Pikes Peak Hill Climb - spectate without driving or camping

[powers]

I have never watched the Pikes Peak Hill climb in person, but since we have MRA entries this year and it is paved, I figure I will give it a shot. My dad might be down here, so that takes out any option for camping or being stuck on the mountain in a car all day.

I know about Fan Fest and will already be there.
Can we take the Cog to the top and watch?
Is there an area near the start line to spectate, either the race start or pits?

Thanks.

[asp_125]

The very top IIRC is closed to spectators - they used to cut it off at the "W"s. If you make it up to the start area before they close the roads, you can walk, hike up to the first few corners. Mountain bike up the trails is another way to get into the race area.

[sag]

yes you can pay extra for a pit pass which grants you access to the pits and starting line. edit* doesnt seem like a pit pass is extra this year. then you can hike up as far as youd like to watch. plus they have food and stuff at the base. im not sure how often the shuttle operates to take you to the start from lower down but you wont be stuck if you park somewhere lower and walk or shuttle to the start. IMO thats the best place to be. you get to check out all the cars up close, launches etc... being high up top just means the cars are slow, the weather blows, and you dont even see the cars that break or dont make it.

its very lax at the start/pits, you can wander just about anywhere haha

http://director.usacracing.com/ppihc/files/pdfs/2012_Spectator_Guide.pdf

[Ninja2]

http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46742&highlight=quattro

:)

[tecknojoe]

Excellent info. I'm going this year for sure. Who else is in?

[sprtbkbabe]

I'll be there spectatin! :hibye:

I'm psyched to see our MRA riders kick ass

[sprtbkbabe]

Good Luck to all of the drivers and riders this weekend!

Do eet! Applehans/Sorensen/Conser

http://director.usacracing.com/ppihc/files/pdfs/competitor_list.pdf


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0pTT1VmOQ4&feature=player_embedded

[sprtbkbabe]

Looks like 3 sidecars will be competing. One is hand built by Hans Schulz.

Yep, that's a BUSA!


http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/images/misc/paperclip.png Attached Imageshttp://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=199445&stc=1&d=1344295904 http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=199446&stc=1&d=1344295914

[asp_125]

Nice! :up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C423HbED9Kw&feature=related

240HP .. electric bike!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EI6IhNqGCU&feature=related

[grim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C423HbED9Kw&feature=related

[aerofaze]

FANFEST is Friday, Aug 10 (http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc/news_ppihc/5573.html) from 5-10PM Tejon St, downtown Colo Spgs. Always a lot of fun!

[Ninja2]

FANFEST is Friday, Aug 10 (http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc/news_ppihc/5573.html) from 5-10PM Tejon St, downtown Colo Spgs. Always a lot of fun!

Ladies, don't forget about the Firefighters Chili Cook-off :)
Also a great opportunity to thank them for all the work fighting the horrible Waldo Canyon and other CO fires this year.

[Ninja2]

I'll be there spectatin! :hibye:

I'm psyched to see our MRA riders kick ass

Where do you plan on spectating? I will be at the start/paddock area.
Not sure how that works because this is my first time.
Would be nice to see you again.
And who are the MRA racers? Will they have the MRA.race numbers on their bikes?

[Chief Stinky]

I'll be there, somewhere below the treeline. Last year was at Brown Bush Corner.

[sprtbkbabe]

Where do you plan on spectating? I will be at the start/paddock area.
Not sure how that works because this is my first time.
Would be nice to see you again.
And who are the MRA racers? Will they have the MRA.race numbers on their bikes?


I'm hoping to get up at least most of the way up and park it where they let me.

Glenn Conser/Mike Applehans/"Hot" Carl Sorensen.

