• BARCBOYS
  • Tracks & Races
  • Drivers
  • BARC History
    • Cumberland
    • Daytona
    • Gratton
    • Greenwood Roadway
    • IRP
    • Lake Garnett
    • Lime Rock
    • Lynndale Farms
    • Marlboro
    • Mid-America
    • Mid Ohio
    • Montgomery, AL
    • Nelson Ledges
    • Road America
    • Thompson
    • Watkins Glen
    • Wilmot Hills
    • War Bonnet
    • Vineland
    • V I R
  • Results
  • Blog
  • About
Menu

BARCBOYS.COM

  • BARCBOYS
  • Tracks & Races
  • Drivers
  • BARC History
  • Entry Forms
    • Cumberland
    • Daytona
    • Gratton
    • Greenwood Roadway
    • IRP
    • Lake Garnett
    • Lime Rock
    • Lynndale Farms
    • Marlboro
    • Mid-America
    • Mid Ohio
    • Montgomery, AL
    • Nelson Ledges
    • Road America
    • Thompson
    • Watkins Glen
    • Wilmot Hills
    • War Bonnet
    • Vineland
    • V I R
  • Results
  • Blog
  • About

1959 GIANT’S DESPAIR HILLCLIMB AND BERWICK ROAD RACES

A sensational weekend for BARC and a few hundred regional racers. Bucher and Spankey are here with Jake’s Lotus 11 Club and Spankey’s famous 029 MGA. Ted Rounds has the Sebring MGA and a local guy named Bill Terry brings his MGA. Woody Young has George Valentine in his old but still quick Morgan, Jim Forno has his Elva and a young guy from Allentown named Roger Penske appears with a new RSK Porsche. Berwick was a kidney shaped ex tank testing track. Not much of a circuit, but racing is racing. The City of Berwick is famous for Wise Potato Chips and the tasty smell of fried potatoes was everywhere.

Return to Giants Despair home page

Featured
 Registered as Roger S. Penske from Allentown, PA, he won the hillclimb with ease in his Porsche RSK sporting the #6 which Penske used for years.

Registered as Roger S. Penske from Allentown, PA, he won the hillclimb with ease in his Porsche RSK sporting the #6 which Penske used for years.

 BARC driver Ted Rounds in the ex factory Sebring MGA.  Ted had a full season with the car and did very well.  The car was the same driven by Dave Ash and Gus Ehrman at the 1957 Sebring 12 horu race.

BARC driver Ted Rounds in the ex factory Sebring MGA. Ted had a full season with the car and did very well. The car was the same driven by Dave Ash and Gus Ehrman at the 1957 Sebring 12 horu race.

 Rounds takes one of the faster corners as the camera points back down the hill to Lauren Run.  Rounds car had the factory close ratio gearbox with a very high 1st gear that hurt him at the start and Ted finished out of the money.

Rounds takes one of the faster corners as the camera points back down the hill to Lauren Run. Rounds car had the factory close ratio gearbox with a very high 1st gear that hurt him at the start and Ted finished out of the money.

 Gordon Thomas drives his Healey up the hill.

Gordon Thomas drives his Healey up the hill.

 Col Paul Hyatt in his Aston Martin DB 2/4.  Hyatt raced his Aston for several years and we always welcomed seeing such a great car.

Col Paul Hyatt in his Aston Martin DB 2/4. Hyatt raced his Aston for several years and we always welcomed seeing such a great car.

 George Squire’s screaming Berkeley motors its way past us.  Note the headers coming out through the grille and then back under the car.

George Squire’s screaming Berkeley motors its way past us. Note the headers coming out through the grille and then back under the car.

 This bright red AC Bristol comes past us,  The 6 cylinder D2 motor made the sweetest music.

This bright red AC Bristol comes past us, The 6 cylinder D2 motor made the sweetest music.

 TEAM BARC parked at the Devil’s Elbow.  John Kelley’s Jeep and Dave Zych’s TD were our modes of transportation.

TEAM BARC parked at the Devil’s Elbow. John Kelley’s Jeep and Dave Zych’s TD were our modes of transportation.

 The Binghamton Bullet brings his Lotus down the hill.  One of the better things about hillclimbs is watching the cars come slowly down the hill, drivers without helmets and waving to the crowd.

The Binghamton Bullet brings his Lotus down the hill. One of the better things about hillclimbs is watching the cars come slowly down the hill, drivers without helmets and waving to the crowd.

 The infamous Joe Tierno drinking eagerly from a quart bottle of Gibbons beer.  He sits in Dave Zych’s TD and is waiting for action to resume on the hill.

The infamous Joe Tierno drinking eagerly from a quart bottle of Gibbons beer. He sits in Dave Zych’s TD and is waiting for action to resume on the hill.

