The 90th running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb ushers a new era and brings many all time records. This Sunday, August 12, Pikes Peak highway surface was paved 100% for the first time in its existence. Many racers welcomed the consistent surface, while purists and many old timers grumbled in disapproval. Some people even declared the Pikes Peak race dead. If you are wondering how this nearly 13 mile stretch of mountain road can provoke these strong emotions in spectators and racers alike, you simply need to visit and drive the length of this spectacular and breathtaking route.
This was my second year visiting and watching the race, and the wish to go back has only multiplied. It wasn’t just the spectacle of brave men and women challenging themselves and the machinery up some of the steepest inclines lined with some of the most dramatic drop-offs. It wasn’t just the smell of racing fuel and the roar of racing engines echoing among the cliffs. And it wasn’t the casual, relaxed and friendly atmosphere or the spectacular mountain scenery. It is all of these things put together.
What is the life of the Pikes Peak spectator on race day? The toll gates open at 4 am on Sunday, an if you weren’t among the lucky couple hundred people to get a one day camping pass, then your first challenge is getting out of bed in the middle of the night just to drive and then sit in line near the entry. However, the traffic jam usually lets up at around 6 am. Once you get in, you are faced with the biggest decision of your day: where to park and watch the race? If you park below the starting line, then you have access to the pit area and opportunities to watch race vehicles being prepared, chat with crew teams and drivers, and watch the racers leave the start. You also have the option of leaving whenever you like.
On the other hand, once you have driven past the start, you can choose to park at many designated areas just off the pavement. You have the opportunity to see more of the track, while at the same time you cannot leave until the race is over, and all of the spectators above your location left. The final record of this year was for being the longest race in history. How long? Let me just say that I drove past the starting line on my way up at 6:15 am and drove back down at 8:00 pm.
Why such a long race? It was a side affect of numerous horrific crashes and other incidents and breakdowns. Most notable crashes were: Paul Dallenbach’s Banks powered car with stuck throttle, Jean Philippe Dayraut’s Dacia, Jeremy Foley’s heart stopping cliff dive, and Valentin Ivanitski’s roll over after hydroplaning off the road. Yes, I said hydroplaning, as the late afternoon delivered rain along most of the track and a generous amount of hail and wet snow at the top of the mountain. I am relieved to say that not a single person died and nobody had life threatening injures.
On a much brighter note. All kinds of records records fell this year, or should I say first time records were set? After the favorites: Dallenbach and Dayraut crashed early in the day, the spectator mood changed as many were starting to think that Monster Tajima’s 9 min 51 sec time from last year could not be bettered. Then came the surprise efforts from Romain Dumas and Rhys Millen, who both set almost identical times and both beat Tajima’s time by about 5 seconds. Millen took the overall record by just 0.017 sec. Then there were the blistering times set by the two Ducati bikes, who were both under 10 minutes as well.
It’s impossible to put all of my impressions from the race into a single article. Did the fourteen hour event with late snow, rain and wind test my spirit? Yes. Would I go back to watch the race next year? Unequivocally, yes! I want to go next weekend to learn the road and to hike the mountain.