I know Mike's # is 125 (had to add a 1 to it). Other rider's numbers are on this list above

I'll PM you with my # and we can meet up :hibye:

[asp_125]

This: be prepared to drive up really early and get in line for the gate. It's like the Indy 500, some families have been camping out for years in the same spots - coolers, chairs the works. IIRC when I went (back in 2000 ish) we were in line before 5am. I managed to get way up to the W's on practice days but race day I only got as far as the section below the campgrounds. Back then it was dirt and the fun was sitting near the corners as the cars came by sideways, dust flying. (The SCCA Pro Rally cars)

(PS - watching the sunrise over the plains, above treeline, is amazing)

[Bueller]

Glenn and Carl retain their MRA #'s of 54 and 217 respectively. They are all 3 running the "Exhibition Powersport" class.

[Chief Stinky]

What ASP said, if you've never been, it's an experience, an all day thing. Plan to get there ~4 to 5am, as early as you can stand, and plan it like a camping trip. You'll be there all day, as you're locked in. Take sunscreen, hat, chairs, food/lots of water, your camera, and toilet paper (they'll have portapotties, but just in case). Mebbe a good radio if you want to follow the action. I chuck it all in the car and get out what I need when I need it.

It's a fun time, but it's a long day.

[Mother Goose]

Are they showing any of it on the tube?

[madvlad]

Going for the first time out there with a few friends, heading out there Saturday afternoon! Pretty stoked!

[asp_125]

Another option - park near the start, hike up as far as you can. Watch a couple of classes from a corner, work your way back down (might have to bushwack to stay off the road), catch some more classes go by from a different corner, and by the end you are closer to your car than others that sat there all day.

[FZRguy]

How 'bout parking in Manitou Spgs and hiking up to the top of the mountain via Barr Trail? It's 13 miles so you need around 3 hrs to get to the summit.

[maktastik_jr.]

How 'bout parking in Manitou Spgs and hiking up to the top of the mountain via Barr Trail? It's 13 miles so you need around 3 hrs to get to the summit.

you are way too motivated bro lol

[FZRguy]

I would try it if I were going to avoid the crowd...good workout too. You can take the train down after the race if it is running that day.

[sag]

you cant go higher than devils playground

[Ninja2]

Thank you for the info, Siobhan and Bueller.

Yes, you cannot get to the top of pikes peak. I was also told that if I were to go up the mountain I would have to wait till all vehicles are back down as they have priority, which would make for a very long day....

[sprtbkbabe]

I spy...



...an Apple





https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/427225_10151080156072210_1091590330_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151080156072210&set=a.389507682209.167316.336377937209&type=1&ref=nf)

[Reyven]

How 'bout parking in Manitou Spgs and hiking up to the top of the mountain via Barr Trail? It's 13 miles so you need around 3 hrs to get to the summit.

:puppy: at that pace, I don't think I want to ever hike with you...... that's crazy fast for an uphill pace. The crags route is 13 RT and getting to the summit took me 5 hrs last try.

[sprtbkbabe]

Are they showing any of it on the tube?


They are streaming it at PPIHC.com :p

[asp_125]

fuck yeah! http://pikespeak.zenfolio.com/p739240142/h3c276cb3#h29f65f26

Another Apple behind the Duck http://pikespeak.zenfolio.com/p739240142/h3c276cb3#h3c276cb3

[aerofaze]

I would try it if I were going to avoid the crowd...good workout too. You can take the train down after the race if it is running that day.

If the cog is running on Sunday and you plan to ride it down, be sure to buy a ticket AT THE BOTTOM beforehand (as in, right now). They don't sell cog tix at the summit.

Definitely a good workout. And if you can make it up the 13mile Barr Trail (one-way) in 3 hours, you should register for the Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon next year...

[FZRguy]

Definitely a good workout. And if you can make it up the 13mile Barr Trail (one-way) in 3 hours, you should register for the Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon next year...

Was planning on it when I was still running and living in CS, but blew out my knee skiing and gave up running around that time. Think I can still do the ascent race even with my bad knees so might just do that. I have hiked it and taken the cog down long ago.

[Chief Stinky]

I got an extra Pikes Peak ticket, anyone want? I'm working tonite, but could meet Sat, around noon in Aurora. Early afternoon Sat, headed to Co Springs for the night.

