April 1, 2002

In addition to their strong road race finishes, Velie cars were also well-known as champion hill climbers in the early 1900s.

The company’s biggest claim was that the winning cars were factory-built stock — not modified or specially built to race. And many of the drivers were owners — not professional racers. Read on to learn more about some of these unique events held across the country.

Located about 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, Algonquin, Illinois sports three main hills, making it a very popular place for Hill Climb races. The Velie ran often and ran well in such events. In fact, this was the location for the first Velie race and a first-place finish.

Philip’s Hill at the north end of Main Street let drivers get a flying start for the one-mile-long run. Perry Hill was lowered in 1910 due to a disagreement with the Hill Climb crew, which led to the addition of Jayne’s Hill for the last three years of the competition. Jayne’s Hill was also called Algonquin Hill.

On August 7, 1909, the #34 Velie driven by John Stickney took first place in the class for cars that cost $1,250-2,000. The car ran up two different hills (Philip’s and Perry) and combined times to win the contest.

This artwork was created based on a postcard of the Algonquin Hill Climb events. Here, the Velie races to victory.

On September 17, 1910, a Velie 30 won the class for cars with 161-230 cubic-inch engines, as well as took second and third place in another race. In the free-for-all, a Velie took third and fifth places. Philip’s Hill and the new Jayne’s Hill hosted the racers from 1910 to 1912.

On June 8, 1911, two Velie cars again raced up Philip’s Hill and Jayne’s Hill. Drivers Cooney and Stickney placed well in five different races with times ranging from 41 seconds to 1 minute. Cooney won the stock division for $1,601-2,000 cars. The two came in second and third in non-stock race based on engine size, and won third and fourth in a similar class.

Not one but three 1911 Velie H1 Racytypes competed in the challenging hill climb contest at Thurlow Hill near Poland Springs, Maine, on June 17, 1911.

One walked away with the Portland Sunday Telegram trophy of Class 4A (cars selling for $1,601-2,000). Driver George R. Wallace Jr. of Fitchburg, Mass. covered the 2/3-mile distance with a time of 1.09, beating 11 other cars. Today, the trophy belongs to an enthusiast who lives just five miles from the famous hill, where the road is now paved, he reports.

An ornate silver trophy is all that remains of Velie racing history at the Algonquin Hill Climbs held from 1909-11. Awarded to the Model H1 Stock Car in 1911, the trophy's inscription notes the car's times from racing up Algonquin and Phillips Hill, as well as its finish time of just one minute, which earned the Velie a "National Division Record."

According a newspaper account of the day’s events: "…these men have national reputations as fearless drivers, who take every and all chances when competing a race. It is accepted that with these men in the contest and with the difficult course starting, as it does, on a curve, hitting a sharp rise, and bouncing around another curve at the top of this rise, running straight for a short distance and catching a big hump in the road, followed by a slight turn, with a straight-away run of nearly 100 yards and a steep grade to the finish line, some exciting incidents will be seen."

Later that afternoon, Wallace’s Velie won third place (1.05) in a free-for-all for stock cars, while P.B. Mouiton’s Velie took eighth place with a time of 1.23. Another race for any gas car put Mouiton’s Velie in second place at 1.04 just ahead of a Buick at 1.0425 and M.H. Luce in his Velie at 1.05.

While not really a race, climbing up a hill with a 37.5% grade along the bed of an incline railroad was quite a feat according to a 1911 testimonial. E. Roger Stearns of Los Angeles risked his life to do so in his Velie touring car. Going up was easier than coming down, said Stearns, but the Velie’s workmanship withstood the strain of such a challenge. Stearns is the same owner of the Velie that ran in the third annual Los Angeles to Phoenix Road Race in 1910.

Early SUV

As stated in an actual testimonial featured in a 1911 brochure: "E. Roger Stearns of Los Angeles has risked his life a number of times, but his most daring act was pulled off recently, when he climbed the Mt. Washington incline in his Velie touring car. Taking a dare, Stearns went up the 37.5 percent grade by following the roadbed of the Incline Railroad.

"Stearns shot the car up hill... but the question was how to get down. Few automobiles have ever driven up a 37 percent grade and just as few have driven down. The boards were slick and greasy, which caused the wheels to slide most dangerously. When the car reached the steep part of the grade ... locking the wheels with the brakes did not prevent the wheels from sliding. Stearns threw the car in reverse gear, which feat alone saved the car and himself from destruction.

"The feat should speak volumes for the manner in which Velie cars are built. The workmanship and material must have been the best to have outstood such a strain. This climb has never been accomplished or even attempted by any other car or driver. In attempting this, the driver risks his life, upon the dependability of his car, and we ask what better testimonial could Mr. Stearns have given..."