Note: The following is my transcriptions of found newspaper coverage of the October 15, 1921,
Vickerman Hill Climb event. They were taken from microfilm at the Utica Public Library. Unreadable
text is marked. I welcome clarifications  or additional materials on this event. Name spellings changed,
even within a single article. I welcome confirmation of correct spellings. Additionally, I am seeking
any information or ephemera on hill climbs in upstate New York in the years between WW I and WW II.

Arnold Landvoigt                            e-mail: arniland@hillclimber.com
8521 William Street
Savage, Maryland 20763

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Sep 17 1921
P 9

ANNOUNCE RULES FOR HILL CLIMB

Utica, Little Falls and Ilien Clubs Make Further Plans for Event in Mohawk

Saturday, Oct. 6

    Friday night of this week an adjourned meeting of the representatives of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica, the Automobile Club of Little Falls and the Automobile Club of Ilion, planning for the big hill climb on Vickerman Hill in Mohawk, Saturday, Oct. 8, under the auspices of the three clubs will be held in the quarters of the first-mentioned organization in Bagg’s Hotel. It is expected a report on entries will be made then.

    Edward B. Hague, president of the New York State Automobile Association reported at last night’s meeting of the committee in Baggs’s Hotel that he had communicated with Major Chandler, commissioner of the State Police, and had been assured that a large detail of troopers will be on hand for the hill climb. It is planned to give the troopers full charge of the affair in maintaining of order.

Ilien to Give Cup.

    Also active in the discussion at last night’s meeting was C. S. Daily, president of the Ilion Club, who strongly advocated co-operating with the troopers in giving notice of the approach of cars on the hill by the dropping of signal flags. He announced that Ilion would again this year donate a silver loving cup for the fastest time made on the hill. He reported that arrangements had been made with Engineer Ingersoll to put the entire course, over two miles in length, in first class shape and that the bridge at the foot of the hill has been placed in proper condition for cars passing over it.

    Joseph C. Rahn, chairman of the committee on entries and rules last night announced the classification of events and rules governing the climb as follows:

The Events.

    Event No. 1, Class A – Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 161 to 230 cubic inches.
    Event No. 2, Class B – Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 231 to 300 cubic inches.
    Event No. 3, Class C – Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 301 to 450 cubic inches.
    Event No. 4, Class D – Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 451 to 600 cubic inches.
    Event No. 5, Class E – Open to enclosed gasoline motor cars regardless of piston displacement.
    Event No. 6, - Non-stock free-for-all. Open to any gasoline motor car.
    All of the above events to be stock events, except event No. 6.
    No event will be run in which less than three cars are entered.
    Joseph C. Rahn, Chairman Committee on Entries, Central New York Motor Club. Bagg’s Hotel, Utica, N.Y.

The Rules.

    Entries must be filed with the secretaries of the clubs or with Joseph C. Rahn, chairman of committee on entries, address Central New York Motor Club, Bagg’s Hotel, Utica, N.Y. not later than Oct. 5, 1921.

    All contestants both in trials and final race, are obliged to return from summit of the hill over detour road which will be posted.

    In all stock events regular equipment must be carried except top, windshield, muffler and extra tire may be removed at discretion of entrant.

    No restriction whatsoever in free-for-all event.

    Three awards are to be made in each event, the first in each to be a silver loving cup and the second and third articles of merchandise. The Central New York Motor Club will give the silver cup for the winner of the free-for-all event. Membership in any of the clubs is not to be a condition to entrance in the climb.

    It is planned to award the prizes on the course at the conclusion of the contest that afternoon.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Sep 24 1921
P 2

OFFICIALS NAMED FOR HILL CLIMB

Committee Decided to Give Nineteen Silver Loving Cups
As Awards In Events Oct. 8

    It is expected that plans for the second annual hill climb of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica and the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilion jointly, on Vickerman Hill, in Mohawk., Saturday, Oct. 8, will virtually be completed at the next meeting of the committee, Friday night of next week as many of the details have already been perfected.

    At last night’s meeting it was decided to give 19 silver lovings cups as awards for places in the contest.

    All three clubs to participate had excellent representation at last night’s meeting, held in Bagg’s Hotel and it was taken up for the most part with lengthy discussions relative to various phases of the climb, including a difference in power in eight cylinder cars over those with six cylinders and with four, the use of standard gas and the testing out of rear wheels.

    The cups, when they are received in this city, will be placed on exhibition for several days in one of the show windows in the store of Robert D. Fraser, one of the directors in the Central New York Club. Display cards announcing the big climb for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 8, are also to be placed in many windows in the city.

    Joseph C. Rahn, chairman of the entries committee, reported that cars of many makes and sizes have already been entered, and that other entries are steadily being received. It was reported by one of the Little Falls men in attendance that among the entries secured by the committee members from down the valley were two from Syracuse.

Climb Officials Named.

    By the unanimous vote of those present the following were named as the officials for the climb: General supervisor of entries, Joseph C. Rahn; judges, Edward B. Hague of Utica, F. S. Burns of Ilion, Frank Baker of Herkimer, Herbert W. Baker of Albany, secretary of the New York State Automobile Association; Judge Guy L. Kretser of Little Falls and A. H. Maloney of Camden; clerk of course, John P. Liddy; assistant, B. Weston Morrison; timers, Dr. W. L. MacDonnell of Utica, L. P Robson of Ilion, James A. Evans of Little Falls, Arthur Hewson and John A. Breen of Utica; starter, F. W. Wood of Utica; scorer, Stanley L. Clark; classification committee, Joseph C. Rahn, chairman; George D. Vincent and F. Marshall Tobin.

