ID. R Pikes Peak goes down town

The race weekend starts with a huge fan-fest

Since the start of the Soccer World Cup, fans in Germany and in many other countries are once again streaming onto the streets. Together, they’re following their teams’ matches on large outdoor screens. With flags and air horns. With songs and cheering. To put it short: It is the season of fan fests!

In the USA, the Soccer World Cup is traditionally of niche interest. In the land of opportunity, football is generally overshadowed by American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey. Even motor sport attracts a greater audience in the USA, thanks in no small part to the numerous successes of the Unser family (we reported about it earlier). American motor sport fans will be well served when it comes to fan events next Friday, 22 June – at least in the state of Colorado. Because that’s where the fan-fest of Pikes Peak will be happening!

All about motor sport
The scene: Colorado Springs. In the second biggest city in the state, with its 465,000 inhabitants, the fourth weekend in June is all about motor sport – specifically the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Volkswagen will once again be taking part this year in this, the second oldest motor sport event in the USA (after the Indianapolis 500) – after an absence of 31 years.

The aim: On 24 June, Romain Dumas, with the I.D. R Pikes Peak, the first purely electric racing car from the brand, is hoping to break the record for electric vehicles. Two days before the race up the 4,302-metre-high Pikes Peak begins, the mood in Colorado Springs, 20 kilometres away, is already at fever pitch.

A major street party
In the city centre, more than 30,000 motor sport enthusiasts will gather to take part in the official fan fest. And it’s sure to be a party to remember. “The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the most famous mountain race in the world, and this year is the 96th time it will be taking place”, says John Suthers, Mayor of Colorado Springs. “The fan fest on the Friday before the race is a great start to the weekend and a major street party together with the contestants and their fantastic racing cars and motorbikes”.

The variety of powerful vehicles is almost limitless: prototypes and bizarre custom-made creations square up against thoroughbred racing cars and modified road cars. Their owners have only one aim: to cover the 19.99-kilometre-long track up the 4,302-metre-high Pikes Peak as quickly as possible. This legendary mountain race starts at the already lofty elevation of 2,862 metres above sea level. From here to the peak, the racers need to pass through 156 curves, each more challenging than the last.

Stars up close
The fan fest is a somewhat calmer affair, although just as emotional, if not more so. Here, the “motorised mountaineers” are entirely at the service of car lovers and anyone who ever wanted to get up close and personal with motor sport, whether they’re a die-hard racing fan or not. “Everyone who is involved in the Hill Climb in any way helps create a family-friendly atmosphere here, and an unforgettable event, especially for children”, enthuses Doug Price, general manager of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The first fan fest was held back in 2002. “The aim was to increase awareness of the race and to come together to celebrate the long history of the event, as well as the contestants”, explains Daniel Rodríguez, event coordinator for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In the meantime, the fan fest has become the biggest street event in the Colorado Springs calendar. Since it was held for the first time, more than 400,000 visitors have taken part. In 2018, the organisers are hoping to crack the 35,000 mark.

He will also be there on friday afternoon on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs: The ID. R Pikes Peak.

Experience the future
Year after year, the one-kilometre-plus Tejon Street is firmly given over to the competitors and their fans. In 2018, Volkswagen is also right at the heart of events, with an 80-metre-long stand that leaves nothing to be desired: music, games, free fan articles. Need anything more?

In addition to numerous current and new Volkswagen models, like the 2019 version of the Jetta, there are two cars that will probably draw the most attention: the I.D. BUZZ, which is one of the purely electrically driven production vehicles that Volkswagen is set to roll out in 2020, and the I.D. R Pikes Peak, the official competition car for the race on Sunday.

Last but not least, there is the chance to get autographs from two stars: Romain Dumas and American Top Gear host and rallycross pilot Tanner Foust.

“The fan fest is a great opportunity to meet fans”, says Dumas, who has already won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb three times.

“On the day of the race, and especially during the race itself, I have to concentrate completely. So it’s great to spend some time before the race in a relaxing atmosphere, to take my mind off things and, above all, to chat and joke around with the many, many spectators, as well as the other drivers”.

Spectacular action
But the chance to chat is not all that fans can look forward to: there’s genuine action on offer as well. While talk is certainly great, motor sport action is even better, and the Red Bull Motocross Team will be presenting their impressive show on a series of outsized jumps. “Every year, I look forward to taking part in this event again”, says freestyle motocross rider Keith Sayers. “It’s just a great day, an absolute must”.

And it now attracts crowds from way beyond the Colorado Springs city limits, with young and old coming to marvel at the acrobatic motorbike riders perform their daredevil stunts ten metres above the ground. “The louder the spectators are, the more spectacular the tricks”, promises Sayers. This is certainly no secret to the fans, who thunder out their applause. Colorado Springs is crazy for motor sport, World Cup or no World Cup.

Picture credits: Larry Chen