Barbara Lawlor

Central City

It wasn't so much about speed or time or muscle. It was about history and classy cars and a time when most of the drivers only dreamed about the vehicles they were driving.

Back in the 1950’s, a hot rod race was about the girl waving the checkered flag, the dice hanging in the window, the roar of the engine at the start, the rod laying rubber. It was about the Four Lads, Frankie Avalon, Buddy Holly and Little Richard.

Last weekend, on the streets of Central City, the sounds and smells of the Central City Hot Rod Hill Climb took one back to Bill Haley and the Comets, to Desotos and Fords, to coupes and convertibles and dual cams. The Fourth Annual Hot Rod Hill Climb began on Friday with the reliability run, the Kick-off party at the Reserve Casino and a campfire at the KOA.

About 125 Classic hot rods showed up for the event, coming from California, Wyoming, Nebraska and New Mexico. For years, these baby boomers have worked on their classic cars which live mostly tarped in garages. They live for the chance to drive their baby along roads lined with admirers urging them on.

One driver said, "This is all I wanted back in the day and I couldn't afford it then."

One of the biggest hot rod events began in the summer of 1952, when the Denver Sports Car Club initiated a hill climb to the Great Divide. Called the Alpine Trials then, it became the Race of Gentleman in Georgetown.

Over the years the hill climb has become part of the passion to re-live an era long gone. The Hot Rod Hill Climb is all about the “Good Old Days” that still live in the hearts of those who came from the rock and roll days, before there were Beats or Hippies or the millennials. The 1954 Georgetown Hot Rod Hill Climb was the last of its kind, with the Governor at the time outlawing racing of any type on Colorado roads.

Hot rod aficionados wouldn't let it die. The owner of Nick's Hot Rod Garage, of Englewood, went to Georgetown in January of 2013 to talk to city leaders, and the historic event was re-instituted, taking place on September 14, 2013 with the 60th Anniversary recreation of the original Hill Climb.

The Hot Rod World celebrated and a tradition was reborn. The Central City Hill Climb is eight miles long, four lanes wide, 23 turns, and a 2,500 ft. altitude change.

When the girl with the checkered flag jumped into the air and waved frantically, the cars at the start took off while the crowd cheered them on, heading uphill, spewing dust, its driver and passengers often wearing goggles and cool hats.

The paint jobs were magnificent. Some of them were rust. One of them had a matching Schwin bike in the bed. One of the cars was driven with a chain. Each one was unique and well-loved, and drivers and spectators alike enjoyed the fall day that could have taken place 62 years ago.