| Author | Message | ||
     J2blue |
I plan to be there this year and will drag my kid sister along with her boyfriend who is a local and really knows the area. Plan to motel camp the night before to avoid the 3am rise and ride. I'm not sure if I can afford a telephoto lens but after last year I realized it is a must. RBBs - not bbs - I like that. The fans need them in some of the asphalt turns lower on the course. Who will be where on the mountain? I want to check out Devils Playground this year, or near there. | ||
| Snowscum |
Gota get there really early so you can drive up the mountain to get to devils. I usually hang around the pits then walk up to turn 4 and stand next to a tree so in case someone gets out of control you can jump behind.  As you can see a couple of those desert trucks lost control on this corner and were headed right for me. On this corner you can see quite a bit from that turn down hill to a high speed sweeping left hander. I know its pavement but to walk to the dirt is another hour and of course I do like watching some of the starting line.  | ||
| J2blue |
I recognize that yellow car parked on the shoulder. I saw him get out and he was pissed to say the least. Those trucks are exactly the ones I was thinking of when it comes to safety on the asphalt. My sister booked us the last two rooms at some motel in Manitou Springs so we should be able to get up to Devils Playground early enough. Do they run the shuttle bus up that far? | ||
| Snowscum |
That vehicle thats parked was driving by a women. She was pissed and was dressed in pink. Something came apart in the motor and I seen some parts fly out right in front of us. I hope this year some of the losers will pick up their trash when they leave. I had to pickup some of those peoples crap up and I threw it over to them when we left. Nothing worse than litter bugs on a beautiful course like Pikes Peak! Sorry about the rant..... As for a shuttle going up the mountain question. I would have to ask but I am not sure there is one. http://www.ppihc.com/ Could look around on their site and maybe email someone. | ||
| Snowscum |
This morning practice(lower pavement). Dam I need to get a real camera!   My friend Robin.      My first practice up there and it was worth waking up at 1:30am with 1 hour sleep. Good luck to all the riders! | ||
| Snowscum |
Looked abit nippy up top Sunday.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
High Country H-D/Buell is going racing, again, and this time it is in our back yard! We have built a specially prepared Buell XB12TT and a KTM that will be entered in the 85th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Sunday 20UJuly. This race is second only to the Indy 500 for longevity and it is renowned around the world for its uniqueness. Buell uses a tag line, “Own the corners ” due to their innovative and superior cornering ability. Well, Pikes Peak runs from some 12 miles of twisty, turny switch-back miles from 9,200 feet, above the tree line, to over 14,200. It is part pavement, part dirt, all treacherous. There is a pre-race party on Tejon St in Colorado Springs on Friday night. Come down and hang out with us, meet the racers, Brian Anderson and Walker Pew. Brian won this race five times, and placed second ten times. Walker is a part of Cracker Boys Racing and rode our KTM last year in the 520 class. We will have some tent camping spaces with the Race Trailer and motor home at Rocky Top Campground on Hwy-24 past the entrance to the Race route. You might want to consider staying there Saturday night. Sunday is the race. You have to be at the gate around 7:00am or earlier to make your way up to where the action is. The further up you want to view the race, the sooner you need to be on the mountain. The real action and excitement is in the dirt sections, further up the mountain. If you are interested in staying over night, please contact Dave or Bones at High Country, 303.833.6777 | ||
| Jammin_joules |
