Antique Cars Participate in 100th Anniversary of the Port Jefferson Hill Climb

Port Jefferson Village CenterOn July 18, 2010 the town of Port Jefferson celebrated the centennial anniversary of one of Long Island’s most famous automobile competitions – the Port Jefferson Hill Climb. Dozens of beautiful antique and vintage cars from 1975 and earlier lined the parking lot of the Village Center. It was a sea of beautiful paint, finely polished brass and beautiful wood grain.

The course for this event began at the corner of East Broadway & East Main Street and climbed 2000 feet to the top of the hill terminating at the gateway of Belle Terre at Cliff Road. Historically the hill climb race was a measure of a car’s strength and torque.

Cars on display before the climb:

White - Antique Cars at Port Jefferson Hill Climb Event Fire Chief Antique Ford Car Port Jefferson Hill Climb Antique Ford Pickup Port Jefferson Hill Climb
Antique Ford Truck Port Jefferson Hill Climb Renault Antique Car Port jefferson Hill climb Bugatti Antique Cars at Port Jefferson Hill Climb
Hudson Antique truck Port Jefferson Hill Climb MG Dashboard Port Jefferson Hillclimb Antique cars - Port Jefferson Hill Climb
Port Jefferson hill Climb Port Jefferson Hill Climb Port Jefferson Hill Climb

click all photos to enlarge

The car owners were friendly and happy to tell you about their beautiful vehicles. We spent some time talking with the owners of this beautiful Ford. He even let my daughter give his ahooga horn a go. I think I might have enjoyed that more than she did.

He mentioned an interesting fact that I was complete unaware of. The original headlamps were powered by acetylene. He does not run a tank so he only drives the car during daylight hours.

Antique Ford Car Port Jefferson Hill Climb

When I first moseyed into the parking area of the Village Center, the first car that I laid eyes on was a long, tough looking racer that bore the number 8 on it’s radiator. For some reason it rung a bell with me but I couldn’t place why I would’ve ever seen it before.

When I came home and started looking for information on the car, I was lead back to Vanderbiltcup.com. As it turns out that was one of the sites I’d used as a source of information when researching the De Dion Bouton tricycle. Ah ha!

1909 Alco-6 Racer The Black Beast Port Jefferson Hill Climb Event

This 1909 Alco-6’s pedigree boasts 2 Vanderbilt Cup wins in 1909 and 1910 as well as participation in the very first Indy 500 in 1911. Not too shabby, huh? The car returned to Long Island in 2008, when it was purchased by local motorsport historian and enthusiast Howard Kroplick.

Bete Noir - the Black Beast 1909 Alco-6 Black Beast 1909 Alco-6 Under the Bonnet Alco-6 Racer - Black Beast Bete Noir

Link and Information on the 1909 Alco-6 “Black Beast”

Up, Up, Up We Go!

Port Jefferson Mayor Margo Garant dropped the green flag sending the first cars on their way. It was so exciting to watch them chug up the hill cheered on by onlookers. Admittedly a few cars looked as though they might not make it but most of them powered on steadily up, up, up.

When the beautiful blue Bugatti made it’s way to the starting line I knew we were in for a treat. The driver easily sped his way up the hill past us. The sound of his car zipping by was like a song.

Bugatti Racer Port Jefferson Hill Climb

In the line behind the Bugatti was the car that held my fascination for the day; the Black Beast. I was so excited to see him roll away from the line. He began his ascent and then… the big black racer chugged and chugged and slowed… and sputtered to a stop partway up the hill.

Oh no! I could see steam coming out from under the front of car.  Unfortunately I wouldn’t have the opportunity to hear it rumble past me on the hill on this day. I was fortunate enough to see and hear it driving earlier in the day so that would have to do.

Alco-6 and Fiat Stop at Port Jefferson Hill Climb


Rumble Seat Port Jefferson Hill Climb Antique Truck Port Jefferson Hill Climb
Antique Ford Port Jefferson Hill Climb Antique White Car Port Jefferson Hill Climb Port Jefferson Hill Climb

Some of the more “modern” vehicles on hand:

Vintage Land Rover Port Jefferson Hill Climb Vintage Jaguar Port Jefferson Hill climb Port Jefferson Hill Climb
Porsche Port Jefferson Hill Climb Vintage Jaguar Potr Jefferson hill Climb Nifty Studebaker Pickup Truck
Dodge Dart with 1 primered fender! Port Jefferson Hill Climb Volkswagen Bus Port Jefferson Hill Climb
Your Help Appreciated
I’m afraid most of the cars did not have signage with their details, so I am short on information on makes, models & years. If anyone knows anything about these beautiful vehicles, please comment below!

We had such a great time at this event. I only hope we don’t have to wait another 100 years to attend it again!

Historical Port Jeff Hill Climb Information:

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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8 Responses

  1. Beautiful machines! Kudos to your town for hosting such an event.

  2. wendyvee says:

    Great post. Jealous that I missed it.

    You didn’t happen to steal that wicked-cool VW van for me did you?

  3. Shybiker says:

    Great post, great pictures.

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      Thanks, Ralph 🙂 It was really fun!

      Doug- They were absolutely gorgeous autos.
      I must confess though that I would LOVE to see the town host a vintage motorcycle event. That would really make my heart go pitter-patter.

      Wendy- That guy lives in town and can be seen cruising his fabulous van all the time. The interior is just as beautiful as the exterior. My favorite part is the headlight eyebrows 😀

  4. cynthia q. says:

    looks like a fun event-great pics 🙂

  5. José says:

    Hi,

    Awesome cars and great photos.
    My favourite cars are: Talbot Lago from 1938 and Bugatti Type 57.
    I’m putting some money aside to buy them in about 300 years 🙂

    José

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      Hi José – Thanks for the nice comment. You have some pretty fancy taste in cars. Both of those look spectacular. I’ll cross my fingers extra hard that you win the lotto. 300 years is a long time to wait! 🙂

  1. July 19, 2010

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