Duryea and Pagoda Hillclimb - Reading, PA
This scenic route on the hill overlooking Reading, PA hosts two events on the same stretch of road, the Pagoda and Duryea Hillclimbs. Pagoda is a shortened version of Duryea, starting at turn 2 and finishing at turn 9 of the longer course.
Duryea Hillclimb - The Blue Mountain Region SCCA hosts the longest hill in the PHA series. Named for the obscure automobile maker and following the same route that Charles Duryea used to test his cars, this is a 2.3 mile hill located in a beautiful city park in downtown Reading, PA. With a history dating back to 1951, festivities this year will include a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the automobile. Possibly the most diverse and challenging hill in the Northeast, Duryea boasts 11 turns (most of which are negotiated in the first half of the course) coupled with some high speeds at the top.
Hillclimbing presents unique challenges that can only be experienced in this venue of motorsports. A perfect example can be found in turn 6 at Duryea. This turn has a nickname (which cannot be printed in this magazine) that describes the mood of a driver as they discover they have hit the brake either too early or too late. The challenge faced here is the quintessential dilemma of hillclimbing: how long can you stay on the gas when entering the turn without causing the course workers to scramble into the woods? Some drivers fight the urge to break early only to find themselves too deep into the turn, thus causing an involuntary muttering of the turn’s nickname before proceeding into the hay bails. On the other hand, even veteran drivers will sometimes be fall prey to the optical illusion that causes the braking point to look closer than it actually is. The result is premature breaking (ask your therapist). In baseball terms, it’s like starting your slide into homeplate halfway between home and third base (very embarassing to say the least). Consequently, this is the most popular turn for spectators. But if using your right foot is the reason you race, then welcome to the top of Duryea. Your thoughts turn to horsepower and freedom as you downshift into second or first gear, trying to keep your momentum around the hairpin turn 10, knowing that what awaits around the bend is a long, steep straightaway. Radar guns have clocked some cars at 140mph on the way to the checkered flag. Then again, if your car handles better than it accelerates, we suggest you bring along a copy of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine to catch up on your reading and to help pass the time as your car chugs its way up to the finish line.
Pagoda - The British cars get their revenge at this event, which is run on the same mountain as Duryea. Named after the Pagoda which decorates turn 10, this is a handling course which offers the all the challenges of turns 3-8 (including the famous turn 6), while leaving out the high horsepower final straight of Duryea.
Duryea Hillclimb
Location
Reading, PA
Length
2.3 miles
Elevation Change
800'
Number of Turns
13
Hill Record
Floyd Schrammeck - 1:47.659 (1993)
Pagoda Hillclimb
Location
Reading, PA
Length
1 mile
Elevation Change
450'
Number of Turns
7
Hill Record
Jim Miller - 48.881 (2002)
Here are some Photos of the track, and heres a MAP of the track.
Tim Royer at Turn 7
Duryea Hillclimb - The Blue Mountain Region SCCA hosts the longest hill in the PHA series. Named for the obscure automobile maker and following the same route that Charles Duryea used to test his cars, this is a 2.3 mile hill located in a beautiful city park in downtown Reading, PA. With a history dating back to 1951, festivities this year will include a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the automobile. Possibly the most diverse and challenging hill in the Northeast, Duryea boasts 11 turns (most of which are negotiated in the first half of the course) coupled with some high speeds at the top.
Hillclimbing presents unique challenges that can only be experienced in this venue of motorsports. A perfect example can be found in turn 6 at Duryea. This turn has a nickname (which cannot be printed in this magazine) that describes the mood of a driver as they discover they have hit the brake either too early or too late. The challenge faced here is the quintessential dilemma of hillclimbing: how long can you stay on the gas when entering the turn without causing the course workers to scramble into the woods? Some drivers fight the urge to break early only to find themselves too deep into the turn, thus causing an involuntary muttering of the turn’s nickname before proceeding into the hay bails. On the other hand, even veteran drivers will sometimes be fall prey to the optical illusion that causes the braking point to look closer than it actually is. The result is premature breaking (ask your therapist). In baseball terms, it’s like starting your slide into homeplate halfway between home and third base (very embarassing to say the least). Consequently, this is the most popular turn for spectators. But if using your right foot is the reason you race, then welcome to the top of Duryea. Your thoughts turn to horsepower and freedom as you downshift into second or first gear, trying to keep your momentum around the hairpin turn 10, knowing that what awaits around the bend is a long, steep straightaway. Radar guns have clocked some cars at 140mph on the way to the checkered flag. Then again, if your car handles better than it accelerates, we suggest you bring along a copy of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine to catch up on your reading and to help pass the time as your car chugs its way up to the finish line.
Pagoda - The British cars get their revenge at this event, which is run on the same mountain as Duryea. Named after the Pagoda which decorates turn 10, this is a handling course which offers the all the challenges of turns 3-8 (including the famous turn 6), while leaving out the high horsepower final straight of Duryea.
Duryea Hillclimb
Location
Reading, PA
Length
2.3 miles
Elevation Change
800'
Number of Turns
13
Hill Record
Floyd Schrammeck - 1:47.659 (1993)
Pagoda Hillclimb
Location
Reading, PA
Length
1 mile
Elevation Change
450'
Number of Turns
7
Hill Record
Jim Miller - 48.881 (2002)
Here are some Photos of the track, and heres a MAP of the track.
Tim Royer at Turn 7
**Don't b scared be prepared for the worst**
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