Das war's dann wohl für heuer :-((

90^th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Postponed Because of Safety Concerns And The Fires Near Colorado Springs – New Date Will Be Sought For This Summer

Colorado Springs, June 27---------Faced with epic conditions and safety concerns related to the wildfires threatening Colorado Springs and nearby communities, the 90^th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, scheduled for Sunday, July 8, is being postponed until later in the summer.

“We have been informed by the U.S. Forest Service that conditions are so extreme, along with the inability to forecast the future of the fire, and with access to Pikes Peak in jeopardy that the agency can’t permit the event to go as scheduled, “said Tom Osborne, Chairman of the Board of the PPIHC and President & CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.

Osborne said that the iconic event, the nation’s second-oldest motor sports race behind the Indianapolis 500, will be staged later this summer, and that a new date will be set within a time frame that allows the option of rescheduling of a new Race Week for drivers, racers, support crews and the multitude of agencies that are required to support the race.

“The 90^th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be run,” said Osborne.

“This race began in 1916 and it has earned its place among the world’s greatest motor sports events, and it is an important part of the sports heritage of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach. “We are committed to making sure it takes place this year and that we carry on the tradition. We are disappointed, but our first concern is our city, its residents, their homes, businesses and public safety.”

Sports Corp and PPIHC officials met with officials from the Forest Service and numerous agencies tasked with the safety and support of the race this afternoon that included a wide-ranging discussion and review of the possibility of staging the race on July 8, along with the numerous ancillary events that go with the event. Those include the arrivals of the 211 race crews and competitors starting this weekend, the Technical Inspections on July 3 at the Pikes Peak International  Raceway, the July 6 Fan Fest downtown, and practice and qualification times for all competitors on July 4-5-6.

“At the end of our meeting today, it was clear that we would not be able to go as scheduled,” said Osborne. “Our deepest concern is for the safety of the public and the competitors, and it was obvious that several agencies charged with public safety would not be able to commit the resources and manpower required to ensure those requirements because of the critical need for their resources at this time. Our city is in an unprecedented struggle right now and we are deeply sensitive to it.”

The race organizers will meet quickly to begin the search for the new date and it is a goal to announce the replacement date within two weeks.

Notification of the 211 competitors, some of them from 15 nations outside the United States, news media organizations traveling to cover the race, and fans has begun.

Tickets already purchased will be honored for the new date and the events for the fans and competitors will be rescheduled. All sponsor, vendor and supplier agreements will be fulfilled, according to Osborne

Mike Moran

Senior Media Consultant

The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation

1631 Mesa Ave., Suite E

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 634-7333, ext.1011

mike@thesportscorp.org 

Statement from the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation Regarding the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, - June 25, 2012

From: President & CEO Tom Osborne, Chairman of the Board of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

“We are cautiously optimistic concerning the running of the 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on July 8 after an informative and thorough meeting this morning with Mayor Steve Bach and officials from the City of Colorado Springs. We are in consistent touch with these officials, and monitoring the constantly-developing situation related to the wildfires.”

“We are grateful for the support of the City and for the efforts of the agencies involved in protecting our community from the fire. Our constant thoughts are with the hundreds of men and women who are in the air and on the ground giving us their best, and with our residents and neighbors.”

“In the meantime, our systems for the staging of the race and the ancillary events connected to it are fully operative.”

Check out Kristin's blog on http://funksterwtf.blogspot.com/

Alles Fotos zum Testwochenende hier:
https://picasaweb.google.com/113048328353448537016/PikesPeakInternationalHillclimbPPIHC2012

Pikes Peak Testing Weekend June 9th/10th

find more info's, pictures, videos on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/gpstratos

e.g.:

https://vimeo.com/43968139

and

https://vimeo.com/43962157

https://vimeo.com/43970521

Ein gutes Motto !

Pikes Peak Testing Days June 9th/10th

With only 4 weeks to go to the "Race to the Clouds", I used the opportunity to participate in the testing weekend on June9th/10th in order to familiarize myself with the car and with the mountain. It was a great experience! This is a fantastic mountain, a fantastic race track! (sometimes even a bit scaring....). A tremendeous experience. Todd Landon, his wife Kristin Stewart and John Kollars did a great job in perparing everything and in supporting me and my team mate Ralf Christensen from Sweden (unfortunately the Unser deal did not work out due to lack of sponsoring support). It was strange to discover, that Ralf and I where racing last years Panamericana rigth behind each other (I was car nr. 361 and he was nr.362!) and we haven't really talked to each other.....Ralf was second placed overall in the 2006 Panamericana and had won the Historic C category that year. On Pikes Peak he drives a powerful Mustang Shelby and he did set some impressive times......

