Sandberg

One of the oldest hillclimbs in California, Sandberg first ran on April 2, 1949. It was very popular and ran through 1952. Dates (other than 1949) I can confirm are Sept 10, 1950, April 22 and Oct 14 1951, and April 6th 1952. The Southern California Region of SCCA was the force behind the events. Read the magazine articles in full that I have included. The photos with the articles are a window into the past! MG, Morgan, Nash, Jaguars, Alfas, and all kinds of “Specials” ran. The sports car scene in California was in it’s prime.

The climb was held on the Old Ridge Route, a name for the old highway that at one time had been the main route north out of LA. The club used a .6 mile section of the road, starting below Pine Canyon Road and ending just past the Sandberg Hotel. After the first year it was extended to .7 miles.

Left: 1940s map of Ridge Rt with new Hwy 99 to the West / Right: Map of Hill “X” Marks where Hotel was located

History of the Road:

A section 33 miles long, from Castiac to Tejon was surveyed over several years. The route was planned to follow the ridge line. It was initially built by grading and oiling the surface. Construction began in 1914, but in just a few years it was decided to complete the road with concrete. By 1919 the entire route (except for a few miles) was completed, 20 feet wide with curbs. Hotels and diners sprang up along the route to serve the drivers, as this was the main route north out of LA. Sandberg’s Hotel was one such establishment. Travel was often slow going and sometimes dangerous. In 1933 a safer and faster alternate route was opened (Hwy 99) and the Ridge Route became obsolete.

Sandberg’s Hotel burned down in 1961

Above: Road and Track February 1952

Above: Road and Track November 1950

The April 1951 event was the first competition event for Richie Ginther, who later became an F1 driver. Over his career he raced for Ferrari, BRM, Honda, and Eagle. He secured the first ever F1 victory for Honda in 1965. Check out the photo below of his car hitting the dirt bank.