Pikes Peak Hill Climb (PPIHC) 2025

[Brain75]

Not that I am going to even dream of racing competing against 1,400hp vehicles.... but I do have a yearn to drive the PPIHC route at least once in my Ranger (heck I live 2 hours away, it is nothing to go do for a fun day trip - I did the ascent once on the regular highway in my GM already)... I've looked into it a couple times and just for the fun of it was thinking this weekend outside of any race, just for the fun of it... quick check yeah the RACE is this weekend (in 4 days).... But for the 99.99% of you not interested in rushing to Colorado on short notice and spending $100/person for tickets that require you get in the gate at 7:30am, it is being broadcast for the first time ever on TV.

PPIHC ON LIVE TELEVISION FOR THE FIRST TIME - Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Watch the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on the cable channel RACER Network and the RACER+ streaming app on June 22, 2025.

ppihc.org

Might not be as exciting as NASCAR, or even NHRA drag racing (4-5 minute delay between each released vehicle), still some few of you might have access or know a local bar with all the channels who have it and might get a chance to watch. Figured I would share the heads up.

I dug a little deeper (cause I live 90 miles from a bar with anything resembling cable), and they are also livestreaming on youtube - which is super accessible to everyone I would say:

Pikes Peak Region Attractions

☁️ Spacious skies 🌾 Amber waves of grain 🏔️ Purple mountain majesties

www.youtube.com

rather than make you dig through the pages I hotlinked that but it looks like youtube is playing with it - redirecting you to the PPIHC home page maybe until the day of... here's the other link they provided and the news page:

Watch the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Live - Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

GET READY TO TUNE IN FOR LIVE PPIHC COVERAGE ON JUNE 22 Colorado Springs, Colorado — Anticipation is growing as competitors reveal their new entries for the 103rd Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo. Here is how you can watch the race live and...

ppihc.org

'https://www.youtube.com/@pikespeakhillclimb1916'

 

[Brain75]

Since this forum loves pictures I figured I would throw out one of my pix from 2012 when I ascended the regular highway in my GM - pic is from just a little short of the rail dead hard "end stop" on the cog tracks. It's a composite done of a dozen pix and stitched together with Hugin about 5 or so years before cameras could do panoramic stitching themselves.

Guess now a days they have paid & timed pass for every day drivers all the time (too many people makes congestion.... *sigh* - gonna skip the old man rant at the clouds now), so you can't even just day trip it with no care - have to plan a little more.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I wont lie going out there and driving that route is a bucket list item for me too.

 

[Jim Oaks]

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A Ford Ranger on Pikes Peak would be cool.

 

[Brain75]

Another one that I have interest in, but probably will never do is 'the tail of the dragon', but it is back east and that just too far to go for me..

Watch Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta Tackle The Tail Of The Dragon - Jalopnik

The Tail of the Dragon is one of the most famous roads in the United States. Its 11 miles are home to 318 tight, twisty, blind corners that make it a thrill for drivers and motorcyclists alike — but an incredible risk for the unprepared. So, where on that spectrum does Tesla’s FSD or what we...

www.jalopnik.com

 

[Curious Hound]

Another one that I have interest in, but probably will never do is 'the tail of the dragon', but it is back east and that just too far to go for me..

Watch Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta Tackle The Tail Of The Dragon - Jalopnik

The Tail of the Dragon is one of the most famous roads in the United States. Its 11 miles are home to 318 tight, twisty, blind corners that make it a thrill for drivers and motorcyclists alike — but an incredible risk for the unprepared. So, where on that spectrum does Tesla’s FSD or what we...

www.jalopnik.com

Tail of the Dragon is a nice ride. Really not bad if you obey the speed limit. When I did it on the bike, I got to the end and thought "Is that all? I want more."

 

[Jim Oaks]

I've been on the Tail of The Dragon a couple of times. The first time I was going north on US129 and was thinking how fun the road was and when I got to the lake, the road straightened out and there was a parking lot on the left at a boat ramp were there where about a 1/2 dozen sports cars parked. Reminded me of underground racing in Need For Speed or a something that could have been a scene from Fast and Furious. I suspected people raced that section of road and researched it when I got home. That was somewhere between 2007-2009. It's gained a lot of popularity from the internet. If you're there on a weekend, you'll probably run into traffic.

