FOUR PPIHC DRIVERS AND RIDERS ALONG WITH PHOTOJOURNALIST WELCOMED TO OFF-ROAD MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME
Colorado Springs, Colorado — The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, sends congratulations to the twelve inductees to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. We are particularly pleased to have four Pikes Peak Hill Climb competitors in this year’s class. The ceremony was held Sunday, November 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
KEN BLOCK
Ken Block made his racing debut on Pikes Peak in 2005 in the Rally Group N class with co-driver, Alex Gelsomino, finishing the class in 5th place with a time of 13:19.17. His highly anticipated return to competition on the mountain in 2022 had fans and media buzzing. Although a race week mechanical issue took him out of competition, his fans showed up in droves to welcome him to Fan Fest in Colorado Springs.
His wildly popular short film, Climbkhana, brought worldwide attention to the 156 turns on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain as Block showcased his masterful drifting style.
Block’s legacy in motorsports, in business, and a variety of creative endeavors continues to inspire. Through the 43 Institute, founded in his memory, Block’s ideals continue to provide pathways and resources for underserved, highly driven ‘motivated misfits’ whose aspirations lie in action sports, motorsports, and the creative arts.
JIMMY LEWIS
In 2000, Jimmy Lewis joined a team of Italians who wanted to showcase what their scooter, yes, scooter, could do on the mountain. The factory team brought three 2000 Gilera Runners to challenge the 12.42-mile course to the 14,115’ summit. Lewis competed in the 250cc Motorcycle division aboard his #41 Gilera, alongside teammates Cristian Matte, #64, and Maurizio Virtuani, #55, on like models. He reached the top, despite the thin air, clocking a time of 17:46.94. (Gilera scooters are pictured alongside #10, Greg Adams aboard his Kawasaki , also competing in the 250cc division.)
ROD MILLEN
New Zealand’s Rod Millen’s first attempted Pikes Peak in 1981, entering a 1981 Mazda RX7 in the Rally division. From 1984 through 1988 he ran in the Open Rally class, slicing nearly two minutes from his finish time in the interval. Still competing in a Mazda, Millen returned in 1989 in Pikes Peak Production, claiming his first division win and record. A repeat performance was in store in 1991 when Millen notched his first sub-12-minute run.
A Toyota Celica was next for Millen and, in 1994, his win in the Unlimited division and new course record of 10:04.060 would make headlines in the racing world. As one of Pikes Peak’s most popular heroes, he is perhaps best known for this record. Set on the all-gravel course, it will never be broken as the course was fully paved in 2012.
Four consecutive King of the Mountain wins, all behind the wheel of a Toyota, were recorded from 1996 through 1999, including two in a Toyota Tacoma. Millen was inducted to the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame in 2016 during the 100th Anniversary celebration and returned to Pikes Peak for the 100th Running of the Race to the Clouds in 2022 bringing back the fan-favorite Tacoma. He finished third in the Unlimited division, 8th overall, and despite dismal racing conditions, clocked a time of 11:06.152.
MIKE PEARLMAN
In 1997, in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Race to the Clouds, Mike Pearlman entered his Triumph in the Vintage Motorcycle division. He went on to compete on Pikes Peak for nearly a decade, experiencing the course as it transitioned from a gravel surface to pavement in some sections.
His best time was in 2004 on his Triumph when he finished in 15:28.92 for third in the Vintage division.
During his racing career on Pikes Peak, Pearlman achieved four podium finishes.
JOHN RETTIE
John Rettie was honored as a media pioneer. From Dakar to the Sonora Rally, the all-female Rally Jameel in Saudi Arabia, to Greece, to the Hong Kong to Beijing Rally, he was always there to compete, capture the action, or both!
Rettie has been hailed as a volunteer, a racing enthusiast and supporter, and a photographer. He shared stories of the off-road industry from the late 1960s through the 2022.
On assignment for Road & Track magazine, he covered the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 2012 and 2013.
Photo Credits: Larry Chen; PPIHC Archives; Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame
Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
719-685-4400
www.ppihc.org
