Category: Race News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tyler Clemmensen, Hoonigan
818-665-9313 | tclemmensen@hoonigan.com

INTRODUCING THE HOONIPIGASUS: KEN BLOCK’S ALL-NEW INSANE 1,400HP AWD PORSCHE RACECAR, BUILT FOR PIKES PEAK

Built by BBi Autosport in conjunction with Hoonigan and Hoonigan Racing Division, the never-before-seen 1400hp, AWD, Porsche SVRSR “Hoonipigasus” was designed specifically for the 2022 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Intended as the world’s ultimate Porsche racecar build, Hoonipigasus features an all-new livery created by renowned artist Trouble Andrew, a.k.a. Guccighost, paying homage to the famous 1971 Porsche 917/20 “Pink Pig”

PARK CITY, Utah, May 16, 2022 – Ken Block and Hoonigan Racing Division today unveiled their next “Hoonicorn”: a one-of-a-kind, mid-engine, 1400hp, Porsche SVRSR, dubbed the “Hoonipigasus” built by Pikes Peak winning Porsche experts, BBi Autosport in partnership with Mobil 1. Hoonipigasus was built with the sole purpose of going fastest overall at the most iconic and legendary hill climb in the world, The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. Block and Hoonigan teamed up with internationally acclaimed street artist Trouble Andrew (aka Guccighost, real name: Trevor Andrew) to launch an all-NEW and special livery on this masterpiece, along with a new and different livery on Block’s current rally car, a Hyundai i20 WRC.

In addition, Mobil 1 was announced as the official motor oil of the vehicle and will be providing support for fuels and lubricants, working with Mobil 1’s team of Formula 1 engineers. As part of the official partnership, the Mobil 1 high-flying Pegasus trademark will be featured on the Hoonipigasus, which pays homage to the brand’s icon in its name.

This is not Block’s first pass up Pikes Peak. While Block has raced here in a lower-class Group N rally car, and piloted his 1,400hp, twin-turbo, methanol-fueled 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR V2 in 2017 as part of the “Climbkhana: Pikes Peak” film, this will be his first real go at the upper level of racing in the hill climb.

For 2022, however, Block, Hoonigan and BBi Autosport have built a machine to propel the Head Hoonigan in Charge (H.H.I.C.) to attempt overall victory, creating the first-ever mid-engine, AWD, twin-turbo vintage Porsche 911. Hoonipigasus was specifically built to suit Block’s driving style and features a transmission tunnel, known as the “Chorizo Tunnel,” that goes from shoulder height down to the front axle, resulting in a lower center of gravity. Weighing just 1,000kg, the machine features GPS height-adjusted suspension based on previous year’s telemetry. BBi has accumulated 8 podiums with 5 class wins at the PPIHC.

“The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is why I’m a rally driver,” said Block, co-founder of Hoonigan. “The list of drivers who have raced and won this hill climb includes many of my heroes: Walter Rohrl, Ari Vatanen, Michèle Mouton, Sébastien Loeb and Rod Millen to name a few. I’ve always wanted the chance to race Pikes Peak and compete for an overall win. With our team and BBi Autosport creating this amazing Porsche, we’ve got a good shot at that win, and with Trevor’s wild livery, inspired by one of the most famous Porsches in history, we’ll be hard to miss. I’m stoked to be a part of this iconic race and totally up for the challenge to add my name to those that have gone the fastest overall in the most technically challenging hill climb on the planet.”

Hoonpigasus’ creation was a decade in the making, beginning with BBi Autosport’s desire to build the ultimate vintage Porsche racecar. BBi’s most recent success at Pikes Peak was in 2021, when the team entered three cars in three different classes, taking home two class wins and one podium finish, a first in Pikes Peak history. But, in 2022, BBi Autosport is going all-in to take first overall with Block behind the wheel.

“The Hoonipigasus is an absolute dream-come-true type of build,” said the founder of BBi Autosport, Betim Berisha. “It doesn’t get any more mental from a tech, power, aero, and visual standpoint. The original vision of the car came from a longtime friend of mine, Joe Scarbo of Scarbo Performance, nearly a decade ago. We then teamed up with our most talented engineers and designers, threw the book out, and took an unconventional path. We are building the world’s nastiest 911.”

