First visit to Pikes Peak

I hill climb, and not so sure I want to do this event. I don't know why a long drop is more intimidating to me than a rock/tree being 3ft off the edge of the road. Though I'm fairly certain I'll attend the event next year either as crew or corner worker. It's a long course to memorize, with not a lot of practice. In car video just doesn't teach you the course the same way.

The lack of dirt wasn't the cause of most of the problems this year. One of the biggest offs was right near the bottom, which has been paved for a long time. A stuck throttle on a 400 hp car going to cause a crash regardless of the surface! The Evo that went for the long fall was preceded by another car last year, which took the same line off the dirt. The electric car that caught on fire would have done so regardless. You really could see the transition of the event - as people adapt to a single surface instead of building cars for dirt and tarmac, the cars are going to get quite a bit faster.

The competitors that ran after the Evo crash were racing on a mostly-wet track, with snow appearing up top. The last dozen raced a shortened course and our section was dry by the time they came through.

If I run it, I think I'd take a navigator. I believe the Time Trial class runs that way - certainly some of them do.

Not many of the really high-profile bonkers factory efforts were running this year, and only of one of them made it as far as our view point - and he didn't make it to the top. That might be why it seemed it was more an event for the amateur racers than magazine coverage would have you believe.

A stuck throttle on a 1400 hp car going to cause a crash regardless of the surface!

FTFY

This was my second year, so many red flags this year, didn't think it'd ever end.

I was at the Ski Area, you might have seen me break my pride when I fell off of one of the rocks trying to take pictures, lol.

I have to admit after seeing some of the noobishness on the course this year (some of the lines people were taking were just hilariously bad) it's starting to make me really want to be on the other side of the race and not standing around spectating.

It's on my bucket list, but I'll have to out live my wife or she'd kill me for entering!

Any update on the Evo crew? I heard they were both alive, but both needed a flight of life to th ehospital with one serious, any news?

So with the shift to all tarmac, how long until Red Bull send a mildly modified prio year F1 car out for a go

daytonaer wrote: I drove out there a couple years ago excited to "drive the race track" in a civic. they were closed due to high winds, I only made it to the gate at the base. As I wearily looked through the "christmas" store at the bottom of the hill I worried I would not be able make it back before they finished paving... I didn't make it.. Glad you had fun !

I was lucky 18 years ago. I was out on a test trip in the yet to be launched DN101 Taurus. In some down time we decided to drive up PP. We pull up to the gate and get told it's closed due to Snow (In August!), but hten the woman in the toll both saw we were in a prototype and asked us if we were testing traction control. Well yes we are mame :) and up we go

Adrian_Thompson wrote: It's on my bucket list, but I'll have to out live my wife or she'd kill me for entering! Any update on the Evo crew? I heard they were both alive, but both needed a flight of life to th ehospital with one serious, any news?

Bumps and bruises for the driver. Add a dislocated shoulder for the navigator. Not bad considering.

I think I'd rather tumble down a mountain than go for the short flight into the trees. Less of a sudden stop. Of course, neither option is particularly appealing...

There were at least four helicopter medivacs over the course of the race - the co-driver for the Evo was reported to have "helmet trauma" so they were doing the smart thing.

The first year I went ('86) we had a medivac chopper for a spectator. Seems there was a delay in the event when a car went off in the lower section, so a few drunk folks started jumping off the edge of Gilley's corner, which is the hairpin just below the Ski area. The decomposed granite is around a 45 degree angle or so (forget what the angle of repose is), and relatively soft to land in, if you're careful. Broken leg, much longer stoppage than the car.

Most of the entries are amateurs, and always have been. Actually, smooth pavement is new to a lot of the regulars, so there's a learning curve. The good ones will adapt quickly ,modify their equipment, and keep winning.

Don't know the entry fee these days, a class like time attack used to be around $800 - $1000 for early entry several years ago. Cage requirements are very strict.

Let's see - a turbocharged open wheel sucker car with a PDK-type gearbox...

Keith, saw you go by the pits in the parade. We had just got Brianne back to our spot and I was looking for Todd Cook (wanted to say hello in person) when you drove by. Despite all the issues with the event this year we still had fun and will be back.

I spoke to Jeremy Foley while we caravanned back from Colorado and he's planning on returning with more experience and a stout cage.

modernbeat wrote: ...and I was looking for Todd Cook (wanted to say hello in person)...

Todd's a co-worker and buddy of mine! I've even worked on his car a little bit. He had a major thrash to make the start with two blown motors. Word is he finished fourth in class.

David

A friend of mine published his shots from the race. He's a professional photographer but isn't allowed to sell any shots from Pike's Peak because...well, because the Pike's Peak organizers don't understand the difference between being the subject of a photo and taking a photo. Anyhow, here's a shot of what was one of the coolest vehicles at the event. A side by side turned into...umm...a Pike's Peak car. Turbo, CVT trans, aero - what a mutant. We gave it spontaneous applause for being super-cool.

Here are the pics I took

http://fullerfotos.net/ppihc-2012/