Haftner is still King of the Hill

Perennial champion John Haftner once again set the standard for all drivers at the 2006 Knox Mountain Hillclimb.

The 65-year-old from New Westminster lived up to his King of the Hill billing guiding his 1973 Tui Supervee to the fastest time of the weekend at one minute, 41.97 seconds.

Haftner, who first won the Knox Mountain Hillclimb in 1981, holds the all-time record for the 3.5-kilometre race with a clocking of 1:38.97 set in 1995.

Kelowna's Allen Reid, who is also the event's chair-man, sped to the second fastest time of 1:57.65 in winning the GTO division in his 1968 MGB GT.

Reid was more than happy to settle for runner-up status to Haftner. "He's my mentor and the nicest guy you'll ever meet," Reid said of Haftner. "Every time he comes, he wins...unless his car breaks down."

There were a total of 65 drivers from B.C., Alberta, Washington state, and Saskatchewan for the 49th annual event which was hampered by rain early on Saturday. But skies cleared for almost ideal conditions later Saturday and again on Sunday.

Another Kelowna driver, Greg Carter, won the GT1 division in his 1999 Chevy Corvette with a time of 2:00.4.

Other division winners were:

-- Street prepared 1--Sheridan Empey (Maple Ridge), 2:07.13 in a 91 Honda CRX.

-- Street prepared 2--Jared Powell-Willia (Tsawwassen), 2:04.9 in a 02 Audi TT.

-- Street prepared 3--Campbell Carlyle (Surrey), 1:59.17 in an 89 Pontiac-Trans Am.

-- GT2--Kevin Vollan, (Sherwood Park, AB), 2:01.22 in 2000 Nissan 300z.

-- GT3--Don Brew (Armstrong), 2:09.18 in 1990 VW Scirrocco.

-- GT4--Gary Cooper (Edmonton), 2:18.24 in 71 Alfa Romeo GT junior.

-- GT5--Fred Delpero (Edmonton), 2:02.83 in 73 Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA

-- GTX--Darrell Jones (Lacombe, AB), 1:58.18 in 83 Mazda RX7.

-- GTU--David Peck (Chemainus), 1:59.36 in 02 Charterham Super 7.

-- Vintage --Roger Flescher (Bellingham), 2:08.95 in 1961 Sunbeam.

-- Legends--Dan Curtis (Lake Stevens, WA.), 2:04.05 in 1937 Chevy Sedan.

Other times for local drivers included: Dan Carson, 2:27.16; Trevor Ryder, 2:43.46; Peter Newton, 2:17.95; John Rymarchuk, 2:17.17; Bob Rymarchuk, 2:31.1; Chad Abougoush, 2:05.39; Wade Ward, 2:08.38; Brian Browning, 2:13.16; and Frank Winterlik, 2:13.97.