Got up at 3:00 a.m. This morning. Left the hotel in Manitou Springs at 3:45, checked in at the Pikes Peak Highway tollgate at 4:15. First training session started at 5:30. We did 2 short runs for warming up and 5 runs from the Starting grid until Glenn Cove. Car handles nicely, and runs well. No issues at all. Building up confidence in tires, brakes, handling and Road conditions. It's a marvelous track......I am glad to be here! Tomorrow - same place, same station - we will be in the upper section, from Glenn Cove to the summit.

2nd day testing on Pikes Peak: Upper section, from Glenn Cove to the Summit. Beautiful and scary....I did 5 runs (because I run out of fuel just at the start of run 6). The upper section is partly extremely fast and you go through blind corners in 4th gear and the are no guardrails, but a cliff where you could crash down several hundert meters.....maybe need a brain surgery in order to get faster? ;-)

I was happy with the test - the car handles very well - but probably I still need to find some time in order to assure qualification for the race.....There are lots of powerful cars and well experienced racers at the start......I am looking forward to come back for the race!

Check out the PPIHC Director of Operations Megan Leatham on Comcast Newsmakers:

http://bit.ly/JPDJQO

News from Megan arrived:

Dear Competitors,

Please check out this video of the new pavment on Pikes Peak Highway.  The footage is taken from the start line to the summit on a mounted GoPro camera.  This was done on a closed course by PPIHC officials. 

http://bit.ly/JAEfzc

Please note however, if you are going drive the road before the race (which is encouraged), it is important that you maintain all posted speeds and follow all laws.  The Pikes Peak Highway has a list of competitors and if the PPIHC Race Director receives a complaint from the highway about someone entered in this year’s event, that competitors will be disqualified.

Thanks-Megan

 Megan Leatham

Director of Operations

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

1631 Mesa Avenue, Ste. E

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Direct: 719-685-4400

Fax: 719-634-5198

megan@ppihc.com

PPIHC is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization

Todd has quite an impressive record of victories and top finishes......


http://mustangstogo.weebly.com/competition.html

21.03.2012

Walter Röhrl erklimmt erneut den Pikes Peak

25 Jahre nachdem Walter Röhrl im Audi Sport quattro S1 in ungebrochener Rekordzeit den Pikes Peak empor driftete, kommt es 2012 noch einmal zum Treffen der Giganten: Am 8. Juli wird Röhrl zum zweiten Mal bei dem berühmten Bergrennen, auch „Race to the Clouds“ genannt, an den Start gehen. Im US-Bundesstaat Colorado setzt sich der Rallyefahrer des Jahrhunderts an das Steuer des Original Audi Sport quattro S1 und macht so einen Meilenstein der Audi Sport Geschichte noch einmal erlebbar. Einen Vorgeschmack auf das berühmte Bergrennen gibt Audi Tradition seit heute auf der weltgrößten Oldtimermesse „Techno Classica“ in Essen – Autogrammstunde mit Walter Röhrl inklusive.
Am 11. Juli 1987 drückte Rallyelegende Walter Röhrl das Gaspedal im fast 600 PS starken Audi Sport quattro S1 durch und erklomm in nur zehn Minuten und 48 Sekunden den Berg. Auf der ungesicherten Schotterpiste war dies noch nie zuvor einem Fahrer gelungen – ein Meilenstein in der Geschichte des ältesten Bergrennens der USA, ein Meilenstein auch für Audi. Spätere Verbesserungen der Rennzeit fanden auf der heute asphaltierten Strecke statt.
25 Jahre nach seinem Erfolg geht Walter Röhrl am 8. Juli zum zweiten Mal mit dem „Monster“ auf Bergtour. Diesmal nicht unter Rennbedingungen, aber immer noch anspruchsvoll genug: Die Strecke verläuft in Serpentinen über fast 20 Kilometer und 150 Kurven bis hin zum Gipfel, der auf 4.301 Metern Höhe liegt.
Wer im Juli nicht vor Ort mit von der Partie sein kann, der hat seit heute auf der weltgrößten Oldtimermesse „Techno Classica“ in Essen die Möglichkeit, Impressionen des berühmten Rennklassikers zu sammeln. Audi Tradition, die Abteilung der AUDI AG, die sich mit der Geschichte des Unternehmens beschäftigt, präsentiert dort in Halle 7 auf 700 Quadratmetern echte Siegertypen aus dem Bergrennsport. Besonderes Highlight: der Audi Sport quattro S1 „Pikes Peak“.

Qualification Procedure:

· Through the qualification procedure, officials will be limiting the field to approximately 80 cars and 100 bikes.

· Two qualification procedures will potentially be used to limit the field:

1) Rule Book Part VII 8.2.5: PPIHC reserves the right to disqualify any competitor who qualifies outside of a percentage (115% ) of the fastest time. 