[Ninja2]

I spy...



...an Apple





https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/427225_10151080156072210_1091590330_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151080156072210&set=a.389507682209.167316.336377937209&type=1&ref=nf)
:lol: That Apple is easy to spy. GO MIKE!!!

[Ninja2]

Just a quick update - I left a bit early after hanging out between start and the 4th corner. There were two major wrecks in the morning, which will prob make it for a long day if you are on the mountain. Not sure I will find the courage to actually go up there one year because there were some close calls early on.

Briefly spoke with Mike and Roberta before the race and they were both very excited. What an accomplishment for all the riders. If you haven't been - it is absolutely nuts. People everywhere.

I think I caught Carl quite well. I am waiting for some more pics. Will post up at some later time.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h378/Ninjapic/IMAG0648.jpg

[sag]

http://youtu.be/-ITQsnJ_R9c

http://youtu.be/EpQtPhRDDs4

http://youtu.be/RoZc2463dl8

[madvlad]

What a great day, camped overnight, a record set by a Ducati rider and no bike crashes. The Semi-truck drifting and hauling ass up the hill was awesome!... Prayers however with the driver and co-pilot of the EVO that went off the cliff about a turn before Devil's playground, I do have to say that seeing the whole thing unfold before my eyes humbled me in such sense I can't explain. Good seeing you Siob!

[nicklk]

They leave the stickers on the tires and go race on them? :o

http://pikespeak.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v60/p249637690-3.jpg

[Ninja2]

http://youtu.be/-ITQsnJ_R9c

http://youtu.be/EpQtPhRDDs4

http://youtu.be/RoZc2463dl8

Wow. The second crash was a very good racer, Paul Dallenbach. His mechanics
told me that this was an $800k custom built car made out of carbon fiber.I was a bit to the left and on the side he crashed into.....
Unfortunately, some folks stole parts. There are rumors that two spectators crossed the track and he tried to avoid them.

[madvlad]

Wow. The second crash was a very good racer, Paul Dallenbach. His mechanics
told me that this was an $800k custom built car made out of carbon fiber.I was a bit to the left and on the side he crashed into.....
Unfortunately, some folks stole parts. There are rumors that two spectators crossed the track and he tried to avoid them.

They arrested a few people that took parts from that EVO too. The Dacia that crashed near the summit crashed cause someone's GoPro was way too close to the track, tumbled over and punctured his tire. People were being pretty dumb towards the top at least.

[Ninja2]

Oh. Believe me, they were just as dumb where I was.... Glad to hear some were arrested!

[madvlad]

Oh. Believe me, they were just as dumb where I was.... Glad to hear some were arrested!

Lol when the car when off the cliff, everyone rushed over and got on the way of some EMT's that happened to be there trying to rush to the driver. Cops and track marshalls were saying to stay off the highway and more people went that way, till the Sheriffs threatened the dumb shits and scorted them like cattle back up the highway... it was damn funny.

[Scer]

Haha! This picture must have been taken in the last run on Friday and at the first couple of turns. I left the sticker on because :
1. It's the front tire. (No power is applied on the front tire)
2. It's not towards the side of the tire and affect turning grip.
3. We only had 15 minutes to carve the tire and warm it up.
4. It was a run that we were using to scrub tires in for the race.
5. It would be gone in a matter of a few turns.

Scrub on scrubbas


They leave the stickers on the tires and go race on them? :o

http://pikespeak.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v60/p249637690-3.jpg

[Bueller]

I have never noticed any problems with the stickers on my tires, and they are scrubbed by the end of the warmup lap.

[sprtbkbabe]

What a loooong day. 18 hours to be more like it. But, it was an unforgettable experience!

Getting up to the Devil's Playground and setting up on a corner for the day, I was amazed at the stupidity of people. Being able to hear that racers were headed up, there were still plenty of people sitting on the guardrails, or walking across the road. When the electric cars were headed up, that didn't stop them then, either. You can't hear those headed your way. For that, I am pretty sure the drivers had more near misses.

