PPIHC ROOKIE ETHAN HUNTER GRABS FIRST PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB PODIUM
Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, is perhaps the only event where factory-backed race teams with million dollar budgets go head-to-head with self-sponsored grassroots racers.
A perfect example of this was the 2024 Pikes Peak Open division where Ford Performance and Romain Dumas not only won the division, but captured the coveted King of the Mountain title. Along with Dumas, two Colorado-born drivers and long-time friendly competitors, Jimmy Ford and PPIHC rookie, Ethan Hunter, took their places on the podium following the 102nd Running of the Race to the Clouds.
Sharing his inspiration for entering the PPIHC, Hunter explained, “I’d heard about Pikes Peak since I was a kid, but I always thought it was for the superstars, and something that wasn’t attainable. I also grew up racing with Jimmy Ford who had raced on Pikes Peak, and in 2023 he told me, ‘Come on, let’s do it!’ That was the first I’d thought of actually doing it.”
PORT CITY CHEVROLET REVEAL
As his first run on the mountain approached, Hunter presented his race car at Technical Inspection. The 2013 stock car weighed in at 3,100 pounds, was powered by a 6.7L, gasoline-powered engine and outfitted with Hoosier racing tires. According to Hunter, “The chassis manufacturer is Port City and this was originally built as a circle track car, so it was designed to turn left. My dad and I did the conversion to the PPIHC race car.”
EARLY MORNINGS
“I usually really hate waking up in the morning,” Hunter shared. “I love sleeping in, and I was worried about waking up for those early practices. After the first day though, I was so excited, I couldn’t wait! That adrenaline rush at 2:00 a.m. was a first for me!”
THE FINAL TURN
By race day, most drivers know which corner is their favorite. Hunter gave some insight into his, “For me, it’s the last corner before the finish. When you see that, it’s all over, and all this weight is just lifted off your shoulders.”
Crossing the finish line, Hunter described his experience, “I expected to be emotional, and I really was. When I got to the top it was a crazy feeling. It’s so hard to describe, you just have to experience it.”
With a time of 10:47.501, Hunter’s first year behind the wheel landed him on the podium in third place.
He offered insight into his 2024 achievement, “I think everything just had to line up. We had a bit of luck and our car stayed together. I was in third place all day and was pacing back and forth on the summit, but I had to wait for Loni Unser and Jeff Zwart, two top drivers. First Loni broke, and then when I heard Zwart didn’t finish that was it. It was definitely intense for me.”
ON THE PODIUM
“We were well prepared and didn’t have any hiccups all week. To be on the podium with Jimmy was great. Our parents were reliving the old quarter midget days watching us compete! And sharing the podium with Romain? That was pretty cool, too. The whole weekend was just magical.”
While Hunter once thought of the race as unattainable, he embraced encouragement and advice from PPIHC drivers and seized every opportunity to learn. With support from his family, team, and sponsors, Hunter is poised to take his PPIHC experience to the next level. He also hinted at a new build for 2025.
GET TO KNOW ETHAN HUNTER
Fun Facts:
“I’m definitely a cat dad!”
“My first car was a Mitsubishi Eclipse. I got caught street racing and my dad sold it.”
“I may be the only person in Colorado who races in six different divisions – Super Late Models, asphalt sprints, drifting in my fifth-generation Camaro, spec-Miata, Pikes Peak, and now I’m rebuilding a CHCA gravel hill climb car, a Mitsubishi Evo for the Rally 4WD class. I also like racing RC cars and am looking forward to the Gobbler Shootout at TNR Raceway in November.”
Favorite section: “The flow and how fast you can go, kind of like road racing in the big, sweeping corners.”
Challenging section: “The W’s. It was harder in the hairpins to get my big car turned in the other direction.”
Really grateful for: “My sponsors, Golden Gate Medical Supply and Golden Gate Transportation. They have really helped me out in all my racing, year after year.”
Best advice about racing on the mountain: “I called all kinds of people. Tommy Boileau, told me what kind of speeds I should be running in each section and certain corners. Jimmy Ford told me to ‘Make it to the top’ and he gave me some insider tips. Steve Goeglein, who raced on Pikes Peak for 33 years in his Camaro loved seeing my car. After talking to him, I really felt like I was carrying on the Chevy tradition.”
Hunter’s Top-3 Colorado Favorites:
“Bishop Castle is a great place to visit!
“I enjoy a beer at the Corner Pocket in Fountain, Colorado.”
“I love to cook on the grill, especially the steaks from Ranch Foods Direct.”
PPIHC Rookie, Ethan Hunter, Makes 2024 PPIHC Debut!
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo; Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Payton Smith, Charles Zhou, Jason Zindroski; Bishop Castle
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Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org