2025 ROOKIE DRIVER ELI OLIVAS COMPLETES HIS PPIHC MISSION
Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, showcased twenty-one first time drivers during the 103rd Running in June.
One newcomer, Eli Olivas, based in Fountain, Colorado, served our country as a former U.S. Army Special Forces Medical Sergeant. His ten years of military service include multiple tours in Iraq. In 2023, Olivas began preparing for a new mission, his assault on America’s Mountain.
With laser-focused attention to detail, Olivas developed his skills at the Radford Racing School. He sought advice from every PPIHC racer he could, reviewed hours of in-car footage, and spent time on the mountain memorizing the course and experiencing the conditions.
As the race approached, Olivas diligently practiced every section, shaking down the car, and getting comfortable behind the wheel. “You feel that inertia and the push back in the seat when you hit the accelerator. It’s a very visceral experience,” he explained.
Limited only by a weather-shortened course on Race Day, Olivas executed a flawless mission. Strapped into his 2024 Superlite Aero GM Supercharged LT5, dubbed ‘The Mourning Star’, bearing the names of more than 150 fallen US Army Special Forces heroes, Olivas launched from the start line, completing his rookie run in 5:02.858.
A LOOK AT THE WEAPON OF CHOICE
The car Olivas chose was built by Race Car Replicas in Fraser, Michigan, famous for their movie cars such as those used in Need for Speed, Ironman 3, and Fast 5.
“This car had to go through a lot of transformation as far as cooling, electrical, and the rear suspension,” shared Olivas. “The motor is a supercharged Chevy LT5 with about 850 hp at the flywheel and 650 at the wheels. The transmission is an advanced six. It’s very rugged, durable and robust; the same ones mainly used in Baja racing.”
He continued, “We used Stop Tech Brakes for the braking system, with six piston up front, and four in the back. The only tires I could fit on the car with those brakes were Hoosiers, because of the clearance. They got the job done and I was pretty impressed with them.
“We did have to add about 400 pounds to the car in the way of extra support bars and beams. That brought the weight up to 2,400 pounds.”
SPECIAL FORCES TRIBUTE
Olivas was inspired to pay tribute to his fellow soldiers and pair that with his first racing endeavor. He was able to personally take his race car to every active-duty Special Forces Group in the US. Remembrance ceremonies were held as the names of his fallen brothers were read, and inscribed, on the car.
“Every Special Forces Group I called welcomed me because I’m one of their own. It was a lot of long road trips. I trailered the car to Florida, North Carolina Washington State, Kentucky, and Ft. Carson, in Colorado Springs.”
Along with Green Beret Racing, Olivas also shines a light on the dark problems many of his brothers in arms face – suicide and substance abuse. Every soldier lost, either in action or after they returned home, matters to Olivas.
“I think the greatest thing about this whole experience is sharing these stories with crews, drivers, and race officials,” related Olivas. “They see all these names and I get to tell them what it’s all about.
“Once people hear the story, they start to realize the sacrifice that’s been given.”
Olivas speaks from experience, and shares his deeply personal story, “These guys, even though they’re gone, reached back from death and pulled me out of the abyss that I was in. Now I can honor them for who they were, the strength of their character, and what they stood for.”
“At the end of the day, they still carry me,” shared Olivas. “They carried me to the finish line to complete the mission. I plan to return in 2026 to finish the journey and get them all the way to the summit.”
“The greatest asset a Green Beret can possibly have, other than just true grit, is resourcefulness in any environment. You learn to deal with the elements and with extreme things of the world. It helped prepare me for Pikes Peak. It all comes down to training and execution.”
Eli Olivas
REUNITED
Recalling his 2025 finish and being welcomed by members of the 10th SFG, Olivas said, “How fantastic was that! Having my fellow Green Berets there was such a tremendous honor for me.
“I got into the car as one man, but when I crossed the line and stepped out, I was a different man. The feeling was bittersweet. Bitter, because I’d worked for years to do this, and the mission had come to an end, but sweet, because I’d come through on my word and rendered honor to our fallen. ”
EFFORT RECOGNIZED
At the PPIHC Awards Ceremony, Olivas, along with Tracy Gaudu and Lance Fenderson, all 2025 rookie drivers, received the Be All You Can Be Award from the 10th Special Forces Group.
The annual award is bestowed on those going above and beyond to get the job done.
CONTINUING TO SERVE
When PPIHC Hall of Famer, Beck Bechtelheimer, passed away in September, and the family asked for a race car from Pikes Peak to display at the service, Olivas was the first to step up, offering to bring his car to honor a man he’d never met.
Bechtelheimer had a decades-long affiliation with Pikes Peak as a radio broadcast announcer and was beloved by many.
Olivas even added Beck’s name to the inside of his car, which is fitting, as Bechtelheimer was not only a big part of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, but a U.S. Air Force veteran. He shared, “The outside is for Special Forces, but Beck can ride up here with me.”
Family, friends, and race officials filed in past the car as they entered the church. At the end of the service, Olivas fired up the car and followed the pallbearers from the church as they prepared to depart for the cemetery. Another fitting tribute Olivas was proud to offer.
BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED
“It’s just like combat,” explained Olivas. “Hope for the best but ALWAYS plan for the worst! Experiencing the G-force and trusting in God, myself, and the car were the biggest lessons. It was my first race ever, so I pretty much drove by faith and faith alone!”
GET TO KNOW ELI OLIVAS
Fun Facts:
“Favorite meal is a great steak, usually a seasoned New York Strip, prepared by yours truly!”
“My favorite movie is The Martian. Something about having a whole planet to myself seems appealing!”
“After serving in the Army and being all over the world, Germany was a great place to live. I’d have to say America has it going on, as far as vacation spots, but I’d really like to visit Rome one day.”
“All of my crew members are vets; three green berets and two red berets, US Army. They’re all combat veterans.”
Any Pikes Peak drivers you admire? “Romain Dumas seems just as crazy as me. And Codie Vahsholtz runs a pretty darn clean line up there!”
Three things to have in the race trailer: “Tire warmers, floodlights, and a properly working race car. Don’t come to the mountain if your race car isn’t up to the task!”
Advice for a rookie: “You have to be prepared to go all the way. You have to fully commit yourself. Pour yourself into it, you know, psychologically, spiritually, physically, financially. And train for it every single day.”
Best memory from this year’s race: “Doing pushups for Dan Skokan & Randy Ruyle because I went the wrong way on the course!
“I’d just passed one of the safety workers on a blind turn when I spun out. So, I rolled back to them to get off the course before the next car came up.”
WATCH ELI OLIVAS’ FIRST RACE ON PIKES PEAK
Photos supplied by: Larry Chen Photo: Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Charles Zhao, Jason Zindroski.
Other: Eli Olivas, John Bechtelheimer, PPIHC Staff
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Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
