Posted By: dodgeboy11
Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/09/13 03:47 AM
I think most on here would appreciate this video. I'm not a "little" engine fan, but this little thing sounds wicked. The guy's an awesome driver, if he slips up once, it won't be pretty. The Ken Block reference is just to snag eyes lol...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJsHlugRls4
Posted By: Polarapete
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/09/13 07:44 AM
A long time ago I belonged to a rally club and served as a check point car on the Olympus rally that was run through the Gifford Pinchot national forest in southwest Washington. When the last of the rallyists had passed the other check point cars collected us and we "swept" the course. Of course, the leader was trying to show his skills and challenged us to keep up!!! When we finally got out to I-5 on our way home, it seemed that at 70mph I could get out of the car and run faster than that. Just shows you what 2 hours of driving fast on gravel roads can do to your senses. Anyone that can drive that fast on a mountain gravel road course has my utmost respect.
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/09/13 01:02 PM
it's always cool to watch the hill climb, seeing them run through devil's playground, the switch backs, etc. And as a descendant of Zebulan Pike, and having spent 5 years in C-springs, the mountain will always holds a special place in my heart.
Driven to the top several times...I tried to do that once when I drove up...but I got yelled at.
It'll never be the same now that the road is paved all the way to the top. what's next? guard rails? I haven't been to the peak since they've paved it.
Posted By: V��peli
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/10/13 08:00 PM
Posted By: Secret Chimp
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/10/13 08:41 PM
It's such a shame they're going to start paving that course.
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/11/13 04:11 PM
Yes, the road is paved all the way to the summit. They have been paving 5 mile segments for the last few years, so up until now the race was actually on a combination of dirt and asphalt.
Since annoucing completion of the paving, registrations have been pouring in. The Hillclimb commitee anounced in October of last year that they had exceeded all previous early registrations and they were continuing to come in. If the registrations continue at this pace, there is talk of it becoming a two-three day race with qualifiers on Fri-Sat and the race on Sunday.
Is the change in racing surface going to change the race, yes. It is not what it was before, that is for sure. However, it may actually become more technically challenging because the paved surface is narrower than the dirt surface. Dropping a tire in the dirt on one turn in a car wth an asphalt set up could become the difference between winning and loosing. Speeds will be higher too, so judgement of distance will become critical to hitting braking and apex points.
Despite all that, there are still several other all dirt hillclimbs in Colorado if that's your thing. Granted, none are Pikes Peak, but this is how things have changed.
Posted By: Pacnorthcuda
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/11/13 04:20 PM
Are there guard rails on it now??? That would REALLY change the nature of the climb.
Posted By: Jjs72D
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/15/13 05:49 AM
This stuff is so cool. I'd prefer to have a screaming V8 engine dubbed over the 4 cylinder though...
Posted By: 1_WILD_RT
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/15/13 06:19 AM
Pike's Peak in a small fast car.. Childs play!!! try this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tBHHVZEQU0
Posted By: TX9H6E4CUDA
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/15/13 07:04 AM
No 80's Audi Quattro, Lancia Stratois, or ford B2000 rally group(?) no care
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 05/24/13 02:51 PM
For anyone that is interested, the PPIHC commitee has announce that they will have live streaming video this year on Red Bull TV. While it won't be start to finish coverage, they no doubt will have a host a land based cameras in select locations along with helicopter coverage.
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/27/13 01:38 AM
1st and 2nd days of practice are in the books.
Sébastien Loeb is leading the charge in practice both days.
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/25/2013-pikes-peak-hill-climb-practice-day-1/Entries this year were limited to 150 slots. This number of applicants was achieved back in February of this year. I'd say the paving has not had a significant negative impact on interest and in fact seems to be pushing it higher than ever. Media teams from 20 nations have descended on Colorado Springs to document the 91st running of The Race To The Clouds.
The Peak has also already consumed its first piece of motorized mayhem:
http://jalopnik.com/heres-whats-left-of-cody-lovelands-crashed-1000hp-pi-574109868
Posted By: 72Swinger
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/27/13 04:29 AM
Posted By: Daty Rogers
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/27/13 04:39 AM
My sister told me a vette was wrecked too, she lives about 30 miles from there.
-Daty
Posted By: 72Swinger
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/27/13 04:43 AM
I might have to load up my boys and head that way for Saturday morning.
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/27/13 08:09 PM
Naahhhh, aint no one rolled more than 1000' and even then the boulders will stop you. Go off in the trees and you not going any further than a 100 feet or so. The
really dangerous aspect of the race is hitting wildlife. Almost no cars are designed to keep a deer out of the cockpit if you hit one at 100+ mph. Bobby Donner was killed that way back in the '89 Teller County Hillclimb that way.
Dropping a tire off the asphalt is what looks like happened in the Pat Doran crash.
Quote:
My sister told me a vette was wrecked too, she lives about 30 miles from there.
-Daty
That would be the link I posted above. A corvette powered NSX actually. It used to an interesting looking car. http://jalopnik.com/this-insane-pikes-peak-racer-is-actually-a-corvette-pow-465520230
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/28/13 08:19 PM
Sadly, Jess Neal and his '71 Cuda are not returning to defend his vintage class win from last year. There are only 6 cars in vintage this year, 2 Mustangs(1 GT350), 2 911s, 1 Falcon and 1 Camaro.
Unlimited, Time Attack, and Open classes are the msot populated in the automotive segment.
Appearing this year in exhibition, a 532 hp turbocharged Honda Odyssey mini van;
http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/h...-194047271.html
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 06/30/13 10:31 PM
I'm having trouble getting a. complete. broadcast. because Im not at home, but the race is delayed for rain at the start and snow on the summit. Thats a drawback of pavement. Best info I can gather is Sebastien has shattered the record at 8 minutes and change.
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Suck on this one Ken Block... - 07/16/13 09:30 PM
Here is a good clip that gives you a perspective on what its like to attend the race. As a bonus, they show all the cars, and one truck, running this year as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAw2xIULGMsHere is one showing why watching the hillclimb may be considered a participant sport;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTAzC6mNduUEventually they all gotta come back down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1vZlLe8fIAAnd if you think the tarmac ruined it all, rest assured we still have dirt hillclimbs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFwtBstD54
In 1977, I drove my 73 Challenger to the top. I was having fun kicking the ass-end out on the gravel curves, til the Park Ranger in the 4wd Suburban lit me up. He was none too pleased... 
But after a stern lecture, he let me go with a verbal warning... 
