Anyone from RDC going to pikes peak this year? It's our first year going (just spectating) but wanted to find out some in/outs of the event from others who have attended.
Looking for pointers on spectating? How to get around on race day (assuming the road is closed to traffic)? And any other pointers for a first time attendee. I will have my wife and 6yr old with me so if you spectate on the course are you stuck there the whole day?
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Road is closed but you can make your way on foot somewhat, normally it is about picking a spot and hanging around there for the day. If you are just going up the morning of the race you have to be parked and off the road early. They post when they close the entry gates. I always am near the top as there are a few vantage points to see a couple of corners at once. You can not head back down the hill until it is all over as your only exit route is the race course.
The best recommendation I can give you is be prepared for any weather. It may be 70 one minute and 15 min later below freezing and blowing snow. And don't forget the sunscreen, you burn a lot quicker up here then there.
As with many things I think the best days of this event are over as the dirt is gone and many more rules exist that didn't 10 yrs ago, but the road course should bring on some great speeds and times and it will still be a good day.
I'd rather have the gravel but think there are some great days ahead for the race. They are considering making it 2 days in 2013 due to added interest. 2012 entry is already closed. PPIHC.com has plenty of advice about spectating. Busses are an option this year. My best advice? Watch the race from the start line so you can split with your kid. Try and get further up on the mountain during practice. Practice is much better for spectating. Watch for the #44 AMSOIL Nissan.
Sweet Brad, you guys are racing again? Was it you or your brother that rolled the 4400 car? I will be splitting my time between the pit/paddock. I didn't introduce myself at the Texas TORC race but I am friends with Chris and Greg. I also raced with you at Blackwell when you won in the 4400 car last year and took 1st in class 12 at that same race.
The Rally Ready boys from Austin are going back with the unlimited car and hope to hang with them a bit but if I can help in any way let me know.
Will look more on the PPIHC site for bus info.
Thanks
-Daryl
Teamgravy Racing - 2011 BRT Class 12 champ! Join our fan page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/teamgravy
Sweet Brad, you guys are racing again? Was it you or your brother that rolled the 4400 car? I will be splitting my time between the pit/paddock. I didn't introduce myself at the Texas TORC race but I am friends with Chris and Greg. I also raced with you at Blackwell when you won in the 4400 car last year and took 1st in class 12 at that same race.
The Rally Ready boys from Austin are going back with the unlimited car and hope to hang with them a bit but if I can help in any way let me know.
Will look more on the PPIHC site for bus info.
Thanks
-Daryl
Small world! It's a great time racing in Texas. We won't make the race in a couple weeks but plan to be down there this fall. If you come out to TORC again look me up! Yea, the 4400 car is dead but I'll race the pro-light up the peak unless I can find something even faster. Pikes Peak Open looks very interesting this year. Mike Ryan entered the Freightliner!
Anyone from RDC going to pikes peak this year? It's our first year going (just spectating) but wanted to find out some in/outs of the event from others who have attended.
Looking for pointers on spectating? How to get around on race day (assuming the road is closed to traffic)? And any other pointers for a first time attendee. I will have my wife and 6yr old with me so if you spectate on the course are you stuck there the whole day?
The best place to watch is from a helicopter! Of course I was not the lucky one that got to hitch the ride in the copter, but I was lucky enough to be working with Roger Norman who hired a helicopter back in 2008 when he went to Pikes Peak. Here is the video that was put together from his run.
Race day you will have to wake up EARLY unless you are camping on the hill. Like you, it was my first year for the race. I was stationed at the Devil's Playground and hiked out to an outcrop with a great view of most of the middle part of the course. My hike took about 20 minutes to get to the vantage point where I could see about 15 turns from a birds eye view (next best thing to being in the helicopter). I was far enough away that I didn't want to have to go back and forth to my truck to get stuff and waste 40 minutes round trip.
Things I had on Race day...
* Video Camera with tripod.
* Still camera with fresh batteries. (lots of them)
* Lunch and a few snacks.
* A few bottles of water with Vitamin C packets.
* A bottle of sunscreen.
* A heavy jacket.
* An FRS radio to talk to our crew on the course.
Some things I wish I had on race day...
* Breakfast/more food (I ate my lunch around 9:00am because the altitude made me hungry).
* Better sunscreen.
* A good pair of binoculars (for looking waaaay down the course if you are in a position to see far).
* A chair or blanket to sit on. (Rocks get uncomfortable after the first 6 hours).
* A bigger day pack/backpack to haul all my stuff around.
* An AM radio to listen to the official Race feed.
* A hat with a bigger brim to block the sun.
Anyway, here are a couple of videos from where I was. I used the zoom a lot.
We did not get down the mountain until 6:00pm. There is a mandatory "brake-check" inspection station at Glen Cove that inspects every vehicle going downhill - no exceptions!! If your brakes are overheated, you have to wait at their cool-off area until they are good to go. There were so many people going down the mountain after the race that the inspection station and cool-off area was backed up for miles and took a long time to get past the station.
As far as I know the race is still on. I'm at Banks Engineering for a few days this week and they have a 1400-horsepower car going for the win. Should be cool to watch.
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Get to the mountain EARLY! 4:00 is almost late. All the best spots are taken either from people camping on the hill, or camping in line at the gate. The last ones allowed on the hill usually end up on top. The air is very thin there to hang out for 12 hours. Also, last year it took us about 3 hours in line getting off the hill, so bring plenty of food, water and beer. You'll have a blast there.
Originally Posted by hotdogwater
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