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Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Nividh Singh

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is one of the most challenging and dangerous races in the world.

Started in 1918, the Pikes Peak Hill climb is one of the most challenging races for any driver to compete in. Also known as Race to the Clouds, the race takes drivers up Pikes Peak on the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The race is 12.42 miles long, has over 156 turns, and has an elevation gain of 4,720 feet.

History

The first Pikes Peak Hill Climb was promoted by Entrepreneur Spencer Penrose, who had converted a narrow carriage road into a much wider Pikes Peak Highway. The first Penrose Trophy was awarded in 1916 to Rea Lentz for a time of 20:55.60. Until 1970, a few racers won a majoirty of the races. Glen Scults and Louis Unser shared a rivarly and won 12 times between them. During this time, the event was part of the AAA and USAC IndyCar championship. Then, in 1953, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) sponsered the event, and with the sponsership came an influx of sports car. In this period, the course record was broken every year from 1953 to 1962. A majority of these records were set by Louis’ nephew, Boby Unser. Through these years, both motorcylces and stock cars entered the race.

Then, in 2002, after a lawsuit against the Sierra Club for erision damage to streams, reservoirs, vegetation and wetlands due to the race, the City of Coloado SPrings began to pave the highway. The city paved about 10% of the route each year, finishing in 2011.

Electric Vehicles

Electric cars have been used in the Climb since the early 1980s. In ‘81, Joe Ball took a Sears Electric Car to the top in about half an hour. Over the next decades, electric cars increased in popularity due to many features in which they held the advantage. For example, they weren’t reliant on air, so they didn’t lose performance at higher altitutes. Moreover, their almost instant torque delivery helped their performance.

2022 Race

The 2022 Race is on August 10th. There will be a car race, however after four-time Pikes Peak winner Carlin Dunne was tragically killed in a crash at the race in 2019, there will no longer be a motorcycle race. We can’t wait to see who wins this year!

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