The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) is the second oldest motor sports race in America (only the Indy 500 is older), a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region, and is the world’s highest altitude auto race. An annual event since 1916, 2011 marks the 89th running of the “Race to the Clouds.” Notable past winners include Al Unser and Mario Andretti.
The PPIHC is a dangerous sprint run of 12.42 miles that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the mountain’s 14,110 foot summit’s and is a grueling test on both man and machine. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thinner air slows the reflexes and saps the muscle strength. That same thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. Both competitor and vehicle need to be in top shape simply to finish… let alone win.
Project Photo Gallery
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Dirt
Dirt
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Gas Alley at Pikes Peak
Gas Alley 2011
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
View from the top
Testing at the track
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Early morning prep
Early morning prep
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Banks Twin-Turbo
Paul Dallenbach - Open Wheel Unlimited #98
Banks Twin-Turbo
Custom air inlets feed the Banks Twin-Turbo engine
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) is the second oldest motorsports race in America (only the Indy 500 is older), a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region, and is the world’s highest-altitude auto race. An annual event since 1916, 2011 marks the 89th running of the “Race to the Clouds.”
The ...
A friend asked for a race car sponsorship recently, but we usually don’t do that. When it comes to race cars, trucks or boats…it’s more fun to build and race our own! And, that way, if we do it wrong, win a race or set a record, it’s our own doing.
When it comes to fuel, ...
Unlike the rest of the week, the Dallenbach Racing/Banks Power team had a rather relaxed Saturday. Attention was focused on repairing the intake plenum to make sure that the #98 would have all 1,400-horses roaring and ready to race Sunday.
Text: Chris TobinPhotos: Gale Banks Engineering
The fabricated intake plenum that adapted the Banks Power upper ...
Dallenbach ran through the middle section of the course four times delivering consistent times with increased corner speeds in every run as the crew fine-tuned the chassis and the driver pushed the car.
With temperatures in the low to mid 40s the team sets up a temporary pit location on the side of the road ...
Tuesday morning the Dallenbach Racing/Banks Power team took the car to Pueblo Motorsports Park near Colorado Springs to shake down and fine-tune the car making sure it is in tip-top shape before official practice sessions start on the mountain Wednesday.
Text: Chris TobinPhotos: Gale Banks Engineering
Looking closely at the car as Dallenbach rockets out of the ...
