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 86th running of the “Race to the Clouds.”
Glen Shultz in his winning Stutz special in 1928. He won the race with a time of 17:41.6. Note the massive vertical 8 engine and the Stutz Sphinx radiator cap. Glen also won in 1926 and 1927. This photo is part of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb archive.
The 2008 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will take place on Sunday, July 20th, with the ever-popular Fan Fest event in downtown Colorado Springs staged on Friday, July 18th at 5:00pm. Fan Fest is expected to draw over 35,000 participations.
The Race to the Clouds is run on a 12.42 mile course that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes, saps muscle strength and 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’s 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 July 15th with Tech Inspection at the Host Hotel – CrownePlaza. Every vehicle undergoes a rigorous inspection, concentrating on safety issues. Practice and qualifying takes place Wednesday through Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 AM on Pikes Peak.
There is no other race course in the world like the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. That’s why it attracts race teams willing to spend several hundred thousand dollars and months of preparation to compete for the right to be the King of the Mountain.
[Source: Pikes Peaks International Hill Climb]