Hoonigan is known for some of the most unique liveries in all of motorsports, and Hoonipigasus doesn’t disappoint, thanks to a collaboration between Block and former Olympic snowboarder, singer and internationally acclaimed street artist Trouble (Trevor) Andrew, a.k.a. Guccighost. The livery pays homage to one of the most iconic racing Porsches in history, the Porsche 917/20 “Pink Pig” that raced only once in that paint scheme but has been a crowd favorite ever since. Block, Hoonigan and Andrew have embarked upon a year-long partnership, which will include a Guccighost-inspired livery on all of Block’s race cars in 2022, including his current rally car, a Hyundai i20 WRC.

“When Ken and the team at Hoonigan called, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to team up to create something unique and memorable,” said Andrew. “Reimagining iconic imagery and taking it in new, creative directions drives me, and in many ways my design parallels what Hoonigan and BBi have done with the car. This collaboration allows me to combine two things I love, art and competition, and for me, there’s no better partner for that journey than Ken Block.”

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an invitation-only automobile hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. This year’s event, scheduled for Sunday, June 26, will mark the 100^th Running of the PPIHC, which features a 12.42-mile course with 156 turns and an elevation gain of 4,725 feet, rising to the finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level.

About Hoonigan

Hoonigan is much more than a brand. It’s an automotive subculture, fueled on the shared passion of going fast and breaking things… then rebuilding them better than before. The company’s signature brand of vehicular savagery is on full display across their network of YouTube channels, serving daily content to a subscription base numbering in the millions. In addition to daily videos and social media content, Hoonigan has long been the production and marketing outfit behind Ken Block’s award-winning series of viral videos such as Gymkhana, Climbkhana, and Terrakhana. At the heart of it all, however, is a wide-ranging apparel collection that (along with an authentically automotive obsessed cast of characters) represents the brand’s core ethos: Having fun with cars.

About Ken Block

Ken Block ’s rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year that season in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has also won 25+ national level rallies around the globe, scored points in the WRC, and accumulated five X Games medals… including winning silver on three wheels at X Games in LA in 2012 (behind 9-time WRC champ Sébastien Loeb). In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport of rally within the United States. His keen branding and marketing acumen, combined with his talents and skills behind the wheel, have also allowed Block to achieve global fame as a rally driver through his wildly successful Gymkhana series of videos – a franchise which has garnered over 600 million views on YouTube alone. Adding Climbkhana and Terrakhana to the franchises of videos in recent years, Block’s media properties continue to bring in new fans.

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100th Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Fourteen Newcomers to Compete June 26th

Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, introduces race fans around the world to a talented group of Pikes Peak Rookies. While they are considered rookies on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, their racing experience elsewhere shines. Five of the six competition divisions feature these eager men and women.

“One of the enduring legacies of this historic race is the mix of hill climbers who bring decades of experience, along with the first-time drivers,” shared PPIHC Executive Director, Bob Bodor. “We are excited to watch them compete on June 26^th.”

EXHIBITION DIVISION

Paul Hubers

With over 200 hours of high-level driving training from Honda and experience in rally and autocross events, Hubers is equipped to take on America’s Mountain. He competed at the Lake Superior Performance Rally, placing 5^th in his class and 30^th overall in his 2017 Maxxis Honda Civic.

Asked about competing in the 100^th Running Hubers shared, “I have to say, I’m truly thankful to be participating in the 100th Running. Few racing events have such a longstanding history and being a part of such an important milestone makes it extra special.”

Gunnar Jeannette

Gunnar Jeanette arrives at Pikes Peak with more than 20 years of racing experience, beginning when he was 16-years old. Jeannette won the 2010 and 2011 American Le Mans Series and at the age of 18 became the youngest person to finish this race. He has been featured on various television shows and in national magazines such as his appearance on MTV’s True Life “I Live on the Edge” and USA Today’s 2003 post-Le Mans coverage issue.

Levi Shirley

Levi Shirley, a 30-year-old off-road racer has built a notable reputation. In 2011 and in 2014, Shirley was named the Ultra 4 Sportsman of the Year and won three titles in the 2014 Ultra 4 Europe Series. Shirley continues to prove himself as a top contender recently finishing in 8th position at the 2021 Ultra 4 King of the Hammers, and in 3rd place in the 2021 Every Man Challenge.