    Following was the representation of the three participating clubs at the meeting:

    Utica – Leo O. Coupe, president of the Central New York Motor Club; Robert A. Middleton, William Martin, Joseph C. Rahn, John A. Breen and B. Weston Morrison.

    Little Falls - Judge Guy L. Kretser, Fred D. McIntosh, John E. Lewis and C.D. Jarvis.

    Ilion – F. S. Burns, William Lucey, G. J. Shepard and John Liewellyn.

    The cups are also to be exhibited in Ilion and Little Falls stores prior to the meet.
 

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 1 1921
P 5

HILL CLIMB PLANS NEAR COMPLETION

Meetings to Be Held Monday Night at Little Falls and Thursday at Ilion Last
Night’s Session.

    Plans for the second annual hill climb of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica and the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilion jointly to be held on Vickerman Hill in Mohawk Saturday afternoon of next week, commencing at 1 o’clock are now shaping up well and will be perfected at a meeting Monday night in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce in Little Falls, another in the Chamber of Commerce in Ilion Thursday night and a final session in Bagg’s Hotel Friday night.

    It was indicated in reports made last night, at a meeting of the climb committees of the three participating clubs in the quarters of the Central New York Club in Bagg’s Hotel that nearly 100 entries have been secured, and it is anticipated that this year’s crowd will even exceed that great outpouring of more than 12,000 persons witnessing last year’s first annual climb.

    Joseph C. Rahn, chairman of the entries and classification committees announced at last night’s meeting that entries for Saturday’s climb will close Wednesday night of the next week.

    The joint committee of arrangements also decided to substitute for Event No. 4 in which class D cars are entered, one that will be known as free-for-all stock car event from scratch.

    President C. S. Daily of the Ilion Club reported that his club will endeavor to have Capt. Carroll of Company M detail the unit, or a part of it, to co-operate with the State Troopers in policing the hill. Judge Guy L. Kretser of Little Falls suggested that Little Falls and Mohawk policemen also be secured and it was thought this could be done.

    President Leo O. Coupe of the Utica Club, who presided at the session, stated that he had learned from Capt. McGrath of the State Troopers, who is to command the detail of State Police at the hill climb, will provide mounted or motorcycle men as wanted.

    President Daily of the Ilion Club reported that the telephone signalling system is in position for the event and has been satisfactorily tested. The detour road from the summit of the hill for cars that have finished is also in excellent condition.

    President Coupe announced that the Utica Motor Car Co. and the Otis Motor Sales Co. had donated a splendid silver loving cup for the fastest time made by any make of car. Mr. Bishop, representing the two concerns, explained that the cup is to be competed for only by owner-drivers or some member of their families, that the competing cars must be stock machines and that no dealers will be eligible to compete. On motion of Ernest P. Rouischon(??) a vote of thanks was extended to the two concerns for their offer.

    Progress in the getting out of the climb program was reported by Edward Joyce, who has that in charge.

    At the suggestion of President Edward B. Hague of the New York State Automobile Association, the Otis Motor Sales Company was given permission to give a demonstration of its Reo speed wagon in recognition for its interest in the climb and its donation of a cup.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
October 5, 1921 Wednesday
P 4

WILL DISPLAY HILL CLIMB CUP AWARDS

Robert D. Fraser Arranged for Display of Prizes In Saturday's Event In Store

    Robert D. Fraser, director in the Central New York Motor Club, has arranged for a display in his store of the 19 silver loving cups to be given as awards in the hill climb of the Utica  club in conjunction with the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilion
Saturday afternoon on Vickerman Hill in Mohawk and they will be placed in one  of the show windows to-morrow.

    The three clubs committees planing the climb of Saturday will meet to-morrow night in the rooms of the Ilion Chamber of Commerce.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 7 1921
P 4

MANY ENTRIES FOR AUTO HILL CLIMB

Committee Announces cars in To-Morrow’s Automobile Races at Mohawk..

    At the close of the last night’s meeting in the Chamber of Commerce rooms in Ilion of the committees planning for to-morrow’s big second annual hill climb of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica and the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilion, Joseph C. Rahn of Utica, chairman of the committee on entries, announced the following as the entries for the event, in which there are to be 118 starters.

    Event No. 1, Class A. – Open to gasoline cars with piston displacement of 181 to 230 cubic inches; Lexington, owned and driven by R. A. Pickard; second entry, same; Maxwell, owned and driven by Smith Addington of little Falls; Essex, owned the Brunner Garage and driven by N. B. Brunner of Little Falls; Essex owned by J. S. Bird and driven by same; Essex, owned and driven by Bernard L. McSweeney; Essex, owned and driven by N. B. Brunner, Hupmobile, owned and driven by Fred J. O’Neil ; next entry same; Saxon owned and driven by Oran H. Vandewalker; Essex owned and driven by Fred E. Thomas; Davis car, owned  and driven by Frank E. Clark; Velie car, owned by Ares and Davis and driven by C. E. Ares.