2008 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb ** Press release ** The 86th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has received a record number of entrants for the cycle division, motorcycles and quads. Seventy two of them hale from out of state or country. Ten current and past record holders. Several things are of exceptional interest about the line up for this July 20, 2008 event: Most exciting is the entries of Joe Kopp and Johnny Murphree. Joe Kopp is currently winning grand national races and lies second in points for the series. Johnny Murphree is a past headliner in the grand national series. Further, Joe will also be serving as the Grand Marshal of the cycle division. Joe Kopp will be the highest ranking Grand National rider to have competed in the Race to the Clouds. They both are entered in the 1200cc class for the largest motorcycles which is the newest bike class on Pikes Peak. That class, which was all BMWs only last year will feature four brands a battling, Buell, Ducati, and KTM take up the challenge. The riders provide several more reasons for excitement. Of special interest will be the return of Brian Anderson, a multi past winner, on the American built Buell using a Harley-Davidson engine (built by High Country Harley-Davidson/Buell). Alexander Smith, son of the famous Malcolm Smith, is making a huge step-up from the 150cc exhibition bike he rode last year. Adding to Buell mounted Kopp and Murphree will be the Super Moto record holder, Greg Tracy, Ducati powered this year. The top class is full of top interest. All will be hoping to record a better time than our giant killer Davey Durelle on his 550cc Aprilia. From Europe comes a French team with an unlimited side car using a Choda Kawasaki engine. Marlin Bruno will pilot and Jeanfemange Sylvie, a lady, will be hanging on as the all important passenger. They will be aiming to break the side car record set by the flamboyant team from Sweden in 2005 of 13:17.16. Five other sidecar teams are entered but their "hacks" will be the smaller engined machines commonly used for cross country racing. The "monkeys" or passengers have the important job of shifting their weight for balance and traction that is entertaining to see. Italians have entered the 750cc class enmasse it seems. Marco Belli rode last year and returns. Three more Italians are entered, one a woman we expect, named Andrea Padovani. The Italian influence continues with Davey Durelle, the motorcycle record holder, entering on an Italian Aprilia, but of only 550cc capacity. Marco and local speedster Jeff Grace will give him a run plus possibly a dark horse. Davey the giant slayer is noted for getting great performance from smaller engines. Mickey Dymond, a popular winner in his rookie year, and a veteran racer, is back from a broken leg. He may be the man to beat in the 450cc class on his Husqvarna. The popular quads will feature the current record holder Canadian Jim Goertz. Of interest always is the popular Japanese racer Yoshimune Shirai who has the Pikes Peak Highway map tattooed on his arm. Both on Yamaha Banshees Of concern is Gary Trachy, the very fast Super Moto star. A spill during the pre-race practice left him with an injured right hand with a shortened finger. He was optimistic about still racing the 450 Super Moto class. Look for his number 357. Hall of Famer, Californian Eddie Mulder returns with his fast and artfully prepared Triumph for the vintage class. Racing now for over fifty years Eddie is the most colorful of racers on the mountain and the class record holder. Starting in groups of up to five racers, the cycle division provides the handlebar to handlebar action that puts the variety in the Race to the Clouds. No other race has such variety of racing machines. These armoured gladiators contrast with the fire suited gentlemen buried within their powerful race cars. All brave and eager to challenge America’s mountain. | ||
| Snowscum |
