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The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and nearly a dozen PPIHC competitors celebrated the finest examples of automotive excellence at the 29th annual Florida Concours known as The Amelia.
The weekend kicked off with a panel discussion and film showcase. Ray Evernham moderated the discussion with panelists Jeff Zwart, Fred Veitch and David Donohue. Three films were presented including the popular Climb Dance, Ken Block's Climbkhana and a teaser for the PPIHC documentary film, Race to the Clouds - 100 Years In the Making.
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Thanks to generous support from Penrose Heritage Museum, El Pomar Foundation and The Broadmoor, this 1918 Pierce Arrow, owned by Spencer Penrose who created the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, was prepped and transported to Florida as the centerpiece of the Cars of Pikes Peak class.
This beauty raced for eight years in the PPIHC. The best time clocked was in 1932 - 19:59.9.
Referred to as "The Broadmoor Special" in its day, and nicknamed, the "Yellow Devil," the Pierce Arrow received the Hagerty Drivers Foundation Automotive Heritage Award.
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Thanks to the Museum of American Speed and their amazing team, including Tim Matthews, Brian Martin and Kurtis Heble, for making the Speedway Motors #92 driven open wheel car available for this event.
The impressive Chevrolet-powered racecar, driven by Robby Unser in 1994, won the Open Wheel division setting a division record of 10:05.85.
This entry earned the Best in Class Award.
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FRAMEABLE MOMENTS
WITH LARRY CHEN
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This 2023 photo taken during an early morning practice run on Pikes Peak shows both the conditions that drivers face and the dedication of the road crew on Pikes Peak - America's Mountain to keep the road clear.
It's noteworthy that a strong winter storm March 14-16 dropped up to 60 inches of snow on the mountain. According to Sklyer Rorabaugh, highway manager, "We had 39" at the Gateway, 43" near Crystal Reservoir, and anywhere from 43" to 60" from mile 7 on up. We haven't made the summit yet. In the middle section, some of the corners in the switchbacks have 15-20 foot drifts."
Pictured: Pikes Peak Open competitor, James Clay, in his 2010 Audi TTS Clay finished 3rd in Pikes Peak Open and 6th overall in his 1995 BMW M3 with a time of 9:20.433, a personal best. Photo by Larry Chen
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LAST CALL FOR POSTER ART ENTRIES | |
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The 2024 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo has announced a call for entries to local artists for the annual Poster Art Contest. The theme for this year's race is "Often Challenged. Rarely Conquered." Entries may be submitted through April 8, 2024. The winner will be chosen in mid-April.
The artist selected will receive a $1,000 cash prize, two VIP tickets to the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 23, and more. A "People's Choice" award of $250 will be awarded following a fan vote on PPIHC social media. Four "Honorable Mention" submissions will also be announced.
The 2023 winning entry titled Generations (pictured above) was submitted by Patricia Samora.
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Q: Which PPIHC rookie has clocked the fastest time?
A. Romain Dumas
B. Robin Shute
C. Sebastien Loeb
D. Rhys Millen
Keep reading to find the answer.
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Lucy Glöckner - In 2019, Germany's Lucy Glöckner made her second assault on the 14,115' summit of Pikes Peak. Aboard her 2019 BMW S1000R, Glöckner was the first woman to clock a sub-10-minute run when she won the Powersport division. She is the fastest woman ever to conquer the mountain with a time of 09:58.878.
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Kathryn Mead - Currently the fastest woman to race a car, Kathryn Mead set the new mark in 2023 in her Porsche GT4 Cayman Clubsport RS. Her time was 10:53.074.
Mead earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2020. She is slated to return for her fifth appearance on America's Mountain in June.
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Vanina Ickx - When PPIHC rookie, Vanina Ickx arrived from Belgium it created a bit of media buzz as she is the daughter of the famous Jacky Ickx, 6-time winner at the 24 Hours of LeMans. Vanina finished sixth in the Time Attack 1 division in her 2017 Gillet Vertigo with a time of 10:54.901, making her the fastest woman at that time.
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Stephanie Reaves - When Stephanie Reaves returned to Pikes Peak to compete in the 100th Anniversary of the iconic race in 2016 she set her sights on the 14,115' summit and never looked back. Reaves finished third in the Time Attack 2 Production division in her 2016 Dodge Viper ACR with a time of 10:56.876. Reaves' time marked the end of 100 years of race history, and at that time, the fastest clocking for a woman.
