Here is a link to the article in the Cumberland Times-News
Sports Car Club of America, Washington DC Region Adds Western Maryland Chapter
CUMBERLAND — Sixty-three years after racing legend Carroll Shelby won a Washington, D.C., Region Sports Car Club of America Hill Climb sports car time trial on Breakneck Road near Rocky Gap, the region is returning to Western Maryland to sanction the August Polish Mountain Hill Climb.
Following a process of discussion, negotiation and formal approval, WDCR SCCA Regional Executive Wayne Armbrust and National Road Autosport President John Felten announced on Jan. 4 that long-standing members of the Western Maryland motorsports group have been approved as the leadership of a new affiliated chapter to the Washington DC Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
“Creation of the Washington D.C. Region Western Maryland Chapter (WMC) is very exciting news for our members and sports car enthusiasts all over the Mid-Atlantic,” Armbrust said. “Adding this chapter brings a Level IV time trial hill climb program into the DC Region and adds an experienced and successful team of event organizers, promoters and competitors into our club.”
Armbrust also expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to make WDCR part of the Pennsylvania Hill Climb Association series and work with organizers with whom he has crafted personal friendship, both at National Road Autosport events and at WDCR’s home track in Summit Point West Virginia.
National Road Autosport LLC was founded in 2002 with an objective of returning sports car competition to the Cumberland Regional Airport and to the mountain roads of Allegany County. During the 1950s, two different regions of the SCCA sanctioned events in Western Maryland with the Steel Cities Cumberland Airport Nationals being held from 1953 to 1971, attracting large crowds and national caliber competition.
The National Road group successfully operated self-sanctioned and promoted autocross weekends at the airport between 2003 and 2017. They completed the second plank of their mission by gaining legislation from the Maryland General Assembly in 2007 to stage the Polish Mountain Hill Climb for the benefit of the Flintstone Volunteer Fire Department. The 2019 Polish Mountain event will be the 12th such two-day competition on a historic section of Gilpin Road.
Felten said that LLC members are eagerly taking on roles as officers and members of the new WMC. “Our members have never shied away from the work needed to recharge our economy and entertain motorsports enthusiasts,” Felten said. “This is really the best of both worlds for us, helping expand WDCR programming in the Potomac Highlands and retaining our LLC to promote programs and events not affiliated with the SCCA.”
Felten expressed appreciation for the professionalism and support of WDCR leadership during negotiation of the new agreement. He also noted that the new chapter would not have been possible without the support of local elected officials in Western Maryland, the Potomac Highlands Airport Authority, Allegany County tourism, the community of Flintstone, long-term sponsors and faithful volunteers.
The 2019 Polish Mountain Hill Climb is scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 2-4, and is the fifth event of the eight-race 2019 Pennsylvania Hill Climb Association Series. It will be co-promoted by WDCR and PHA and information will be available at those organization’s websites and www.polishmountainhillclimb.comthis spring, when event details are finalized.
