Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, or more affectionately known as The Race to the Clouds, is one of the oldest motorsports events in the United States. It has been continuously running since 1916 and only the two world wars managed to temporarily stop the event from taking place. The only race that's older than Pikes Peak is the Indy 500, and it could be the only race to overshadow Pikes Peak. But when it comes to hill climbs, Pikes Peak is the undisputed king. Each year, some of the finest drivers motorsports have to offer come and try their skills at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to be the king or queen of the mountain.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the most demanding events ever. The drivers guide their machinery on 156 turns in this 12,42 mile-long race, and on the way to the clouds, they have to fight with altitude, changeable weather, and some of the most grueling terrain. And they put everything on the line.
These are 10 reasons why Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the best motorsports events in the world.
8 A Unique Challenge
Hill climbs are one of the oldest forms of motorsports. Some events date back to the invention of cars, and people like to race them. But over the years, Hill climbing has been sidelined by events like Formula 1, NASCAR, and rallying. This makes the hill climbs an interesting event to watch for the uninitiated viewer.
It's also a unique challenge for drivers because they mostly race at closed circuits and rally stages. While the race used to favor rally drivers more because it took place on a fully or partially dirt road, after the road was paved, we saw drivers from other disciplines like Romain Dumas, who is an expert when it comes to endurance racing and currently holding the fastest time record, trying their skills at the mountain. Also, climbing up a mountain really fast puts drivers and their cars under serious stress due to changes in altitude.
7 The Unlimited Class
Manufacturers and teams have to comply with certain rules and regulations if they want to race. These rules dictate how the car is built, so the engineers have to reign their ambitions. But when it comes to racing at Pikes Peak, there are not a lot of rules to follow, especially if you are racing in the Unlimited class.
If you want to see the craziest aero designs on the most powerful cars with peak technical innovation and Formula 1 feels too restrictive for you, you should watch Pikes Peak. Essentially, if you want to race in the Unlimited class, you have to comply with the basic safety measures and after that, everything is up to the engineers.
6 Electric Vs Gas
The freedom allowed by the rule makers is much appreciated by all manufacturers. Especially electric carmakers. There are not many worldwide stages where you can race an electric car against a gas-powered one or any other alternative fuel available.
Electric cars have an advantage when it comes to intense hill climbs like Pikes Peak. The finish line is at a staggering 14.115 ft. and at that kind of altitude, The air gets thinner when you start to climb and there is not enough oxygen for the internal combustion engine to work at peak efficiency. But electric engines don't rely on internal combustion, so they don't lose performance. This is evident because the fastest car to climb to the top is the Volkswagen ID.R.
5 One of The Most Dangerous Races
When you are racing at the limits, you don't want any surprises. You want the grip to be as usual, you want the weather to be persistent, and you don't want any distractions. But if you are racing on the tracks, there are barriers and run-off areas, so if anything goes wrong, you'll probably live to tell the tale.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the most dangerous races because there are no limits to things that could kill you. To start, there are 156 corners, many of which are blind, there is also wildly changeable weather. You might start the race with the sun shining but on the road to the top, it is common to encounter snow, rain, or hail, so you need to adapt. The road conditions are constantly changing because cars threw dirt or gravel on the track, not to mention the asphalt is not maintained as well as a racetrack, because it's a public road. There is wildlife present, meaning you might see mountain goats during your climb. And last but certainly not least, the road is now asphalt, so racing is much faster. But there are not many safety measures in place, especially when you are near the finish line. If you drop off the road, you will get hurt.
4 Wasn't Exclusive To Cars
You didn't need cars to compete in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Two-wheelers were welcomed at Race to the clouds as early as 1916 and though sometimes motorcycle racing was banned, they were a common sight. It is easy to see why some riders love to participate in Pikes Peak, as it's probably one of the most dangerous and widely-viewed motorcycle races.
But the danger of riding a motorcycle hard on a road as difficult as Pikes Peak is very clear, and several participants sadly perished at the event. There has been 7 deaths at Pikes Peak, and 5 of them were motorcycle riders, including Carlin Dunne, who was the first rider to break the 10-minute mark and the defending "King Of the Mountain" at the time of the accident. In 2021, organizers banned motorcycles from participating in Pikes Peak, so sadly we won't be seeing motorcycles anytime soon.
3 Queen Of The Mountain
Michéle Mouton is one of the most influential figures in motorsports history. She was a fearless driver who raced in WRC Group B and was the runner-up in the 1982 WRC Drivers' championship. She inspired countless other women to participate in motorsports and led by example.
In 1985, Michéle Mouton came to Pikes Peak with an Audi Quattro rally car to settle some unfinished business, she was second overall in 1984 because of some engine problems, and she wanted to win the race. That she did, and she did it by breaking the record for the fastest time ever. While her record was broken a year later, she was the fastest woman to climb the mountain, a record that stood for well over three decades.
2 Leading Hill Climb Event Of the World
There are Hill Climbs held in almost every corner of the world. There are events like FIA European Hill Climb Championship and Australian Hill Climb Championship, but all eyes are on the Race to the Clouds at the Pikes Peak race weekend. Even gearheads that aren't fans of the discipline tune in to see all the crazy vehicles manufacturers or tuners brought to race in the Unlimited class.
Pikes Peak is a race that defines a discipline. It is just like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indy 500, or the Monaco Grand Prix. If you ask a racer what races you want to win most, these are the answers. And being the King or the Queen of the Mountain is just as important for many people.
1 Cars Are Crazy
As we mentioned earlier, there are no rules in the Unlimited class. The unlimited nature of the event leads to the most insane ideas being tested. So the cars that are participating in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb are some of the craziest cars that ever turned a wheel in anger.
Awesome cars like the Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen ID.R, which has the record for the fastest time ever, race-prepped Teslas like the Model 3, and, of course, the Suzuki Escudo couldn't be raced anywhere in the world. So we should be thankful for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for giving us some incredible cars.