Mount Asama Hill Climb 2014

Asama Hill Climb 2014 | 浅間ヒルクライム 2014

Asama Hill Climb 2014

In May 2014, a hill climb event was held against the backdrop of Mount Asama. In its third year, the event finally secured public road closure, allowing 80 vehicles, including race-exclusive cars and other unregistered models, to ascend the winding roads. Blessed with fine weather, many classic and modern car enthusiasts gathered for the Asama Hill Climb 2014, reported by Hiromi Takeda.

Text by TAKEDA Hiromi

A Dreamlike Scene: Hill Climbing Without License Plates

Until the second event in June of the previous year, the "Asama Hill Climb" had been held with mixed traffic of general vehicles. However, at the third event on June 14-15 this year, as a result of persistent negotiations by the executive committee members, and with the full cooperation of Komoro City in Nagano Prefecture, the local tourism association, and the chamber of commerce, the complete closure of the Asama Cherry Park Line, the event's course, was finally realized.

Furthermore, unlike previous years where the only driving area was a special stage utilizing approximately 700 meters of private road, unregistered vehicles such as circuit-exclusive cars were now permitted to participate. This meant that racing machines, from touring cars to monoposto Formula cars, could be seen climbing the approximately 7km Cherry Park Line with an elevation difference of about 1,000 meters – a sight long considered a distant dream in Japan.

The Asama Hill Climb 2014, now truly a "hill climb" in name and spirit, was blessed with clear skies for the first time, attracting a total of approximately 80 participants across two-wheel, four-wheel, and three-wheel racing sidecars. From pure racing machines to classic sports cars and bikes of yesteryear, as well as the latest models from sponsoring companies, a continuous stream of vehicles took to the course, thrilling the spectators.

Asama Hill Climb 2014 | 浅間ヒルクライム 2014

Asama Hill Climb 2014 (2)

Contributing to the Excitement of Automotive Culture

The Honda "RC213V" MotoGP machine, brought by Honda's HRC works team and piloted by young champion Takumi Takahashi, who had secured two consecutive wins in the JSB1000 class this season, made its historic public road demo run for the first time ever.

Among the latest production cars, making their Japan premiere,Renault's new "Megane"and Chevrolet's new "Corvette Convertible" were showcased, along withMcLaren "650S",Jaguar "F-Type Coupe",Porsche "911 Turbo S",Bentley "Continental GT V8 S", and the話題 of being eligible for mini-vehicle registration,Caterham "Seven 160", among others, ascended the Asama Cherry Park Line, appealing greatly not only to historic car fans but also to a wider audience.

Furthermore, the "PIAGGIO MEETING 2014 in Asama," a fan appreciation event by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Piaggio Group, was held concurrently. The vast Asama 2000 Park, serving as the main venue, was bustling with participating vehicles and spectators. In total, an estimated 16,000 visitors attended, marking a resounding success.

To further invigorate Japan's automotive culture, the continuation of hill climb events, which have gained acceptance in Europe and America but have been difficult to hold in Japan until now, could serve as a crucial test case. Considering this, the great success of this year's Asama Hill Climb holds significant meaning.