2) If the 115% rule does not limit the number of competitors to the ideal numbers; a percentage of each division will then be eliminated (approximately 20%-25%) based on qualification times.    

· Qualification times will be based on the competitor’s best time on the bottom section during practice week.  Please refer to the race week schedule for more information. 

· All competitors will be allowed to complete all three days of practice regardless of qualifying position.

· The field for race day will be posted on Friday after qualification.

208 Anmeldungen für 2012 PPIHC !

A total of 208 drivers and racers have registered and the field is closed for the 2012 race. The big response now makes it necessary for competitors to qualify for the July 8 event.

Und mein Teamkollege ist/My team mate is: Bobby Unser Jr. !

Bobby Unser won't let his injured hand stop his return to Hill Climb
January 31, 2012 10:55 AM
from DAVID RAMSEY - THE GAZETTE.

When Bobby Unser Jr. regained consciousness at the hospital, he immediately thought about driving. This makes sense. He’s a member of an Unser family that has triumphed 38 times at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb along with multiple Indy 500 victories. In 2009, Bobby Jr. was stricken with a flesh-eating disease that claimed the index and ring finger on his right hand. He refuses to complain; he’s just thrilled to be alive. Doctors told him he was hours away from death. “It’s fine,” Bobby Jr. says, reporting on the condition of his right hand. “It’s really strong, good on a steering wheel and good on a shifter. That’s all I worried about, to be honest.” He’s eager to test his hand, and there’s no better place for a challenge than Pikes Peak, the mountain of his youth. He’s been driving the curving road his entire life. “My first time up there,” Bobby Jr. says, “I was in my mother’s stomach. I think a lot about my heritage and how much I love that mountain and love that race and love that road.” He will return July 8 to compete in the vintage class of the Hill Climb. He’s part of a wave of returning Unser racers. His sister, Jeri Unser and brother, Robby, will return to compete in hybrid cars. Bobby Jr., 56, calls Pikes Peak “Unser’s mountain.” Excuse his bravado because there’s substance behind it. In 1915, Bobby Jr.’s grandfather, Jerry, rode a motorcycle with a sidecar to the top of the peak alongside his brothers, Louis and Joe. This courageous ride was taken before the completion of Spencer Penrose’s Pikes Peak Highway. Since 1926, an Unser has been at the start line of the Hill Climb 113 times. Bobby Unser, Bobby Jr.’s father, collected 13 Hill Climb titles. Bobby Jr. made his name primarily as a stunt driver. He has not competed in the Hill Climb since 1985. He enjoyed his years of competition at Pikes Peak, even though he often struggled. He usually excelled in the days leading up to competition. On race day, his cars often failed him. “I was told by a lot of people I was too hard on my equipment,” he says. He hopes 2012 will be different. He will drive a 1968 Mustang High-Country Special Coupe. The High-Country, which was sold primarily in Colorado, features a special options package. Todd Landon, a research scientist in Minneapolis, is preparing the Mustang for Unser. They met last summer at the Hill Climb, and started talking about the possibility of Unser returning for this summer’s race. “He can still handle the steering wheel,” Landon says. “I think he’s quite a driver.” For years, Bobby Jr. has yearned to return to The Hill Climb. Last summer, he worked at the summit as a broadcaster and watched as Nobuhiro “The Monster” Tajima ripped across the finish line with a course record. Bobby Jr. knew he needed to again race up the mountain. His return became a virtual requirement. “It’s an adrenalin kick like you can’t believe,” he says. “You’re huffing and puffing when you get to the finish line. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to the challenge.” Bobby Jr. declines to talk much about his right hand. He’s not focused on what happened at the hospital in 2009. He refuses to limit himself as he prepares for another battle with his – and his family’s - favorite mountain.

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/unser-132662-driving-sense.html#ixzz1lg8hrFOv

 

And of course, the most important link: http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc

Some great onboard-video-footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4_c_mvRB9A&feature=plcp&context=C3b9663aUDOEgsToPDskJsZKk0Mb9Wl7L8uFPnBpAe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdNjl3zQsdI&feature=player_detailpage

Due to high number of entries: Qualification necessary!

Meeting some friends from the La Carrera Panamericana.....

Participating in the RMVR-class: RMVR (Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing)
These vintage race cars harken back to the glory days of Pikes Peak with cars like; Mustang, Cobra, Mercury and Lincoln too. RMVR Record: Keith Davisdon (2011), 12:44.126. 

Instead of racing with my own Chevrolet Corvette (the 2011 La Carrera Panamericana car), I have decided to rent one of Todd Landon's Mustangs - The Gipsy Wind - for the 2012 Pikes Peak Event!

Race to the Clouds!
Length: 12.42 Miles
Turns: 156
Elevation at Start: 9.390 ft
Elevation at Finish: 14.110 ft
Maximum Grade: 10,5 %