    Event No. 2, Class B – Open to gasoline cars with piston displacement of 231 to 300 cubic inches: Mercer, Charles H. Rotter, owner and driver; Nash, owned by Adams Nash Motor Car Company, and driven by E. J. Adams; Chandler, owned and driven by J. S. Olive; Nash, owned and driven by George Graziadei; Reo, owned by the Otis Motor Car Company and driven by Earl Washburn; Reo Speedwagon owned by the Otis Motor Sales Company and driven by Earl Washburn; exhibition runs of two Reo Speedwagons, first operated by W. H. Rundell and second by James Conley.

    Event No. 3, Class C – Open to gasoline cars with piston displacement of 301 to 450 cubic inches: Hudson, owned and driven by James Van Dusen of Frankfort; Cole, owned by the T. N. C. Motor Company and driven by E. L. Donoghue of Utica (O’Donoghue in results - wal); Cadillac, owned and driven by Verne L. Vermilyea of Utica; Cadillac, owned by the Utica Motor Sales Company and driven by V. L. Vermilyea; Cadillac, owned by the Utica Motor Sales Company and driven by W. Morton Evans; next entry same; Cadillac, owned and driven by C. H. Waterbury of Oriskany; Cadillac, owned and driven by G. Winman of Solsville; Cadillac, owned and driven by J. S. Scala of Utica; Peerless owned by Dr. Robert Sloan and driven by Owen E. Jugner; Peerless, owned by Ernest P. Robischon and driven by hem; Peerless, owned by Thomas E. Jones and driven by F. R. Winslow; Lozier car, owned and driven by E. L. Crandall.

Free-For-All

    Event No. 4 Class D – Non-stock free-for-all (entries in this event and in event No. 6 are same). Standing start from scratch – Hudson, owned and driven by James Van Dusen of Frankfort; Mercer, owned and driven by Charles A. Potter of Utica; Lexington, Owned and driven by R. A. Pickard of Utica; Nash, owned by the Adams Nash Motor Car Company ?? 2 obscured lines ?? Little Falls; Chandler, owned and driven by J. S. Oliver of Utica; Maxwel, owned by the Smith Addington Motor Company and driven by Mr. Smith of Little Falls; Essex, owned by the Brunner Garage and driven by N. B. Brunner of Little Falls; Essex, owned and driven by Bernard L. McSweeney; Essex, owned  and driven by N. B. Brunner; Hupmobile, owned and driven by Fred J. O’Neill of Syracuse; next entry same; Saxon, owned and driven by Ora H. Wandewalker of Syracuse; Essex, owned and driven Fred E. Thomas of Binghamton; Nash, owned and driven by George Grazedel of Utica, Davis, owned and driven by J. E. Clark of Utica; Veile car, owned by Ayers and Davis and driven by C. E. Ayers of Herkimer; Cole, owned by the T. N. C. Motor Company and driven by E. L. O;Donoghue of Utica; Reo, owned by the Otis Motor Sales Company and driven y Earl Washburn of Utica; Reo, same owner, driven by W. H. Rundell; Reo, same owner, driven by James Conley; Cadillac, owned and driven by Verne E. Vermilyea; Cadillac, Utica Motor Car Company, same driver; same make and owner, driven by W. Morton Evans; same make, owner and driver; same make, owned and driven by C. N. Watebury; Cadillac, owned by G. W. Hinman of Solsville; Cadillac, owned and driven by J. S. Scala of Utica; Peerless, owned by Dr. Robert Sloan and driven by Owen E. Tugner of Utica; Peerless, owned and driven by Ernest P. Robischon of Utica; Peerless, owned by Thomas A. Jones and driven by F. R. Winslow of Utica; and Lozier, owned and driven by E. L. Crandell of Utica.

    Event No. 5, Class E. – Reo, owned by Otis Motor Sales Co. and driven by W. H. Rundell; Cadillac, owned by Utica Motor Car Co. and Morton Evans; same make, owned and driven by Thomas C. Cawley; Cadillac, same owner, driven by James H. Conley; Peerless, owned by F. M. Tobin and driven by Ernest P. Robischon; Peerless, owned by George D. Vincent and droven(sic) by F. R. Winslow.

Later Entries

    Later entries were: Hudson, Clarence Christensen, owner and driver, Mohawk event Nos. 2, 4 and 6; Lozier, E. L. Crandall, owner and driver, event Nos. 3, 4 and 6; Studebaker, Kenneth P. Grandy, owner and driver, Hamilton, event Nos. 3, 4 and 6; Chandler, Tony A. Noffer, owner and driver, Ilion, event Nos. 2, 4 and 6; Ford, Zoscor Pinore, owner and driver, Miller's Mills, N.Y., event No. 6; Oldsmobile, Leonard E. Munson, owner and driver, Utica, event Nos. 1, 4 and 6.

    It was decided last night that the Ilion club will put up detour parking signs for cars of those attending the climb and that these signs will lead cars to the hill course.

    Chairman Rahn stated that all stock car entrants must comply with the rules on the entry blanks or be disqualified.

    The approach to the hill will be closed promptly at 12:30 o'clock to everyone.

