Purple mountains majesty – from the moment Zebulon Pike gave the mountain its name in 1806, and possibly before, people have been trying to conquer Pikes Peak. It commands respect, towering above the landscape and can be seen for miles in every direction.
Known as the Sun Mountain by the Ute Indians, Pikes Peak shows a different side of itself with each angle of the sun. Large enough to have its own weather patterns, those who live in its shadow know to look to the mountain for their daily weather report. Pikes Peak is 14,115 feet of pure wilderness and has been recognized by many over the years as a natural wonder.
The invention of automobiles gave a new conquest to add to the list.
Hill Climb racing is exactly what it sounds like–drivers start at the bottom of the hill and race to the top in a time-trial format. They compete against each other, but not next to one another. For a Hill Climb, participants not only compete with each other, they compete against the terrain, they compete against the elements, and they compete against themselves.
This year will mark 102 years since the inception of the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. The race is known worldwide and brings in race fans from all over to enjoy the sport and experience Colorado Springs.
Driver Meet & Greet
To honor this historic race, Porsche hosts the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Driver Meet & Greet. The event was gaining traction before COVID restrictions limited group gatherings. The dealership decided to pivot and open up the campus to host the event outdoors and they saw more than 600 attendees. They decided there was a demand for this type of event and proceeded to give the people what they wanted. To date, the event sees between 800 and 1,000 attendees who are eager to explore the 12-acre campus, see a variety of cars and visit the vendors. The main event is a driver panel, where the drivers and other giants of the motorsports industry come together to discuss the race and answer audience questions.
What is most unique about this event is that it is not a sales event. Porsche has a rich history and believes their heritage is as much a part of their cars as the pistons – so much so, that their mechanics attend a course that teaches Porsche history before they are allowed to touch the cars themselves. This event is a true celebration for the community, bringing people all over the world together with one common passion.
“Porsche is an endurance racing company–they are in it for the long haul and to go the distance,” states Justin Underwood, Sales Manager at Porsche of Colorado Springs. He goes on to explain that Porsche’s philosophy when it comes to racing is “we’re going to win or we are going to break trying.” Ferdinand Porsche was a brilliant engineer and was known to believe there was no second place; he maintained high standards. This gave him a reputation of being hard to work with, but it also set a foundation of excellence that persists today.
Legacy and Heritage
Porsche honors legacy and heritage through their drivers, as well.
Loni Unser is a third-generation 26-year-old driver racing the Hill Climb for Porsche this year. She grew up watching her dad and grandfather race. Unser found that as a young skier, she had a propensity for finding lines and appreciated speed at a level that transcended the slopes. This will be her third Hill Climb and second with Porsche. She is one of 5 women drivers in a field of 68 and when asked how many in her age group, she commented “I don’t know how many 26-year-olds there are in racing, but there could be more.”
“And she’s not just any driver, either – she’s good!” commented Fred Veitch, another decorated Hill Climber and chairman of the board for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Veitch has been racing with Porsches since the 1970s and started racing the Hill Climb at age 64, setting a record in the Time Attack 2 class at age 67 driving his 14-year-old Porsche.
“The course changes daily – you really don’t know what you are going to get until you are on the mountain," he said of the Hill Climb. "As the driver you have to accept the road conditions and drive within yourself to finish.”
An Open Invitation
Those casually interested in Colorado Springs history and culture, those who are serious motorsports fans, and everyone in between is invited and welcomed to the Colorado Springs Porsche campus this summer to celebrate the culture of racing and the heritage of excellence for which Porsche is known. This year's event will be the evening of June 19.
Website: https://www.porschecoloradosprings.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @PorscheColorado
Website: https://ppihc.org/
Facebook + Instagram: @pikespeakhillclimb