March 2023
MONTHLY SHAKEDOWN
101 DAYS TO THE 101ST RUNNING
Follow us on social media to take advantage of a special giveaway on Thursday, March 16.
PPIHC POSTER ART CONTEST + CASH AWARDS
Enter Now Through March 31
Last chance to have your original art in the spotlight at the
101st Running of the Race to the Clouds.
Rules, Prizes and Submission Information HERE
EXCLUSIVE PPIHC VIP TRAVEL PACKAGES OFFERED
3 OR 4-DAY EVENT EXPERIENCE
The PPIHC has partnered with Sports & Entertainment Travel to offer an upscale race week experience including luxury accommodations at The Broadmoor, along with lots of behind the scenes action. Cap it off with a trip up the Cog Railway to see the checkered flag wave! Whether you're driving to Colorado Springs or arriving via FlyCOS, the Official Airport of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, VIP treatment is guaranteed.
Book your Travel Package HERE
USA TODAY FAN POLL NOW OPEN
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been nominated in
USA TODAY’S 2023 10Best Readers' Choice travel awards as a contender for Best Motorsports Race
Fans have four weeks to vote once daily through Monday, April 10.
Cast Your Vote HERE
MERCHANDISE "GARAGE SALE"
Shop the sale and add some PPIHC gear to your closet! Sizes are limited.
Check out the Merch Sale HERE
FRAMEABLE MOMENTS WITH LARRY CHEN
“Little Pikes Peak is one of my favorite places to shoot on the entire mountain. With just one corner you can get so many different variations of photos. Generally speaking when I am shooting into the sun like for this shot, I try to expose for the background. The natural colors from the sunrise show through much better when it's properly exposed. If you expose for the car usually you lose way too much detail in the sky.” Larry Chen

Pictured: Kathryn Mead, 2022 - Time Attack 1
Photo by Larry Chen
PIKES PEAK 101
When did the PPIHC become “International”?

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb definitely had international competitors long before the name was changed from the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In the mid-1990s the term 'international' was included in the event title due to the fact that the number of competitors from outside the USA was on the upswing. The mid to late-1980s saw a number of Rally champions attack the mountain successfully and etch their names in the record book, most notably, Michѐle Mouton (France), Walter Röhrl (Germany) and Ari Vatanen (Finland). The international presence and astounding success of Rod Millen (New Zealand) and Nobuhiro Tajima (Japan) in the 1990s and 2000s made headlines around the world, helping focus the spotlight on what could be achieved on Pikes Peak.

Over the past decade, Sébastien Loeb (France) in a Peugeot, Romain Dumas (France) in a Volkswagen, and Robin Shute (UK) in a Wolf have each made their mark on America's Mountain - Loeb and Dumas by setting course records.

The question of who was the first international competitor is tough to answer. In 1916, the inaugural Pikes Peak National Hill Climbing Contest entrants included Lord Hughie Hughes. While some accounts state he was British, others say the moniker was adopted as a marketing ploy.

The number of countries represented from the first competitors to the 2023 entrants is estimated at 37. It should be noted that data on racer's hometown/country was not always recorded.
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
China
Columbia
Corsica
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Japan
Korea
Latvia
Luxembourg
Mexico
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
Norway
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Reunion Island
Romania
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
UK/Great Britain/England
United States
PPIHC TRIVIA
Which Two PPIHC Competitors Were Recently Inducted to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America?
Two PPIHC competitors were honored on March 7, 2023 at the 35th annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at Daytona Beach, Florida.
In 1929, Ab Jenkins was one of three drivers piloting Studebakers to the summit of Pikes Peak in the Stock Car division. Although Glen Shultz set the fastest time with 21:43.60, Ab claimed second place in 22:58.00, and Ralph Hepburn took third in 24:10.80. Read more about Jenkins storied career in this great article from Hemmings.com by Daniel Strohl.
Ray Evernham entered the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018 capturing first place in the Exhibition division in “The Ghost” a 1936 Chevrolet Sedan. His time was an impressive 10:11.334. Second place in the division was Rhys Millen in the 2018 Bentley Bentayga who set a Production SUV record of 10:49.902. (Larry Chen Photo)

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Thank you to the City of Colorado Springs, Olympic City USA, for
embracing sport in the Pikes Peak Region all the way to the
14,115' summit of Pikes Peak - America's Mountain.
Fall in love with Colorado's small airport
The Official Airport of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING
March Birthdays!

Bill Brister
March 2
Two-Time King of the Mountain, 1982 (course record) & 1984
Both Behind the Wheel of the Famed Wells Coyote

Codie Vahsholtz
March 11
2023 Open Wheel Division Competitor
2022 Open Wheel Division Champion
2021 Rookie of the Year

Clint Vahsholtz
March 13
2023 Time Attack 1 Competitor
2020 King of the Mountain
Most Division Wins

 Laura Hayes
March 15
2023 Time Attack 1 Competitor
BMW Performance Center Professional Driving Instructor

Louis Unser, Jr
March 16, 1896
Raced on Pikes Peak from 1926 to 1967
Nine-Time King of the Mountain
Six Course Records

Rod Millen
March 22
Five-Time King of the Mountain
10:04.06 Course Record on All-Dirt Course - 1994

Cole Powelson
March 25
2023 Unlimited Competitor
2020 Sub-10 Minute Run on Pikes Peak

Matt Mullins
March 29
2023 Exhibition Division Competitor
Chief Driving Instructor – BMW Performance Driving School
Stunt Driver and Guinness World Record Holder
EXPLORING HISTORY
During the 1940s and 1950s young women vied for the title "Princess Power" and the chance to represent the Pikes Peak Hill Climb at events surrounding the race. The contest was resurrected in the 1990s as "Miss Pikes Peak".

In 1947, a nineteen-year-old Marcella Rinehart from Iowa made her way to Colorado. As a singer, she performed locally at The Broadmoor, and at The Brown Palace in Denver. Marcella is listed as the "official hostess" for the race and is pictured above with the Penrose Trophy which was inscribed with the winner of the race annually - Louis Unser in 1947.
Rinehart's career eventually took her to California where he met and married Fess Parker, renowned Hollywood actor famed for his portrayals of classic western characters Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.

The couple remained in California and were married for 50 years.




Rinehart photo courtesy: The Bonanza, 1947
Parker PR photo by: NBC Studios
ICYMI
Watch Larry Chen's Pikes Peak 2022 Super Vlog: Mountain Don't Lie
PPIHC Colorado License Plates Available Now
Live in Colorado? Show your love of the PPIHC year-round by purchasing a special license plate at the DMV.
Submit your comments and suggestions for this monthly publication at [email protected]