Port Jefferson, NY - Fairfield couple Gwen & Parker Ackley just participated in a re-creation of the 1910 Port Jefferson Hill Climb, which takes place in Port Jefferson, NY. They were driving their 1911 Hupmobile Model 20 Roadster, which has been fun to drive though painstaking to maintain. They were glad to share the story of their effort and accomplishment.
"We had been working towards this goal for months to be able to take the 1911 Hupmobile Model 20 Roadster to the re-creation of the 1910 Port Jefferson Hill Climb," shared Gwen. "It occurs every five years, and we have taken the 1915 Dodge [their second vintage automobile] to it twice. In 1910, three Hupmobile Roadsters similar to ours had entered and won the three top awards in their category. When Parker had seen those vintage photos, he decided that our Hup should go to the Hill Climb in 2020. Due to the pandemic, the hill climb was delayed to this year."
Parker had been working on the Hupmobile every day since May, and was getting very discouraged, Gwen reported. "For every two steps forward, it's one step backwards. The intense heatwaves did not help. We were already signed up to do the Hill Climb in Port Jefferson on August 14th, having paid for the event and ferry passage well in advance."
The Hup was finally back together in July, though during test drives, Parker discovered the transmission was slipping. In order to fix it, the car had to be disassembled again; engine removed and rear end disconnected.
"Last weekend, a freak occurrence caused the back of the car to fall off of the temporary wheels, onto part of the steel frame, bending it. It took Parker a lot of hammering to straighten it out, then clean it so I could repaint it," Gwen shared, describing the continuing difficulties.
When Parker put the radiator on the car earlier in the week and started to fill it, it leaked from the back of one of the hoses. So they drained the radiator that evening and Parker took most of the night off. The next day he looked so solemn, Gwen said, and she could tell that he did not think that they would make it.
Finally Parker got it put back together this past Thursday evening [August 12]. Friday morning he did test drives, and deemed that the transmission was now okay and, while other things still need more adjustments, he assessed that it should be able to go 12 miles, which was all that was needed for the Port Jeff trip. About 10 miles to the ferry and back, and two miles while at Port Jeff.
The weather had been so very hot and humid, with a threat of thunderstorms on Saturday, Gwen described. "We had hoped that the Hill Climb would be delayed a week, but it was still on despite the forecast. We packed rain gear and figured we would be getting wet at some point. I worried about what it would be like to ferry the car and us back home during a thunderstorm."
"Saturday I got up at 4 am, Parker at 4:30 am, to get dressed in vintage clothing and get the Hup to the ferry early to try to get 'first on, first off' accommodations," Gwen said. "We seemed to get every stoplight through Bridgeport, but still arrived in plenty of time to get VIP parking on board. We had smooth sailing across the Sound and it was a beautiful morning. From our tradition from the past two hill climb trips with the Dodge, we created the 'Kate and Leo' scene from the Titanic movie while sailing on the Park City ferry."
They had a great reception when they arrived at the Visitor Center in Port Jeff, Gwen shared. "A lot of cars already were there, but we were invited to park in front of the building, which was in shade and very comfortable. A reporter from the Port Jefferson Record took photos, and we were also interviewed for some local TV show that will be on Youtube later this week."
By the time the hill climb event started, they were blocked from leaving our parking space. That caused them to end up in a very long line of cars waiting to get to the start line. Unfortunately, the Hup did not make it all the way up the hill. "Spare plugs had fouled. Carb set too rich and we had it idle too long of a time before the start," said Gwen. "Spectators helped to push the car to get us turned back around. We coasted downhill back to our parking space. We were told that there were some other cars much newer than ours that also did not make the hill the entire way. One car even had its brakes seize up somehow. Parker cleaned the Hup's plugs, tweaked the carb, but was very apprehensive if we would have problems again on our return trip. At least it should get us onto and off of the ferry when the time came."
After a quick lunch at popular Port Bistro & Pub, they boarded the return ferry to beat possible thunderstorms, had a smooth crossing and successfully made it back to their home in the Tunxis Hill area without further problems. "So it could have made the hill climb, if the conditions were right," Gwen concluded.
"Lots of photos taken, so Hup was very appreciated. We were thanked by a lot by folks. We made it home safely. Tired, a bit sun and wind burned, but okay," Gwen sighed.
Your weary travelers,
Gwen & Parker
F