PIKES PEAK OPEN DIVISION

Jimmy Ford

A Colorado Springs resident, Jimmy Ford is a third-generation racecar driver with a passion for adrenaline. Ford first raced dirt bikes at the age of seven, later moving to the Colorado Hill Climb Association where he notched ten championships and set 15 records. His 1994 Ford Bronco was built by John Wells and raced by Leonard Vahsholtz on Pikes Peak in the mid-1990s – both Wells and Vahsholtz have been recognized for their achievements on the mountain with inductions into the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Hall of Fame. Ford describes his driving style as, “Everything rolled into one – aggressive, cautious, rowdy, on the edge, but most importantly smooth…because smooth is fast.”

Jonathan Meyer

Twenty-six-year-old Jonathan Meyer, son of Pikes Peak veteran David Meyer, is ready to conquer the mountain. Following driver training at the Ron Fellows Driving School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Meyer has been competing since 2012. As a quad racer in the Colorado Hill Climb Association series in 2012, Meyer won Rookie of the Year and notched two first place finishes. Since 2017 he has competed in Time Attack events at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Eduardo Vertiz

By way of Cape Coral, Florida, Eduardo Vertiz is a Peruvian racer who brings over 20 years of professional experience. During his years in rally events, Vertiz captured three national championships. In 2021 Vertiz took first place at the Homestead 300 and placed 2^nd in the Mount Washington Hill Climb. After many years of preparation, Vertiz shared, “I have watched Rhys Millen’s in-car videos over 400 times. If you want to be fast you want to learn from the best. I have admired this race since I was a kid and always dreamed of competing and representing my country, Peru.”

PORSCHE PIKES PEAK TROPHY BY YOKOHAMA

Jonny Lieberman

Jonny Lieberman’s love for cars and racing started at an early age when his father drove him around Malibu in his Datsun 280Z. When asked what made him enter this iconic hill climb, he shared, “I’ve lost track of the number of friends I have who have competed at Pikes Peak – Randy Pobst, Andrew Comrie-Picard, Robb Holland, Justin Bell, Jeff Zwart, just to name a few, and they all talk about racing against the mountain in hushed, almost reverent tones. As an experience junkie, figuring out why they love Pikes Peak so much has massive appeal. The fact that it’s the 100th Running is the cherry on top.” Lieberman has a large following in the industry as a reputable author for MotorTrend, one of America’s leading automobile magazines.

Gilles Nadeau

At the age of 61, Gilles Nadeau is ready to check the Pikes Peak Hill Climb off his bucket list. Nadeau started his racing career by attending Porsche driving schools and competing in track days and sprint races. He has competed in a 14-hour enduro race at Road Atlanta and in 2021 completed five races for FEL Motorsports. When asked about Pikes Peak heroes, Nadeau offered, “They’re all my heroes, you need guts to run Pikes Peak.”

Loni Unser

Loni Unser, a fourth-generation racer from one of the most prominent names in auto racing, will compete for the first time in the Race to the Clouds. Daughter of Johnny Unser, granddaughter of Jerry Unser Jr., and great-granddaughter of Jerry Unser, Loni Is looking to add her name to Unser lore. In 2018, Loni finished 4^th in the NASA Rocky Mountain Season. In 2021, Loni competed in the World Racing League in a Porsche Cayman securing several podium finishes and wins. She has been a strong contender in the Mazda MX-5 Cup becoming the first female to finish back-to back races at St. Petersburg in the top ten.

TIME ATTACK 1 DIVISION

Matus Huska

Matus Huska is an experienced driver and proud representative of Slovakia. At the tender age of 4, Huska’s father introduced him and his brother to motorcycle racing in hopes of keeping them out of trouble. Since then Huska has developed a passion for racing. In 2021, Huska won the GTSU class for the NASA Rocky Mountain Region in his 2011 Audi TTs, the same vehicle he will be competing in on Pikes Peak. Listing Finland’s Ari Vatanen as his Pikes Peak hero, Huska shared about this year’s race, “My goal is to place mid-field or higher, but the field is very competitive with amazing machines and drivers, so we will see.”

