Jack Danko

I am very sad to report that Jack Danko passed away on Monday, March 18, 2024, at the age of 80.  Giant Despair Hillclimb and the rest of the PHA series will not be the same without him.

Our sympathy and condolences to his family.

His obituary can be found here.

2024 PHA Display at Carlisle Import / Performance Nationals

Attention PHA Members:  Registration for the 2024 Carlisle Import/Performance Nationals on May 10 and 11 is now open.  We need your race car for the PHA race car display! 

Please click on the Signup Link on the Current Schedule/Results page of this website for instructions and more information. 

Some important items to note:

  • In addition to registering with Carlisle using the given link, please also email Bill Norton, Event Chairperson to let him know you are coming –49comet@gmail.com
  • Please register by April 30 if possible so that the event organizers can plan accordingly.  However, this does not mean you can’t sign up at the last minute — just contact Bill Norton.
  • You can choose to display your car for Friday only, Saturday only, or both days.

Some additional information…

The Carlisle Import/Performance Nationals is the largest import/performance car show in the US.  Since 2006, the PHA has enjoyed a major presence at this show, and our display has served well to publicize and promote the PHA and its activities.

Each year, the PHA display attracts hundreds of visitors, who stop by to learn who we are, what we do, and how our racing activities promote the oldest continuing form of automobile completion – hill climbing. It includes constantly running video, photographs, printed literature, and a large and attractive display of PHA race cars along with their (equally attractive of course) drivers and crew.

And that is where you come in! Our race cars and members have always been the most popular and interesting part of our exhibit. We need a minimum of 25 PHA cars, but more would be better. In addition, if you have some time to stay and interact with visitors, you will help make our display even more interesting.

For questions, contact Bill Norton, 2024 PHA Carlisle Import show organizer, at 49comet@gmail.com.

2024 PHA Organizational Meeting — March 9

The PHA Organizational Meeting is scheduled for Saturday March 9 at 1:00 PM. It will be held at Giannotti’s Country Manor Restaurant, 3118 Pricetown Road, Fleetwood, PA. You can arrive any time after noon if you want to get a bite to eat first. Note that this is the same restaurant we held our meetings at a few years ago.

We will also be providing a zoom option for those who cannot attend in person. For information on how to request zoom credentials and on how to use zoom, please see the links for this meeting on our Current Schedule/Results page.

Meeting Survey

Hi PHA members,
As we mentioned in our last two meetings, we have created a survey for everyone to fill out that will help us to make our meetings even more effective.
Just click on the link below – it will take less than 3 minutes! Thank you so much for your help with this.

Survey Link

All responses are completely anonymous.
Eli Sharp
PHA Secretary

Bertie Geib

Some sad news. Bertie Geib passed away on January 23, 2024 at her home. It looks like her service will be private, but Bertie’s obituary is posted here:

https://www.centralpaprofessionalservices.com/obituaries/Bertha-Geib/#!/Obituary

I didn’t get the chance to meet Bertie until recent years, but she was a really interesting and fun person. I loved that she came to the PHA Banquet to present the PHA Championship Series Lloyd Geib award (created in honor of her late husband). One year that she couldn’t make it, she even joked that Rich should dress up as her to present the award. She was a great sport, and I regret that I didn’t get to know her sooner.

Grace

Group Buy on Head and Neck Support Devices

From Wil Sekella, Susquehanna MotorSports:

NOTE: please contact Wil directly (contact information can be found at the end of this message) for more information or to place an order.

Knowing we are going mandatory on H.A.N.S. (Head and Neck Support) Devices, I contacted my vendors and asked them to extend discounts if we did a group buy.  We carry a couple of vendors for H.A.N.S. devices.  We no longer carry HANS Brand Devices.

The first one is done by Sparco.  It is shown here.
The price is normally $450.00.  We are offering it at $405.00 each plus PA sales tax if sold within PA.  These can be picked up to save on shipping costs or we can ship them.  There are no further discounts on this device
 
The second vendor is Zamp-Racing.  They have 4 models available.
They are shown here:
 
If I purchase multiple numbers of a single design, we get better discounts which we are passing along.  See the breakdown chart below.
 
Z-Tech Series 8A – Normally $367.95
Quantity Sold
  1  –  $331.16
   2 –  $320.49
  12 – $310.46
  48 – $300.11
100+  $289.76
 
Z-Tech Series 6A – Normally $325.95  This one is for tall people
Quantity Sold
  1  –  $293.36
   2 –  $284.19
  12 – $275.03
  48 – $265.85
100+  $256.68
 
Z-Tech Series 3A – Normally $283.95  This one is for larger people or people with a big chest.
Quantity Sold
  1  –  $246.09
   2 –  $238.40
  12 – $230.71
  48 – $223.01
100+  $215.33
 
Z-Tech Series 2A – Normally $241.95.  This one is for average sized people.
Quantity Sold
  1  –  $209.69
   2 –  $203.13
  12 – $196.59
  48 – $190.02
100+  $183.48
 
PLEASE NOTE – The Series 6A, 3A and 2A come with helmet anchors.  The Series 8A does not.  They must be purchased separately.  Pricing Below.
 
Anchors for the Series 8A – Normally $49.95
Quantity Sold
  1  –  $43.29
   2 –  $41.94
  12 – $40.59
  48 – $39.23
100+  $37.88
 
PA sales tax will be added to all orders sold to a PA address.
 
