Pro tips from three veterans of the famous hill climb – from start line to summit
The Experts’ Guide to Pikes Peak
What camera body and lenses do you shoot with?
For most motor races, I use either a 400mm or 500mm lens, but those are usually too big for Pikes Peak. You can get so close that you only need an 80-200mm f/2.8 or a 300mm f/2.8. You can even use a wide angle one from the inside of the corners.
For a spectator, where is a good spot to post up on race day and snap some decent photos with their smartphones?
With a smartphone, the pits and the start line might be the best, you can get very close to the cars and drivers. If you have never been to Pikes Peak and are worried about the altitude and weather, it is the only place you can leave before the end of the race. If you’re prepared, try Devil’s Playground. Parking is limited so you better get there early on race day.
Where on the mountain would we find you on race day?
It depends on my assignment and how photos went during practice and qualifying sessions. If it looks like a record is going to be set, I’ll be on the summit to get the driver’s reactions. If I need crowd photos, I’ll go to Devil’s Playground. If I need more on course photos, I’ll be at Boulder Park. I’ve done all three in one day by walking from the top down. I don’t recommend that, it wasn’t easy.
What is your favorite memory from Pikes Peak?
There are so many, but an early one was when Robby Unser broke down in front of me. He asked if I could warn the next car as he was behind a blind corner and I was the only person around. The next car missed him by inches.
SUMMIT
Spanning 12.42 miles (19.99 km) across 156 turns with an elevation gain of 4,720 feet (1,440 meters), Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the most challenging motorsport events in the world. Low oxygen can cause altitude sickness in man and sap power in combustion engine-equipped machine. Exacerbating matters, weather patterns can fluctuate throughout the day on different parts of the track, ranging from freezing rain, lightning storms, snow flurries, and thick fog -- think Nürburgring elements, only more extreme.
It is at this most dynamic of environments that Volkswagen has set its sights for the I.D. R Pikes Peak, the brand’s first all-electric race car. The target? To shatter the EV class record at Pikes Peak.
As daunting as the challenge sounds, it is the demanding conditions of the mountain that make the event transcendent. Lush green forests at the bottom give way to stunning vistas and Martian-like settings above the tree line, and the summit’s elevation of 14,110 feet (4,300 meters) will literally take one’s breath away. In its 102 year in existence, there’s a reason why the hill climb is referred reverentially as the “Race to the Clouds”.
For first-time spectators or long-time fans, there’s a lot to take in. To help better understand the event, we’ve tapped three experts who know the mountain intimately. Through years of garnered experience, these guides will help illustrate how race day is like from three different vantage points: the start line, the mountain itself, and the finish line at the summit.
At the starting line
Marla Wiseman. Photo credit: David Liddle
Name: Marla Wiseman
Title: Board Member, Registrar, and Event Coordinator at PPIHC
Year first attended PPIHC: 1981
The first PPIHC you attended was 37 years ago. What was your initial impression?
I remember I loved being up on the mountain, being around the loud cars, getting to meet the drivers, and being in the middle of all the excitement.
You started volunteering for the non-profit the following year and have continued to do so, what brings you back?
First and foremost, I love the people involved. I love the cars. I love the sounds of the engines. I love the beauty of the mountain. I love the excitement of competition. I couldn’t imagine my life without the Peak each summer.
What are your responsibilities on race day?
I have several, the first one being that I am the liaison between the safety team and the competitors’ family and crew in the event of an incident. I’m also involved in the staging of cars and motorcycles. Entrance into the hot grid is limited to a certain number of crew members, and because I’m familiar with most of the people involved, I help security determine who should gain access.
How has the race evolved over time?
It has become more sophisticated with more factory teams becoming involved. With the change of the road from dirt to pavement, the cars that run have changed as well.
What has remained constant?
The respect that people have for the mountain, from the competitors down to the volunteers.
In 1985, Michele Mouton piloting an Audi Quattro S1 was the first female to win Pikes Peak, how special was that moment?
From the announcement that she would run the Peak, there was a lot of press about her presence and enthusiasm about her coming to compete. When she won, it was a really big deal. At the time, it was very unusual to have a woman compete in the race. In 1985, she didn’t just compete, she won it, and to top it off, she broke the overall record held by Al Unser Jr.
Having spent most race days at the start line, can you describe what it’s like?
Having been a course observer on the mountain and an official at the summit, I can honestly say that I love being at the bottom of the mountain the most. It’s where the excitement of the day begins. You see the jitters of the competitors, wondering what the mountain has in store for them. You see it in their faces, their pacing, and hear it in their questions. What is the weather doing above? What is the road like?
