Live Thread: 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Final stop: the Charles Meyers State Wildlife Area. Could have sat there all day.

And time for bed. Good luck and be safe, everyone. 

Photos from the final day of practice:

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Phillip Astein

Photography Credit: Jesse Cottrell

Photography Credit: Jesse Cottrell

Thanks for posting the photos, Colin, and I got back to the room about half an hour ago–so about 9:00 after leaving at 3:15 in the morning. 

We again started with provisions at the Circle K. The Hyundai media contingent filled a pair of Santa Fe SUVs. Absolutely perfect for the mission.  

At 3:52 this morning, we were already in line. 

Crossed the starting line at 4:22. 

Parked at Halfway Picnic Grounds and started to unpack. 

So we could hike down to Engineers Corner. Good view plus we could sit up away from the track. 

Cars took the green at 7:30.

The pace of the event, though, was slow. Like, really slow. At times, it felt like we were waiting half an hour for a car. Lots of broken cars and wrecks this year.

We spent lots of time chatting, snacking and checking out the ants. 

We saw a pull or two. 

Note the GRM sticker on the rear fender.

Race photos to come tomorrow as it’s time for bed.

Very fun day, but also a long one. It’s not quite 9:40, and time to say goodnight. :) 

Ford’s EV “SuperTruck” wins 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Out of all 61 entries that entered to compete, Ford's 1600-horsepower, all-electric F-150 Lightning SuperTruck won the 102nd running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo.

[Live Thread: 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb]

Piloted by Romain Dumas, the all-electric SuperTruck set a time of 8:53.553–and that's including an unplanned stop during the climb:

Driver Romain Dumas overcame a technical issue during the climb, coming to a complete stop on the course. That stop added about 26 seconds compared to his initial qualifying time. Quick thinking from Dumas helped to minimize the issue, as the Frenchman completely reset the 1,600-horsepower F-150 Lightning SuperTruck and continued his climb.

"Everything about this event is a challenge because it is unlike any other form of racing, you only have one shot," said Dumas. "We faced a challenge early on but that only gave me more determination to make up the lost time in the rest of the run."

Speaking of qualifying, the SuperTruck set a record qualifying time for the open class of 3:32.831–some 7 seconds faster than the 3:39.939 record-setting qualifying time set by the Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2 in 2023.

You can review Sunday’s live timing here until official results become available, and you watch (or re-watch) the full event coverage below:

Hello from DIA.

We had a good view from Engineers Corner.

We could get close yet still up a ways (for safety).

Engineers is a slower corner. Seemed like we saw more understeer than oversteer. There’s a drainage culvert at track-out. A few competitors almost found it. 

I did my first Pikes Peak in 1996, and there’s still something special about the race. A lot of it is simply do to the variety: factory-built GT3 and GT4 cars mixed up with home-builts, open-wheelers and, really, almost anything. Plus you get to spend the day on the mountain. Our morning started crisp but soon warmed up. I was comfortable in jeans and a long-sleeve T. Could have done the day in shorts.

I see 61 cars listed in the run order. 

First car off at 7:30. Last car sent at about 4:00. 

So, um, we found stuff to do during the lulls. 

There’s only one way up the mountain and only one way down. No leaving during the race, and without a media vest you can’t leave your section. You’re there for the duration. It was like camping. 

A little after 4:00 we got the signal that we could walk back to our car. It was uphill. This was our 4:30.

And just like camping, pack it in, pack it out.

Time for the Parade of Champions as all of the competitors cruise down the mountain. 

Our newlyweds! Mazel tov.

Back to the Santa Fe at 5:30.

And at 6:15, our parking section was released. 

Almost 7:00 and we’re cruising down the mountain!

We rejoined the regular motoring traffic at 7:15. We stopped for dinner and then back to the hotel for a shower and sleep.

Totally memorable event: cool cars and a day spent with some friendly faces. 

Your readership demands/requires features on the Mk4 VW, the Ford Econobox?, and hell probably even the Subarus

The last two times I was there, we didn't get off the mountain until dark. Got partway down then stopped. I think it was because the road was also the pits and we had to let all the racers load up before we could continue to descend. Seems they have improved that situation considerably. 

And home. Back at sea level, back to humidity, back to my own bed and family.  

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Yeah, it’s a long day–and then add in the sun, the altitude (I live at like 19 feet above sea level) and likely not drinking enough water. Our crew was pretty beat at dinner time. 

I can go back and fill in some details, right?

Friday we went up to Devil’s Playground for the final practice. 

It was windy up there.

How windy?

At one point, I went back to our Santa Fe–I forget why, either to warm up, grab some camera gear, whatever.

And I just hear dink, dink, dink.

It’s the driver’s seat belt buckle tapping against the plastic as the wind is rocking this 2+ ton vehicle. 

Perhaps equally surprising: I saw a dude up there in shorts. It wasn’t even JG, but I’m guessing they’re in the same FB group.

The runs end before 9:00, and by that time we’ve been awake for close to 7 hours. We’re just a bit toasty.

So we had into Manitou for food. We see a sign advertising home cooking. There’s a parking spot out front. They take credit cards. Sold.

Guests were leaving as we walked in, so it’s just us–until Loni Unser’s parents walk in to eat. So we chatted with Johnny and Shauna for a few.