Course Status: Green Practice day 1...Let's go racing!!! Practice Day 1 (All times are Unofficial) Division: Motorcycle 1200 CC Driver Name Number Vehicle Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Run 4 Run 5 Greg Tracy 555 2008 Ducati hypermotard 06:33.310 05:43.414 05:37.389 No Time 05:25.737 Brian Anderson 49 2008 Buell TT 06:31.684 05:54.655 05:51.081 No Time 05:36.043 Joe Kopp 3 2008 Buell TT 07:08.391 DNS 06:20.956 No Time 05:49.695 Glenn Cox 13 2008 KTM 990 Super Duke R 06:28.871 06:18.935 06:04.813 No Time 05:51.922 Alexander Smith 156 2008 Ducati Hypermotard 11105 06:37.465 06:21.143 06:16.389 No Time 05:56.364 Tim Vesely 713 2006 KTM 950 Super Enduro 07:20.789 06:34.477 06:21.939 No Time 06:02.937 Johnny Murphree 120 2008 Buell 1200 DNS DNS DNS No Time 06:08.781 Douglas Morrison 53 2006 BMW R1200 Megamoto 06:59.251 06:38.719 06:33.071 No Time 06:10.571 Max Stratton 822 2008 BMW Megamoto 07:25.910 07:15.939 06:52.316 No Time 06:21.523 Ben Stratton 117 2008 BMW Megamoto 07:31.271 07:21.229 06:58.703 No Time 06:36.840 Joe Warner 551 2006 BMW HP2 Enduro 07:25.774 07:38.150 06:52.150 No Time 06:40.536 Rob Smith 8 1997 Buell S1 Lightening 07:47.362 07:11.675 06:59.191 No Time 06:41.790 Looks like Brian might have a winning Buell! Hopefully saving the best for race day! | ||
| Az_m2 |
This is cool, thanks for posting the pics. What tires are the Buell guys running? Chris | ||
| Snowscum |
Jammin could tell you excatly. Some racing rain tire. Im curious what Brians time will be in Fridays practice up at Devils Playground. Hope its quicker than Greg. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
It's most likely a Michelin Pilot but we have some others. | ||
| Snowscum |
Practice Day 3 (All times are Unofficial) Top Section Division: Motorcycle 1200 CC Driver Name Number Vehicle Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Run 4 Run 5 Run 6 Brian Anderson 49 2008 Buell TT 03:40.480 DNS 03:33.350 03:35.100 03:31.190 Joe Kopp 3 2008 Buell TT 03:59.800 03:52.930 03:44.670 03:40.900 03:41.780 03:34.940 Greg Tracy 555 2008 Ducati hypermotard 03:46.780 03:41.710 03:37.460 03:38.230 04:13.400 05:06.940 Rob Smith 8 1997 Buell S1 Lightening 03:43.500 04:35.390 04:27.870 04:20.350 04:24.150 DNS Max Stratton 822 2008 BMW Megamoto 03:54.730 04:37.480 04:28.800 04:34.200 04:19.620 04:09.460 Glenn Cox 13 2008 KTM 990 Super Duke R 04:08.520 04:13.850 04:08.730 04:05.980 04:00.090 03:55.600 Alexander Smith 156 2008 Ducati Hypermotard 11105 04:22.960 04:07.980 03:59.290 03:58.870 03:58.150 04:07.510 Douglas Morrison 53 2006 BMW R1200 Megamoto 04:20.580 04:20.950 04:15.880 04:12.790 04:10.290 04:06.860 Tim Vesely 713 2006 KTM 950 Super Enduro 04:19.340 04:12.530 04:50.160 04:22.280 04:13.940 DNF Joe Warner 551 2006 BMW HP2 Enduro 05:15.180 05:01.580 05:03.450 05:01.750 04:59.830 DNS Ben Stratton 117 2008 BMW Megamoto DNS 02:41.120 04:46.160 04:37.550 04:30.090 04:31.500 Johnny Murphree 120 2008 Buell 1200 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DN Good job Brian!! Looks like that High Country Buell is hooking up. Good luck to all the riders on Sunday. } | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I know one thing for certain, at Fan Fest on Tejon St, our Wisconsin-ish Buell babe beat the Ducati Euro-skank, hands down.  We just gotta get Brian to forget about this while on the mountain. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
See why I am worried....  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Even Davey is so afflicted.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Rob Smith's tuber.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
thousand words, or a picture....  | ||
| Court |
That says it all . . . a Ducaticrat. That goodness for wholesome Buellpublicans like the, quite obviously, healthy young lady with the smile . . . | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Word back from Buell on our pre-race successes so far: "Nice work guys. Look forward to tomorrows win! We won the pole at barber this morning in the moto st series as well." A Buell Motor Company official | ||
| Snowscum |
