KYLE WILDER CHASES MORE THAN SPEED ON PIKES PEAK
Colorado Springs, CO – In June, nineteen drivers competed in the Unlimited division of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo. Of those, 18 would finish, including all six rookies. Among the first time competitors was Californian, Kyle Wilder. Behind the wheel of his 2019 Camaro SS 1LE, Wilder completed the shortened course in 5:08.816.
“IT’S HALF COP CAR, HALF RACE CAR”
In a tribute to his background in law enforcement, Wilder’s livery is an homage to the men and women who serve and protect, and captures the spirit of the cruisers they drive – complete with flashing lights.
Wilder remarked, “The livery reflects two of the most important parts of my life—racing and law enforcement. The car is half race car, half cop car,” shared Wilder, who has had a 16 year career in law enforcement, and serves on the Riverside County Gang Impact Team and Fugitive Apprehension Unit.
“I started building the car four years ago,’ explained Wilder, “but it wasn’t until last year that I even considered participating in the PPIHC. The shift happened very quickly, and it’s been quite the scramble to get it ready.”
RACING IN TRIBUTE
“Pikes Peak is an incredible bucket list race,” exclaimed Wilder, “and is the pinnacle of motorsports here in America. Getting to run the same mountain as some of the greatest drivers in the world was amazing.
“But, more important than my own personal feelings about the race are that several of us racing here this year (Ryan Cheek and Jeremy Lowder) are helping raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
“In 2014, I lost my best friend, Riverside Police Officer Cory Oakes, to ALS. Since 2020, I’ve helped lead the West Coast events for Racing for ALS, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for research and, ultimately, finding a cure.”
Wilder’s livery isn’t just a design—it’s a tribute, and a way to connect a career, a passion, and a cause.
Wilder also shared, “Last year, a couple of our Racing for ALS friends competed in PPIHC and found out there’s a personal connection with PPIHC and ALS. I knew I wanted to try and make the push for a run in 2025. God opened many doors to help get me to Pikes Peak, and I am so thankful I got to be a part of this year’s event.”
Memorialized on top of the car are 29 names of individuals he’s made a personal connection with; those who are currently battling and those who bravely fought ALS, including Robb Feeback, father of PPIHC’s Alex Urban.
“As we marked our first year without him by our side, we still felt his presence,” shared Urban. “Our entire family was honored to have dad’s name included not only on Kyle’s car, but Jeremy Lowder’s as well. We all hope that each day brings us that much closer to a cure.”
INTO THIN AIR
Discussing his biggest challenge during his 2025 assault on Pikes Peak, Wilder explained, “The loss of power at elevation was eye-opening, and it really drove home how tough that mountain is. My Camaro might look aggressive, but underneath it’s almost entirely stock.
“I was running a naturally aspirated LT1 that dyno’d around 430 wheel horsepower, but at elevation I was making closer to 300. And trust me, I felt every single horse that went missing.”
“In the end, I came here to go fast, have fun, and spread awareness for ALS.”
Kyle Wilder
HIGH SPEED HYPE
Wilder was also the recipient of the inaugural HELLA Hype award. This recognition was geared toward the competitor who generated the most hype on social media, and Wilder’s fans and sponsors stepped up in a big way.
Rob Tinson, VP of Business Development for HELLA, presented the special trophy and a $2,000 cash award to Wilder in June.
“I feel incredibly blessed to win the HELLA Hype award. Community has always been at the heart of everything I do, and I don’t often ask for much in return. But this year, when I did, people really showed up with love and support.”
GET TO KNOW KYLE WILDER
Instagram @wilder.racing
Fun Facts:
“Earlier this year, I went on a mission trip to Ecuador where we built homes for local pastors and their families.”
“I wrote my own crypto currency, though I never deployed it.”
“I have two distinctly different eye colors, something called heterochromia. My left eye is green and my right eye is blue.”
Pikes Peak hero:“I’ve always loved cars and always loved racing. I remember as a teen, I stumbled across a video on YouTube called Climb Dance that starred Ari Vatanen in a sprint up the mountain when it was all dirt. That short film has stuck with me for the last 20 years.”
Any significance behind your race number? “My race number is #144 for Psalm 144, ‘Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.’”
Three things you need in the race trailer: “I’d start with the obvious: the car and the ignition key. There’s no worse feeling than rolling up to Day 1 of practice and realizing you can’t even get the car out of the trailer.
“Second, extra fuel. I actually hauled my own E85 out from California because during testing sessions I found some of the local stations were closer to E50 than true E85.
“And third, spare oil. That was the one thing I forgot, and of course I ended up about a quart low. Luckily, fellow driver and friend Jeremy Lowder came through and bailed me out. Lesson learned.”
Biggest motorsport accomplishment: “I won a regional Time Attack series in 2021 with On Grid and took first in class at the 2024 Virginia City Hill Climb.”
RIDE ALONG WITH KYLE WILDER ON PIKES PEAK IN HIS CAMARO SS 1LE
Larry Chen Photo – Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Louis Yio, Charles Zhao.
Other: Thom Paxton, Kyle Wilder, Jeremy Lowder
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Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
