Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing

The 88th edition of the world famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be staged on June 27, and another assault on the record books is in store for fans of the race.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. First competed in 1916 and this year marks the 88th running of the vRace to the Clouds.v

In 2010, the race will take place on Sunday, June 27 with race related events all week long. Registration and Tech are on Tuesday June 22 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs. Practice on the mountain takes place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Friday evening June 25 is “Fan Fest” in downtown Colorado Springs, featuring motorcycle jumpers, two beer gardens, a chili cook-off, live bands and the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders and is expected to draw over 35,000 spectators.

Saturday is the vintage car show and Sunday is race day. This year the race to the clouds will have 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck, vintage, and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.

Race fans can look for a repeat performance by the star-studded field of top international drivers, led by defending champion Nobuhiro Tajima, who won his fourth straight Unlimited division crown in 2009 with a clocking of 10:15.368. The Japanese ace prevailed over a pair of European rally car champions, a Ford Fiestas driven by Sweden’s Marcus Gronholm and Britain’s Mark Rennison in his Ford RS200. All three drivers, along with Andreas Eriksson, another Swedish Ford Racing Team driver, are expected back in June.

Vintage Division Automobiles

Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing will be fielding a Vintage Division in 2010. The date has been moved up to accommodate the paving plan on the mountain. This will be the last year to race the upper mountain’s dirt course.

In 2009, six vintage division drivers added their names to the record books as hill climb rookies. Ten vintage autos ran including three Mustangs, three Falcons, a Corvette, a Oldsmobile Super 88, a Desoto Firedome 8 and a ’71 Cuda and a new course record of 13:56 was set for the Vintage Division automobiles.

RMVR sponsors a car and bike show in Manitou Springs featuring vehicles from the vintage car and motorcycle divisions and local residents’ private vehicles. Manitou is a community nestled in the foothills just west of Colorado Springs. The setting for the show is in a park with plenty of shade, grass, music and food vendors. The ’52 Desoto Hemi of Dean Smith and Frank McKinnon were show favorites in 2009, taking home a trophy for best racecar. The car show will be June 26, 2010.

Entry Information

The Vintage Division is open to only 20 cars in 2010 and early entry is encouraged. The entry schedule is:

Download the 2010 PPIHC Vintage Division Automobiles Race Entry Packet.

Racer Rebate Program

There are twelve entries so far for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Vintage Automobile Group. RMVR is looking for up to eight more entrants to maximize the field. This year RMVR has a special Racer Rebate Program, in which rebates will be available for all qualified, paid entrants after the first ten entries are received. Rebate amounts will be based on a sliding scale, depending upon number of entries received above ten. Rebates are to be distributed equally to all entrants, so there is a lot of incentive to fill the field.

The graph below represents a possible distribution of rebates. The key elements for entrants are the numbers at each blue bar. These numbers represent the amount of rebate per entry available at the end of the event. RMVR must pay preset amounts to the PPIHC organizers at certain entry increments, which is why the chart is not a smooth progression. As we receive additional paid, eligible entries we will be updating this chart.

We encourage each participant to help recruit additional drivers, as each entry helps everyone, including the new racers that sign up. The amounts of the rebates can become significant if we obtain a full twenty car field!

Pikes Peak Vintage Division Rules (Automobiles)

Revised April 1, 2010

Automobiles eligible for the Vintage Division must meet PPIHC and RMVR safety requirements. See www.PPIHC.com for required safety equipment. Eligible cars are primarily production sports cars and sedans manufactured in 1981 or earlier. These cars must be capable of completing the PPIHC course in 15 minutes or less. Automobiles with pre-1981 racing history shall be admitted preferentially to those without history. Other divisions are available for automobiles that do not comply with these rules (see www.PPIHC.com).

The Vintage Division automobiles consist of the following two race classes: Vintage and Vintage Modified. The Vintage Class will carry a body, frame, and chassis that are correct for the date of manufacture and a pre-1981 power plant and driveline. The Vintage Modified Class includes other cars that are Vintage Division eligible but fall outside the Vintage Class requirements.

Vintage entries that do not meet these rules may have their application for entry declined or accepted at the sole discretion of the Chief of Eligibility for the PPIHC Vintage Division.

Questions about the Vintage Division Rules? Contact Ralph Veit, 303-570-5303.

Accommodations

Race Central/ Registration/ Tech Inspection
Crowne Plaza Hotel
2886 S. Circle Drive
Colorado Springs, CO
719-576-5900
Directions: Take I-25 to Exit 29. Go east on Circle Drive 200 feet. The hotel is behind the Shell gas station on the north side of Circle Drive.

Manitou Springs Hotel
45 Manitou Ave.
Manitou Springs, CO
719-685-5455
Directions: Comfort Inn of Manitou: Take I-25 to Highway 24 West. Turn north on 35th Street, exit on 31st Street, go north one block, go west one and one half blocks, Comfort Inn on left.

Garden of Gods Campground
RVs, Pop-ups, and Cabin camping
3704 West Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719-475-9450
Directions: Take I-25 to Highway 24 West. Turn north on 35th Street and then west on Colorado Avenue. Go to 37th Street and drive straight into the campground.

Additional information about Manitou Springs accommodations: Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce (719-685-5089).

Additional information about Colorado Springs accommodations: Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce (719-635-1551).

For more information about the Hill Climb, visit Pikes Peak International Hill Climb