Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

[PokerMunkee]

Went last year, had a blast. Not going this year because we will be out of town this weekend. BUT! We are going to the Fan Fest in downtown Springs tonight. It runs from 5-10pm. They close down Tejon stret and you get to see a bunch of the cars on display. It's fun and free! Never seen so many people in a small area before.

[Mike from back east]

The PPIHC is this weekend, here is some of the local coverage:

- Four women are racing this year, one of them on a motorcycle.

- Currently, part of the route is still a dirt road, but by 2012 the route will be fully paved, which will change the race, the mix of contestants and be the end of the quest to do the race in under ten minutes, which has been the holy grail that racers have sought for years. If they don't break the ten-minute this year, then it will never have been done on the current course.

- A certain Japanese driver (nicknamed "Monster") is the local favorite to break the ten-minute barrier, and many of us are hoping he does it THIS year. He's tried for years to finish in under ten minutes and we're rooting for him.

- Click here to see all the stories in the main local newspaper.

[sesamekid]

Go Monster!!!!

[Marcy1210]

A third generation Vahsholtz, Codie, is racing a motorcycle this year. Between Leonard (the grandfather) who has 18 wins, and Clint (the son) who has 17, they are second only to the Unsers. Now, grandson Codie is racing. The Vahsholtz's are from Woodland Park and are quite the PPIHC dynasty. If you're ever in Woodland Park, their garage is on Loop Drive (at least it used to be), Vahsholtz Automotive. It's pretty amazing, like they are.

[stevet904]

How early do you need to get there to be able to park at Devil's Playground? Any other suggestions for a good viewing area?

[PokerMunkee]

Originally Posted by stevet904

How early do you need to get there to be able to park at Devil's Playground? Any other suggestions for a good viewing area?

Earlly. I believe they start letting people in at 4am. I would get there at that time, since the line will be all the way to highway 24. It's a PITA to park up there once it starts to fill up.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by sesamekid

Go Monster!!!!

HE DID IT!!!!!

Monster Tajima shattered the 10-minute barrier today, coming in at 9 minutes and 52.176 seconds. Story here.

Excerpt: "It was Tajima's sixth Unlimited title. Tajima sped up the 12.42-mile course that ends at the 14,115-foot summit. His effort eclipsed his old mark of 10:01.4 set in 2007 in the Unlimited Division. Tajima drove his 910hp Monster Sport SX4 Hill Climb Special to become the first competitor to best 10 minutes since the race began in 1916. He averaged almost 76 mph."

[TCHP]

The time is rapidly approaching for the 100th running of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. At the century mark, Pikes Peak is second only to the Indy 500 as the oldest running race in the United States.

The weeks activities kicked off this weekend with the time attack, half mile drag racing at the old COS airport. Tech inspections begin Monday with practice through the week. Fanfest is Friday night and races start at the butt crack of dawn on June 26th.

Looking though this years competitor list, it has a few familiar faces, a host of new vehicles and some older and odd entries.

In unlimited electric, Rhys Millen and Monster Tajima are back. Local favorites Clint Vasholtz and the Wood family are running in the open wheel division.

Of interest to readers on here, Aaron Kaufman is back with his '63 Falcon, and David Meyer running a'96 S10, both in the open division. Also in open,Mike Ryan and his 2008 Freightliner.

The vintage division is thin again this year with only three entries - Chris Lennon and his '73 911, Ralph Murdock and his '70 Camaro, and 2012 Champion Jess Neal is back with his '71 Cuda.

Surprisingly, in the time attack classes, normally dominated by the factories, are some more older types of cars. In Time Attack 1, David Haski is bringing out a '83 Quattro, Tim Hardy is in an '87 BMW, Miko Katja of Finland is bringing his '79 Toyota Starlet, and William Kitchens is running an '84 Honda CRX.

Time Attack 2 is a bit thinner this year. Of course Kevin Wesley is running the 2016 Viper ACR Hot Rod Special. Stephanie Reeves also in a '16 Viper ACR, Kash Singh is in a '16 Mustang, Nick Robinson is in a '17 NSX, Furnio Nutahara is in a '15 Toyota GT86, and rounding out the class in the oldest vehicle is Jeff Denmeade in an '06 Evo.

The unlimited class brings a variety of vehicles from this century as well as drivers from all over the world including Paul Dallenbach, Romain Dumas, Richard Boake, Tony Quinn, and Rodney Tu.

Should be interesting to see the cars, drivers, times, and festivities around this years event.

[Bolo99]

I'm a huge fan of Aaron Kaufman. He is the coolest racer that I have seen in the last decade.

[rewardgal]

I caught part of a TV special today on the 100th running of the race and race/competitor history. Here's a link for it plus there's a FB page of course:

KRDO to broadcast Pikes Peak Hill Climb documentary | News - Home

Although the dates mentioned in the article have passed it looks like they will be featuring segments again during the race week events.