All of the elements came down yesterday up there at 13,000ft: rain, heat (when the sun showed up), snow, and slight hail.

Luckily, this year the bikes were the first up when the weather was good. Each year, they trade off: bikes first one year, next year they are last.

The EVO that went off apparently had transmission failure of some sort as they went straight off of the cliff, no braking marks found, the announcers reported. They transported the navigator via whirly bird, but I heard the driver was ok. Sadly, some jackass spectators decided they wanted parts off of the car and crawled down to it to scavenge. The police were there waiting when they hiked back out. They appeared to be let go, when I saw them back at the parking area. Hopefully not!

This was posted on Jalopnik: http://jalopnik.com/5934147/watch-this-bmw-fly-off-the-road-and-roll-down-a-mountain?utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Forgive the grainy pics per iphone. I'll post up clearer ones from the nicer camera later. (Too cracked to do much of anything today - lack of oxygen from yesterday)

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484558_509155319110619_404759195_n.jpg

Glenn Conser, MRA #54 on his R1:

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/417408_509128612446623_748076630_n.jpg

[Scer]

Yep, they are not a problem when you have warm up laps..

Lap on lappas

[sprtbkbabe]

The navigator from the EVO got a lift in this. They landed on the highway:

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/183787_509347882424696_768901142_n.jpg

[madvlad]

Much better view and aftermath of the EVO crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEUrEPPABbY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[hcr25]

What a great day, camped overnight, a record set by a Ducati rider and no bike crashes.!

Actually that is not true. There were multiple bike crashes and one guy crashed twice but still finished. Only the xr1200 that crashed and caused a red flag did not finish. All the other bikes that crashed made it to the top.

It rained and grappled (sleet/hail) on us at the top while we were waiting for the cars to finish.
Words can not explain what it feels like to race up the mountain and to be one of the first to to race a sportbikes was pretty cool to.

[Sean]

Much better view and aftermath of the EVO crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEUrEPPABbY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

:shocked:

[Jmetz]

Much better view and aftermath of the EVO crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEUrEPPABbY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Wow.. That'll be on a future episode of destroyed in seconds. Hopefully both occupants are ok.

[Bueller]

Words can not explain what it feels like to race up the mountain and to be one of the first to to race a sportbikes was pretty cool to.
Jealousy!

[hcr25]

They are both going to be ok. No life threating or permant injuries is what we have heard. One was air lifted and the other was transported by ambulance.

[Jmetz]

Word. BTW Mike, been forever since I've seen ya, glad you got the opportunity to make the run up the hill!

[madvlad]

Guess the radio broadcasters were wrong cause they said no accidents for bikes, eh my noob self is learning the ways of the pikes peak!

[hcr25]

They also said we were using tire covers to keep our tires out of the sun and keep them cool. :)

[Bueller]

They also said we were using tire covers to keep our tires out of the sun and keep them cool. :)
:lol:
I need me some of those, I hate hot rubber!

[salsashark]

:lol:
I need me some of those, I hate hot rubber!


tires wear out way too fast if they get hot! :fire:

[Chief Stinky]

I was at Elk Park, at the turn before Ragged Edge. 2 idiots were above the track on the rocks, getting wasted. Sure enough, I watched one fall head first about 20 feet to the pavement. He was breathing but unconscious. I held his arm, and told him and others not to move his head (he couldnt hear a thing I said though). He left on a helicopter, and his buddy was arrested, both were 20 yrs old, apparently.

I'll post pics later, watching the huge semi-truck drift on our turn was crazy. Long, long day. Still recovering.

[sprtbkbabe]

Some nice pics from our local paper:

http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/08/12/photos-pikes-peak-hill-climb/#name here

[Ninja2]

Words can not explain what it feels like to race up the mountain and to be one of the first to to race a sportbikes was pretty cool to.

Congratulations! This is a great accomplishment to be very proud of! Apparently, I was cheering so hard that I accidentally took a pic of the trees around me rather than you storming by. I did ask some photographers around me to send copies of the MRA racers. Will share once available.

