CASCADE — Whoever is compiling the record book for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is pretty busy this morning. The drivers at the 88th running of the race Sunday made sure of it.
Seven records were set, and another was tied, with good racing conditions on the 12.42-mile course.
Many of the records easily beat the previous best times, thanks in part to packed dirt (Saturday’s rain) and another 1.9 miles of pavement.
Veteran driver Randy Schranz of Colorado Springs had a hand in two records. He set the propane fuel record (11:57.098), breaking his 2005 mark (12:16.18) and tied Louie Unser with his 36th completed Hill Climb.
“I was thinking of retiring after this year so I wouldn’t replace Louie, because I respect him so much. But I always say I want to hit the 11s. As long as I am faster each year and enjoying it, I’ll keep doing it.”
Schranz was on hand to see the end of the best race of the day when 17-time winner Clint Vahsholtz of Woodland Park edged Randy’s son, Layne Schranz, by 0.0074 of a second, 11:33.320 to 11:33.394 to win the super stocks. That winning time was also a record, breaking Bobby Regester’s 1994 mark of 11:39.17.
“He proves yet again he’s the best man on the mountain,” Layne Schranz said.
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For legends (vintage) driver Doug Mockett of the U.S. Virgin Islands, it came down to the right tires. He broke the division record by almost 51 seconds (13:05.71 to 13:56.37).
“They stuck like glue on the pavement and were good on the dirt,” he said.
In electric car, Japan’s Ikuo Hawana ran a 13:17.575, beating the record of 14:33.12 set by Jeri Unser in 2003.
Littleton’s Savannah Rickli was the youngest female (16) to complete the course, another record. And a record was set by Colorado Springs’ Jason Taylor (14:07.620) because he was the first to complete the race in a rock buggy.
“We made it to the top,” he said. “Everything else is gravy.”
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