Keno Hillclimb was located near Klamath Falls, Oregon just outside of Keno. Sports & Imports of Klamath Falls was the organizing club.
It was run on the Hamaker Mountain Road, which goes up to the USAF radar station (now shut down.) The course was 2.2 miles and climbed 800 feet from 4300 to 5100 feet. Early in the running of the hill there was a permanent chicane placed to slow cars coming up to the first right-hand hairpin.
The first event was held July 3, 1966. The fall 1967 event was cancelled due to fire danger. The hillclimb then continued to run yearly until 1989. After 1989 future hillclimbs were cancelled, as the road was in poor repair, with no upgrades scheduled for the future. Sometime in the last 15 years or so it has received a fresh coating of asphalt and it is in good repair. It would be fun to run again!
Visit my YouTube channel to see a run up Keno Hillclimb!
What’s the history of the road?
At the top of the mountain was Keno Air Force Station, a USAF general surveillance radar station. It came into existence in 1953 and was run by personnel from the 827th Aircraft Warning Squadron located in Kingsley Field, 13 miles away. At the height of operations, there were three units at the site. The Squadron was inactivated in 1979. Most of the buildings are gone, with only the FAA unattended search radar functioning. The road is open to drive all the way to the top.
Results:
Here are some great articles (some with photos) of past events:
1967 Aug 30, “The Oregon Daily Journal” Starting Line Schedules
1969 July 08, “The World” Kunz Second Place
1970 July 01, “Oregon Daily Journal” Starting Line Schedules
1970 July Newsletter of Emerald Empire Sports Car Club
1972 July 06 “The World” Kunz is First Place
1975 July 09 “Record Searchlight” Phil Rendahl wins
1977 “Herald and News” Korntved King
1979 “Herald and News” Bowden and Wilder Winners
1982 “Herald and News” Wilder and Whitlock Winners
1983 “Herald and News”, Drivers Rip Keno Hillclimb
1985 “”MSM”, Tony Boom author Schrammeck King (Page 1) (Page 2)
1986 Aug 11, “Autoweek” Magazine SSGT Class Victory
1986 Aug 02 “Oregonian” Anderson sets record
1987 “Herald and News” Racing Events Spur Desire To Speed
1989 “Auto-X Magazine” Tony Boom author Straight Up Racing in Scenic Northwest (Page 1) (Page 2)
I had a lot of help with my research. BUT if you have something that I don’t, please contact me. As you can see, I am missing a few years’ results.
**Thanks to Steve Sheehy for many of the photos!
**Thanks to Cari Hinesly for information and results!
**Thanks to Cliff Wheeler for the photos!