Tom Richardson accelerates off the starting line in his BMW at Saturday's Blue Ridge Sports Car Hillclimb. Richardson was plagued by vehicle problems.

Blue Ridge Hillclimb attendance is up this year

The Blue Ridge Hillclimb was held Saturday and Sunday and enjoyed improved attendance over the inaugural event.

"One thing we saw this year that we didn't see last year is that we saw the real hillclimb enthusiasts show up," said Sports Car Club of America member Tom Richardson, who helps organize the event with his son, Tommy Richardson, and others. "We were drawing spectators from a larger area than we did last year." The local race is the only hillclimb in the Southeast, Richardson said.

Richardson said spectators came from Charlotte, Hickory, Greensboro, Asheboro and southwestern Virginia to see the event. The number of spectators should continue to grow in upcoming years. Inclement weather caused the event to end early on Sunday, as a thunderstorm came through the area.

"It rained up on top, but it didn't rain on the starting line," Richardson noted. "The race was almost over anyway." Concerns about lightning were the main factor.

"A few minutes of rain this year was much better than the two days of rain last year," Richardson said. "We saw much more enthusiasm this year from the fans and drivers."

The local hillclimb is the only ‘Solo 1' racing event that serves as a family weekend for most of the participants, said Richardson. About 65 drivers took part in this year's hillclimb.

"Several of the drivers spent a week here," Richardson noted.

They often spend as much as $1,000 each here over the time they visit Alleghany, which should provide a boon to the local economy, noted Richardson. There are also as many as 60 workers involved in putting the race together, Richardson said.

"The only reason for doing this thing is to try and help this area economically," said Richardson.

While four or five racers took ‘off-course excursions' — accidents that leave the roadway — none resulted in injuries.

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