Arrowhead Springs was held June 14 & 15 1958, on the access road to the luxury Hotel Arrowhead Springs. The road was just off of Hwy 18 in San Bernardino. It was described as a “serpentine” road, about 1 1/2 lane width. The Road Race Training Association was the organizing club.

Ken Miles driving the Talbot-Lago F1 car was the favorite to win but Frank (Duffy) Livingstone was the overall winner. He was driving a homebuilt modified “Jalopy”. Frank had been the overall winner in the Agoura Hillclimb in 1955, and had been actively road racing this car for several years.

The course was on a 1.5 mile section, crossing two narrow bridges. There were several accidents during practice Saturday, and several more on Sunday. No one was injured, but several cars were likely totaled.

There were grand ideas in place to sell tickets at $1.50 each, and to have grandstands all along the route. Spectators were to park in a lower section of the hillclimb, and be bussed to the designated viewing area. As it turned out, many folks just walked in unpaid. There was a reported approximately 1000 spectators but only 232 tickets sold. Also, the organizers had hoped to draw 100 drivers, there were only 30 entrants. Despite the losses, the event was tentatively scheduled for the next year, but it never happened. The traffic problems, losses, and damages to the bridges led to the permit being refused.

Link to a photo of Ken Miles in the Talbot Lago

Current map of Arrowhead Springs Road, likely looks different than in 1958

June 16, 1958 San Bernardino County Sun

Of course there were pretty ladies. June 11, 1958 San Bernardino County Sun

Other newspaper articles:

“McGraw Seeks Hill Run” 1958 Mar 01, San Bernardino County Sun

“Redlands Driver” 1958 June 23, San Bernardino County Sun

“Hillclimb” 1958 May 02, Pasadena Independent

“Von Kaesborg Wins Hillclimb” 1958 June 16, Redlands Daily Facts

“Sports Cars Compete in Hillclimb” 1958 June 14, San Bernardino County Sun