Nicolas Lapierre

A native of France, Nicolas Lapierre brings a rich competition history. Since 2013, Lapierre has appeared in the 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, garnering three 1^st place finishes in the LMP2 class. In 2018 he was the IMSA overall winner at Sebring. Lapierre will be behind the wheel of a 2017 Alpine A110 Coupe GT4 when he takes on the 14,115’ challenge of Pikes Peak. Fans will appreciate that Lapierre can speak fluent French, Italian and English.

Philippe Marion

Traveling all the way from Paris, France, Philippe Marion hopes to complete his journey at the summit of America’s Mountain. His hill climb racing career began in 1990 with the French Hill Climb Championship. He has completed 15 seasons in the event. In 2018, Marion was runner up in the Open GT class and in 2019 was runner up in the GT Sport class. At 63 years old, Marion will line up on the grid in a 2007 Porsche 911 GT2.

UNLIMITED DIVISION

Henry Hill

Henry Hill will premiere his Wolf racecar on Pikes Peak in June. If the car sounds familiar, it is the same type raced by two-time King of the Mountain, Robin Shute. Hill has competed in both NASA and SCCA Pro Competition Series. He enjoys all types of motorsports, from drifting to off road racing. He has also built a race simulator.

Takashi Oi

Takashi Oi began his racing career in 1985 in a one-make series, finishing third. Building from that experience, he founded a driving school in the late 1990s. Oi is also known for his work at Best Motoring and his creation of a video game. He competed consistently in the All Japan GT Championship, in the Super Taikyu series, and has extensive Porsche racing experience in the Porsche Carrera Cup. He also participated in endurance racing at Nürburgring. Most recently, he ran in the Sepang 1000km, finishing second and in FSW2, finishing 3^rd.

ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile (20 km) course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m), and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet (4,302 m) above sea level. The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory. The 100^th Running of this iconic motorsport event will take place on June 26, 2022.

Contact:

It’s right around the corner, the milestone 100^th Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. Check out our online store and browse the latest commemorative apparel including hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, a variety of pins and stickers and the cutest teddy bear ever! Shop for yourself or the race fan in your life and bring home the history and the excitement of the Race to the Clouds.

Colorado Springs, CO – The 100-day countdown to the 100^th Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo on June 26 has begun.

A look at the past century of motorsports action on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain helps define why this race has not only endured but become one of the premier hill climbing events in the world.

Since 1916 when local businessman, Spencer Penrose, conceived the idea to promote a race to the summit of the famed Colorado peak, only World War I and World War II have interrupted the event.

A mere 10 years later, with the entry of Joe Unser, the family began carving the Unser name in the record books on Pikes Peak and at every major racing venue. Twenty-four-year old Loni Unser will be the fourth generation of Unsers to challenge the mountain. With 37 class and division wins, 15 course records, including five consecutive records set by Bobby Unser, and 26 King of the Mountain crowns, (more than one quarter of those awarded), the Unser family has proven a force to be reckoned with on Pikes Peak. “What better tribute to one of the first families on Pikes Peak than for a fourth generation Unser to cap off the past 100 years of competition and launch auto racing on America’s Mountain into the next century,” shared Fred Veitch, PPIHC Board Chairman.

In 1981 a new era dawned on Pikes Peak, the Rally division. First-timer, Rod Millen, behind the wheel of his Mazda RX7 captured an impressive 6^th place finish. Over the course of his 19 years on Pikes Peak, Millen would claim eight division titles, 3 division records and five King of the Mountain victories. Behind the wheel of a Toyota Celica Super Sport Turbo, Millen notched a course record in 1994 on a completely gravel course – 10:04.060.

Millen introduced son, Rhys, to Pikes Peak in 1992 in the Pikes Peak Open class where he captured his first win and a class Rookie of the Year award. Rhys has returned to Pikes Peak 24 times since, collecting an additional twelve wins while setting ten division records in everything from High Performance Showroom Stock to Time Attack to Electric Modified. In 2018 and 2019, teamed with Bentley, Rhys succeeded in breaking records in Production SUV and TA2 – Production. Two times, Rhys Millen has been awarded King of the Mountain, in 2012 and again in 2015 when he accomplished a first on Pikes Peak – besting every gasoline-powered vehicle on the mountain in an electric 2015 Drive eO PP03 in 09:07.222.