    Cars entering the climb will be required to be lined up on the starting line 15 minutes before the first event begins, Chairman Rahn said last night. They will at this time be inspected and will receive their numbers.

    At the close of the affair the cups now on display in the Fraser store will be awarded by Congressman Homer P. Snyder and Edward R. Hague, president of the New York State Automobile Association.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 8 1921
P 7

MORE ENTRIES FOR HILL CLIMB

Chairman Rahn Announces Late Listings – Event 4 Stock Free-for-All and
Event 6 Non-Stock

    Late entries for to-day’s hill climb on Vickerman Hill in Mohawk under the joint auspices of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica and the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilien were announced last night by Joseph C. Rahn, chairman of the committee on entries as follows:

    Cole, owned by T. N. C. Motor Sales Company and driven by L. W. Quick of Utica – Events 3, 4 and 6.

    Hudson, owned and driven by George Cooper of Utica – Events 3, 4 and 6.

    Though the entries in Events 4 and 6 are alike, the first will be a free-for-all stock event from a standing start and the second a non-stock free-for-all.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 8 1921
P 9

AUTO HILL CLIMB OVER TO MONDAY

Utica Motor Club Postpones Vickerman Hill Event Because of the Rain.

    The Vickerman Hill Climb, scheduled to take place at Vickerman’s Hill, Mohawk, this afternoon, has been postponed on account of the rain until Monday morning at 10 o’clock, Leo O. Coupe of the Utica Motor Club announced this afternoon at 1 o’clock.

    The hill climb is an annual event and hundreds of motorists and their friends had looked forward expectantly to the event. It was predicted that at least 10,000 persons would attend the event, had today been a fine one. All of the events scheduled for to-day will be run off Monday and all motorists and their friends are invited to attend.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 10 1921
P 11

AUTO HILL CLIMB OVER TO SATURDAY

Weather Again Interferes with Holding of Big Event at Vickerman Hill, Mohawk.

    Today’s downpour in the earlier morning hours made it advisable to again postpone the second annual hill climb of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica and the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilion and it will be held Saturday morning at 10 o’clock on Vickerman Hill, in Mohawk, if the weather is favorable.

    The prediction of fair weather for to-day had made the indications favorable to holding of the climb and early this morning spectators by the hundreds drove their cars to the Columbia street approach to the hill, the roads also being filled with high-powered cars tearing to Mohawk with their cutouts roaring along the highway between Utica and that village. At 9:30 o’clock, however, the presidents of the three participating clubs, Leo O. Coupe of Utica, Dr. Jon M. Tanzer ?? line obscured ?? Falls and C. S. Daily of Ilion, had a conference at the foot of the hill and decided to defer the climb until next Saturday morning.

    Joseph C. Rahn of Utica, chairman of the committees on entries announced that additional entries will be received until well toward the latter part of the week.
If the weather is fair a record breaking attendance is expected for Saturday’s big event, as interest in it is general.

    The condition of the road and the approach to the hill was so bad to-day because of the rain that the committee feared some serious accident might easily result if cars attempted to make any speed for the approach to the climb.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 14 1921
P 10

BIG HILL CLIMB HELD TO-MORROW

Events Start at 10 O’Clock – Big cars Race in Afternoon – Other Features.

    Much more favorable weather conditions are now indicated for to-morrow’s big second annual hill climb of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica and the Automobile Clubs of Little Falls and Ilion than prevailed last week-end and if meteorological prognostications come out according to the predictions a situation ideal for the great free outdoor program of sport for the public will obtain.

    While the program of events will start at 10 o’clock in the morning, the principal contest will come in the afternoon hours when the automobiles of larger engine cylinder bores will go roaring up the hill with cutouts thundering their staccato accents on the crisp, fall air.

    Throughout the week Joseph C. Rahn, chairman of the committee on entries, has received additional entries for the big event and it is now expected to be even greater than was anticipated last week, owing to the increased interest in it. Of the fact that the attendance will range between 10,000 and 20,000 persons there seems but little doubt.

    This big event will be under the supervision of the presidents of the three participating organizations of automobilists, Leo O. Coupe of Utica, C. S. Daily of Ilion and Dr. John M. Tanzer, nominee for mayor of Little Falls.

    The course is reached by taking the route to Mohawk on this side of the Mohawk River through Bleecker and Turner streets, past the plant of the  Savage Arms Corporation and thence via Frankfort and Ilion to the village of Mohawk where a south turn is taken in Columbia street, the beginning of the Leather Stocking Trail to Richfield Springs. The approach to the hill is at the southerly end of Columbia street.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 15 1921
P 8

NOTE: Results reported in this article differ from those reported in the 10/17/21 paper.    - wal

THOUSANDS ATTEND ANNUAL HILL CLIMB

Big Event For Motorists and Friends Held at Vickerman’s Hill, Mohawk, By
Central New York Motor Club – F. R. Winslow Breaks Road Record – Other Events
and the Entries – Two Accidents.

    A crowd estimated to exceed 10,000 people attended the annual hill climb of the Central New York Motor Club held to-day at Vickerman’s Hill, near Mohawk. The weather was ideal, the entries were large, the contests were conducted in a spirited and business like way, and the big crowd felt that the event was the biggest and the best ever held in this vicinity for motorists.

Breaks Road Record.

