Pikes Peak 2010

[ElderGeek]

Keep checking in on this link for live video coverage.

[Jeeper0505]

Today we were up at Cove Creek (about half way up) before dawn to practice the middle section known as the W's.

Temp was in the 30's and the wind was blowing a bit but it was fine once the sun came up.

The first run up put us right into the rising sun blinding you on a fifth gear long right sweeper on tarmac. This portion has huge exposures but you hardly notice as you are constantly looking at the next corner.

The turn around was at sixteen mile just below Devils Playground. We got something like six runs in. Things were pretty uneventful except the Polaris Razr blew his engine and didnt even get in a single run. He has rebuilt it and hopes to practice tomorrow.

I had a great dice going with three other bikes on run four when I passed and spun lettting all three back by. At least it was just practice.

Tomorrow we practice the upper section which is "fluffy" with imported gravels this year and ends with another new mile of tarmac.

Saturday will be an off day and then race day on Sunday!

[Jeeper0505]

Today was the final day of practice. We started at Devils Playground at dawn and ran the upper section to the summit. This section included very fast, loose sweeping corners where all you see is sky along with the final mile or so being new tarmac.

The first run was right into the sun and with the dust from so many bikes it was slow going. As the day went on, the sun got higher and bikes were more spaced out to allow proper runs to the top. The tarmac at the top will surely help several bikes achieve lower elapsed times as speeds were very high there.

Tonight was the Fan Fest in downtown Colorado Springs. They estimate 30,000 fans come out and they block off several blocks of Tejon Street for the event. All the top qualifiers bring their vehicles and Michael Coburn in Q500 and Bob Klein in Q450 each brought out their Honda's.

Tomorrow is an off day with racing starting at 9:00 AM Sunday morning. The bikes and quads are in the second half of the show and rain is a possibility so it could get quite interesting.

[ElderGeek]

Hope you're taking at least a few pics. Have fun at the party!!


Smooth is fast!!

[D.A.D.]

Good luck guys. The reports are awesome can't wait to hear how you guys do tomorrow.

Rich

[D.A.D.]

Well how did you and Jeff do?

[Wicked Al]

The results are in at http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc/ts/2010

I just did some quick spreadsheet work and Michael came in at #65 overall and Jeff at #77! This is out of a field of 152 with 11 DNF's. Can't wait to hear the stories!

Congratulations Jeff and Michael for being faster than half of the vehicles on Pikes Peak!

Definitely have to plan on doing this one next year!

Alex

[Jeeper0505]

Sorry for the delay in posting a race day report. Everything happened really fast and now we're home.

Saturday was an off day and the #1 qualifier, Bob Kline, had our entire class over for BBQ. It was a great chance to get to know everyone better.

Race day was another early day. We were up at 3:00 and on the mountain around 4:30 to get our pit spot and then catch some more Z's in the truck.

Woke up around 6:00 and started unloading. Weather was clear but we knew storms would be coming.

Riders meeting was at 8:00AM and then we went up the course a bit to watch the cars come by. They started with the Vintage group and worked up to progressively faster classes. The Unlimiteds get to pick when ever they want to run and they chose to go fairly early. Unfortunately, none of them were able to break the record and get into the 9's.

Jeff and I headed back down as the cars were still running to get suited up and wait in the pre-grid area. By this time storm clouds were really boiling up and they warned us that there was rain and maybe snow on the summit.

I qualified third so I was on the inside of the first row and Jeff was lined up behind me. They gave our row a five minute gap from the vintage motorcycles that started ahead of us and one minute later Jeff's row would begin.

I dont get butterflys at the starting line of any race except this one. Probably has to do with getting one shot each year at the entire course.

The green waved and we took off. I was side by side with the second place qualifier, Troy Smith, through the first corner and then had to slide in behind him. I ran with he and Bob Kline for a couple of miles at a pace way over my head and then I blew a corner. I turned into a sweeping left at somewhere over 60 mph and the front end just pushed. I got on the brakes and corrected to drive straight off and prepared for the impact but went off in a place with no trees and no drop off. I turned hard and popped over the ditch back onto the pavement with the engine still running so I dropped it into first and took off. I knew any hope of keeping up with #1 and #2 was over so I had to calm down and still run a smooth race and now I was by myself only loosing 5-10 seconds.

The rest of the run was uneventful but smooth with some minor gear selection issues. The run was dry with no rain or snow at all to the summit.

I was excited to find I had finished third with a 13:38 and change, 36 seconds better than in '09. It is over so quickly and then you get to replay it in your head for months and look forward to next year.

After everyone has finished there is a massive parade back down the hill. All the spectators come to the road and high-five you as you pass. My shoulder is still sore! It rained a bit on the way down but the spectators still were cheering road-side.

There are photos on the PPIHC web site, I'm #626 and Jeff is #81. I'll also try to post my on-board somewhere so the entire world can see my off.

Everyone should do this race at least once. It is like no other and the whole experience is fantastic.

[Prednizone]

I can't even imagine the rush you get racing up that road. I've been up it once, in a car, and that was even a little freaky!

[ElderGeek]

Thanks for the report!! I look forward to the on-board footage. I too was on top via a pickup many years ago. Racing up on a quad would be quite the ride.