Father and son will compete together this year for the first time since 2013. Rod’s 2022 return in his 1998 Toyota Tacoma is highly anticipated, as fans are eager to see it perform in the Unlimited division on the now paved course. Rhys will be behind the wheel of the E-Motion Engineering Porsche 991 GT3R when he returns in the Pikes Peak Open division, the same division he first entered in 1992.

Rod Millen’s record on the dirt course will stand forever as the road surface was paved in phases over a ten-year period from 2002 to 2012. In 2007 Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima broke the overall record, thirteen years after it was set in his Suzuki XL8 with a time of 10:01.408. Unbeaten for the next three years, Tajima celebrated King of the Mountain honors time after time. Finally, in 2011, Tajima’s long awaited sub-10-minute course record was celebrated around the world – 09:51.278. For 25 years, Tajima’s winning record, huge smile and enthusiasm for the sport garnered international media attention and a loyal fan base.

It was only two years later that Pikes Peak rookie, Sebastien Loeb of France, piloted a 2013 Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak to the summit in a blazing fast 08:13:878. Many felt it was impossible for time to drop beyond that point. However, another French competitor, Romain Dumas proved he was up to the challenge.

From 2012 to 2021, Dumas raced on Pikes Peak seven times, winning all but once. He held King of the Mountain crowns in 2014, 2016, 2017 and in 2018, a year that was one for the record books. With Dumas behind the wheel of the 2018 Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, an all-electric prototype, a record shattering run was possible. The story of the 9-month concept-to-creation effort was closely followed in the automotive industry and the racing community. With the thin mountain air being displaced so quickly and forcefully, the sleek, electric racer sounded like a jet engine as it passed by the awestruck spectators. On June 24, 2018 – Dumas reached the 14,115 foot summit in a lightning fast 07:57.148 – an average speed of 94 miles per hour over the 12.42 mile course.

The Road to 100 is paved with the stories of dedicated grassroots racers, jaw-dropping automotive technology, and fully-backed factory teams pushing the limits. Join us for Race Week, June 20-June 26 and see where the Road to 100 leads.

Pick up your copy of the 2022 Souvenir Race Program at Fan Fest on June 24 in downtown Colorado Springs.

To learn more about the history of this iconic race, visit Penrose Heritage Museum, a free admission attraction in Colorado Springs.

Photo Credits:
PPIHC Archives
Larry Chen
Revvolution.com

ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile (20 km) course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m), and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet (4,302 m) above sea level. The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory. The 100^th Running of this iconic motorsport event will take place on June 26, 2022.

Contact:
Lisa Haight
Event Coordinator / Media / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400

Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo will welcome a very special class of individuals when they are enshrined in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame in June. “It’s a true honor to acknowledge the men and women who have contributed so much to the excitement of this race,” stated Fred Veitch, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Their fierce passion for competition and unwavering dedication to our sport have brought us to the milestone 100th Running that we celebrate this year.”

Meet the 2022 Inductees:

David Bachoroski

David Bachoroski is retired from General Motors Corporation where he tested cars on Pikes Peak for 33 years. Until 1999, he was the Manager of the General Motors Pikes Peak Vehicle Test Headquarters in Manitou Springs, Colorado and in that role completed over five thousand round trips to the summit of Pikes Peak.

He served as former president of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Historical Association, an office he held from 2007 through 2018. Twelve times he was the Pikes Peak Hill Climb pace car driver/mechanic. Ten times he was listed as car owner and builder with driver Jerry King. His mechanical aptitude and expertise led to his role as car builder and pace car set up and prep for such notables as Rick Mears, Johnny Parsons, Sr., Al Unser, Jr., Louis Unser, and actress turned racecar driver, Elke Sommer. Throughout his career on Pikes Peak he shared his course knowledge and assisted top race teams such as Bobby Unser, Sr., Robbie Unser, and Bobby Unser, Jr., as well as local legends, Frank and Kaye Peterson, and Nick and Frank Sanborn.

The Dallenbach Family

From East Brunswick, New Jersey to Basalt, Colorado with stops at Indianapolis, Daytona and every major racing venue in between, the Dallenbach family has promoted race safety, championed new motorsports events, educated and entertained television audiences, and volunteered to serve the sport they love, all while competing, winning and setting records. The Dallenbach family has been a fixture on Pikes Peak for decades. With Wally Sr., and his wife, Peppy, leading by example, their sons and a grandson have embraced the challenge of the Race to the Clouds.