    F. R. Winslow of Utica, driving a Peerless Eight, owned by Thomas A. Jones broke the road record for Vickerman Hill in the third event of the climb, held under the auspices of the Central New York Motor Club, the Little Falls Automobile Club and the Ilion Automobile Club. Mr. Winslow’s time for the 2 ½ mile hill was 2:23 4-5. The old record, made by a Cadillac eight last year was 2:24.

    In setting the record, Mr. Winslow captured the third event of the program, Class C. Another Peerless car, owned by Dr. Robert Sloan and driven by Owen E. Zugner, finished second in 2:24 1-5 while a Cadillac Eight owned by the Utica Motor Car company and driven by W. Morton Evans captured the third position in 2:34.

    These times are exceptionally good for the hill which has a rise of 800 feet.

Essex Makes Record.

    In event number one, Class A, Freddie Thomas started right out by smashing the 1920 mark for the hill in an Essex owned and driven by himself, making the distance in 2:32 and capturing the event. An Essex also took second place, when N. B. Brunner piloted an entry of Brunner’s garage up the hill in 2:41. J. E. Clark secured the third position in a Davis owned and driven by himself. His time was 3.12 3-5.

Hudson First; Mercer Second.

    In event No. 2, Class B, a Hudson Super-six, owned and driven by George Cooper, made the best time of 2:48 3-5.  Charles H. Potter finished second in his Mercer in 2:57 1-5. H. Rundell drove a Reo owned by the Otis Motor Sales home third in 3:04.

Two Accidents

    Two accidents marred the events in the morning. E. D. Bailey caused considerable excitement in the first event when he failed to stay on the road with his Essex, owned by Brunner’s Garage, the car turning over four or five times before coming to a stop. Mr. Bailey, who lives in Oneonta, was not injured to any extent, losing but two teeth in the mix-up. He stated he would enter the free-for-all event late in the afternoon.

    James Scala of Utica ditched his Cadillac in a trial spin up the hill before the events started, losing a wheel and mud guard. The events were handled in good shape by guardsmen of Company M, Mohawk, the State police, Mohawk police, and Motorcycle Officers Miller and Hubbell of the Utica police force.

Summary of Events.

    First Event – Essex, No. 8, owned and driven by Freddie Thomas, first; Essex, No. 2, owned by Brunner’s garage and driven by N. B. Brunner, second; Davis, No. 9, owned and driven by J. F. Clark, third. Time, 2:32.

    Second Event – Hudson, No. 46, owned and driven by George Copper, first; Mercer, No. 14, owned and driven by Charles H. Potter, second; Reo, No. 27, owned by the Otis Motor Sales Company and driven by H. Rundell, third. Time 2:48 3-5.

    Third Event – Peerless, No. 37, owned by Thomas A. Jones and driven by F. R. Winslow, first; Peerless, No. 32, owned by Dr. Robert Sloan and driven by Owen E. Zugner, second; Cadillac, owned by Utica Motor Car Company and driven by W. Morton Evans, third. Time, 2:23 4-5.

    Entries Made.

    The following cars were entered in the Hill Climb:
        1. Lexington, R. A. Pickard.
        2. Essex, Brunner’s Garage.
        3. Hupmobile, Fred J. O’Neil.
        4. Maxwell, Smith-Addington Co.
        5. Essex, J. Stanley Bird.
        6. Essex, Berland L. McSweeney.
        7. Saxon, Ora H. VanWalker.
        8. Essex, Fred Thomas.
        9. Davis, J. E. Clark.
        10. Velie, Ares & Davies.
        11. Lexington, R. A. Pickard.
        12. Essex, Brunner’s Garage.
        13. Hupmobile, Fred J. O’Neil.
        14. Mercer, Charles H. Potter.
        15. Nash, Adams-Nash Motor Co.
        16. Chandler, J. S. Olive.
        17. Nash, Geo. Graziadei.
        18. Cole, T. N. C. Motor Sales.
        19. Reo, Otis Motor Sales.
        20. Reo, Otis Motor Sales.
        21. Reo Speed Wagon, Otis Motor Sales.
        22. Reo, Otis Motor Sales.
        23. Cadillac, Verne E. Vermilyea.
        24. Cadillac, Utica Motor Car Co.
        25. Peerless, Geo. D. Vincent.
        26. Peerless, M. F. Tobin.
        27. Reo, Otis Motor Sales.
        28. Cadillac, Utica Motor Car Co.
        29. Cadillac, Utica Motor Car Co.
        30. Cadillac, Utica Motor Car Co.
        31. Cadillac, C. H. Waterbury.
        32. Peerless, Dr. Robert Sloane.
        33. Cadillac, G. W. Hinman.
        34. Cadillac, Utica Motor Car Co.
        35. Cadillac, J. S. Scala.
        36. Peerless, E. P. Robischon.
        37. Peerless, Thos. A. Jones.
        38. Hudson, Jos. Van Deusen.
        39. Lozier, E. L. Crandall.
        40. Hudson, Clarence Christensen.
        41. Studebaker, Kenneth P. Grady.
        42. Chandler, Tony A. Noffer.
        43. Ford, Zoscor Pinore.
        44. Oldsmobile, Lawrence E. Munson.
        45. Cole, T. N. C. Motor Sales.
        46. Hudson, George Copper.
        47. Nash, F. M. Bindette.
        48. Pope-Hartford, Abe Stubley.

