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Road Records

Athletic accomplishments on foot, by bicycle, and by car

Over the years, the Auto Road has been the source of challenge for athletes of all kinds. Below are some of the record times posted for climbing the Auto Road, on foot, by bicycle, and in automobiles.

WOMEN'S FOOTRACE RECORDS

1972 Charlotte Lettis 1 hr. 40 min. 8 sec.
1975 Hester Sargent 1 hr. 31 min. 13 sec.
1977 Ellen Mendonca 1 hr. 30 min. 5 sec.
1978 Ellen Mendonca 1 hr. 28 min. 39 sec.
1979 Martha Rockwell 1 hr. 19 min. 14 sec.
1985 Chris Maisto 1 hr. 14 min. 45 sec.
1989 Jacqueline Gareau 1 hr. 13 min. 14 sec.
1991 Chris Maisto 1 hr. 12 min. 15 sec.
1992 J’ne Day-Lucore 1 hr. 11 min. 46 sec.
1998 Magdalena Thorsell 1hr. 10 min. 8 sec.
2010 Shewarge Amare 1hr. 8 min. 21 sec.

MEN'S FOOTRACE RECORDS

1904 George S. Foster

1 hr. 42 min.

1936 Francis Darrah 1 hr. 15 min. 57 sec.
1938 Francis Darrah 1 hr. 15 min. 27.4 sec.
1961 John J. Kelley 1 hr. 8 min. 54 sec.
1962 Fred Norris 1 hr. 4 min. 57 sec.
1977 Robert Hodge 1 hr. 4 min. 44 sec.
1978 Robert Hodge 1 hr. 4 min. 13 sec.
1979 Robert Hodge 1hr. 2 min. 8 sec.
1982 Gary Crossen 1 hr. 1 min. 40.3 sec.
1984 Gary Crossen 1 hr. 1 min. 13.3 sec.
1988 Dave Dunham 1 hr. 49.9 sec.
1990 Derek Froude 59 min. 17 sec.
1996 Daniel Kihara 58 min. 21 sec
2004 Jonathan Wyatt 56 min. 41 sec.

WOMEN'S BICYCLE RECORDS

1998 Marilyn Ruseckas 1 hr. 11 min. 38 sec.
2000 Jeannie Longo

58 min. 14 sec.

MEN'S BICYCLE RECORDS

1973 John Allis 1 hr. 15 min. 5 sec.
1974 John Allis

1 hr. 1 min. 39 sec.

1979 Steve Pyle 1 hr 1 min. 29 sec.
1980 Dale Stetina 57 min. 41 sec.
1997 Mike Engleman 53 min. 53 sec.
2002 Thomas Danielson 49 min. 24 sec.
2022* Phil Gaimon 50 min. 38 sec.

*Course records reset after full paving of the Mt. Washington Auto Road

AUTOMOBILE RECORDS

YEAR DRIVER CAR RECORD TIME
1899 F.O. Stanley Stanley Locomobile 2 hr. 10 min.
1903 L.J. Phelps Phelps 1 hr. 45 min.
1904 Harry Harkness Mercedes 24 min. 37 3/5 sec.
1905 W.H. Hilliard Napier 20 min. 58 2/5sec.
1923 Ralph Mulford Chandler 17 min. 0 sec.
1928 “Cannonball” Baker Franklin 14 min. 49.6 sec.
1930 Ab Jenkins Studebaker 14 min. 23 sec.
1932 “Cannonball” Baker Graham 13 min. 26 sec
1934 Al Miller Hudson 13 min. 20.6 sec.
1935 John C. Rueter Ford Special 12 min. 46.4 sec.
1938 Lemuel R. Ladd Ford Special 12 min. 17.6 sec.
1953 Sherwood Johnston Jaguar 10 min. 47.6 sec.
1954 Sherwood Johnston Jaguar “C” 10 min. 44.8 sec.
1956 Carroll Shelby Ferrari 375 GP 10 min. 21.8 sec.
1961 Bill Rutan Porsche Special 9 min. 13 sec.
1990 Tim O’Neil VW Rally Golf 7 min. 45 sec.
1991 Paul Choiniere Audi Quattro 7 min. 9.61 sec.
1992 Frank Sprongl Audi Quattro 7 min. 8.61 sec.
1993 Paul Choiniere Audi Quattro 6 min. 46.62 sec.
1995 Paul Choiniere Hyundai Elantra 6 min 45.22 sec.
1998 Frank Sprongl Audi Quattro 6 min. 41.99 sec.
2010** Travis Pastrana 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 6 min. 20.47 sec.
2011 David Higgins 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 6 min. 11.54 sec.
2014 David Higgins 2014 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 6 min. 9.09 sec.
2017 Travis Pastrana 2017 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5 min. 44.72 sec.
2021 Travis Pastrana 2020 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5 min. 28.67 sec.

**Closed course session, not during Climb to the Clouds Race