Porsche 911 at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Porsche 911 at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
For many reasons, Colorado is a terrific state in which to live. One such reason is our plethora of natural wonders. From Red Rocks to hot springs to the Colorado River, we’re surrounded by gorgeous views that provide us with a seemingly endless list of year-round, outdoor activities.
Obviously, our most notable natural asset is the Rocky Mountains; and the pinnacles of the mountain range are its 53 towering fourteeners. These 53 peaks, as their name suggests, break the 14,000 foot threshold and ascend high above the other mountain summits. In fact, Mount Elbert, which measures in at 14,433 feet, is the second highest peak in the continental United States.
For outdoors enthusiasts of all stripes, reaching the summit of one (or all) of these mountains is an accomplishment that cannot be matched by any other sporting activity in our fair state. I, myself, have ascended ten fourteeners and can personally attest to the physical demands that climbing one of these behemoths entails. This says nothing, of course, of the impressive vistas one bears witness to once reaching a peak, in addition to the palpable sense of accomplishment one achieves upon completion.
Prestige Imports, as whole, understands the thrill of ascending a fourteener and supports those who make such an effort. One of our partnerships, in fact, is with the Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb. The event is a bicycle race, initially launched in 1962, that travels the entirety of Mount Evans’ 14,130 feet.
While hiking and biking these mountains might be the preferred manner of ascent, there are some people who choose to take another mode of conveyance: the automobile. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also know as Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile and motorcycle competition that challenges drivers as they race to the mountain’s summit.
Since it’s inception in 1916, only twelve drivers have broken the ten minute mark on the 12.42-mile course, which crests at 14,115 feet. But during this year’s iteration, racing legend Jeff Zwart—behind the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3—became the thirteenth driver to crack the ten minute threshold with a time of 9:46.24. Below is a pretty amazing hype video that GoPro recently compiled in honor of the feat:
Shortly after Zwart’s record-breaking time, director Will Roegge put together his own video of the event. Roegge doesn’t have as many interior shots as the GoPro version, but it does contain some gorgeous panoramics, as well as some terrific exterior shots of the Porsche (including a nice drift at the 2:09 mark). These prespectives give viewers a sense of the immensity of Colorado’s landscape:
If you want to drive your own Porsche 911 to the summit of Pikes Peak, visit Prestige Imports at 9201 West Colfax Avenue and check out our robust inventory of Porsche vehicles. You can also schedule an appointment with someone in our Sales Department by calling (833) 825-5423. Who knows? Maybe next year you could be the Big Winner in your Porsche 911 at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Image by mark byzewski, courtesy of Creative Commons