You see officials scurrying around getting everything set up and ready. You see the anxiousness in the crew members prepping their cars and bikes, and then intently listening to the radio to make sure their competitor made it to the summit. You see the relief on their faces when the competitor tells them they made it to the top. You see the disappointment when they hear it wasn't a successful run and see the concern and worry when they don't know if their competitor is okay.
What time does race day start for you?
That too, has changed. I used to arrive at 2:30 a.m., however in the past three years, I started spending the night at the start line. It’s peaceful and you avoid the morning traffic. For spectators, I recommend leaving as early as possible in the morning, especially if they want to go past the start line.
What changes has the start line area seen over the years?
For safety purposes, the area is much more strict and much more professional in appearance now than in the past. Before, anyone was allowed around the cars and motorcycles that were staged to run. Now, the staging area is blocked off and limited to four crew members.
The pit area used to be wooded and we used to wedge everyone in between the trees and in any open nook and cranny. Recently, there has been a lot of work done to clear the area, and new to this year, the pits have been paved! We now have a large VIP area, which provides breakfast, lunch, and a TV to watch the race.
Which vehicles generate the most amount of excitement from the fans?
Back in the day, the open-wheel cars gathered the biggest crowds. Now, it’s the Unlimited division that gets the most attention.
Do you have a favorite start line memory?
That’s tough, but one of my favorite times on race day is when the competitors come back down from the summit at the end of the day. The high-fives, smiles, and cheers are the best way to end race week.
Travelling the mountain
Rupert Berrington at work. Photo credit: Stephanie Urso
Name: Rupert Berrington
Title: Photographer
Year first attended PPIHC: 1987
Can you talk about the first time you attended the hill climb?
It was 1987 and I drove up as far as I could go, which was Elk Park, just above the tree line. I made the standard rookie mistake of underdressing for the conditions, it might have been 90° F in Colorado Springs, but it was closer to 50° F where I was. I remember the race was stopped for about half an hour because of hail and snow. Although I was ill prepared, it was amazing to see the cars race up the mountain, inches from the edge, with no barriers between you.
Coincidentally, in 1987, Volkswagen lead a factory effort with a twin-engine Golf, do you recall seeing that car?
Unfortunately, I don’t remember specifics about that car, I was taking it all in. I did know that the Golf was the original pocket rocket and I liked that. In 2006 however, I do remember taking photos of three Red Bull-branded Volkswagen Touareg that came to Pikes Peak to establish a stock Luxury SUV class record.
2006: Mark Miller riding the Touareg towards a class-victory. Photo credit: Rupert Berrington
Mark Miller won the class with a time of 14:08.
As a professional photographer who’s shot everything from Le Mans to Monaco, you have a great story about your first published motorsport photo.
I noticed that most of the magazine photos from the race were taken at the start or finish line and had left out most of the best parts, which were in-between. I decided my best strategy was to send photos to magazines that weren’t sending photographers and shoot the middle sections of the course.
After the first day of practice, I pulled twenty shots I took of the top twenty drivers and I sent them to Autosport in England. They were all transparencies back then. It worked. They ran a photo I had taken of Robby Unser. After that, Autosport started using me for Pikes Peak coverage and then IMSA races, my career snowballed from there.
How is this event different to shoot compared to other motorsports?
Unlike most races, PPIHC is on a toll road that’s open daily to the public during the summer outside of race day. All the practice and qualifying sessions leading up to race day must be completed by 9 a.m. which is when the road opens up to the public. This means that everyone needs to get up at 2 a.m. to get on the mountain. Photographers need to be parked by 4:30 a.m. and the first cars start running around 5:15 a.m. as the horizon starts to glow. That you can take spectacular racing shots as the sun rises on a mountain makes Pikes Peak International Hill Climb very special.
As one of the most experienced shooters on the mountain, you’re often at media briefings giving advice to photographers new to the event, what tips do you offer them?
First off, you’re on a mountain.
Pikes Peak means: Serious high mountain area with corresponding weather conditions. Photo credit: Rupert Berrington
If you’re not used to the elevation, you can get altitude sickness. Winds can blow so hard, temperatures can drop to negative 60° F with wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia can be a series problem. Bring your warmest cold weather gear.
Be careful of lightning. Devil’s Playground is called that because it is one of the most recorded spots in America for lightning strikes. Watch your step, the ground can give way and you can slip on ice. I have done both. I broke cameras and lenses and I knocked myself out once. I can go on forever.
What are the three most popular places to shoot the race from?
