City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (719) 685-4400

Description: First run in 1916, this is known as the “Race to the Clouds.” The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is serious racing mixed with a little bit of insanity. And so, of course, the race is very popular with drivers! The race starts near the bottom of Pikes Peak and runs up 12.4 miles to the top of the 14,115-foot mountain. With 156 (tight) turns and an average 7 percent grade on both paved and gravel roads, this is one grueling, courage-laden race. Here’s some perspective: When a tourist drives this road, it takes about an hour, and much of that is white knuckles on the steering wheel as the car goes through hairpin turns with thousand-foot drops off to the side. The race drivers do that road in about 10 minutes. As a spectator, you can only plant yourself at one spot along the race course, but even that is thrilling and staggering to watch. It should be pointed out that the drivers are racing the clock, not each other—the cars are not on the course all at the same time.The race includes categories for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and quads. A number of technical and public pre-race activities happen in town and on the mountain the week before the race. Tickets are required, and those with tickets must be on the course early in the morning, prior to the first driver going up. The course is then closed to the driving public until all the racers have finished.