|
FASTEST WOMAN DRIVER
KATHRYN MEAD
SET TO RETURN TO PPIHC IN JUNE
| |
Colorado Springs, CO – For over a century, the challenge of racing to the 14,115' summit of Pikes Peak - America's Mountain, has beckoned competitors from around the world. In June, drivers will once again convene on the mountain for the 102nd Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. Among the elite field will be Kathryn Mead, a retired astrophysicist who also holds the distinction of being the fastest woman ever to race a car in this iconic event. Mead will return in the Time Attack 1 division behind the wheel of her 2022 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. |  | |
Kathryn Mead began auto racing at the age of 51. Asked if anything about her professional career in academics led her to motorsports, she stated it did not, but added, "Having what my mother called a “lead foot” led me to racing. However, my professional background has been an asset in racing."
Mead’s Pikes Peak career began in 2020, however the first time she heard of the mountain itself was when, as an active runner, she learned of the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.
When she began auto racing and discovered the opportunity to run the mountain on four tires, instead of her own two feet, it seemed totally crazy and not something she would do. But, when the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division was created, and her car fit the profile, she knew she had to go for it. Her original plan to visit Pikes Peak in early April to check out the course and the mountain had to be scrapped due to the pandemic. She had practiced in a driving simulator and spent hours watching onboard videos at home, but it wasn't until early August of 2020 that she actually drove on the mountain.
| |
First Challenge:
COVID in 2020
In 2020, Kathryn Mead, a newcomer to Pikes Peak brought her 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, along with her thoughtful and purposeful approach, to the 12.42 mile course.
|  | |
Despite a two-month postponement, no spectators on the mountain, socially-distanced pit spaces, and a mask mandate, Kathryn Mead persevered. On Race Day she stood at the summit, on the podium, celebrating third place in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division and earning Rookie of the Year honors. Although she was the only woman entered in the event in 2020, Mead was faster than all other first-time racers on the mountain. Blake "Bilko" Williams won the division, George Hess III took second. Mead's third place time was 11:36.345.
Mead says the best advice she received that first year was from Pikes Peak Hill Climb Hall of Fame driver, Jeff Zwart, “He coached me in practice and told me to always leave time on the table in each practice run so I could learn and get faster each session. He also emphasized that you race the mountain, not the other competitors.”
| |
Second Challenge:
Weather
Even the most carefully constructed plans must yield to the mountain, and in 2021, the mountain decided no one would race to the top. Competitors finished at 16 Mile after navigating the shortened course in cold, wet conditions. Mead again finished third in the one-make Porsche division behind Tanner Foust and rookie, Cam Ingram.
| Mead returned in 2022 for the 100th Running of the Race to the Clouds moving from Porsche division to Time Attack 1. She finished at the summit, but course conditions were far from ideal with fog, rain and snow shrouding the mountain. |  | |
Challenges Answered
In 2023, the sun was shining on the course, as Mead waited for the green flag to drop from behind the wheel of her 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport RS. She was again competing in the Time Attack 1 division.
Mead's race day time of 10:53.074, besting Vanina Ickx's time of 10:54.901 set in 2018 in the same division. Thus, Mead was recognized as the fastest woman ever to race a car to the summit. Only Germany's Lucy Glöckner, aboard her 2019 BMW S1000R motorcycle in 2019, winner of the Powersport division, has clocked a faster time, 09:58.878, making her the fastest woman on a motorcycle and the first woman to break 10 minutes on the mountain.
Mead shared her advice for women looking to enter the motorsport area, "This advice is for people like me, who come to the race track with zero background in motorsports, and knowing no one in motorsports. If you can’t find anyone to help you, do it anyway. A lot of people sound like they know what they are talking about, but they really don’t. Trust your instincts on this."
|  | |
She elaborated, "Racing is a team sport and is about people, not machines. Finding helpful people is much like finding a good contractor to remodel your kitchen. I think my biggest accomplishment has been putting together and maintaining a team, not steering the car. So, keep in mind that while the glamour is in the race videos, the nitty gritty happens outside the car.
Even if you decide to move on from motorsport, doing what you want matters to you. You won’t have to think, 'I wonder what would have happened….' because you'll know the answer."
|
|
|
Back for Fifth Race in #50
Asked what draws her back to Pikes Peak, Mead lists simply, "It's the people and it's the pictures. It's because this race is so hard. Yet, I get to drive up a mountain road closed just for me. It's transcendent, even meditative."
| |
|
Reflections on Pikes Peak
"Racing on Pikes Peak is the coolest thing I have ever done," Mead shared. "The challenge is immense and the gratification is commensurate. The first year was especially significant because (like many/most/all) people, I had experienced a lot of adversity in the preceding years. So, the (double!) checker flag felt like a checker on that part of my life - good job! - which was incomparably harder than racing Pikes Peak."
Mead continued, "In subsequent years, it has been rewarding to apply the skills from my professional background, as well as skills developed through managing personal adversity, to doing incrementally more at Pikes Peak each year. No one (maybe including me) wants to talk about personal adversity, but a lot of people (definitely including me) want to talk about Pikes Peak!"
| |
|
Fun Facts:
"With so many things outside my control in 2020, the one thing I could control was how my car looked. So, I designed the wrap for my racecar. I think it looks happy, and every time I get behind the wheel, I know it makes me happy!"
"Something I enjoyed listening to recently was Grace Slick's audio biography. I really like her voice."
"I like video games and have a Switch and an XBOX."
Favorite Section: "The lower section because it's not visually intimidating.
And the upper section because it is."
Biggest Challenges: "The biggest continuing challenges are the elevation and sleep. Then there’s the whole 'one chance' thing. Race day is one chance, of course, but testing and practice days yield 3-4 runs, so each run is precious. I just have to accept that my car won’t be optimal and I will be even less optimal. But, that is also why I love this race so much. It challenges my 'head space.'"
Must-Haves on the Mountain: "Oxygen, oxygen, oxygen. Warm clothes, and a headlamp."
Favorite PPIHC Moments: "Driving back down after the race, the scenery above the tree line is just so overwhelming. It's cognitive overload. Fortunately there's someone to follow."
"I also have lasting memories of a race volunteer and a fellow driver who introduced me to their daughters. I was deeply honored by that."
| |
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo, Larry Chen, Leif Bergerson, Louis Yio, Charles Naboy, Luis Garcia. | |
|
ABOUT THE COLORADO SPRINGS AIRPORT
The Colorado Springs Airport provides a travel experience that prioritizes friendliness, safety, and comfort. Enjoy the speed and convenience of a small airport with options on daily nonstop flights and hundreds of connections worldwide. COS is committed to delivering exceptional service and a warm welcome to all our passengers, making your journey memorable from start to finish. For more information visit FlyCOS.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Your adventure begins here at the Colorado Springs Airport.
|  | |
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 near the end 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 six race divisions feature a wide variety of vehicles - from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles. The current race record was set in 2018 by Romain Dumas and Volkswagen in the all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak – 07:57.148.
Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
| |
|
102nd Running of the Race to the Clouds
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Tickets On Sale Now!
| | |
|
Important Reminder: You are receiving this email as a result of your affiliation, interest, partnership or past involvement with the PPIHC. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may Unsubscribe below. | | | | |
