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Pikes Peak International Hillclimb Pikes Peak Anders Hillson and Pikes Peak rookie Magnus Erickson enter the 16th mile on the way to placing first among the Sidecars-In the Race to the Clouds. STORY AND PHOTOS BY RUPERT BERRINGTON COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, JaNE 29 fi'ijjJ azy skies from Colorado's worst IJ!J!J forest fires ever greeted riders ready to tackle the 14,110-foot, 156-corner Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. Sidecars were the first ones up. Sweden's Anders Nilsson and Pikes Peak rookie monkey Magnus Erickson put a big "I" on International as they crossed the line with the fastest time of 13:46.14. Both men collapsed to the ground in their red uniforms. Erickson was unable to move his frozen hands as he lay on the ground. "I can't feel my hands" he said. When Nilsson found out they had won, he held his head and broke into tears. His father had died in Sweden on Christmas Day last year and Erickson had wanted to win for him. "It's him," Nilsson said. "If I didn't have him, I'd never been here. This is all for him. Now he can sleep and I can take the victory home to my son." It was star-spangled all-American fare for the rest of the first-place trophies. California's Steve Poggi won the Vintage class on a 1971 Yamaha Champion. The Pikes Peak rookie benefited from the absences of last year's champion, Eddie Mulder, who stayed at home with his ailing fatherin-law, and Scott Dunlevy, who had moved into the Pro ranks and finished third in the 750cc class. "I love it!" Poggi shouted after recording a time of 14:54.68. "Now I have to call my wife and tell her where I am. She won't believe me." Gary Trachy jumped from third as a rookie last year to first in the 250cc Pro race. Unlike the car competitors, who race one at a time against the clock, the bikes start five at a time. Trachy maintained a slim lead on his Orange County 2002 Honda CR250 and finished with a time of 13:14.65, six seconds ahead of Ridgeway, At the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, Fasst Company/Avon Tires' Gary Trachy battles with the elements and a lack of oxygen near the 13,000foot mark en route to the 250cc Pro victory. Colorado's Chuck Lee, who spent most of the race battling Nathan Conley of Monument, Colorado, for second. At Bottomless Pit, the split time was a dead heat at 10:08.21 before Lee pulled ahead by two seconds at the flag. In the 500cc Pro race, "Super Dave" Durelle, on a Suzuki DR-Z400, gave the 750cc guys a break by dropping down a class, where he pounded 23 other competitors in the largest group of the day. It was close most of the way, as he swapped the lead with Greg Tracy, and they passed through Bottomless Pit side by side at 89 mph. Durelle was able to pull away through the final nosebleed corners to take a nine-second win in a time of 12:40.27. That was the fastest time of the day but still well off the 1994 record of Clint Vahsholtz. In that special year, Vahsholtz went 12:21.13, and in 2002 he set a record as winning the most consecutive races ever on the Peak: three on a bike and seven in a car. On his Honda CR500, Greg Tracy could not match his brother Gary Trachy's win, but his second-place finish made them the best brother combo. "I think now Greg and I are getting some credit for being fast guys up here," Gary commented. "Next year we go for the win-win." Third went to Sweden's Jansson Anders, on a 1997 Honda CR500, at 13:03.29. Fourth went to Greg Chicoine, who was contending for the win until he put it down in the section called the W's. Chico recovered to post a time of 13: 15.56 on his 1999 Kawasaki KX500. Amazingly enough, no one was injured in any class on this year's climb. Maple Valley, Washington's Don Wilson won the 750cc Pro class on a 1999 Rotax Circle F Frame in a time of 13:17.19. "This has been a dream of mine since I was in high school and heard about Pikes Peak," he said. "Besides my kids and being able to race at Daytona, this is the highlight of my life. Also, being from Washington, we know all about forest fires, and we know what the people here had to get through to have this race right now." Colorado Springs' own Kenny Perkins fell behind early but then maintained a steady gap to finish a fraction under nine seconds adrift on his 2000 Husaberg. Third went to Scott Dunlavey from Lafayette, California, on 1967 Triumph TR6. On his way to being crowned the 750cc champion, Don Wilson negotiates Devils Playground, so named because lightning bounces from one rock to another. The 74 riders returned down the mountain past the cheering spectators and through the haze from the fires. The next day, they would pick up prizes and contingencies from sponsors Torco Oil, Maxxis Tire, K&N, Progressive Suspension, Motion Pro, Berkeley Honda, Works Performance, Maxima Oil and Saddleman. It won't be long before plans are made by all for next year's Race to the Clouds. eN Pikes Peak Colorado Springs, Colorado Results: June Z9, ZOOZ "Super Dave" Durelle beats Orange County Honda/PSI's Greg Tracy in 500cc Pro competition after a race-long battle in Colorado Springs, Colorado. .. u .. I e 250 PRO: I. Gory Trachy (Han): 2. Chuck Lee (Han); 3. Nathan Conley (So2); 4. Jeff Groce (Kaw); 5. Tim Lee (Han). 500 PRO: 1. Davey DurelJe (Suz); 2. Greg Tracy (Hen); 3. Jansson Anders (Han); 4. Greg Cicoine (Kaw); 5. Darryl Lujan (Hen). 750 PRO: 1. Don Wilson (Rtx); 2. Kenny Perkins (Hus); 3. Scott Dunlavey (Tri); 4. Rick Gunby (Rtx); 5. Scott Walz (W-R). SOeR: 1. Anders Nilsson/Magnus Erickson (Suz); 2. Pete Whitney/Scott Whitney (EML Delta): 3. Rlliph Whitney/Eric Whitney (H-D); 4. Mllrk McDllde/Scott McDllde (Yem). VI NT: 1. Steve Poggi (yllm); 2. Dennis Peterson (Yllm); 3. Michllel Pearlmlln (Tri); 4. DllVid Helld (Tn); 5. Joe Blackwell (Yom). n e _ s • JULv31,2002 69