Register for the 2015 Tire Rack Colorado Championship Tour!
The countdown to SCCA's Colorado Championship Tour (June 12-14, 2015) has begun!
The 2015 Tire Rack Colorado Championship Tour is to be held at Pikes Peak International Raceway, a dedicated racing facility opened in 1997, just south of Colorado Springs and in the shadow of the legendary Pikes Peak, site of the historic Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Once a horse racing facility, Pikes Peak International Raceway has been hosting a wide variety of motorsports events since 1997, from car shows to professional racing series both on the 1 mile oval and infield road course. The local SCCA membership has been autocrossing on the aptly named VIP lot just behind the grandstands. Not only is the lot a fantastic venue for autocross events, with grippy asphalt that is not hard on tires, PPIR has some of the best facilities in the country! Indoor bathrooms, a "classroom" area for trophy presentations, escaping the heat or eating lunch, fantastic views from the grandstands, on site camping and even showers, PPIR is an absolutely wonderful venue for a Championship Tour. Combine the facilities with courses designed by Roger Johnson, the course designing legend from Texas (this site is big enough for a Texan, even!), you've got a great reason to head to Colorado next month!
In addition to a great site, there are lots of things to do near PPIR. The "elephant in the room," of course, is driving the Pikes Peak Highway, Approximately three quarters of an hour from the site, you can drive to the summit of Pikes Peak, which will make you TRULY appreciate the bravery of the competitors in the hillclimb. Rather watch than drive? Ride the cog railway to the summit! One of a handful of cog railways left in the country, the trip to the top is breathtaking - and a little scary, perhaps. Cog railways can ascend much steeper grades than traditional rail cars. Looking for something more relaxing? Check out the Broadmoor, a gorgeous resort & hotel at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain. Site of the US Women's Open golf tournament, it really is a five star resort, with a myriad of restaurants and a well reviewed spa.
Looking for something for the kids? The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is only a few minutes northwest of Colorado Springs proper, tucked up into the hills. Another ten minutes past Colorado Springs, you can find Manitou Springs, a funky little town beneath Pikes Peak, with a wide variety of restaurants, gift shops, furniture stores - even one that makes chairs out of skis, for those that think "skiing" when someone says "Colorado," and ziplines! Combine that with movie theaters, a vast array of food options, over a dozen museums, endless hiking and biking trails, there is no shortage of things to do while in the Springs!
The 2015 Tire Rack Colorado Championship Tour is the primary attraction June 12-14, though! Get lodging reservations early, either in nearby Fountain or the south end of Colorado Springs. Bring appropriate clothing, which means "all of it" at that time of year - it has actually snowed in June at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. That never lasts long, but certainly be prepared for rain, wind, tumbleweeds, and lots of sunshine - Colorado has over 300 days a year of sunshine. There will be some great competition among Colorado's hotshoes, and we normally get more than a few "A-List" drivers from surrounding states. The Colorado Championship Tour is always a LOT of fun - we tend to have festivities on Saturday evening & parties both nights. Still not convinced? 9 out of 10 Colorado competitors agree: If the car works at PPIR, it'll work in Lincoln.