[madvlad]

I was at Elk Park, at the turn before Ragged Edge. 2 idiots were above the track on the rocks, getting wasted. Sure enough, I watched one fall head first about 20 feet to the pavement. He was breathing but unconscious. I held his arm, and told him and others not to move his head (he couldnt hear a thing I said though). He left on a helicopter, and his buddy was arrested, both were 20 yrs old, apparently.

I'll post pics later, watching the huge semi-truck drift on our turn was crazy. Long, long day. Still recovering.

This may be the call we heard at the top when we chilled with the Emergency teams for like 30 mins. Lot of tipsy and drunk teenagers out there for sure.

[The GECCO]

Thanks, everyone, what an experience! At the bottom of this page http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=49327 is a press release we sent to RRW.

[FZRguy]

Impressive...congrats!

[nicklk]

Haha! This picture must have been taken in the last run on Friday and at the first couple of turns. I left the sticker on because :
1. It's the front tire. (No power is applied on the front tire)
2. It's not towards the side of the tire and affect turning grip.
3. We only had 15 minutes to carve the tire and warm it up.
4. It was a run that we were using to scrub tires in for the race.
5. It would be gone in a matter of a few turns.

Scrub on scrubbas

I honestly had no clue, thats awesome though!

[The GECCO]

Video of my run up the hill

How to get to the summit in 11:02 (http://youtu.be/WD7OMuAF9wM)

[Bueller]

Video of my run up the hill

How to get to the summit in 11:02 (http://youtu.be/WD7OMuAF9wM)
Nice run! Sounds like you might have enjoyed that! :lol:

[Dr. Joe Siphek]

Nice run Glenn...loved the scream at the end. I prolly would have been doing that the entire way up. Very clean run...only saw one little hiccup early where you took a corner a little hot.

Was this the first time you'd done the hill climb? How many practice runs do you get prior to the race?

[The GECCO]

Nice run Glenn...loved the scream at the end. I prolly would have been doing that the entire way up. Very clean run...only saw one little hiccup early where you took a corner a little hot.

Was this the first time you'd done the hill climb? How many practice runs do you get prior to the race?

I was a rookie, we get to practice it in sections, the only time you get to see it all at speed is the one time that counts.

The corner you're referring to, if you look closely you'll see that there was a fair amount of gravel on the inside of the turn so I had to adjust my line a bit. I may have over-reacted some, but as I leaned into the turn the gravel looked like boulders!

There were a few other slightly missed apexes, and in general I feel I left a LOT of time on the table, mostly out of a sense of self preservation and a desire to make it to the top rather than set any records.

[birchyboy]

Video of my run up the hill

How to get to the summit in 11:02 (http://youtu.be/WD7OMuAF9wM)

Awesome video. It would have been cool to see the speedo for reference. What kind of speeds did you hit?

[Ghost]

I feel I left a LOT of time on the table, mostly out of a sense of self preservation and a desire to make it to the top rather than set any records.

Awesome job nonetheless! I'm envious. ;)

We need a Team CSC "group ride" (run/race) next year.



But, fwiw, I still miss the dirt...

And, imho, all the records from this year really aren't apples-to-apples with previous dirt runs...

[birchyboy]

Awesome job nonetheless! I'm envious. ;)
And, imho, all the records from this year really aren't apples-to-apples with previous dirt runs...

I was thinking the same thing. They should have pre-2012 records and 2012 forward records.

[The GECCO]

Awesome video. It would have been cool to see the speedo for reference. What kind of speeds did you hit?

Average was 65.2 according to their math/transponders. Top speed was in the 140's.

[modette99]

I was thinking the same thing. They should have pre-2012 records and 2012 forward records.

Yep, I laugh every time I hear them say a record was set. Each time a part was paved that should of started a new record as its a different road. Now all paved, those are totally different records. Not fair to those in the past that ran all dirt to try and claim their record does not stand...sure it does.