Perhaps the most well-known of the Dallenbach clan on Pikes Peak is Paul. He is a three-time King of the Mountain, including his first title in 1993 when he set a course record. He has captured 11 division wins in his 27-year racing career. In 2013 Paul also secured the Production Sport Utility Vehicle record in a Range Rover Sport in an officially sanctioned run on the mountain. A fan favorite on Pikes Peak in his familiar #98 open wheeler, Paul is also known for a successful 30-year career in stunt driving including the film Ford v Ferrari.

Wally Dallenbach, Jr., competed for three years on Pikes Peak, capturing the Open Wheel win in 2006. Dallenbach Jr. shared, “I’m very proud of my Pikes Peak win. It was always a race I wanted to compete in. I consider Pikes Peak one of the crown jewels in racing, and it’s definitely one of my favorite driving experiences.” His son, Wyatt, a third generation Dallenbach entered the race in 2012 in the Open Wheel division, finishing third in his class.

Wally Dallenbach Jr. has had not only a successful and enduring racing career, but has also shared his expertise as a race commentator on several top network and cable channels for both NASCAR and IndyCar series.

The success of the Dallenbach brothers on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain would not have been possible without guidance and support from their father, Wally Sr. From the mid-1960s through 1979, Dallenbach Sr. raced in 180 Indy Car races winning five times in the series. In the early 1980s, Wally moved to the Championship Auto Race Team (CART) where he spent more than 20 years dedicated to improving race safety. His involvement with Pikes Peak came in the early 1990s when he served on Pikes Peak as a race steward and advisor. He was instrumental in reviving the 1991 motorcycle program on Pikes Peak after an eight-year hiatus. His passion for motorcycle riding led him to create the Colorado 500, a charity motorcycle ride through many small mountain towns in Colorado. He is celebrated in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame, and the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame.

Robert J. “Bob” Gillis

Bob Gillis has been involved in some aspect of motorsports since his arrival in Colorado Springs in the late 1960s. In 1979, as a sponsor for stock car driver, Larry Carnes, a future Pikes Peak ambassador was born. With a passion for expanding auto racing across Colorado, Gillis was instrumental in broadening the CHCA racing series, including resurrecting the Land’s End Hill Climb near Grand Junction, Colorado which had not been contested for nearly 40 years. Communities such as Buena Vista and Salida saw great economic benefit from these weekend races, and competitors gained valuable experience as they honed their racing skills in preparation for the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

Gillis has served as a board member for more than 20 years. This year marks his 45th year in service to the Race to the Clouds. He embraced every challenge that came his way from securing major race sponsorship to guiding the event through years of financial instability. Always willing to work with drivers to get his BF Goodrich Tires on their racecars, he has become well-known as one of the most knowledgeable automotive professionals in the Colorado Springs community.

In 2015, Gillis was inducted to the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership and support of this iconic motorsports event.

Grier Manning

Grier Manning devoted more than 50 years of his life to the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. From the 1950s through the early 2000s, Manning was a fixture on the mountain where he was known for his unfailing expertise, thoughtful insight and humble demeanor.

From 1963 to 1970 and in 1977, Grier competed in the open-wheel division of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. In 1967 and 1968, he switched from Chevrolet power to Offenhauser, driving for JC Agajanian. Manning finished in the top 10 six times on Pikes Peak, with his best time of 13:20.49 clocked in 1968 in the Offy-powered open wheeler.

Beyond his skill as a driver, Manning was widely recognized as one of the premier mechanics in Colorado. A great friend and crew member to Ted Foltz, Manning served as crew chief from 1973 to 1988. Manning’s innate mechanical aptitude helped Foltz claim several wins, including a second Pikes Peak King of the Mountain title in 1980.

Manning became a respected technical inspector for the race for three decades. He also helped restore the historic Pikes Peak Vince Conze-built Offy, which now resides in the Penrose Heritage Museum in Colorado Springs.
In 2011 Manning was inducted into both the Big Car Racing Association (BCRA) and Colorado Motorsports Halls of Fame. He passed away in 2017.

Joyce Thompson Ford

More than 60 years have passed since Joyce Thompson entered the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. She was the first woman to do so. With a background in sports car racing, Thompson was thrilled with the opportunity to test her Austin-Healey against the men at Pikes Peak.

