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, this year marks the 93rd running of the “Race to the Clouds.”
The race is on the Pikes Peak Highway, right here in our own Cascade Colorado, where Rocky Mountain Lodge & Cabins is located.
In 2015, the race will take place on Sunday, June 28th with race related events all week long. Fan Fest, on Friday, June 26th spanning 7 blocks of downtown Colorado Springs, will feature motorcycle jumpers, beer gardens, a chili cook-off, live bands, which draws tens of thousands of spectators, and benefits the MDA.
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 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.
Race Week begins Tuesday, June 23. Practice and qualifying takes place Wednesday through Friday from 5:30am to 8:30am am on Pikes Peak.
The current record is 8 minutes 13.878 seconds, and was set by Sebastien Loeb in 2013.
You can find out more about the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at their official website at http://www.ppihc.com/.
Visit Rocky Mountain Lodge & Cabins’ calendar of events page at https://www.rockymountainlodge.com/calendar.htm for more upcoming events in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.
And if you need Pikes Peak lodging for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Rocky Mountain Lodge & Cabins is a stone’s throw away from the starting point!
