90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Set For July 8 On Fully-Paved Course; Official Registration Opens On November 1 Colorado Springs, October 17 – The 90th Pikes Peak Hill Climb will take place next summer on July 8, and for the first time in its storied history, the race will be on a completely-paved asphalt surface. Veteran competitors will no longer have to adjust to the usual gravel and asphalt challenges that have been part of the race for decades. City crews finished the decade-long paving project on September 30 by completing the final three miles, keeping the road open for the public all summer and early fall while doing the job. The first six mile stretch was paved in the 1950s. Official driver and racer registration opens online on November 1 at www.ppihc.com The deadline for registration is June 15, and only the first 100 motorcycles and 50 autos are guaranteed entry at this point. Last summer’s race in Colorado Springs broke a bunch of records and may go down as the most successful of them all since it began in 1916. Fans of the nation’s second-oldest motor sports race behind the Indianapolis 500 point to the biggest record of them all to fall, the smashing of the elusive ten-minute barrier by Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima in the Unlimited Division. The fabled Japanese driver drove his 910-horsepower GoPro Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special up the 12.42 mile course to the 14,110-foot summit in 9:51.278, this event’s version of the breaking the four-minute mile by Roger Bannister in 1954. 60-year-old legend Rod Millen returned to the Peak for the first time since 1999 and proceeded to set a new record in the Time Attack 2WD class with a clocking of 11:04.912, and Ducati’s Carlin Dunne set an all-time motorcycle mark with an 11:11.32 to win the 1205 CC class on his Multistrada 1200. But away from the mountain, the event enjoyed what may well be its most successful showing in history, and these important results showed why the race is now on solid ground and poised for a wide-open future as the entire course is fully paved in time for the 2012 edition next summer. · Ticket sales revenue set an all-time record of $148,461, breaking last year’s high of $115,380 · Merchandise sales reached $25,779, surpassing last year’s $15,721 · A total of 6,013 fans and others lined the hill for the race – 4,602 tickets, 188 racers and drivers and 1,223 credentialed support personnel, news media, sponsors and auto company reps. · The 188 drivers and racers brought another 1,400 people with them to the city for the week. · More than 36,000 fans took part in the June 24 Fan Fest in downtown Colorado Springs between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. · Coverage was provided internationally by news media representatives from 14 countries, and 172 media credentials were issued by the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. · The live feed on the PPIHC website produced 45,000 hits. · The new PPIHC Facebook site has grown to 9,072 friends.. · The headquarters hotel, the Crowne Plaza, chalked up 416 room nights alone, compared to just 272 in 2010. · The first PPIHC Media Day at the El Pomar Carriage Museum on June 22 drew 17 racers and drivers and a media turnout of 45 writers, broadcasters and photographers. 100th Anniversary Membership Club Launched! Competitors have been racing to the summit of Pikes Peak since 1916, which makes the race the second longest running in the United States. Almost 100 years later, drivers and racers from around the world still continue the race to the clouds. In celebration of the history and legacy of the race the 100th Anniversary Membership Club has been created. Members receive exclusive discounts and perks, even a chance to win a ride up the mountain in the official pace car! To become a member or for more information on the 100th Anniversary Membership Club follow the link to the membership page. ~http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc/historical/membership~