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Utica Observer Dispatch
Oct 17 1921
P 10

AUTO HILL CLIMB GREAT SUCCESS

Crowd of 20,000 Sees Peerless car Win four Firsts.

TWO MINOR ACCIDENTS.

Oneonta Man’s Car Overturns Four Times and James Scala’a Cadillac Hits Tree –
None Hurt – Some Features of Big Event.

    This year’s hill climb, held Saturday at Vickerman Hill, Mohawk was generally conceded to be the greatest sporting event of the kind ever held for motorists in the three participating organizations of automobilists, the Central New York Motor Club of Utica, and the automobile clubs of Little Falls and Ilion, are already putting preliminary plans into operation for making next year’s big climb even exceed this year’s phenomenal meet in the degree of its success, if such a thing is possible.

    President, Leo O. Coupe of the Utica organization, chairman of the general committee in charge of the climb, to-day expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed toward the success of the mammoth event and especially to the thousands of enthusiasts whose attendance made the big event what it was. The committee will hold a meeting this week for the settling up of details in connection with the hill climb.

Peerless is First

    Honors for the events go to the Peerless car which took four firsts, three seconds and two thirds in the hill climb. But an excellent showing was also made by the Essex, Hudson, Nash and Cadillac cars, the Essex winning first and second place in the first event, the Hudson first place in the second event, the Nash second and third places in the second event and the Cadillac third place in the fourth, second place in the fifth, third and fourth places in the third and fourth and fifth places in the sixth events. Also coming in for favorable comment for their road showing in the various events were the Davis, Durant, Oldsmobile, Mercer, Reo, Chandler, Cole, Ford and Pope-Hartford cars.

    Ernest P. Robischon, local Peerless dealer, shot a special model of the Peerless car over the hill in the miraculous time of 2:12 flat, establishing a new Vickerman record and clipping 22 seconds from the time of Vern Vermilyea in a Cadillac car last year. It is estimated that his car was making better than 80 miles an hour as he roared over the starting line and catapulted into the hill course, the low-slung machine careening to its right side wheels as it took the first sharp turn. Robischon and Aviator Stuart Davies acting as his mechanician, bringing their weight to the opposite side to aid the sturdy racer in recovering its balance. This was the last event of the day, No.6, a free-for-all non-stock event in which 20 different cars raced against time.

Other Winners.

    F. R. Winslow drove another Peerless car over the course in the same event in second place and Owner Zugner secured third place in a Peerless. Winslow’s time was 2:22 4-5 and Zugner’s 2:26 2-5.

    An Essex car driven by Fred E. Thomas  of Binghamton took first place in the first event, his time  being 2:32 flat. In the second event a Hudson car piloted by George Copper of Utica, came in first in 2:48 3-5. Winslow made first place in a Peerless in the third event in 2:23 4-5, and also took Event 4 in 2:31 flat,  and in Event 5, one for closed cars, in which his time was 2:40.

    This gave  Winslow three firsts and one second place in the events of the day and he shared honors with Robischon, winner of the premier event.

Bailey’s Spectacular Spill.

    E. D. Bailey of Oneonta failed to negotiate one of the turns while  wheeling it along at better than 70 miles and hour, and his car plunged into the ditch, overturning four times. At the third turn he managed to extricate himself from the driver’s seat and dove out to safety. He escaped with a few loosened teeth but suffered severely from shock. Later while talking of the accident with friends he suffered a reaction and collapsed. He was seriously hurt at the big Indianapolis auto racing bowl a few years ago, suffering the fracturing of several ribs on that occasion and being laid up in the hospital for several weeks as a result.

    A more ideal day for the holding of such an event could not have been selected. The air was crisp and clear and the road in excellent condition  throughout the two and one eight’s miles of the course. Conservative estimates place the attendance at nearly 20,000 and the course was lined with people throughout its extent.

Scala Hit a Tree

James S. Scala of Utica hit a tree with his big Cadillac car just prior to the meet, in a preliminary try-out and was out of the races for the day. The Cadillac men had pinned fond hopes on this car for the day and they were deeply disappointed when it was ditched. Mr. Scala was not hurt.

    An idea of the great amount of interest aroused by the meet may be gained by the statement that all the previous night cars were roaring over the hill in the moonlight while mechanicians tinkered with engines here and there along the course and drivers called attention to this or that part of the course to be watched or some way of bettering the car’s power.

    Perhaps the greatest contributing factor to the success of the day’s event was the exceptionally efficient manner in which the policing of the course was cared for. A detail of 50 State Troopers was on the hill all day under command of Captain McGrath and this force was augmented by the members of Company M, State Guard of Mohawk, and details of motorcycle and foot police from Utica, Little Falls, Mohawk and Ilion. These guardians kept the course free of the over-curious and thus prevented what might easily have otherwise been several fatal accidents.

    The committees arranging the affair and the officials in charge of it follow:

Committee and Officials.

