The climb was held on the “Old Winchester Grade”, which was an alternate US 95. The road runs between the towns of Culdesac and Winchester. The original grade was completed in 1923, and served as the primary north-south highway through to Winchester. It was bypassed in 1960 but is still in use.
The Spokane Sports Car Club held the first event in 1964. The club used a 4 mile section. Descriptions say there were 40 different corners. Elevation change was 1100 feet. I only have information on the 1964 year -were there others?
The hillclimb ran between 1964-1971. In the later years, it became a University of Idaho SCC event, with insurance through ICSCC (International Conference of Sports Car Clubs) The University club ran the event between 1968-1971. I heard their was a fatality, which brought an end to the event at that location.
The length of the hillclimb was 4.2-4.3 miles, depending on which article I read. The maps below show the exact section that the UISCC used, I would think that the previous Spokane club would have used the same section although start and finish could have been in different locations.
YouTube Link of a motorcycle ride up the Winchester Grade. It is a very popular ride for motorcyclists. No footage of the hillclimb found yet.
**Also interesting, the 1970 hillclimb was billed as the “third annual” so it appears that the UISCC started over counting the events beginning in 1968 when they first became the organizer. I do not know the exact number of previous climbs, only that it started in 1964 with the Spokane club.
I received this map from an UISCC organizer of the hillclimb. I circled the corresponding section on the larger map below.
Great advertisement for a new car! Racing always has been a good promotional tool for car sales. The Datsun (Fairlady) SPL-310 was new to the US market in 1964. Link to a Motor Trend March 1964 article.
Always read the old newspaper articles. You never know what you will find. Check out this description of the hillclimb road in this 1964 article from the May 8th Capital Journal, a Salem Oregon newspaper:
Newspaper articles, some with results:
“Sports Car Club Sponsors Hillclimb” 1970 April 24, University of Idaho Newsletter, The Argonaut
“Evel Kneivel Ran, Wickipedia .org article
“Winchester Sets Auto Hill Climb” 1964 May 29, The Idaho Statesman
“Weimer Wins Lewiston Climb” 1969 May 06, The Spokesman-Review
“Spokane Drivers Hillclimb Victims” 1970 April 28, Spokane Chronicle – “VICTIMS” SHOULD READ “WINNERS”
“High Speed Autocross”, University of Idaho Newsletter
“Hill Climb Set at Idaho Site” 1970 April 23, Spokane Chronicle
“Hill Climb Announced”1971 May 07, Tri City Herald
“Hill Climb Slated” 1971, May 06, Spokane Review
**Special thanks to Merlene Fletcher for the UISCC information and trophy & patch photos.