Pikes Peak hear I come!

When I hit USA on the weekend I'm landing in Denver, picking up a convertable hire car and heading to famous Pikes Peak to fang it up the mountain. Anyone here driven up Pikes Peak?

 

Yep me and my mate drove up and down it in a 2008 Corvette back in April.

Absolutely amazing piece of road and scenery, I can't imagine doing it at the speed guys like Vatanen did back in the day.....looking over the edge and see how far the drop is was enough to make us slow down a bit.

You'll love it!!!
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I have. I recall the marked drop in power as I got near the top, it really is quite high. Coming down is scarier than going up, take care of your brakes. The view is to die for.

Beautiful scenery, friendly people, and the Aussie dollar at 95 cents, what more do you need?

 

Not to take anything away from Vatinen's huge skill, 99% of people have never driven on gravel on rally tires. You'd be amazed how much grip you have and a car sliding on a predictable surface (and Pikes Peak is perfectly maintained) on the right tyres, is easier to control than a sudden transition of grip on a sealed surface.

Of course, you're still dead if you make one mistake...

 

Great pics. I am sure it would be a wonderful experience.

We all love watching this vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSrDD3tcibU

 

There was talk of sealing the road last year, all the way to the top - did that happen?

M

 

No.

 

I never get tired of watching that video Pap. Two things in it just amaze me, the high speed splatter of the bug on the lens and his amazing car control as he shields his eyes from the sun.

 

Yeah, pretty cool sh*t!!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikes_Peak_International_Hill_Climb

just think a vitara holds the record

 

That is some damn gutsy driving there!! Only way you could do that is knowing you have the talent to back it up too!! Awesome!!

 

[QUOTE="Megan";137766112]That is some damn gutsy driving there!! Only way you could do that is knowing you have the talent to back it up too!! Awesome!![/QUOTE]

And a really good roll cage!

Ari was one of the greatest rally drivers. Of course the Fins are among the best loose surface drivers in the world.

You find out why when you go there, the roads are frozen for about 9 months of the year. My first taxi ride from Helsinki airport: 10pm, snowing, 130kmh in a Volvo estate, on about 6 inches of packed snow, driver with one hand on the wheel, executing the most perfect 4 wheel drifts while talking on his mobile phone.

 

Yikes!!! Note to self - make sure you only visit Finland in the 3 months the roads aren't frozen! Kinda explains why they seem to have a talent in that area - it's a survival skill they require!

 

[QUOTE="Megan";137766473]Yikes!!! Note to self - make sure you only visit Finland in the 3 months the roads aren't frozen! Kinda explains why they seem to have a talent in that area - it's a survival skill they require![/QUOTE]

Hi,

I lived in Scandinavia for 3 months. When you get out of the major cities into the northern rural snowbound areas it is quite interesting. Everyone knows how to left foot brake, even L platers, bus drivers etc. Everyone there is a good driver, because they have respect for the road and varying conditions.

Unfortunately, once you get back into the major Scandinavian cities, it is just like being back in Sydney or Melbourne.

For the ultimate weird bit of information about scandinavian drivers, you need to know about the change in the side of road issue! In 1967 Sweden changed from driving on the left hand side of the road to driving on the right hand side of the road! They implemented this over one long weekend! The logistics behind that make my brain hurt!

Cheers

Robbo

 

Maybe we could do the same here and then register all those great supercars.

 

Hear, hear. But this would be the least likely place in the world to do something sensible like that.

 

Maybe we can start this long weekend downunder.

 

OK, you go first.

 

Maybe we should have a referendum.

Oh thats right I'm a kiwi and can't vote, but you guys can.

 

nah, get Rob to start a poll

 

Fixed.

 

Thanks for going back to your old avator.

Kept getting confused betwen you and wrxmike.

 

Yep the Unsers have.

 

This was my old avatar.
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Ok point taken.

Just remember it included your car.

At least I can differentiate now.