I drove to the top May 8th on dry pavement. I don't know how much snow they have had since then. Looks like it rained before some of the pictures in above posts.
I drove to the top May 8th on dry pavement. I don't know how much snow they have had since then. Looks like it rained before some of the pictures in above posts.
MyMiatas said:Keith Tanner said:In reply to californiamilleghia :
I don't know about Pikes Peak specifically, but it was a heavy snow year. We still have ice on the lakes at 10,000'. This was last weekend, and I took the picture standing on a 10' snow pile.
Is it worth to go and actually see the race? Or is it way to crowded to enjoy it?
And was that photo taken up on the Mesa?
It's definitely worth going to see it. The viewing area is pretty much the entire mountainside, so it's not crowded. Last time I went, I watched from Devil's Playground and you get a really good view. You can even spot the start line from there.
Logistically it's a bit of a pain - you have to drive up when the mountain opens (around 2 or 3 AM) and you're there for the day because your way out is the course. Expect weather. Bring food and water and anything you'll need. You can't begin to leave until all the race cars have finished running up - and then they slowly drive down. The exit takes forever, because as soon as the race cars get to the pit area they totally clog up the road and everything stops. A roomy vehicle makes life so much nicer - we were in our Westfalia, so we were comfortable sleeping after the drive up. When the race got red flagged for a while due to weather, we were making s'mores and reading comfortably while others were huddled in the front seat of pickups.
The Miata photo was taken at Island Lake on the Mesa.
Kevin_at_BW said:I think we found a van that is less "transit" than our bmw is "e36". The Supervan being in our class and piloted by THE Romain Dumas himself will definitely spice things up. It certainly accelerates as hard as you'd imagine an AWD, 2000hp, electric...van can. I have video, just not sure the best way to share it here.
Shouldn't your handle be "The Kevin_at_BW"? Just like The James Clay?
Agree, not much of a van, more of an Egg with the front bumper and rear roof rails of a transit.
2023 #Fast15 Qualifiers presented by OPTIMA Batteries;
2023 PPIHC Run Order (PDF)
Note: The last three cars to start because of problems in qualifying
And how about another batch of awesome photos?
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov
Photography Credit: Brian Chapel
Outstanding photos! I covered the event for GRM for 19 years, so I know where every one of those was taken, and they are really terrific!
Everyone should go to this event at least once, it's amazing, but plan to spend the whole day, and be prepared for all possible weather and for a LONG delay on the way down after the event is over. I preferred it when it was all dirt, but progress happens, it's still way cool. Go Randy!
Reports on social media of massive line to get on the mountain...spectators and competitors both. New electronic waivers slowing things down because folks didn't do their homework so others are stuck behind. Word is there's a delayed start as a result.
Colin Wood said:2023 #Fast15 Qualifiers presented by OPTIMA Batteries;
- Robin Shute / 3:24.711 / Unlimted / 2018 Wolf TSC-FS
- Romain Dumas / 3:39.939 / Pikes Peak Open / 2023 Ford Performance SuperVan 4
- James Clay / 3:47.089 / Pikes Peak Open / 1995 BMW M3
- Raph Astier / 3:51.872 / Pikes Peak Open / 2018 Alpine A110 GT4 Evo
- Codie Vahsholtz / 3:52.816 / Open Wheel / 2013 Ford Open Vahsholtz Custom
- David Donohue / 3:53.618 / Time Attack 1 / 2019 Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport
- Dan Novembre / 3:57.636 / Unlimited / 2013 Wolf GB08S TC Special
- Swan Motorsports / 4:01.501 / Unlimited / 2006 Swift 16
- Tanner Foust / 4:03.677 / Exhibition / 2023 Redford Type 62-2
- Randy Pobst / 4:04.561 / Exhibition / 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid
- Jeff Zwart / 4:05.103 / Time Attack 1 / 2019 Porsche 935/19
- Sylas Montgomery / 4:05.374 / Open Wheel / 2007 MFG Road Course Sprint Car
- Jimmy Ford / 4:09.419 / Pikes Peak Open / 1994 Ford Bronco
- Don Wickstrum / 4:10.404 / Unlimited / 2016 Axel Riley Ave LMP3
- James Robinson / 4:13.363 / Time Attack 1 / 2022 Acura NSX
2023 PPIHC Run Order (PDF)
Note: The last three cars to start because of problems in qualifyingBe creative, live a fun life and don't be a shiny happy person.
Does #13 say 1994 Ford Bronco???
Amazing day of record-breaking. Soooo many below 9:30.
All the crappy weather from the last two years was repaid today. Gorgeous.
In reply to bumpsteer :
Yes. And it's been there before.
Keith Tanner said:In reply to bumpsteer :
Yes. And it's been there before.
That thing is fast, 10:07!
Andy Hollis said:Reports on social media of massive line to get on the mountain...spectators and competitors both. New electronic waivers slowing things down because folks didn't do their homework so others are stuck behind. Word is there's a delayed start as a result.
Champcar does electronic waivers. People do their homework and sign them before. Their system is often the culprit for issues. I'd imagine it's probably a combo of both given how not robust some of those systems are.
Not sure if anyone had seen this yet, so I figured I'd share it here. Glad to see that he made it out okay.
From the video description:
Play by Play:
Coming into lightning corner, I lifted to neutral throttle, went to set into the corner with the brakes, and the pedal instantly went to the floor with zero effort. I frantically pumped the brakes, and you can hear the throttle change slightly as I do this because the brake pedal was so far down on the floor, my boot cut suit leg was catching the throttle. I knew there was way too much momentum (you can see this in the first clip) to make the corner, so I tried to hook the ditch, and that was too aggressive as it just shot the truck in the air and went off. Probably a good thing, as the farther you get around the corner, the steeper and rockier it gets. Really an no-win situation all the way around, and my worst nightmare as a Pikes Peak racer has always been this exact scenario.
First impact was 175 feet down the embankment, and the truck and I came to rest 714 feet down on the side. The truck is too far gone to fix for racing again, but I may attempt to resurrect it to a street truck. For now, Rest In Peace Old Smokey F1.
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