 The start of another session has been announced and Joe stands in one of the big drainage ditches that surround the road.  Note he now has driving gloves on to keep his smaller beer cold.

The start of another session has been announced and Joe stands in one of the big drainage ditches that surround the road. Note he now has driving gloves on to keep his smaller beer cold.

 Joe waves and encourages Penske on his winning run up the hill.    There is little doubt Penske saw Joe and put his foot down harder.

Joe waves and encourages Penske on his winning run up the hill. There is little doubt Penske saw Joe and put his foot down harder.

 Even at this point in his career Penske has the focused yet calm look of a champion.

Even at this point in his career Penske has the focused yet calm look of a champion.

 A very young Roger Penske sits on the grid talking to his wife.  Roger doesn’t look much different now over 60 years later.

A very young Roger Penske sits on the grid talking to his wife. Roger doesn’t look much different now over 60 years later.

 The start of the featured race and Penske is away with eventual 2nd place finisher Rip Ripley’s Porsche 550RS and Gordy MacKenzie’s C type in pursuit.

The start of the featured race and Penske is away with eventual 2nd place finisher Rip Ripley’s Porsche 550RS and Gordy MacKenzie’s C type in pursuit.

 Penske lapped everyone but Ripley in 2nd place.  Here he is putting a lap on Gordon MacKenzie’s C Type Jag.

Penske lapped everyone but Ripley in 2nd place. Here he is putting a lap on Gordon MacKenzie’s C Type Jag.

 Roger gives the OK sign as he races past the pits.  He faced no real competition over the weekend but got to know the car well and continued his success for most of 1959.

Roger gives the OK sign as he races past the pits. He faced no real competition over the weekend but got to know the car well and continued his success for most of 1959.

 BARC member Rip Ripley from Ithaca NY in a 550RS Porsche.  This was the only time we saw Rip in this car.  Rip was the VW Porsche dealer in Ithaca and later created the Bobsy-Porsche race car.

BARC member Rip Ripley from Ithaca NY in a 550RS Porsche. This was the only time we saw Rip in this car. Rip was the VW Porsche dealer in Ithaca and later created the Bobsy-Porsche race car.

 The start of the FP race.  Ted Rounds on pole with Bob Bucher behind,  Bucher was usually the dominating driver in FP but this weekend Rounds took full advantage of his close ration transmission, which had hurt him in the hillclimb, to win easily.

The start of the FP race. Ted Rounds on pole with Bob Bucher behind, Bucher was usually the dominating driver in FP but this weekend Rounds took full advantage of his close ration transmission, which had hurt him in the hillclimb, to win easily.

 Bucher in Spankey Smith’s MGA fights with the Alfa of Norm Webb.  They were fighting for 2nd and 3rd.  Bucher beat the Alfa but not by much.

Bucher in Spankey Smith’s MGA fights with the Alfa of Norm Webb. They were fighting for 2nd and 3rd. Bucher beat the Alfa but not by much.

 Ted and Annie take the checkered flag after a great win.  Rounds had the car licensed for the road and drove it to every race.

Ted and Annie take the checkered flag after a great win. Rounds had the car licensed for the road and drove it to every race.

 The awards presentation at the Berwick VFW.  Ted gets the big silver platter for taking first place.

The awards presentation at the Berwick VFW. Ted gets the big silver platter for taking first place.

 The grid for the G&H modified race.  Bucher’s Lotus next to Jim Forno’s Elva and just in front of John Zeitler’s Elva.  Bucher would finish second to Zeitler in GM.

The grid for the G&H modified race. Bucher’s Lotus next to Jim Forno’s Elva and just in front of John Zeitler’s Elva. Bucher would finish second to Zeitler in GM.

 Bucher (back to camera) chats with some friends as they wait for tech inspection at the track.  Note the modified Jake’s Stable sticker on the headrest fairing.

Bucher (back to camera) chats with some friends as they wait for tech inspection at the track. Note the modified Jake’s Stable sticker on the headrest fairing.

 Bob Bucher in his Lotus club.  Jake had moderate success with the car but it was far too underpowered after having raced the Cad Allard.  The Lotus hung around for one season and Jake reappeared with an FM RSK Porsche in 1961.

Bob Bucher in his Lotus club. Jake had moderate success with the car but it was far too underpowered after having raced the Cad Allard. The Lotus hung around for one season and Jake reappeared with an FM RSK Porsche in 1961.

 Butch Hollenbeck and Joe Tierno give a close up to the AC Bristol of Dan Wilcox.  Wilcox would win the EP race in front of BA Miske’s Fraer-Nash.

Butch Hollenbeck and Joe Tierno give a close up to the AC Bristol of Dan Wilcox. Wilcox would win the EP race in front of BA Miske’s Fraer-Nash.

