Over the 50-plus years of the Weatherly Hillclimb, dozens of men and women have taken on the steep course. But up until this year, the town's mayor never got in on the fun.

That changed on Saturday, when Tom Connors debuted his new "Pit (bull) Power Race Team" car.Connors used his race effort to help raise awareness of the dogs that he helps at as manager of the Carbon County Animal Shelter.Connors has been volunteering at the hillclimb for years, but said he always felt the urge to get behind the wheel himself."I had the opportunity to buy a car, and I always wanted to race in the hillclimb. I bought a car, and two months later, I was smart enough to tell my wife that I got the car," Connors said.Mrs. Connors was OK with it. And friends paid back some of the time he has donated over the years.The car, a 91 Mazda 323, came from a longtime hillclimb participant from Luzerne County who was happy to help get the team running.Friends from the Hillclimb association made sure that the car passed inspection and was ready for Saturday's first run.But preparing the car is only one part of getting ready for the hillclimb. Connors had to tell himself he could do it, something that was getting difficult as the run approached. Racing is dangerous. Connors pointed out that the list of safety equipment is endless, down to fireproof socks."I'm not a race car driver and that hill is pretty scary," he said. "But looking at my wife and family who were there, and the people who did help me, kind of pushed me to get on that line."On the edge of his seat, Connors took off on his first run. The car revved through the gears, then he slowed for the first turn. Then the call came over the PA system "Car 77 stalled in turn 1." Connors got it started again. Then, another call "Car 77 stalled in turn 2."The cause was a fuel problem. It would be fixed for day two. But Connors said it was important not to give up."The numbers didn't concern me, I just wanted to fulfill the promise I made that I could make it through that race," he said.Joseph Cyburt, the president of the Weatherly Hillclimb Association, fellow councilman and a good friend of Connors, had a trophy made up for the "Fastest Mayor." It was a turtle.With his first hillclimb under his belt, Connors is hoping to use the race car to draw attention to pit bills, and raise money to subsidize spay-and-neuter programs for the dogs.He only plans on racing it in the Weatherly Hillclimb. But he says that he plans on maintaining the tradition as long as he is able."It's such a thrill to be able to do it. It was amazing, probably one of the best weekends personally I've ever had, and I have a lot more respect for the people who race that hill," he said.