Some months ago the Museum contacted MDIA to assist with some research regarding hill climb motor races held on Mt Diablo earlier this century. We had no information of these events but long-time member Edith Valle-Riestra offered to help. After much effort and many, many phone calls Edith had found only some small number of details, the Museum themselves had been much more successful, although Edith did find articles from the "Oakland Tribune" from February 5, 7 and 9, 1918 with information about the races.

On a visit to the museum to meet with Pamela Lucas, the recently-appointed Automotive Art Director & Curator responsible for much of the content of the new wing, Edith and I found out why they had an interest in these races. One of the key exhibits in the new Automotive Art Wing would be the trophy given to the winners of the race. This magnificent silverplated Grecian-style wine decanter shaped trophy was discovered at an art show in Pennsylvania. The inscriptions on the vessel are as follows: "The Alexander Trophy, Mt Diablo Perpetual Challenge Cup, Won by Keil (in a) Wescott, January 19, (?) 1918, Won by C.W. Hanson (in a) Chandler 23, (?) 1918". Other dates on the trophy also designate that Hanson won the trophy in races held in February, 1918, 1923 and 1931. Hanson used such cars as the Chandler and DeVaux in his victories.

The Mount Diablo High Gear Races began as informal competitions between automotive manufacturers who used the road up to Diablo’s summit as a test for vehicle performance. Cars of any cylinder types could compete. The contest consisted of an 11-mile climb on Mt Diablo Blvd from the toll gate to the summit. Records were established based on both time and the attainment of a higher point in elevation on the road than the previous record-setter. Evidently not every car was able to complete the trip or make it as far as others. The contests were regarded as "high-gear demonstrations" in that all records were established on the final steep pitch of the mountain road, with the car in high-gear. Elevation at the summit is 3849’ and the road consisted of many sharp turns and pitches, as well as being rough and dusty.

The contest requirements were that all cars must carry a passenger weight of 650 pounds, passengers became "witnesses" to the drivers and car’s performances and cars must be strictly stock, running ordinary gasoline and lubricating oil. The cars were inspected by an automotive examining committee upon contest completion to ensure that the record-setting cars indeed met and adhered to the requirements and regulations.

At one point the contests narrowed with only cars with 8 and 12 cylinders competing. In 1918, H.O. Alexander, manager of tire sales at B.F. Goodrich Rubber in San Francisco, offered for the competition a silver trophy for cars of 4 and 6 cylinder types. Establishing a new record and winning the trophy was regarded as "one of the most coveted honors which can be achieved by a car in this class".

Some of the cars listed as contenders include: Kissel, Mercer, Owens Magnetic, Briscoe, Chandler, Marion Handley, Maxwell, Stearns-Knight, King and Haynes. One article indicated that a Kissel car had established a new record sometime in October of 1917, before the earliest date listed on the trophy. Trophy dates start at January 21, 1918 and end September 1931. The dates are sporadic. These contests were not held on a regular basis, but evidently when a car manufacturer wished to prove their vehicle’s performance and reliability. Similar hill-climbs took place on Pike’s Peak, Mount Washington and Mount Wilson.

(Ed. Sources used: San Francisco Chronicle 1-21-18, 2-2-18; Virgie V Jones "Historical Persons and Places in San Ramon Valley"; Arnold Blackmere "In Old Diablo: A Social History").

The Behring Automotive Museum, already a great place to visit, opens its new wing - the Automotive Art Collection - on August 21. This wing features a permanent exhibition called Moving Inspiration: Artistic Interpretations of the Motor Age. This presents a global and chronological sampling of artistic interpretation that reflects the immediacy and excitement of a vehicle that has changed the course of human civilization.

Moving Inspiration includes paintings, sculpture, mixed media, textiles, ceramics and children’s playthings and is divided into six display areas: "A New Age Dawns" (pioneers of automotive art), "Energy, Speed and Motion" (depiction’s of the automobile in motion", "A Mobile Society" (the motorcar’s impact on social change, "In Everyday Life" (the automobile becomes central to everyday life), "In a Child’s World" (the motorcar depicted in toys and games) and "Contemporary Visions" (recent interpretations of automotive art). There are also interactive video displays and a theater featuring an overview of the exhibition.

The Behring Automotive Museum has very kindly agreed to allow discounted entrance to the exhibition using the coupon printed at the bottom of this page. After you have enjoyed the natural wonders of Mt Diablo go and see the man-made wonders at the Behring Automotive Museum.

The exhibition opens to the public August 21, 1996. Hours are 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Sunday. The Behring Automotive Art Collection is at the Behring Automotive Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA 94506, (510) 736-2280. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens (children six and under admitted free) and the admission fee includes entry to all collections within the Behring Automotive Museum.