 A shot heading to the start/finish line during the GT race.  Howard Hanna won in his DB.  Hyatt was 3rd in the Aston,

A shot heading to the start/finish line during the GT race. Howard Hanna won in his DB. Hyatt was 3rd in the Aston,

 Nicholas and Tierno are telling Johnson City MGA driver Bill Terry how they will give him pit signals.  We’re showing him what the 5 laps to go sign is.  Terry was a wild driver.

Nicholas and Tierno are telling Johnson City MGA driver Bill Terry how they will give him pit signals. We’re showing him what the 5 laps to go sign is. Terry was a wild driver.

 Terry disobeyed our orders and spun off the track deep into the bushes.  His car disappeared and officials were stymied on where the car was.  The finally found him and pulled the car back to the paddock.

Terry disobeyed our orders and spun off the track deep into the bushes. His car disappeared and officials were stymied on where the car was. The finally found him and pulled the car back to the paddock.

 A bunch of us push Bill’s now dirty and dented car back to his area in the paddock.

A bunch of us push Bill’s now dirty and dented car back to his area in the paddock.

Featured
 This is 1959.  Annie Rounds’ 1958 Mercury Montclair supports Ted’s winning MGA.

This is 1959. Annie Rounds’ 1958 Mercury Montclair supports Ted’s winning MGA.

 No doubt taken by Dave Zych, a shot through the trees shows Zeitler’s Elva leading Bob Buchers Lotus.

No doubt taken by Dave Zych, a shot through the trees shows Zeitler’s Elva leading Bob Buchers Lotus.

 BARC’s main character Spankey Smith in his 029 MGA.  Spankey was Bucher’s pit manager and always had his clipboard with two excellent stop watches.

BARC’s main character Spankey Smith in his 029 MGA. Spankey was Bucher’s pit manager and always had his clipboard with two excellent stop watches.

 Rip Ripley’s Porsche 550RS.  We’re not sure when Rip got the car but we are quite sure he sold it to Jim Forno who later won FM at the Montgomery nationals.

Rip Ripley’s Porsche 550RS. We’re not sure when Rip got the car but we are quite sure he sold it to Jim Forno who later won FM at the Montgomery nationals.

 A true motorisn character Charlie Beidler’s Porsche.  Charlie established the Philly region PCA and switched allegiances to Shelby American and handled his east coast distribution.  And what a party guy !!

A true motorisn character Charlie Beidler’s Porsche. Charlie established the Philly region PCA and switched allegiances to Shelby American and handled his east coast distribution. And what a party guy !!

 Your average regional race paddock parking.  An Allard J2X, a Morgan and MacKenzies C Type Jag.

Your average regional race paddock parking. An Allard J2X, a Morgan and MacKenzies C Type Jag.

 The same Allard was seen in the Devil’s Elbow parking lot at the Hillclimb the day before.

The same Allard was seen in the Devil’s Elbow parking lot at the Hillclimb the day before.

 John Zeitler’s Elva won GM at both the hill and Berwick.  Zeitler would go on to design his own very successful formula cars

John Zeitler’s Elva won GM at both the hill and Berwick. Zeitler would go on to design his own very successful formula cars

 Endicott’s own flying underaker Ward Allen in his TR-3.  Note the two stripes denoting him as a novice in his second race.  Allen Memorial  funeral home still exists.

Endicott’s own flying underaker Ward Allen in his TR-3. Note the two stripes denoting him as a novice in his second race. Allen Memorial funeral home still exists.

 Howard Hanna was a DB devotee.  He brought two to Berwick.  This is him winning in HP in front of S.D. Deckers Porsche

Howard Hanna was a DB devotee. He brought two to Berwick. This is him winning in HP in front of S.D. Deckers Porsche

 Hanna then hopped into his more modified DB and won over Ralph Semler’s Bandini.  A very good weekend for Hanna and DB.

Hanna then hopped into his more modified DB and won over Ralph Semler’s Bandini. A very good weekend for Hanna and DB.

 It’s nose is a bit battered, but a rare Bandini belonging to Ralph Semler.  Semler took the Bandini to both the hilclimb and the Berwick races.  Semler was 2nd at Berwick.

It’s nose is a bit battered, but a rare Bandini belonging to Ralph Semler. Semler took the Bandini to both the hilclimb and the Berwick races. Semler was 2nd at Berwick.

 The last turn of the kidney shaped tank track has a bunch of Porsche’s battling each other.  The National Guard provided security.

The last turn of the kidney shaped tank track has a bunch of Porsche’s battling each other. The National Guard provided security.

 Endicott’s Mike Shaugnessy in his SAAB.  Mike never liked the BARCboys, we were too unsophisticated.  Not a very good racer, Shaugnessy was an excellent TSD rallyist.

Endicott’s Mike Shaugnessy in his SAAB. Mike never liked the BARCboys, we were too unsophisticated. Not a very good racer, Shaugnessy was an excellent TSD rallyist.