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Independence Day or perhaps Pikes Peak after all?

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Created on February 13, 2023

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

26

Volkswagen

1

Daniel Reinhard

26

Volkswagen

1

Audi Sport Quattro E2 (1987) - Walter Röhrl am Pikes Peak 1987

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Nur am Samstag fahren die Autos auf der gesamten Rennstrecke - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Blick auf die sandige Rennstrecke ohne Leitplanken - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Eine staubige Angelegenheit - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Helikopter filmen das Renngeschehen - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Das Publikum verteilt sich entlang der Bergrennstrecke - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Pontiac Firebird mit ziemlich viel Power auf dem Weg zur Spitze - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1987

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Specials und auf die Rennstrecke abgestimmte Rennwagen bestimmten über Jahre die Szene - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Grösse Flügel verhelfen zu besserer Traktion - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Die Piste ist breit, die Traktion aber eher beschränkt, auch für diesen Mazda RX-7 - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Der Mazda RX-7 stimmt himmelwärts - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Ein Mazda RX-7 beim munterne Quertreiben - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Amerikanische Muskeln auf dem Weg zur Spitze - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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MG Metro 6R4 mit Allradantrieb im Vorteil - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Die Französin Michèle Mouton - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Die Specials erinnern eher an Strand-Buggys als an Bergrennwagen - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Ganz serienmässig ist dieser Ford Thunderbird sicher nicht mehr - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1985

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Die Specials offerieren viel Dynamik - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1987

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Mazda 323, etwas mager an Power, aber vorwärts geht's auch hier - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1987

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Sieht aus wie ein Nascar-Auto, hat aber dicke Reifen für mehr Traktion - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1987

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Start zum Rennlauf - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1987

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Fahrerbesprechung mit Röhrl - Bergrennen Pikes Peak 1987

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Audi Sport Quattro E2 Pikes Peak (1987) - der letzte grosse Einsatz des Audi Sport Quattro der Gruppe B - Pikes Peak 1987

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Audi Sport Quattro E2 Pikes Peak (1987) - am Optimieren des Umluft-Systems? - Pikes Peak 1987

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Audi Sport Quattro E2 Pikes Peak (1987) - mit imposantem Flügelwerk - Pikes Peak 1987

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Audi Sport Quattro E2 (1987) - ein weiterer, weit weniger berühmter Sport Quattro - Pikes Peak 1987

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VW Golf Bi-Motor-Prototyp (1986) - Jochi Kleint bei Pikes Peak

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Summary

The hill climb on Pikes Peak is one of the most famous racing events of all. Until a few years ago, the race was largely run on unpaved surfaces, but it took until 1982 for four-wheel drive to become established. But then there was no stopping them and in 1987, three European car manufacturers - Audi, Peugeot and Volkswagen - battled it out on the mountain in the USA. This review recalls the history and arms race surrounding the Pikes Peak hill climb, illustrated with impressive pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Family affair
Traction advantage
The last appearance of Group B
Röhrl with a training advantage
Almost a Golf victory in 1987
Special features of the dusty hill climb
Challenges at high altitude
Revenge
Pretty sure

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

On July 4, when "Independence Day" is celebrated in America, since 1916 the inhabitants of Colorado have also been celebrating "The race to the clouds", the holy grail of mountain races, founded by Spencer Penrose over 100 years ago. On this day, not only is independence celebrated, but the race up the 4301-metre-high Pikes Peak is also opened - with plenty of beer and a great folk festival atmosphere, as is customary in the USA. The second oldest car race in America is almost as famous as the oldest, the 500 miles of Indianapolis. The mountain race, which starts at 2862 meters above sea level (for comparison: Zugspitze 2962m), runs over 20 km and is completely unique and absolutely inimitable.

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