Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - 8 July 2012
 

Who's up for going to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday 8 July?

I believe for the first time in history, the course is fully paved this year (vs being partially paved and partially dirt before). It should be rather interesting to see how the drivers and cars respond. I'm anticipating the record will be broken (again), although weather could quite easily dash that prediction.

http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. First competed in 1916 and this year marks the 90th running of the "Race to the Clouds."
In 2012, the race will take place on Sunday, July 8 with race related events all week long. Fan Fest, on Friday, July 6 in downtown Colorado Springs, will feature motorcycle jumpers, two beer gardens, a chili cook-off, live bands and the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders and is expected to draw over 35,000 spectators.
The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of America’s Mountain; Pikes Peak! As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. Competitors and vehicles must be in top shape simply to finish...let alone win!
This year the race has 16 classes and features a variety of automotive, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.
Race Week begins Tuesday, July 3 with Tech Inspection at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) in Fountain, Colorado. Every vehicle undergoes a rigorous inspection with a concentration on safety issues. That evening there will be meetings for all the riders and drivers at the Raceway. Practice and qualifying takes place Wednesday through Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 am on Pikes Peak.
The current record is 09:51.278 and was set by Nobuhiro Tajima in 2011.
There is no other race course in the world like the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. That is why it attracts race crews that are willing to spend several hundred thousand dollars and months of preparation to compete for the right to be the King of the Mountain.

Have always followed this offhandedly since childhood and we were talking about driving up from Phoenix this year and seeing some friends en route to the event. We'll see what happens. I almost took a job with Pike National Forest many years ago.

Eric,
If you go...I'll go.

Sze Lin and I are planning on going. Need to double-check with her and then pick up tickets. Shall we get one for you when we get ours Sean (aka Mr Black)? Would Cindy Lou be interested or will she be working that Sunday?

e

I'll ask her when she gets home and let you know...but, I think that she'll be scheduled to work. So, I'm probably free to join ya'll.

Cooooooooooool. We might not even be completely covered in dust now that it's paved :) Although, it was fun to watch the people who lined up on the OUTSIDE of the dirt covered part getting showered in rocks and dust. I can't say I'll ever understand why they stood on the outside instead of the inside...

We'll load up a cooler with food and drinks (because once you're there, you can't leave until it's all done and the racers have all come down from the top), bring a tub of sunscreen and we'll be set :)

Cool!
I have been wanting to do this for a long time now. I think I can handle the heat...so long as it's not smoky from these freakin' fires.

With the current wildfire situation, I'm going to take a wait and see approach. Right now, they've said they are "cautiously optimistic" that the 90th running of the PPIHC will proceed according to schedule, but it's pretty crazy down there right now and it's certainly not guaranteed. Hopefully they can get a handle on it and no more families will lose their homes. It definitely was not looking good on the news last night as houses were burning in Colorado Springs :(

The really sad part is that they're thinking the Waldo Canyon fire (near CO Springs) was started by someone. Unbelievable.

The PPIHC has been postponed. A new date has not yet been set. Hopefully it's not the same weekend as the Triple Bypass in which I'm participating.

bummer