The 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Second-oldest motorsport race in America draws international audience to Pikes Peak in June

By Keri Khan, Staff Writer for NORTH

Few events can spotlight the storied history of Colorado Springs like the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) does each June.

It was 1916 when philanthropist and Broadmoor Hotel owner Spencer Penrose financed improvements to an existing carriage road that reached the summit of Pikes Peak. The result was a dirt highway which supported two lanes for most of the stretch. At the time, it was quite modern.

Rea Lentz won the overall event on the third race day in 1916, in his Romano Special. (Photo courtesy of PPIHC Archives)

“He decided that, to promote his road, his hotel and bring tourism — it was always his goal to bring people to Colorado Springs — he would stage a race on Pikes Peak and he did that over three days in August of 1916,” says PPIHC Historian Lisa Haight.

It has been 108 years since open-wheel cars first raced up that dirt highway to the 14,115-foot summit of America’s Mountain. In 2024, the now-paved highway will feature six divisions of world-class racers from 12 countries. The five full-time PPIHC staffers are teaming up with hundreds of volunteers and partners to continue the Penrose legacy event.

Haight is one of those staffers. She grew up around the event as her dad raced and won the stock car division five times. She’s been the event’s communications manager and historian for about six years; before that she’d been a volunteer for 20 years.

Bobby Unser won the Sports Car division in 1964 in his Lotus 23B, with a time of 13:19.10. (Photo courtesy of PPIHC Archives)

Gaining an International Flair

Haight says her dad, who raced in the 1950s and 1960s, grew up in Cascade watching the earlier racing of the 1940s. In fact, the only times fans couldn’t watch the race to the clouds was during WW1 and WW2, when the event paused for war efforts. For this reason, 2024 is the 108th anniversary but 102nd running.

In the 1950s, stock cars were added. It wasn’t long before sports cars like Porsche were climbing the Peak.

“The rally division was really popular in the ’80s, bringing a lot of European drivers, and that really gave us an international appeal because now people were hearing of Pikes Peak, and to win at Pikes Peak was a big deal around the world,” says Haight. “We’re very well known around the world but it’s funny to me that a lot of people in Colorado Springs don’t know what it is.”

This year, the divisions are Unlimited, Time Attack 1, Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama, Open Wheel, Pikes Peak Open, and Exhibition. The race cars in the Unlimited division are most likely to set a new overall course record.

Racing continued to gain popularity above the clouds through the ’60s and ’70s. (Photo courtesy of PPIHC Archives)

The Stories Behind the Wheel

A selection committee of race industry professionals reviews the 100-plus race applications including race resumes, experience, and references. This year, 72 applicants made the cut.

Two of those drivers are Kendall Samuel and Mary Barker of Hendersonville, NC.

“Kendall came out here with his girlfriend last year. When he finished the race, he got back down to the start line and ended up proposing to her,” says Haight, about Samuel’s rookie year.

Around the time of the proposal though, Barker was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While the news threatened to delay her dream of racing alongside Samuel on America’s Mountain, she made it through chemo and onto the start list as one of only five women on this year’s roster.

Each of the 72 racers comes with his or her own story. If you need help deciding who to root for, check out the competitor list, which was announced in March and is available on the PPIHC website.

Mr. Penrose would be proud to know his event’s livestream now reaches motorsport fans the world over, and that his early efforts to promote Colorado Springs as a bucket-list travel destination have certainly paid off.

How to See the Action in 2024

JUNE 18-21: Practice Day Tickets

Race fans can get in on the action with fewer crowds by purchasing practice day tickets which range from $85 to $115. Tickets available here: www.ppihc.org

JUNE 21: Fan Fest in Downtown COS

Free to attend, Fan Fest is a ten-block street party from 5-9 PM with competitor and vendor displays. The family-friendly event provides opportunities to meet drivers, top sponsors, and witness high-flying stunts during the FMX show.

JUNE 23: Race Day Spectators

Spectator tickets range from $45 to $500, while camping permits are $300. Tickets and permits available by spectator area or camp spot here: www.ppihc.org

JUNE 23: Race Day Livestream

Catch the action from home by watching the livestream, listening to live radio, or following along on social media. More info will be available here: www.ppihc.org/how-to-follow