Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

goldrocket · Postby **goldrocket** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:14

Ok I have the pleasure of a crew pass again this year. Haven't had one of these for many years. Doing some crew work for an open wheel car. but I know that might bore this group, so I thought I would post some info on cars more you speed. I was at the top of practice section two this morning at 3:30 a.m. patiently awaiting the start of practice. I was also freezing my ass off!!!! It is COLD above 12,000 feet before the sun comes up! Anyway the group of cars on this section included the two open wheel cars I am here to support as well as a number of STi subarus, lancers, more open wheel cars, stock cars, a GORGEOUS twin turbo 350Z, and a turbo Porsche 928. After the first practice run, watching the cars go past us and parking about 100 yards away we moved up to the top so we could interact with our racers and the other teams. I have to tell you that all but one of the drivers, and all of the other support crew were very nice people. They were all there to have fun. I was talking to the research chief for the Suziki that currently holds the record. They were doing a lot of testing and not really trying to go fast today. The guy with the Porsche actually had plates on his car, he was a pretty cool guy too. I have known a few of the other drivers since I was a teenager, and remember them from the old days on the hill. Ok now down to the dirt. I am pretty much indifferent when it comes to the argument between the STI and the Lancer. But if I were in that argument or were simply in the market to buy one or the other...The lancer was by FAR the faster car today. I mean a lot faster. We were on a section of the course with the largest view of the over all course. We could see long straights and the 'w's. We can also see numerous hairpin turns. the lancer negotiated the turns at higher speeds and accellerated better at high altitude. Some of these cars on both sides were stock and some heavily modified. What happened on the mountain today was about a75% split favoring the lancer. The Z was a fairly impressive car as well, carbon fiber hood, trunk, doors....ohh yeah twin turbos too. Did I mention it was built by Rhys Millen? Along with two of the lancers. Team Millen had three cars up there today and they were the fastest cars in that class. Then on one of the passes I noticed the 350Z moving at a vastly higher rate of speed than the previous three runs. Turns out it was Rhys Millen driving it on that run. I chatted with him for about 15 minutes. What a cool cat he is. I asked him if he was racing the hill and how the drifting was going for him. He told me that he is having a good season this year with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. I asked if he was still running the GTO with the 6 liter. He told me the GTO now has a 680hp 7 liter, but he's not driving it. He is driving a Pontiac Solstice with the same 7 liter. He crashed at the last drift competition, so he will not be racing the hill this year. the three cars with his team name on them belong to his customers who are also members of his stunt driving team. Over all today was a kick in the ass. I haven't been to the hill climb in over ten years. Tomorrow the same group will be running on the top section of the mountain, so I will be up there again. I will also have more pictures.
This first photo is Me with Rhys Millen

Here is the supercharged 928 Porsche

And a distant early morning pic of an open wheel car

Huzer21 · Postby **Huzer21** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:14

I'm jealous...any and all race cars are a cool deal to me. That's a sweet gig you've got, thanks for sharing!

TheNewBlack · Postby **TheNewBlack** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:14

Sweet [ocs!

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:14

Cool.

Are you going to be at the hill climb thing on Friday? We will be going to Sonic at Chapel Hills at 7 pm. Then we will be heading to the event.

Renesis Rx · Postby **Renesis Rx** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:14

^^^^Yeah and bring Rhys with you!LOL

Brat · Postby **Brat** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:14

gold you suck! complete and utter jealously. bc i want to hit the hill climb this year. have fun man. its quite the experience.

goldrocket · Postby **goldrocket** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:14

I grew up crewing for one team or another on the hill. I haven't done this for more than ten years. I will be posting a lot more pics and a few videos on Sunday. I am actually going to the race. We are camping in the race pits tonight so we don't have to get up at 2:00 am again. It has been a lot of fun! Oh, I did see Rhys Millen's Solstice on the trailer yesterday too. Maybe he will make a run after all.

goldrocket · Postby **goldrocket** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:14

Hows about Millen's 480hp ecotec? This car was pretty cool for something with pistons.....

goldrocket · Postby **goldrocket** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:14

And this Porsche was bad ass! these guys actually wrote a book about their adventure starting last year when they made the phone call to the Hill Climb officials about entering the race. The 928 was Porsche's only v8 back in the day. It came with mehcanical fuel injection. Now it's got a supercharger feeding that injection system. This car was truly impressive. The guys on the crew and the driver were really cool people too.

Rootski · Postby **Rootski** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:14

^Saw that Porsche there last year. Very cool car.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

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