Shipping cost will be added to those that want their devices shipped.
 
Orders will be taken up until Friday 03/01/2024  5PM.  Orders will be taken in full including credit card and whether you want us to ship the device, shipping added.
 
Since we do not know the final cost until the ordering period is closed, we will be processing the orders starting Monday 03/04/2024.
 
Anyone is free to contact me for fitment questions or any questions in general.
 
We at Susquehanna Motorsports are trying to help alleviate the cost and keep everyone safer.
 
Regards,
Wil Sekella
Susquehanna MotorSports
458 East Main St – Shipping
PO Box 209 – Mailing
Virginville, PA 19564
P 610-944-3233
F 610-944-3234
“When you see the tree you’re about to hit, it’s called under steer. When you can only feel and hear it, it’s over steer.”

2024 PHA Annual Meeting – Jan 27

The PHA Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday January 27 at 1:00 PM.  It will be held  at Giannotti’s Country Manor Restaurant, 3118 Pricetown Road, Fleetwood, PA.  You can arrive any time after noon if you want to get a bite to eat first.  Note that this is the same restaurant we held our meetings at a few years ago. 

We will also be providing a zoom option for those who cannot attend in person.   For information on how to request zoom credentials and on how to use zoom, please see the links for this meeting on our Current Schedule/Results page.

2024 Schedule and Nov Meeting Minutes posted

The 2024 PHA Championship Series schedule has been posted to the Current Schedule/Events page on the PHA website.   In addition, the meeting minutes for the November PHA Critique meeting have also been posted to this page.

Some important items to note about the schedule:

Polish Mountain Hillclimb is cancelled indefinitely

John Felten joined the meeting,  and started off by thanking the PHA, all the drivers the crews, family and friends that helped make the 15th running (out of 17 years) of the Polish Mountain Hillclimb a success.  He explained that this was a very emotional day for him and that it was with great disappointment that the Polish Mountain Hillclimb will not be continuing.

The reasons were as follows:

  • The Flintstone Volunteer Fire Department members held numerous meetings culminating in a unanimous vote to stop the Polish Mountain Hillclimb. They cited an aging membership that can’t continue to shoulder the workload involved, and health concerns for some of their members. 
  • The paddock field is owned by a member of the Flintstone Volunteer Fire Department, who has allowed the use of the property at no charge. He has decided that he no longer wants to allow use of the property, as he uses this field to actively support his farming operation.
  • The Western Maryland chapter of DC region SCCA decided to follow the Fire Department stance, with similar aging and health concerns for many of them.
  • The permit requires multiple agencies to come together to support the Flintstone Volunteer Fire Department and the community of Flintstone. Without the involvement of the Fire Department, they are without the reason of supporting the event in the community.
  • In summary, they have lost the help and support of many of the local individuals and infrastructure needed, to successfully operate the event. John F asked that everybody respect the decisions of those involved.

In closing, John F thanked everyone for their help and support over the past 17 years, without whom none of this could have been possible.  He also said that he was grateful for the friendships created, and that he was leaving with some very fond memories, that will last a lifetime. 

The Summit Point events — Spring Jefferson  and Fall Shenandoah — are tentative

Track costs at Summit Point Motorsports Park have been rising significantly for the past few years.  Both BMR (organizer of Spring Jefferson) and Steel Cities Region (organizer of Fall Shenandoah) have taken a loss the last 2 years.  We do not know yet what the track fees will be in 2024, and both events are in jeopardy.

For Fall Shenandoah, the Steel Cities Region Board of Directors has unanimously voted not to continue to support the event.  In order for this event to be held in 2024, one of our other member regions will need to step up.

We do not want to lose either of these events,  and are working on creative solutions for 2024.  However, until the track provides the 2024 pricing, we don’t know if any of the measures we are considering will be adequate.

More information will be posted when available.

2023 PHA Critique Meeting – Reminder (and banquet)

2023 PHA Critique Meeting reminder

The 2023 PHA Critique Meeting will be held on Nov 4 at 1:00 PM at the Grantville Holiday Inn in Grantville PA.  The agenda for this meeting has been posted to the Current Schedule/Results page on the PHA website.

As usual, we will be offering a virtual option via zoom.  Please contact me by Fri Nov 3 to request credentials — if you wait until the day of the meeting, I cannot guarantee that I will see your request.  Instructions on using zoom are also on the Current Schedule/Results page – the link can be found below the link for the meeting Agenda.

2023 PHA Banquet reminder

The PHA Banquet will start at 6:00 PM on Nov 4 at the Grantville Holiday Inn.  If you are planning to attend and haven’t already registered, please do so as soon as you can. 

If you are a worker who has worked 2 or more days, your meal is free, compliments of the PHA.  But please register if you are planning on coming so that we know how many people to expect. 

This is a really fun event, and I encourage everyone to attend!  I put together a 800+ slide show of pictures taken by various photographers from the events this season.  In addition, DJ Bad Matt (aka Matt Green) will be playing music throughout the evening.  And of course there will be door prizes.  Last, I think you will all be pleasantly surprised by the banquet program, as a bunch of people stepped up and delivered some really interesting content. 

Speaking of door prizes, if you have any that you’d like to donate, please bring them to the event or contact me if you aren’t going to be able to make it.

I hope to see all of you at both the meeting and the banquet. 

Grace