I’m not really the biggest follower of motorsports, at least not in its more, um, professional contexts. I respect all that goes into NASCAR racing and F1 racing and I sort of envy my friends that get such satisfaction from following those series, but I’ve never been about that, for whatever reason. What I do love, motorsports-wise, are the ragged, unhinged edges of motorsport, where people do poorly-advised things in extremely questionable cars. And I’ve just found out about a whole new category of this sort of thing and holy crap, is it good.
It’s called King of the Hill racing, and from what I’ve been able to find out, this seems to be something new on the bonkers racing front, a rich and imaginative field that has given the world trailer races, figure-8 school bus races, and, of course, skid plate racing, which I once got to try out. This overall category of racing is easily one of the most daring and imaginative in existence, but so far I haven’t found anything definitive to suggest that this particular variant – where cars attempt to drive onto a moving car trailer being pulled by a truck that is actively trying to shake the cars off – has been formally attempted before.
This milestone of bonkers racing was given unto humanity by what I can only assume are a pack of genetically-enhanced race planning geniuses at Hudson Speedway, in Hudson, New Hampshire. The first King of the Hill race happened this past Labor Day, and I think it looks like it was an absolute triumph:
Here’s how Hudson Speedway’s own site described it:
“One of the most anticipated additions to this year’s Labor Day program was the King of the Hill Trailer Race, and it didn’t disappoint.
With competitors battling while trying to negotiate the moving trailer, the unique event provided plenty of laughs, close calls and chaos for the crowd. When it was all over, John McInnis and the No. 609 stood alone as the inaugural Labor Day King of the Hill, earning the victory in one of the wildest events of the afternoon.”
I didn’t realize how anticipated this was, to be honest, but I’m willing to believe that if someone described what this plan was, I’d be anticipating it, too.
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There’s so much going on here, when you really think about it! There’s strategy! When is best to make a move? Just after a corner? Right before one? Trying to do this in a corner seems especially difficult but who knows? Does it make sense to try and get your car caught on the railing or tow hitch or some other bit of metal, to add a sort of mechanical advantage holding you onto the trailer?
Is a FWD or RWD car an advantage here? Is it better to pull yourself onto the moving trailer, or push? Does the moment of contact tire to the ramp factor in here? Is a heavier or lighter car better? I have so many questions and I want to try this so much, it’s absurd.
In my head, of course, I feel like hell yeah, I can get on that trailer! Reality would most likely have me spinning upside down in the middle of the track after a particularly misguided attempt that involved accidentally hitting the horn and maybe peeing myself a little bit.
This is a big moment in ridiculous racing. This is a time to celebrate. The rest of the world may be falling to shit, but in this one very specific realm of human endeavor, we’re cooking with gas.
UPDATE: I found an onboard video of the race from Danny Gill, driver of the number 97 Subaru Impreza:
Top graphic images: TBERG Media; 20th Century Fox
The one thing I’ve always admired about you Americans,it’s that you have always had the best motorsports. Everywhere else would be like «this is fucking stupid» and ban it,you are like,»sure,what could possibly go wrong».
I’ve seen people doing this in video games (eg), but I never thought anyone would be daft enough to do it in real life. Bravo!
My son was invited to drive the “team Enduro car” by his fellow mechanic co-workers. We attended to spectate and were right by the fence. It was super fun to watch! He held that crappy 2006 Chevy Malibu in a drift for multiple laps after he got a right rear flat. I never knew those little circle track places could be so fun to watch. We will be back for sure.
Man, so much of the media these days makes me go, ‘America, I am Disappoint’, and I am sad. Then, THEN, you guys pull some amazing shit like this out of the bag, and I remember that this is why I love you guys. FUCK YEAH! WOOHOOOOO!!!
This gives me a lot of faith in my fellow Americans that we’re not a total lost cause. We can still put our differences aside to accomplish amazing, important things like this!
It really is Serious Business. Torch needs to try it out. For us, and for Science.
It looks like a good way to kill the CrossCab.
I don’t think I’d want to try it in a car without a solid roof.
Sometimes it’s good to just turn off the media and go watch cars drive, for mental health reasons.
Hah! I saw a video about this racing category a few days ago going viral, and I KNEW I was going to see an article here soon. This has to be one of the most fun racing series ever!
Even non-car people have sent me that video. It’s buck-nuts crazy, and I love it. The craziest dude on the track, is the one pulling that trailer.