Her racing career began in the late 1950s and lasted for six years. She raced at Continental Divide Raceway and throughout the South and Midwest regions in her Alfa Romeo and a Lancia di Garda. One race at the Daytona Speedway was especially memorable as her laps included both the banked oval and the road course.

Living and working in Denver, Thompson traveled to Colorado Springs every morning for practice, made her runs, and returned to her job in Denver. She recalled Bobby and Al Unser helping with car set-up, adjusting carburetion, and choosing the right tires. Despite being the first woman, and a rookie on Pikes Peak, she remembers no special media attention and she certainly didn’t receive any special treatment, stating, “I was just another racer.”

Her one and only run in 1960 was a challenge. From sunny and warm at the Start Line through rain, a hailstorm and finally snow at the summit, Thompson was determined to finish what she started. She recalled, “It was magnificent. It was very slick and I was just so glad to get to the top.”

Joyce Thompson passed away in 2021.

Gary Trachy and Greg Tracy

Passionate about motorsports, the Trachy/Tracy brothers, Gary and Greg, celebrated success on Pikes Peak together for years.

In Gary’s 12 consecutive appearances racing in every motorcycle class offered, he always finished in the top three. Remarkably, he captured two overall wins notching motorcycle course records, five division records and eight division wins.

Greg competed for 19 years on Pikes Peak from the mid-1990s to 2012 racing motorcycles in six classes. In 2013, he transitioned to cars where he competed in 4 divisions. With 14 podium finishes, including seven wins, Greg is the only competitor on Pikes Peak to break nine minutes – on a motorcycle in 2012, and in a racecar in 2014.

Wes Vandervoort

A quiet, unassuming man, Wes Vandervoort let his driving speak for itself. In his twelve-year racing career on Pikes Peak, he finished in top ten every year but once, and stood on the podium nine times. In 1967 his overall win made him King of the Mountain when he outraced 26 competitors, including Bobby Unser and Mario Andretti. In 1975 he finished less than a second behind Orville Nance who won the division.

Vandervoort frequently opened his Wesvan Garage in Colorado Springs to fellow competitors, sharing shop space, tools, advice and friendship. Vandervoort was respected as an engine builder and as a mentor.

Wes Vandervoort was a local hero and represents the epitome of what made the Pikes Peak Hill Climb great. He passed away in 1993.

John Wells

The genius behind the famous Wells Coyote, John Wells, raced on Pikes Peak for 25 years. During that span, he stood on the podium 13 times. In his final year of competition on America’s Mountain, Wells captured a win in the Open Wheel division’s sprint class.

Wells first entered a Wells Coyote in 1976, and the rest is history. Racers took notice and he became the go-to builder for a fast car on Pikes Peak. The Wells Coyote open wheelers dominated on Pikes Peak from the 1980s through the early 2000s with wins by Bill Brister, Al Unser, Jr., Bobby Regester, Stan Kossen and Gary Lee Kanawyer.

ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet, and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level. The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory. The 100th Running of this iconic motorsport event will take place on June 26, 2022.

Contact:
Lisa Haight
Event Coordinator / Media / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo is gearing up for the 100^th Running on June 26. Three elite female competitors join the field of 81 racers this year.

Kathryn Mead, 2020 Rookie of the Year, and two-time third place finisher in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division, returns for her third race on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, this time switching to the Time Attack 1 division. A retired astrophysics professor from Austin, TX, Mead shares “This race is the coolest thing I have ever done and I’m looking forward to racing in Time Attack for the first time this year.”

Laura Hayes, professional BMW Driving Instructor based in South Carolina, will make her second competitive attempt at the 14,115 summit. Hayes finished fifth in the highly competitive Time Attack 1 group on a weather-shortened course last year behind the wheel of her 2021 BMW M2CSR. After piloting the 2020 Parade of Champions Car – a sleek BMW M8 Competition Coupe. Hayes wants to tell women working in the motorsports world to “Take a chance on yourself. If I had known two years ago where I’d be today, I wouldn’t believe it. I suddenly had a spontaneous goal of competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and the only person who could make that happen was me. Surround yourself with a team who believes in you, and more importantly, believe in yourself. My life has changed since racing Pikes Peak and it’s all because I took chance on myself. Do it. You wont regret it.”