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Lorie Wood - Another noteworthy PPIHC mark was achieved by Lorie Brady Wood of Woodland Park, Colorado. Between 1999 and 2016, she competed 12 times, making her the woman with the most experience on the mountain. Her best time, 12:11.308 was clocked in 2014 behind the wheel of her #12 Wells Coyote.
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Michèle Mouton - The undisputed Queen of the Mountain, France's Michѐle Mouton, took Pikes Peak by storm in 1984, returning in 1985 to capture the crown. Her amazing mastery of the course paired with her determination to succeed in a man's world were remarkable. She not only won the division, but set an overall course record besting Al Unser, Jr's 1983 record by thirteen seconds. Her time in the popular, and now iconic, Audi Sport Quattro was 11:25.390.
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3/1 - Al Rogers - 5-Time King of the Mountain; PPIHC Hall of Fame
3/7 - Laszlo Keskeny - 2024 PPIHC Rookie
3/11 - Shawn Bassett - 2-Time PPIHC Competitor
3/11 - Codie Vahsholtz - Five division wins; motorcycles & cars
3/14 - Clint Vahsholtz - 30 year PPIHC Competitor; most division wins ever
3/15 - Laura Hayes - 2020 Parade of Champions driver; 2-time competitor
3/16 - Jordan Guitar - 6-Time Acura Team competitor
3/16 - Louis Unser - 9-Time King of the Mountain
3/22 - Rod Millen - 5-Time King of the Mountain; PPIHC Hall of Fame
3/23 - Jim Hall II - 2024 PPIHC Rookie
3/25 - Cole Powelson - 5-Time competitor
3/28 - Anthony Anstead - 2021 PPIHC Pace Car Driver; 2024 PPIHC Rookie
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INAUGURAL NORTH AMERICAN F.A.T. ICE RACE
STAGED IN COLORADO
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The inaugural North American F.A.T. Ice Race, driven by Mobil 1, was celebrated in Aspen, Colorado in early 2024. The first F.A.T. Ice Race was held in Zell am See, Austria in 1952.
There were three divisions of timed competition over two days at this event - Historic, 2WD, and 4WD with the three best times from each division advancing to shootout. PPIHC competitor, Spencer Steele (pictured) won both days in the 2WD division in his 3-time PPIHC division-winning 1990 Wells Coyote.
Tanner Foust, also a PPIHC competitor, won the AWD division and had the overall fastest time of the event in a VW Golf. The best historic time was set in a 1970 Mini Cooper S by Mathew Ivanhoe. Other PPIHC competitors were on hand to take in the festivities including Cam Ingram, Loni Unser, Jeff Zwart and David Donohue.
The event also kicked off Mobil 1's 50th Anniversary celebration.
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PPIHC VIP TRAVEL PACKAGES | |
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Experience the 102nd Running of the PPIHC in style and luxury.
Accommodations at The Broadmoor,
private practice session viewing,
meet-and-greet opportunities,
exclusive transportation,
and a once-in-a-lifetime Race Day adventure,
including a trip to the summit via
the Cog Railway to witness racing history!
3- and 4-day VIP Travel Packages
This adventure is limited to 12 guests.
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PPIHC TRIVIA ANSWER: C
Sébastien Loeb crushed the course record in 2013, the first and only year he raced on the mountain. His time of 08:13.878 in the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak bested the record set in 2012 of 09:46.164 by Rhys Millen.
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Sign up for the Kroger/King Soopers/City Market Community Rewards Program! As a non-profit organization, the PPIHC can now benefit from program donation. Through the program, King Soopers donates millions of dollars each year to non-profits. It does not cost you any extra money – all you have to do is link your rewards card to PPIHC and use it when you shop. If you’re a King Soopers or City Market shopper with a rewards card, and wish to participate, here are step-by-step instructions on how to join:
Log in to your King Soopers or City Market account, or create an account, by following these links:
King Soopers Shoppers - Enroll HERE
City Market Shoppers - Enroll HERE
Go to your account page and click on “Community Rewards”
Enter “Pikes Peak International Hill Climb” or “CF586” and ENROLL.
After enrolling, you will help earn a donation for PPIHC when you shop with your King Soopers card. Thank you!
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PPIHC License Plates Available in Colorado | Live in Colorado? Join more than 1,200 locals who are already displaying their love of the PPIHC. Order this special license plate at the DMV. Yes, you can personalize it! | |
Photo credits: Larry Chen, Jason Zindroski, Louis Yio, Josh Hildenbrand, Revvolution.com, Jackson Smith, PPIHC Archives. | | | | |
