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Today, July 15, 2024, motorsport history was written on the demanding slopes of East Northampton Street. Mark Aubele of Irwin, Pennsylvania, didn't just win the famed Giants Despair Hillclimb; he obliterated the course record, cementing his legacy at the Laurel Run event with a stunning time of 35.602 seconds. His performance sliced more than two full seconds off the previous benchmark, set just last year, and secured his second career victory in this grueling test of driver and machine.
Aubele's achievement is made more remarkable by the machinery involved. Piloting a 2012 Wolf GB08, he was the sole entrant in the high-powered Special 2 (1651-3500cc) category this year. This marks a significant evolution from his inaugural 2022 win, achieved behind the wheel of a 2003 Ford Mustang LS Swap. The data reveals the impact of the new car: Aubele was over six seconds quicker this year compared to his winning run four years ago, demonstrating a dramatic leap in both vehicle performance and driver prowess. The previous record holder, two-time winner Ron Moreck, had only just broken an 11-year-old record in July 2023, setting the stage for Aubele's record-shattering reply.
The competition for the remaining podium spots was fierce, though Aubele's pace left the field in his wake. Dan Foley, hailing from Western Pennsylvania, secured a hard-fought second place with a time of 42.146 seconds in his 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X. He narrowly edged out Michael Robinson, who clocked 42.661 seconds in a 1999 Chevrolet Camaro to take third. The battle for top local honors was equally intense, with Bear Creek Township's Bill Feist claiming fourth place (42.679 seconds) in his purpose-built 2008 Stohr F1000 sports racer.
The family affair added a unique dimension to the weekend's results. Mark Aubele was joined on the timing sheets by his wife, Michele Aubele, who delivered a strong performance of her own. She guided her 2008 BMW 135i to a sixth-place finish with a time of 44.296 seconds, showcasing the competitive spirit that runs in the family. The top-ten finishers represented a diverse mix of machinery and geography, from Raymond Kochin's 2020 SpeedCar Extreme in fifth to competitors from Ohio and New Hampshire piloting everything from a vintage 1978 Wheeler FSV to a modified 2015 Chevrolet Silverado.
The Unforgiving Ascent: Why Giants Despair Stands Apart Beyond the raw times, Aubele's record underscores the unique challenge posed by the Giants Despair Hillclimb itself. Unlike circuit racing, hill climbs are a singular, all-out assault on a steep, winding road course, where there is no room for error and no second chance within a run. The Laurel Run course is notorious for its immediate, punishing gradient and a series of tight, blind turns that demand perfect commitment and car control. Setting a record here is not merely about horsepower; it's a masterclass in precision, bravery, and managing momentum on a track that offers no forgiveness. This context makes Aubele's margin of victory—over six seconds clear of the next fastest competitor—all the more impressive, highlighting a run of near-flawless execution.
A Historical Perspective on Hill Climb Dominance To fully appreciate the scale of Aubele's two-second record break, it's valuable to look at the history of the event. Hill climb records are often chipped away by tenths of a second over years, making a multi-second leap a rare and monumental feat. The previous record, held by Ron Moreck, had itself toppled a mark that stood for over a decade. Aubele's new time of 35.602 seconds doesn't just reset the clock; it potentially establishes a new performance plateau that may define competition for years to come. This pattern of occasional, seismic shifts in the record book is characteristic of grassroots motorsports like hill climbing, where advancements in amateur engineering, tire technology, and driver skill can converge to produce a dramatic leap forward.
The 2024 running of the Giants Despair Hillclimb will be remembered as the year Mark Aubele redefined the possible. His seamless adaptation to a new, more capable car and his ruthless efficiency on the mountain road have set a daunting new standard. As the motorsport community analyzes the data and the other competitors regroup, one question looms: how long will this new record stand? For now, Aubele's name is etched at the very top of one of American hill climb racing's most challenging and historic leaderboards.
