Race to the Clouds

Race to the Clouds. . Can you imagine racing up a mountain that has 1,000 foot drop-offs? That’s exactly what daring drivers have been doing since 1916. That was the year mining magnate Spencer Penrose announced the first Pikes Peak National Hill Climbing Contest to publicize his new mountain auto highway. The first sinner, Rea Lentz, sped to the summit in 20 minutes and 55.6 seconds. The Hill Climb is the second oldest race in the United States behind only the Indianapolis 500. Many of the races champions have come from the Unser family. Louis Unser, the “Old Man of the Mountain,” raced in 36 Hill Climbs. His last race was at the ripe age of 71. Bobby Unser claims the most victories with 13 Hill Climb records. In all, eleven Unsers from three generations have challenged Pikes Peak. All drivers race against the clock over the treacherous 12 ½ mile course. They may face rain, fog or snow between the starting line at 9,390 feet in elevation and the checkered flag at the 14,110-foot summit. Drivers must also maneuver around 156 turns. Today, the fastest racers zip up the mountain in about ten minutes. That’s approximately 25 minutes faster than the average traveler. Think about drivers racing 120 miles per hour as you enjoy your leisurely trip up the peak!