    The committees in charge of the event follow:
    General – Leo O. Coupe, chairman; R. A..Middleton, treasurer.
    Entries and Rules – Joseph C. Rahn, chairman; Fred McIntosh for Little Falls and John Liewellyn for Ilion.
    Grounds and Policing – C. S. Daily of Ilion, chairman, and officials (sic) of meet.
    Entertainment and Reception – Edward B. Hague, chairman; Dr. John M. Tanzar for Little Falls and Irwin P. Robson for Ilion; Robert D. Fraser and Ray P. McLaughlin.
    Prizes – John  P. Liddy, chairman; George L. Vincent, Arthur W. McLaughlin, F. M. Tobin, Ernest P. Robischon, Robert A. Middleton, Leo O. Coupe, Henry Miller, Theodore C. Hieber, Edward B. Hague, C. S. Daily, Fred S. Burns, J. P. Goshon, John Thomas and John Lewis.
    Publicity – Charles D. Jarvis for Little Falls and Bert Button for Ilion.

    The officials of the climb were:
    General supervisor of events, Leo O. Coupe of Utica: supervisor of entries and classifications, Joseph C. Rahn: judges, Edward B. Hague, F. S. Burns of Ilion, Frank Baker of Herkimer, A. H. Maloney of Camden and Judge Guy L. Kretser of Little Falls; clerk of course, John P. Liddy; assistant, D. Weston Morris; timers, Dr. W. L. MacDonnell, Harvey Mills, I. P. Robson of Ilion, Arthur Hewson and John A. Breen; scorers, Stanley L. Clark and Jack G. Bailey; starter, F. W. Wood; classification committee, Messrs. Hahn, Vincent and F. W. Tobin.


EVENT NO. 1 – CLASS A

Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 161 to 230 cubic inches.
Car  Driver  Place Time
1 – Essex  Fred E. Thomas  Binghamton 2:32
2 – Essex  John Staats  Little Falls  2:41
3 – Davis J. E. Clark Utica 3:12 3-5
4 – Durant Charles Revore Syracuse 3:17 2-5
5 – Oldsmobile L. E. Munson Utica 3:43

EVENT NO. 2

Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 231 to 300 cubic inches.
Car  Driver Place Time
1 – Hudson  George Copper Utica 2:48 3-5
2 – Nash George Grazeidel Utica 2:53 1-5
3 – Nash Edwin J. Adams Little Falls 2:56 3-5
4 – Mercer Charles H. Potter Utica 2:57 1-5
5 – Reo William H. Rundell Utica 3:04 3-5
6 – Chandler  Tony Noffer Ilion 3:34 1-5
Exhibition – Reo Speed Wagon, Earl Washburn, Utica 4:26 3-5

EVENT NO. 3

Open to gasoline motor cars with piston displacement of 301 to 450 cubic inches.
Car  Driver Place Time
1 – Peerless  F. R. Winslow Utica 2:23 4-5
2 – Peerless  Owen Zugner Utica 2:24 3-5
3 – Cadillac  W. Morton Evans Utica 2:34
4 – Cadillac  V. Vermilyea Utica 2:35
5 – Cole  J. Laverdy Utica 2:38 4-5
6 – Cadillac  H. Cawley Utica 2:39 4-5
7 – Cadillac G. W. Hinman Solsville 2:52 2-5
8 – Cole E. L. O’Donoghue Utica 3:06 2-5

EVENT NO. 4

Free for all from scratch, stock cars.
Car  Driver Place Time
1 – Peerless  F. R. Winslow Utica 2:31
2 – Peerless  O. E. Zugner Utica 2:35 4-5
3 – Cadillac  V. Vermilyea Utica 2:39 1-5
4 – Essex  F. E. Thomas Binghamton 2:45
5 – Cadillac  W. Cawley Utica 2:50 1-5
6 – Cadillac  Mort Evans Utica 2:50 1-5
7 – Cole  J. Laverdy Utica 2:54 2-5
8 – Cadillac  G. W. Hinman Solsville 3:01
9 – Hudson  George Copper Utica 3:01
10 – Nash  G. Grazeidei Utica 3:07 2-5
11 – Nash  Edwin J. Adams Little Falls 3:16
12 – Reo  W. H. Rundell Utica 3:20 2-5
13 – Reo  Earl Washburn Utica 3:28 2-5
14 – Durant  C. Revore Syracuse 3:28 2-5
15 – Davis  J. E. Clark Utica 3:30
16 – Chandler  J. S. Oliver Utica 3:37 2-5
17 – Reo  H. Herschell Utica 3:40 2-5
18 – Chandler  Tony Noffer Ilion 3:44 1-5
19 – Oldsmobile  L. E. Munson Utica 4:22 2-5

EVENT NO. 5

For closed cars
Car  Driver Place Time
1 – Peerless F. R. Winslow Utica 2:40
2 – Cadillac T. Cawley Utica 2:55 1-5
3 – Peerless  Frank Flint Utica 3:05 3-5

