Revival of the Hillclimb Curaçao
On September 22, 2018, SDDK Motorsports had the privilege of organizing for the first time in 30 years, the hillclimb at Mijnmaatschappij, Nieuwpoort. Not only did we honor the tradition set by our fathers, but we created a memorable event that redefined what a car event on the island should be.
The return of the Hillclimb to Curaçao in 2018
The original hillclimb was very popular between the 1960’s –1980’s so there was a lot of nostalgia surrounding it. This year’s event was upscale with attributes usually reserved for Goodwood, Le Mans and Pebble Beach. Some 24 hillclimb marshals in white overalls volunteered their time on the grounds around the many spectator areas across the property to ensure both drivers and spectators enjoyed themselves!
Some of the competitors took to the organizers calling and wore period correct attire. Furthermore, a few spectators jumped on the proverbial bandwagon and wore 60’s clothing which made the event a lot of fun for people watching.
Not only did the hillclimb organizer spend a great deal of time on the fine details of the hillclimb set up, but also ensured that the race proceeded without a hitch. As such, all five categories got a full four runs in, along with a one for each of the “Celebration of Porsche” participants.
Besides two covered grandstand areas on each side of the road at the end of the start straight away, there were also a little Women’s Pavilion to the West and a “Celebration of Porsche” hospitality area to the East. The latter paid homage to the German marquis celebrating its’ 70th anniversary; Porsche has a strong following in Curacao.
What makes Hillclimb Curacao so special is it’s location. Nestled in between the island’s iconic Tafelberg and the tranquil blue waters of Fuikbaai, as one drives up the course the shear beauty of the landscape makes it difficult to keep one’s eyes on the road. Accordingly, race organizers have the drivers use the same road to return to the pits, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the scenic views. The best ones can be appreciated from Turn 3, Turn 4, Turn 5 and the finish line.
The initial spark to revive the hillclimb occurred back in 2014 when the hillclimb organizer wrote a piece on the topic for the online magazine Fultrot. The rest is as the say history. In order to organize the best possible event, the organizer pooled methods and concepts from International motorsports “best practices”.