What a day for a hillclimb! A record 10 red flags was the only downside. Saw a horrific wreck. I am glad nobody else got hurt. Thoughts go out to the drivers as they went for surgery. The married couple broke both their backs. Looked alot worse. Not sure if some of the guys from High Country were still sitting over there. Well I am to tired to figure out why my image of Brian is to big. Ill try and figure it out tommorow. Meanwhile heres the tuuuuuuber! Rob Smith. Nice guy. Sounded like he had a few issues to resolve at the last minute to get it to race day. Error Your uploaded image exceeded the maximum dimensions of 800 x 1600 pixels. Please shrink your image to be smaller than these dimensions.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Brian Anderson in a serious brake & lean hair-pin 180 at 16-mile, about 12,500 feet.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Having broke camp at 4:00am to get up past Glen Cove before they stopped up hill travel, breakfast was not in the cards. So I had some breakfast burritos made and frozen, and finally found a good use for those things that stick way out of a Beemer.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Latus H-D/Buell couldn't get their race Buell to run at altitude so they flew Joe Kopp in, fresh from a win in the pea gravel of Lima, Ohio at the AMA GNC 750 race Saturday night and hooked him up with a fresh new Buell from a local dealer. He made a great run. Here he and Brian Anderson return down the mountain amidst the admiration of fans who follow tradition and line the route.  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Driver Name ... No. ... Vehicle ....... halfway PicncGrnd Glen Cove 16 Mile Finish Line Greg Tracy ...555 .-2008 Duc hyprmotrd No Time 05:17.554 08:15.376 12:06.602 Brian Anderson 49 .-2008 Buell TT ..No Time 05:28.629 08:38.423 12:24.713 Joe Kopp ....... ...3 ... .-2008 Buell TT ..No Time 05:31.913 08:43.317 12:41.403 Alex Smith ..156 .-2008 Ducati Hyprmtrd 11105 No Time 05:48.652 08:58.415 13:04.290 Doug Morrison 53 .-2006 BMW R1200 Megamoto No Time 06:01.657 09:19.952 13:35.485 Tim Vesely ....713 .-2006 KTM 950 Super Enduro No Time 05:54.952 09:15.673 13:40.189 Max Stratton 822 .-2008 BMW Megamoto No Time 06:11.328 09:36.457 14:09.372 Rob Smith .....8 ....-1997 Buell S1 Lightening No Time 06:10.871 09:40.010 14:10.970 Glenn Cox ...13 ....-2008 KTM 990 Super Duke R No Time 07:24.797 10:30.542 14:38.193 Joe Warner .551 .-2006 BMW HP2 Enduro No Time 06:42.170 10:29.611 15:36.332 Ben Stratton .117 .-2008 BMW Megamoto No Time 06:09.379 09:38.576 16:42.797 | ||
| Jammin_joules |
below mile marker 16, much of the dirt, and large paved portion. From 16 up its dirt too.  156 curves, 12.42 miles, from 9,400 to 14,111 feet - what a race. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Thanks for the updates Dave. Kevin told us, as we closed last night, that Brian got 2nd, a Duc took 1st. Glad Rob did well on his toooober! Good showing Buell ! Z | ||
| Reepicheep |
Was that BMW the HP2? If so, I am surprised the Duc and the Buell beat it. How stock was the TT I wonder? Sounds like it was just about right off the showroom floor. Cool pics! | ||
| J2blue |
Sorry I didn't get to meet everyone else, but I did get to speak to the Latus team guys and met Scott of Altitude Riders. Some one else who was there may be able to answer the question of how stock the TT that Latus raced was. I asked and was told they replaced the rear shock with a racing variety, replaced the triple clamp and handlebar with a Uly model and that was about it. I took some pictures of it that I can post later. I loved the race this year but wasn't able to get up hill to take the pictures of the Buell riders I had hoped to. All the race delays made it difficult to know if there was time to head down to the VIP tent for food and water. My thoughts go out to the young couple that wrecked, they are locals from Colorado Springs. One of the motorcycle riders was hurt and carried off the mountain by ambulance but I don't think his injuries were as severe. I would like to hear from all three Buell riders and teams what they think needs to be done to improve the performance even more for next year. What were the strengths and weaknesses for each section of the road to the top? | ||
| Snowscum |
Anyone know what happened to Johnny Murphree? I also never heard why Joe needed another TT to race on. Did he break the one he practiced on? Heard the throttle cable broke near the top Sunday and had to pull on the cable to finish. What a stud! Hope he comes back next year. |
