[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 88 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GIANT'S DESPAIR HILL CLIMB IN 
                               LAUREL RUN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 10, 2006

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the Sports 
Car Club of America and Laurel Run Borough, sponsors of the Giant's 
Despair Hill Climb in Laurel Run, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, which 
is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
  Begun in 1906 as a supreme test of man and automotive machine, the 
hill climb has captured the imagination of many of America's premier 
race drivers and has provided a challenging course that has continued 
to attract racing aficionados year after year for the past century.
  Over the years, the Giant's Despair Hill Climb has played host to 
some famous personalities who dared to challenge the course's grueling 
and dangerous turns. Those people included Hugh Harding, Louis 
Chevrolet, Ralph DePalma, Carroll Shelby, Roger Penske, Bud Faust, 
Dellevan Lee, Dave Garroway, John Van Meyer, Oscar Koveleski, Jackie 
Cooper, John Halbing and Ron Moreck.
  Held just outside of Wilkes-Barre in Laurel Run Borough on East 
Northampton Street, the Giant's Despair Hill Climb starts out as a 
long, gently rising straightaway about one quarter mile in length that 
leads into a fast left turn that tests both nerves and skill. Then it 
goes on to a short chute and the ``Devil's Elbow,'' a sharply rising 
hairpin turn that goes off camber at its crest. Next is a series of 90 
degree turns connected by short straights. Finally comes the incline, a 
meandering quarter mile stretch that rises at 22 degrees to the finish 
line.
  Ron Moreck finished the course in 39.914 seconds in 2001 and is the 
current race record holder.
  The Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Sports Car Club of America 
predicts at least 10,000 race fans from West Virginia to Connecticut 
will come to the area to see the race and that over $100,000 in 
revenues will be generated for the local economy.
  Oscar Koveleski, who won the race and set a new time record in 1977 
that held for 15 years, described the event as one of the best hill 
climbs in the world. He also noted that the event has generated much 
interest from manufacturers of alternative fuel vehicles that include 
propane, electric hybrids, converted Indianapolis 500 cars that run on 
methanol, bio-diesel and other fuels.
  The original hill climb winner in 1906 finished the race in 2 minutes 
and 11 seconds. Technology and racing skills over the past 100 years 
have evolved to the point where the current record is 39 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the organizers and 
participants of the Giant's Despair Hill Climb. Over the past century, 
they and their predecessors have established and maintained an event of 
epic proportions that has captivated and entertained generations of 
Americans and has contributed to the advancement of automotive 
technology that has served this Nation well in this era of global 
economy.

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