Pikes Peak Tragedy

[J.Mencalice]

https://gazette.com/sports/history-of-motorcycles-in-the-pikes-peak-hill-climb-include/article_ac5ac4be-a288-11e9-be2b-9ff7300b90f4.html

A tough loss.  Much like the Isle of Man, it's a calculated risk to run the annual race to the clouds.

I hope that the race organizers do not discontinue the motorcycle portion in future races; it would diminish the encompassing of motor sports annually challenging the terrain of Pikes Peak.

https://gazette.com/news/pikes-peak-hill-climb-officials-consider-eliminating-motorcycle-race-after/article_f3c7f470-a283-11e9-b1a7-6f1ed8a6787f.html

[fudgie]

Dang. Doing pikes peak in 2 weeks.

[cookiedough]

Dang. Doing pikes peak in 2 weeks.

am sure you will be fine as long as not too much gawking at the scenery and driving slower than one would normally go if known the roads....  take care!

[Moonshot_1]

Dang. Doing pikes peak in 2 weeks.

been a while since I been up there with the bike. Maybe 6 years now.
The road up and back is great. May be some condition issues at some point but it was very nice and easy to negotiate. Caution is always good and here is no exception. If you could ride it as a closed road you could scoot right on up it no problem. The problem is the traffic. Not bad but enough to use caution.

Got to share the road.

West of Denver is Mt. Evans.
Highest paved road of death in North America.
Where Pike's Peak's road is a joy, Mt. Evans' road is a challenge. The goats at the top are an added challenge too.

If you like a challenge, and I made it up with the valk, but it was a challenge because I was short on time, Mt. Evans is for you. Not bad if you got the time. I didn't and that was my main issue that day.

and the goats.

[Wizzard]

i rode up Mt Evans 2 up several years ago and thought it was a great road. Enjoyed every minute of it

[F6Dave]

I wonder if paving the Pikes Peak Highway has made the race more dangerous.  Since paving was completed in 2011 the race speeds have skyrocketed.  Some cars now run the 12.4 mile, 156 turn  course in under 8 minutes, nearly a triple digit average speed!  Even motorcycles have broken the 10 minute mark.  At those speeds and on that road a minor miscalculation can be fatal.

I'd hate to see them remove the motorcycles.  If they did, it could signal the beginning of end for other classes as well.  Pikes Peak is about the only race in the world where you can still 'run what you brung'.  In some classes you can use whatever engine and drivetrain you want.  If you want to use wings the size of barn doors that's fine too.  That's refreshing compared to most racing these days where the cars are mandated to be virtually identical.  If it wasn't for the paint you couldn't tell any of the current cars in Indy, F1, or NASCAR apart.

[9Ball]

Dang. Doing pikes peak in 2 weeks.

been a while since I been up there with the bike. Maybe 6 years now.
The road up and back is great. May be some condition issues at some point but it was very nice and easy to negotiate. Caution is always good and here is no exception. If you could ride it as a closed road you could scoot right on up it no problem. The problem is the traffic. Not bad but enough to use caution.

Got to share the road.

West of Denver is Mt. Evans.
Highest paved road of death in North America.
Where Pike's Peak's road is a joy, Mt. Evans' road is a challenge. The goats at the top are an added challenge too.

If you like a challenge, and I made it up with the valk, but it was a challenge because I was short on time, Mt. Evans is for you. Not bad if you got the time. I didn't and that was my main issue that day.

and the goats.

I rode Mt. Evans quite a few years back as part of the BMW 100,000 ft event, 10 each 10,000 ft peaks done in one day.  Got into a bit of trouble trying to keep up with an 1800 gold wing through some really fast curves.  I went off the pavement into the dirt shoulder and rode the Valk like a dirt bike standing on the pegs to navigate deep ruts and a large edge trap.  The guys behind me were impressed and I almost needed to change my underwear...no guard rails and a large drop.  It reinforced me to "ride my own ride".

Never made it to Pikes Peak during the 10 years I lived in Colorado.

[J.Mencalice]

Next year's participation of all motorcycle classes has been cancelled; sorry to see that happen.

https://gazette.com/news/pikes-peak-hill-climb-cancels-motorcycle-racing-after-fatality/article_2a7ff8e2-afc6-11e9-9371-37dc02aea186.html