Loni Unser, a fourth-generation racer from one of the most prominent names in auto racing, will compete for the first time in the Race to the Clouds. Daughter of Johnny Unser, granddaughter of Jerry Unser Jr., and great-granddaughter of Jerry Unser, Loni’s 2019 Porsche GT4 Clubsport will sport the iconic Unser #92 when she joins the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division in June. When asked about her mentors in motorsports, Unser answered, “Fortunately, I have a group of incredible mentors in my family that I have looked up to for as long as I can remember. Wanting to follow in their footsteps has motivated me to be the best I can in this industry. Their sheer passion for the sport is contagious and they were able to show me what it is like to give everything to what you love.”

The current fastest time by a female driver on Pikes Peak is 10:54.901, set by Vanina Ickx, from Belgium, a rookie at Pikes Peak in 2018. Ickx is the daughter of famed F1 driver, Jackie Ickx.

ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet, and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level. The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory. The 100^th Running of this iconic motorsport event will take place on June 26, 2022.

Contact:
Lisa Haight
Event Coordinator / Media / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 1, 2022

Competitors Announced for the Milestone 100th Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo has officially announced the competitors invited to challenge the 12.42 mile course on June 26, 2022. More than 80 drivers from twelve nations and seventeen states will travel to Colorado Springs for the iconic Race to the Clouds.

Highlights of the 100th Running include returning “King of the Mountain” champions Robin Shute and David Donner. Familiar and new faces from the Millen and Unser clans will look to etch their names in the record books.  Sixteen newcomers will experience the event for the first time. From grueling early morning practice runs on the mountain to late-night prep and tuning sessions in the garage, each team will be reminded of what it takes to achieve success at 14,115 feet. Ultimately, the mountain decides.

Purchase Tickets Now

2022 PPIHC Competitor List

Race Week Schedule

ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet, and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level. The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory. The 100^th Running of this iconic motorsport event will take place on June 26, 2022.

Contact:
Lisa Haight
Event Coordinator / Media / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400

Help us get to 3,000 signatures!

Looking for a new way to show your love of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and more than 100 years of motorsports on Pikes Peak?

If you are a Colorado resident, and have not already done so, sign the support petition below and share with anyone and everyone residing in Colorado.

We are just short of the needed 3,000 signatures.

Share this with Colorado race fans, car clubs or auto enthusiasts!

Final design and graphics may change. One signature per individual.

Show your support and sign the petition today!

Colorado Springs, CO – The 100^th Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, will be history after June 26, 2022. The final week to submit the application to compete in this milestone event is here. Competitors, race teams and manufacturers may submit applications for consideration through January 13, 2022.

Race organizers will post the 2022 field of competitors on February 1 at ppihc.org.

The 100^th Running of the Race to the Clouds will take place on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

Driver applications may be submitted HERE.

ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds, is held annually typically on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet, and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level. The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory.

Contact:
Alex Feeback
Event Coordinator / Competitor Liaison
alex@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400

Colorado Springs, CO – The entire Pikes Peak International Hill Climb community is saddened by the death of Al Unser, a champion on Pikes Peak and lifetime ambassador for the Race to the Clouds.

“Al Unser was undoubtedly a champion. His records and achievements speak for themselves. What I remember about Al is how easy he was to work with. He was always polite and gracious to our fans and everyone affiliated with the event,” recalls Bob Gillis, former President, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Board of Directors.

Al Unser was part of a racing dynasty that reigned on Pikes Peak for decades. While his racing legacy around the world is unquestionably one of the most highly respected, Unser’s first attempt at Pikes Peak resulted in a disqualification before he ever got to compete. When it was discovered he was only 17 years old, not the minimum age of 18, organizers marked his entry with a DQ.

Unser returned in 1960 and finished in 2nd place with a time of 13:37.20. The only competitor to beat him was his brother Bobby who set a new course record of 13:28.5. In 1962 a nearly identical finish occurred with Bobby setting another course record to win the division and Al finishing less than four seconds behind.

Al Unser triumphed in the mid-1960s when he captured impressive back-to-back wins in 1964 in the Vince Conzi-designed racer powered by the famous Offenhauser engine, and again in 1965 with the Eisert/Ford “Harrison Special” by J. Frank Harrison.