One of the best places to shoot from is Devil’s Playground. You can see a large part of the course as the cars come up and get the crowds in the photos. The Ws just below have lots of spots for great sunrise shots. Boulder Park has a nice variety of shooting locations, but it is off limits to a few credentialed media.
Have any secret photo spots?
Despite having been on the mountain for thirty years, I still find new spots and angles on the 156-corner course that I have never tried before.
Mitch Snow
Name: Mitch Snow
Title: Former Director of Promotion & Legacy
Year first attended PPIHC: 1995
As someone who’s grown up in town next to Pikes Peak, when did you know that you wanted work for the organization, full-time?
It was the summer after my freshmen year of college. I was interning in KKTV 11 News’ Sports Department with aspirations of becoming a sports broadcaster. When race week came around, I realized that very few people knew much about the event and its history, and I ended up directing the station’s coverage throughout the week. The following summer I reached out to pursue an internship with PPIHC and the rest was history.
As one of few staff on the summit during race day, what are some of your responsibilities?
Control chaos. I’ve handled everything from getting the summit set up for the competitors and media, gathering race times, communicating technical failures, and reporting on summit conditions. From medical emergencies to making sure the Sheikh of Qatar made it on the train to Manitou Springs on-time while leaving his Porsche 918 Spyder at the summit, anything can and will happen.
As a Colorado Springs-native, did you ever struggle with altitude sickness?
Fortunately, I’ve never experienced altitude sickness.
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of dealing with altitude sickness, can you describe it?
Altitude sickness can impact the body in a variety of ways: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath are some of the most common symptoms.
What tips do you offer drivers to best acclimate to the low-oxygen conditions?
Time is the number one resource for avoiding altitude sickness. It’s best for those coming from lower elevations – especially sea-level – to spend a few days in Colorado Springs to get acclimated before going immediately to Pikes Peak. Drink tons of water and avoid fatty foods, caffeine and alcohol, and make sure to give your body time to rest. Your body works much harder at altitude, even if you don’t notice it.
Do the special, high-elevation recipe doughnuts that have been served for over a 100 years at the Summit House help?
As tasty as they are, I don’t think so. If anything, they probably make things worse because they’re fried.
Besides breathing, the ever-fluctuating weather conditions on the summit are a huge challenge. What’s the worst weather you’ve experienced?
Every year has had unique conditions, but 2016 was particularly challenging. For the first time in the race’s 100 years, we had to delay the start of the race by more than an hour because the last mile of the course had a quarter-inch of ice on it.
While the Pikes Peak road crew worked on the road with steel plows, I took the liberty of encouraging the ice covering the summit to melt faster by breaking it up in the most effective way I could think of: ripping donuts in our Ford F-150 Safety Truck.
Photo credit: Mitch Snow
The ice melted great and the dirt lot had enough grip to create a safe runoff for the racers.
Later that same day, we were hit by a crazy hail and sleet storm, and the summit was surrounded by lightning – one bolt struck less than a mile away. We had to move the Finish Line down the mountain for the last handful of competitors and fortunately everyone got back down safely.
After a competitor crosses the finish line, how are times communicated to them?
I usually bring my mountain bike up to the summit. After a group of drivers complete their runs, I’ll pedal to the east side of the summit where I can get just enough Wi-Fi on my phone to get updated timing info. I’ll then ride back over to the middle and tell the competitors their times.
Anyone have a memorable reaction?
As a lifelong PPIHC fan, it’s been a huge honor to tell some of my childhood heroes that they accomplished one of their life goals. The coolest had to be in 2012 when I was able to tell Rhys Millen that he had finished with a time of 9:46.181, 0.017 second faster than Romain Dumas, to claim the title of King of the Mountain by the slimmest margin in race history. That made him explode with joy.
What is the wildest thing you’ve seen on the summit?
There’s been many, but it might have been seeing the shadow of the sunrise. Very few people get to experience a sunrise from the summit and everyone who does looks at it in awe. A few years ago I walked to the other side of the summit looking in the opposite direction of the sun and was taken back by the beauty of the pyramid-like shadow cast over the skies of Western Colorado. To be above the rising sun really gave perspective on how tall the Peak is.
Photo credit: Mitch Snow
The 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, in all of its splendor, will take place on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Marla Wiseman, Rupert Berrington, and Mitch Snow will return, adding to their stories about the mountain. If all goes according to plan, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak will be a part of that.
Volkswagen I.D. R
Source of photos:
iStock.com/RondaKimbrow, iStock.com/Scott Kramer, iStock.com/Adventure_Photo, Volkswagen AG, iStock.com/meseberg
