Bring Back The Ferrari Hill Climb

 

When I was ten years old, a lifelong love affair with fast cars was kindled when Ferarri’s form the 50’s and 60’s roared down the hill by my house in Gold Hill. The first Ferrari Hill Climb took place in 1972 and I remember to this day the feeling of amazement as the cars drove by all day long. I remember counting the long summer days until the weekend in September when the loud engines from the vintage roadsters would roar up the Truck Route. As teenagers, we would hike to an outcropping along the route and spend all day watching and listening to these wonderful machines tear up the hill.

This year we have been denied this experience by the VCTC. Deny Dotson referred to safety concerns in his refusal to issue the necessary permits for the Ferrari Club of America to run one of two remaining Hill Climbs in the USA.

Safety Is A Concern

Safety has always been a concern since the event started in 1972. The event is inherently dangerous and drivers have been killed. However, the safety concerns have been essentially the same since the event started. There are always ways to improve the safety of the event.

All things being equal, this event is a one of a kind event that brings people to town to spend money.

Club members make it a point to stay on the hill. They eat and drink in Virginia City and their spouses and friends spend money. And they have money to spend.

 

 

And, unlike many events held during the year, the Ferrari Club gives back to the community. They have regularly donated to the High School students and the Fire Department.

Last year one member donated a School Bus to the Storey County School District.

Every event presents a unique set of challenges to the community, and the Ferrari Hill Climb is no different. But this event brings people who spend money to the town who actually stay and spend money. The event gives back to the community and brings people from around the region up on the hill.

Call To Action

If you would like to support the return of the Hill Climb,  come to the VCTC Meeting on June 14th. Vendors and concerned citizens are encouraged to assemble at the Canvas Cafe at 9:00 am on June 14th. We will have a strategy session before heading over to the meeting at the Bank Building.

If you can’t make it but would like to sign the petition that I will deliver to the VCTC Meeting and the County Commissioner Meeting on June 19th, email me at editor@thestoreyteller.online or call 775-583-8655 and I’ll swing by. We need your support to bring this back.

Additionally, please send County Manager Pat Whitten and Deny Dotson an email letting them know you support the return of the Ferrari Hill Climb. You can reach Pat at pwhitten@storeycounty.org and Deny at ddotson@storeycounty.org