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LAUREL RUN — To Toni Oswald, the annual Giants Despair Hill Climb is more than simply a race to see who can get their vehicle to the top of a challenging 1-mile stretch of sloping roadway with the best time — it is a time-honored tradition.
Oswald, who works as a starting-line official, made sure to provide attendees with a bit of history about the event and her family Saturday.
“My dad, Bob Oswald Sr., is racing a 1970 blue Volkswagen Ghia,” she said. “At 81, I believe he’s the oldest racer. His new goal is to make it to 90.”
Her brother, Bob Oswald Jr., was racing a 2004 silver Viper in this year’s competition.
“My dad’s good. My brother’s excellent,” she said. “As my dad gets older, he’s a bit less competitive.”
Toni herself broke a record when she raced in 1975.
“My mother and I were the first mother-daughter team,” she recalled. “A member of our family has been involved in every hill climb held for the last 45 years. It’s cool that we can do this as a family.”
Bill Norton, Reading, who raced a 1960 Cooper NorVin Formula 3, was enjoying both the spirit of camaraderie and competition as he put some finishing touches on his car.
Newly retired, Norton initially thought he might be bored with having so much free time. But he said his passion for racing and for making improvements to his vehicle is keeping him busy.
“I probably put about 20 hours a week into it,” he said. “I built it from scratch.”
Physically racing the car, he said, is the least stressful part of the event.
“Racing can be challenging, even exhausting,” he said. “But it’s even more of a challenge mentally.”
Still, Norton’s goal for the race was not to win.
“I won last year, but I was the only racer entered in my category,” he said. “If I don’t win, it’s really all right. My goal is to make it to the top of the hill and to make it to the bottom of the hill without my brakes failing.”
Norton named his car Sisyphus after the Greek mythological figure who was forced to roll a large boulder up a hill for eternity.
“Some races feel just like that,” he said, laughing. “Our first race, we had to jump-start the car at the starting line.”
Norton, who was surrounded by family and friends he called his “pit crew,” enjoyed the day’s festival-like atmosphere.
“I simply want to make noise, make friends and have fun,” he said. “Of course it’s a competition, but it’s also about fellowship. I’ll keep coming back.”
Volunteer George Willis, Laurel Run, said the event, in existence since 1906 with a few breaks, requires a great deal of effort and commitment.
“There’s a lot of ground maintenance to be done, camping grounds to be overseen,” he said. “Those involved in making the race happen don’t have the same chance to enjoy the race as people just attending or just driving.”
Willis credited the Hill Climb Association and the Danko family with making the race possible.
Darryl Danko, Laurel Run, who has won more than anyone in the history of the race, was sitting out this year’s competition because of an injury.
Although eager to get back in the driver’s seat as soon as possible, he was pleased to spend time with other racers and quick to provide information about the race.
“We have about 110 cars entered,” he said. “That broke a record.”
The hill climb resumes Sunday on East Northampton Street.