EVENT NO. 3

Free for all, Non-stock
Car  Driver Place Time
1 – Peerless  E. P. Robischon Utica 2:12
2 – Peerless  F. R. Winslow Utica 2:22 4-5
3 – Peerless  O. Zugner Utica 2:26 2-5
4 – Cadillac  V. Vermilyea Utica 2:34 2-5
5 – Cadillac  Cawley Utica 2:36 1-5
6 – Essex  F. E. Thomas Binghamton 2:36 2-5
7 – Cole  Laverdy Utica 3:40 1-5
8 – Cadillac  Mort Evans Utica 2:44
9 – Cadillac  G. W. Hinman Solsville 2:53
10 – Nash  G. Grazeidei Utica 2:59 1-5
11 – Nash  Edwin Adams Little Falls 3:05
12 – Chandler  Tony Noffer Utica 3:08 3-5
13 – Reo  W. H. Rundell Utica 3:09
14 – Reo  ----- Utica 3:15 1-5
15 – Reo  Earl Washburn Utica 3:19 1-5
16 – Chandler  J. S. Oliver Utica 3:23 2-5
17 – Durant  C. Revore Syracuse 3:26
18 – Ford  Roscoe Finmore ----- 3:27
19 – Pope Hartford  Abe Stubley Frankfort 3:27 1-5
20 – Oldsmobile  L. E. Munson Utica 3:54 3-5


A comparison of this and last year’s event figures follow:

EVENT NO. 2

1920 1921
Hudson  2:37 2-5 Hudson 2:43 3-5
King  2:53 1-5 Nash 2:53 1-5
King  3:00 4-5 Nash 2:56 1-5
Reo  3:14 Mercer 2:57 1-5
Mitchell  3:35 4-5 Reo 3:04 3-5
Mitchell  3:51 1-5 Chandler 3:34 1-5

EVENT NO. 3


1920 1921
Cadillac  2:24 Peerless  2:23 4-5
Cadillac  2:39 2-5 Peerless 2:34 3-5
Cole  2:42 Cadillac 2:34
Marmon  2:45 Cadillac 2:35
Peerless  2:46 Cole 2:39 4-5
Cole  2:54 1-5 Cadillac 2:39 4-5
National  4:17 1-5 Cadillac 2:52 2-5
Cole  3:06 2-5

EVENT NO 5
Closed Cars

1920 1921
Cadillac Sedan  3:02 2-5 Peerless 2:40
Peerless Sedan  3:18 4-5 (confirm) Cadillac 2:55 1-5
Hudson Sedan  2:28 (3:28??) Peerless 3:05 2-5

EVENT NO. 6
Free For All

1920 1921
Cadillac  2:34 1-5 Peerless 2:12
Cadillac  2:37 Peerless 2:22 4-5
Hudson  2:38 Peerless 2:26 2-5
Peerless  2:40 Cadillac 2:34 2-5
Cole  2:43 2-5  Cadillac 2:36 1-5
Marmon  2:45 Essex 2:36 2-5
Essex  2:45 Cole 2:40 1-5
Cole 2:51 Cadillac 2:44
King 2:54 4-5 Cadillac 2.53
Essex 2:55 2-5 Nash 2:59 1-5
Hudson Sedan 3:18 4-5 Nash 3:05
Chevrolet 3:28 4-5 Chandler  3:08 3-5
Willys-Knight 3:41 Reo  3:09

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Utica Saturday Globe
Oct 22 1921 Saturday
P 10

Making 60 an Hour on Vickerman Hill

(Photo of car on hill with notation, " Just a glimpse down the incline during the hill climb, which attracted 30,000 enthusiastic automobilists to Mohawk Saturday)

SHOWED SOME SPEED

All Records Broken at Big Hill Climb Saturday

    If there is any one thing more than another that will make a man grit his teeth and cuss, it is to have his car stall on a hill , and he takes as a personal affront the suggestions addressed to him by the occupants of other automobiles that sail past.

    That is why every grown man bases the real worth of a car by its hill climbing properties, and that is the reason for the annual hill climb at Mohawk.

     Vickerman Hill was selected for this event some years ago and every year since the big annual event has been staged there before a gallery of enthusiastic motorists. This year's event took place Saturday afternoon, when 20,000 persons witnessed what was probably the greatest automobile racing classic in the history of the sport in this State. The event was conducted under the auspices of the Central New York Motor Club of Utica, and the automobile clubs of Little Falls and Ilion, and its complete success shaded all previous attempts at hill climbing in this section of the State.

     Driving a 1916 model Peerless, Ernest P. Robischon broke all Vickerman Hill records in the premier event of the day, the non-stock, free-for-all, open to any gasoline motor car. The car went over the course in 2 minutes and 12 seconds, averaging a speed that approximated 60 miles an hour in the 800-foot rise of the hill.

     Peerless cars won the first two places in the third event, the first two in the fourth, the first in the fifth, and the first three in the sixth, thus making it pretty nearly a Peerlesss day.

     Essex, Hudson and Cadillac also made excellent showings in the meets. An Essex driven by Fred Thomas of Binghamton, took first place in the first event, while Fred Staats of Little Falls, driving the same make of car, came in second. F. R. Winslow was the big man of the day, winning three firsts driving Peerless cars. Cadillac drivers took one second and two thirds in the events, but the car on which they had pinned their hopes was lost to the races when James S. Scala's phaeton was ditched in a preliminary tryout before the races.

     Another spectacular spill was when an Essex, driven by L. B. Bailey, of Oneonta, failed to negotiate the turn half way up the hill and turned over into the ditch. Bailey had some of his teeth jarred loose, but was otherwise uninjured.

     Plans are already being made for next year's event, when Cadillac, Lexington and other automobile enthusiasts intend to alter the existing state of affairs brought about by this year's races.

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