Pikes Peak Int'l 2011 early entries

Three Champions, Plus Millen, Dallenbach And Teenage Sensation Savannah Rickli Already Signed Up For 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb On June 26 In Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, February 23---------Veterans Paul Dallenbach and Rhys Millen have entered the Unlimited Division for the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26 in Colorado Springs, looking for yet another crack at the elusive ten-minute barrier on the legendary Hill.

They will join five-time Unlimited champion and record-holder Nobuhiro Tajima in the division, which expects additional high profile entries in what may be the best field in the historic event's history. Tajima announced in December that he will return again this summer.

Dallenbach (Basalt, CO) and Millen (Huntington Beach, CA), finished 2-3 behind Tajima and his winning time of 10:11.490 last summer. Millen will compete for the 19th time this summer in the event. Dallenbach will be making his 16th Hill Climb appearance.

Also entered is last year's Pikes Peak Open Division winner, Dave Carapetyan (Austin, TX), who is moving to the Unlimited Division this summer, Time Attack 2WD winner Jeff Zwart (Greenbrae, CA), and Super Stock champion and race vet Clint Vahsholtz (Woodland Park, CO).

Returning as well is last year's big story, Littleton, Colorado teenager Savannah Rickli, who became the youngest female to finish the race when she piloted her 2003 Mini Cooper S to a third-place finish in the Time Attack 2WD division in 13:58.232 at just 16 years old. She'll be attacking the Hill in June with SCR Performance manager Grant Barclay in the other seat.

To date, 95 motorcycle riders and 33 auto drivers have registered to compete in the event. At the same time last year, there were 20 drivers and 85 riders signed up, so a new record for overall competitors might be in the offing this summer. A total 169 were in the field last year.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motorsports race in America behind the Indianapolis 500 and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. It began in 1916, and this year marks the 89th running of the "Race to the Clouds."

The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of America's Mountain. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. Competitors, vehicles and motorcycles must be in top shape simply to finish, let alone win!

The popular Fan Fest is scheduled for Friday evening, June 24 in downtown Colorado Springs, with a crowd of over 30,000 again anticipated.

Tickets, camping permits and all other information is available at the PPIHC website, www.ppihc.com

Prices start at just $40.00, a Family 4-Pack is an option at $125.00 and VIP ducats at $80.00.

A crowd of almost 5,000 spectators lined the Hill last year for the race.

-source: ppihc