If you want to do it, go do it. Life is short, stop telling yourself it's too far away.

It's on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. From TOTD you can take the Foothills Parkway, head towards Gatlinburg, and turn your trip into a nice vacation.

 

[sgtsandman]

I was up to the tourist trap at the top once a few years back. It was an enjoyable trip. A little hard to breath but I enjoyed it.

 

[Blmpkn]

Tail of the Dragon is a nice ride. Really not bad if you obey the speed limit. When I did it on the bike, I got to the end and thought "Is that all? I want more."

View attachment 129820

I've never ridden a bike that was able to obey the speed limit.. especially after they get piped.. it's really quite the phenomenon

 

[Terrys87]

I was out there two years ago in June. It was closed due to snow/blizzard. What??? Snow in June? I really wanted to see it. Still want too someday. Some great sights out there. Did make it to the Garden of the gods. There is another attraction south of Pikes Peak I wanted to see but can't remember the name of it and did not make it. I did do the Terror Dactyl. That was an experience.

 

[Brain75]

Living in Denver for years, I think I have hit all the big attractions in the area... Fargo's Pizza, Saint Mary's Falls, Devils Head Lookout, Garden of Gods, Pikes Peak, Cave of the Winds (but man that was a long time ago, I was a weee kid)... The North Pole, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo... Can't really name anything else a little south of Pikes Peak.. I did hike up Vasquez Peak but that is significantly far north - like Winter Park if I remember right. Long ways from it is also the Great Sand Dunes (Alamosa) - that one is also on my bucket list.

 

[Brain75]

Well as typical of people trying to stream on Youtube for the first time, none of my above links actually get you to the livestream....
I had to dig through the pages a couple 3 different directions but I found it.
As mentioned everyone is racing against the clock, and the spacing is about 4 minutes apart so lots of interviews, commericals (hey it is free stream so you expect it)... anyhow here is the stream direct link:

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Well as typical of people trying to stream on Youtube for the first time, none of my above links actually get you to the livestream....
I had to dig through the pages a couple 3 different directions but I found it.
As mentioned everyone is racing against the clock, and the spacing is about 4 minutes apart so lots of interviews, commericals (hey it is free stream so you expect it)... anyhow here is the stream direct link:

7.3 hours. I don't have the data or time for that. But thanks for posting! If there is a time stamp for some particularly interesting part feel free to post it...

 

[Brain75]

I didn't even bother to watch it, they are only doing a "half" run, apparently this morning high winds pulled some rocks and branches loose and out onto the upper course. With hundreds of competitors and not all of em excellent aerodynamics they just left it and said "modified short course due to high winds".... Not nearly as fun where everyone is going from 7,000' to 9,000' and nobody gets starved for air or anything like if they had gone to the full 14,000+... The electric cars apparently get a big lead in the last as they have no power issues. The curves down low are more gentle overall you don't get to the 180 degree hairpins until the last.

 

[Brain75]

Figured I would give the final results:

2025 results for the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Here are the results from the 2025 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo.

gazette.com

for those only wanting the top 10 and no links:
1, Simone Faggioli, Italy, Unlimited, 3:37.196

2, Romain Dumas, France, Pikes Peak Open, 3:42.252

3, Diego Degasperi, Italy, Unlimited, 3:45.183

4, Dan Novembre, USA, Open Wheel, 3:57.774

5, David Donner, USA, Unlimited, 4:01.117

6, Codie Vahsholtz, USA, Open Wheel, 4:02.175

7, Don Wickstrum, USA, Unlimited, 4:06.338

8, Jimmy Ford, USA, Pikes Peak Open, 4:08.193

9, Robin Shute, USA, Unlimited, 4:10.270

10, Loni Unser, USA, Pikes Peak Open, 4:15.988


just for the kicks of it I might dig out Dumas's timestamps (he took #1 spot last year and 2018 I believe... last year in an a F-150 Lightning supertruck)
Pic from his 2024 win:

I skimmed all competitors, there was 3 DNF, and the news didn't say why - mechanical, crash or what....if it had been a crash I am sure we would have big news about it.

I didn't notice any pickups at all this year - but again I only skimmed.