The Experts’ Guide to Pikes Peak

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Source of photos:
iStock.com/RondaKimbrow, iStock.com/Scott Kramer, iStock.com/Adventure_Photo, Volkswagen AG, iStock.com/meseberg