

It's hard to get a grasp of the elevation changes from the in car cameras. Any chance someone may have a more distant side line shot?
Barney Gaylord

Barney,
Attached is a link that gives a bit more detail on the site plus a couple more videos of the track. I am working on getting more details and will post when received.
http://sportingregister.wordpress.com/bryant-park/
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Aerial view
Mike

Mike Ellsmore

Back section of the track in the fore ground - the start line and first downhill section in the distant background.
Mike

Mike Ellsmore

Second corner on the way down!
Mike

Mike Ellsmore

Here is a link to a run on the Maryhill Loops hill climb in Washington. It's about four miles from the bottom to the top. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EuWLkWCw8U
Ed Bell

OK..for you guys in the US, Northeast anyway..also featured in "The Last Open Road" series...

Giants Despair Hillclimb is held just outside of Wilkes-Barre, PA, in Laurel Run Borough on East Northampton St. This community has been host to this event since it was first held in 1906. It is one of the oldest continuing motor racing events in the world. The Giant is rich in tradition. In its early years, all of the world’s major manufacturers sent their top cars and drivers to capture honors at the event. Early notables included Ralph DePalma (Fiat Team) and Louis Chevrolet driving for Buick. Rejuvenated in 1951, the list of Who’s Who in the driving world included Carroll Shelby (first driver to brake the magic minute), Roger Penske, Oscar Koveleski, etc. The hill starts out with a long gently rising straight about one quarter mile in length that leads into a fast left hander that tests both nerves and skill. Then on to a short chute and "Devils Elbow," a sharply rising hairpin that goes off camber at its crest. Next is a series of ninety-degree turns connected by short straights. Then comes "The Incline," a meandering quarter mile stretch that rises at twenty- two degrees to the finish.



Location
Laurel Run, PA

Length
1 mile

Elevation Change
Approx 650'

Number of Turns
6

Hill Record
Darryl Danko - 38.360 (2007)







G T Foster

This thread was discussed between 04/06/2009 and 09/06/2009

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