Circle Track loves to promote local, Saturday-night racers and especially the tracks that support their racing. However, this month we found a great track in the Rocky Mountains that would make a great vacation spot when your track has an off-weekend. It offers some pretty spectacular racing as well.
The Pikes Peak International Raceway facility sits on 1,200 acres of prime land just south of Colorado Springs, with the track itself sitting on 200 of those acres. What used to be Pikes Peak Meadows Horse Track is now a one-mile D-shaped asphalt racing track.
"Construction of the track started in 1996," states Rob Johnson, president of PPIR. "The first race was in 1997 with the USAC Rocky Mountain Classic. The race featured USAC's Silver Bullet, midget and supermodified series'."
So why build a racetrack up in the mountains?
"Other than the short tracks, there is no other major racing facility closer than Phoenix and Las Vegas in the entire area," comments Johnson. "The thought was that PPIR would satisfy the need for the whole Rocky Mountain region. It would draw fans from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Utah. That is what has happened. We get a lot of out-of-town fans for our major events."
PPIR will begin its sixth season of racing when the 2001-2002 racing season begins. The new racing season will see the NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Indy Racing League on the oval and the AMA Super Bikes on the 1.3-mile, 10-turn road course. The track is busy just about every day of the week from the middle of May all the way to the middle of October. The Richard Petty Driving Experience and Drive Tech driving school hold sessions at PPIR. And for you hot-rod buffs, the Good Guys Hot Rod Show takes place every year in the infield.
According to Johnson, PPIR is one of the fastest one-mile ovals in the country. In fact the track boasts the fastest 200-mile Indy Racing League event on record. Not only that, but due to the wide surface of the track, it is also very "driver-friendly."
"During this past year's Busch race we only had one yellow for four laps," says Johnson.
The track features 42,700 seats with 31 luxury suits. During the Busch race, more than 35,000 of those seats are full, while the IRL brings in better than 30,000 and the Craftsman Truck Series race can fill 25,000 seats. Other than being driver-friendly, the track is also fan-friendly. One of the unique features of the track is that the grandstands start 17 feet off the ground. This provides an excellent view of the entire track from any seat in the house, even the front row.
Among the 1,200 acres, there are 200 acres for parking and camping during the race events. That leaves 800 acres for future motorsports development.
"The plan would be to add additional motorsports facilities," says Johnson. "We would look at a short track, whether it be paved or dirt, and then also look at a drag strip and a larger road course. Right now we are concentrating on growing with our one-mile oval."
Because there are only four major racing events at the track, PPIR really grows on private rentals of the track. Many times companies will rent the track to give their employees "an experience of a lifetime" by driving or getting a ride in a real race car. Among those extra 800 acres, the track can also host events such as off-road challenges along with track rentals by clubs such as the SCCA, Porsche Club and various local motorsports enthusiast groups.
"We have grown about 400 percent in the last two years on track rentals," Johnson comments. Just a short drive south from Colorado Springs and great hospitality, PPIR is a must for your track wish list this year.
Track Facts* One-mile, D-shaped oval* Asphalt* Elevation: 5,365 feet* 1.3-mile asphalt road course
Pikes Peak International Raceway * Dept. CT01 * 16650 Midway Ranch Rd. * Fountain, CO 80817 * 719/382-7223 * www.ppir.com