08/22/2026
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More than a half-century after championship racers roared up Corkscrew Hill, the sound of vintage sports cars will once again echo through the historic course near Zanesfield.
The Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival 8 returns Saturday, Aug. 22, celebrating the history of one of Ohio’s most notable sports car racing venues and bringing drivers and enthusiasts from across the region back to Logan County.
The original Bellefontaine Hill Climb was held from 1953 through 1974 and drew championship racers from across the country competing for points toward season-long championships. According to organizer Kurt Niemeyer, Corkscrew Hill was among the steepest climbs on the Sports Car Club of America’s national racing circuit.
“The Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival celebrates the history of the event and other motorsports venues in Ohio,” Niemeyer said, noting that Ohio was once “a hotbed of sportscar racing through the decades.”
The revival began in 2012 when Niemeyer and others attending the Road Races at Put-in-Bay began talking about the possibility of bringing the historic event back.
“Everybody we spoke with in Logan County lamented that the old Hill Climb had faded into the annals of history and what fun it would be to have it again,” Niemeyer said. “Sounded like a good idea that could lead to fun with cars and friends.”
The event focuses primarily on vintage automobiles, while also including some late-model cars. Niemeyer said the revival attracts participants from throughout the Great Lakes region and as far south as Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Rain or shine— Saturday’s action begins with course setup at 7 a.m., followed by registration and safety inspections at Goshen Friends Church, 5527 County Road 153, Zanesfield. Hill-climb competition begins at 9 a.m., with groups featuring late-model cars, British cars, a parade lap, German cars, and American, Italian, racing and hot-rod vehicles throughout the afternoon.
Following the hill climb, a parade of performance cars will head into downtown Bellefontaine at 5 p.m. A car show and rewards party will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the square and at the historic Holland Theatre.
The revival’s mission is to celebrate Ohio’s sports car racing heritage while attracting enthusiasts, spectators and media and benefiting local residents, businesses and organizations.
“Thanks to all the neighbors for the hospitality,” Niemeyer said.
- Bryan Evans Examiner.org
