This Is America's Scariest Road — And We Raced Up It - Yahoo Autos (blog)
The road up Pikes Peak is one of the scariest slivers of tarmac imaginable. And a few have tested that “near-certain” part over the years. Back in July 2011, the road to the summit of Pikes Peak still retained sections of unpaved dirt. This madness is what made the race famous, but a lawsuit forced the city of Colorado Springs to pave the entire course. a month later, the whole dimension of the race had changed. The number of competitors ballooned from 46 in 2011 to over 170 in 2012. And yet the road actually became narrower after it was paved, and speeds soared to record heights. I was told by Pikes Peak legend Jeff Zwart that the race is far sketchier today than it ever has been: “The speeds are just so much higher,” Zwart said, “and the risks go up to match. Last year a competitor on a motorbike perished. And yet in my Fit it didn’t feel particularly risky — 75 horsepower going uphill seldom does. I have a distinct fear of heights, but glancing over the edge of the cliff while racing above the clouds didn’t cause me to convulse or throw up even once. it’s impossible to truly know all 156 corners before race day, and the dangers of forgetting which turn is which weighs upon a driver. Source: www.yahoo.com
