National @ Giant's Despair 1909

The Giant's Despair Hill Climb in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania traces its roots back to it inaugural contest in 1906. There have been interruptions and most significantly a hiatus of 33 years when the competition was not organized from 1917 through 1950.
 
Along the way some pretty stout names won the overall prize: Roger Penske, Carroll Shelby and Ralph De Palma pop off list at first glance. Among the greatest drivers was David Bruce-Brown who dominated in 1909.
 
That year the event was one of the major stops on the American auto racing calendar. The entries included massive talent from major manufacturer race teams across an array of classes. Among them was the National Motor Vehicle Company with superstar drivers Johnny Aitken and Charlie Merz.
 

Indianapolis newspapers eagerly tracked the fortunes of the young team. The success of companies like National was a boon to the economy of the Hoosier capital and the employment of its citizenry.
 
National, with its advocacy for stock car racing, did not have an entry in the purpose-built racing "big car" class. There it was all Bruce-Brown in the big Benz of boxing promoter Hugh Donald "Huge Deal" McIntosh. A National - with Charlie Merz at its wheel - won the six-cylinder stock car class for cars selling over $3,000. Other Nationals scored a pair of runner-up accolades as well.
 
The image you find here is of Charlie Merz on his was to victory in his National on the 6,000 foot incline. If you ever get to witness the modern version of this historic event, keep old Charlie and David in mind. In the meantime you can pay a virtual visit to the wonder of the contest when it held the attention of the entire automotive world during the burgeoning industrial age.
 
There's no place like First Super Speedway.