2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

The 88th edition of the world famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be staged on June 27, and another assault on the record books is in store for fans of the race.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. First competed in 1916 and this year marks the 88th running of the “Race to the Clouds.”
In 2010, the race will take place on Sunday, June 27 with race related events all week long. Registration and Tech are on Tuesday June 22 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs. Practice on the mountain takes place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Friday evening June 25 is “Fan Fest” in downtown Colorado Springs, featuring motorcycle jumpers, two beer gardens, a chili cook-off, live bands and the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders and is expected to draw over 35,000 spectators.

2009 PPIHC Vintage Class

Photo Credit: Mike Rogers
Saturday is the vintage car show and Sunday is race day. This year the race to the clouds will have 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck, vintage, and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.

Race fans can look for a repeat performance by the star-studded field of top international drivers, led by defending champion Nobuhiro Tajima, who won his fourth straight Unlimited division crown in 2009 with a clocking of 10:15.368. The Japanese ace prevailed over a pair of European rally car champions, a Ford Fiestas driven by Sweden’s Marcus Gronholm and Britain’s Mark Rennison in his Ford RS200. All three drivers, along with Andreas Eriksson, another Swedish Ford Racing Team driver, are expected back in June.
Vintage Division Automobiles

Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing will be fielding a Vintage Division in 2010. The date has been moved up to accommodate the paving plan on the mountain. This will be the last year to race the upper mountain’s dirt course.

2009 PPIHC Vintage Class

Photo Credit: Mike Rogers
In 2009, six vintage division drivers added their names to the record books as hill climb rookies. Ten vintage autos ran including three Mustangs, three Falcons, a Corvette, a Oldsmobile Super 88, a Desoto Firedome 8 and a ‘71 Cuda and a new course record of 13:56 was set for the Vintage Division automobiles.

RMVR sponsors a car and bike show in Manitou Springs featuring vehicles from the vintage car and motorcycle divisions and local residents’ private vehicles. Manitou is a community nestled in the foothills just west of Colorado Springs. The setting for the show is in a park with plenty of shade, grass, music and food vendors. The ‘52 Desoto Hemi of Dean Smith and Frank McKinnon were show favorites in 2009, taking home a trophy for best racecar. The car show will be June 26, 2010.

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