Pikes Peak Hill climb 2008 - Day 4

Better not look down...

After an unbelievable morning of playing in and above the clouds at the top of Pike's Peak, we've got no reason to be singing the blues. But a BB King song has been rolling through my head all day and it just seems too appropriate not to include in today's e-rider:

Better not look down, if you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down, keep it full speed ahead
Better not look back, or you might just wind up crying
You can keep it moving, if you don't look down

Keeping moving was the secret to staying warm today. It turned out to feel much cooler at 12,780 feet than we expected when we parked the van this morning to watch the sunrise.



It wasn't long before our elevated heart rates pushed warm blood to our extremities. >From Devil's Playground to the top of Pike's Peak, the route is flatter and less technical than the lower sections, but we have to contend with a loose dirt surface, fatigue and a lack of oxygen. Maintaining concentration right through to the finish is critical.

Joe Warner
Max Stratton
Ben Stratton
Doug MorrisonPike's Peak was in the way of a passing cloud during our practice session today, so we had a course hold for a while where we got to spend some time getting to know some of the our fellow racers and to rub elbows with the pros.



We've noticed that the closer we get to the event, the more media interest there is in our effort. The BMW roundel attracts equal attention from foreign and domestic media.



Colorado Springs and the Pike's Peak area have suddenly become a giant magnet for hillclimb fans from all over the United States. We got a great surprise on the mountain this morning when our TEAM MAX BMW teammate Peter Canning and his family appeared from Massachusetts. Peter brought his camera to help with the documentation of this event and was rewarded with a couple of special photos.

Team Canning
Doug and Peter with Malcolm SmithFor the fan, Friday night is the big kick-off. "Fan Fest" draws people to town to revel in the festivity. Last year we witnessed some fans who had obviously gotten their money's worth at the beer tent and decided to wander around and to do some parking lot shopping for banners and other racing mementos. So on Friday afternoon, we safely stowed all of our bikes, gear and tools so as not to tempt any fans who may have overindulged. Luckily, we have a new sponsor to help us out in that department, since MAX BMW Motorcycles is the first dealership in the Northeast to offer LoJack Early Warning for Motorcycles, a system that notifies you immediately by phone, e-mail and/or pager if your motorcycle is moved without your authorization. The quicker you're notified, the quicker LoJack can begin tracking your bike.



Speaking of tracking things, we want to publicly thank Sandy Warner for her energy and effort to take and upload photos for us while we're out here. In her neon yellow marathon-training jacket, she's been pretty easy to pick out along the course, but we've been amazed at how much ground she can cover while we're in between runs. Thanks, Sandy!



Saturday is our day off. We'll wash the bikes, get all of our gear ready, rest when we feel like it and hydrate for race day. The race begins at 9 AM Mountain Time on Sunday, but the gates open at 3:00 AM for competitors. Race times should be updated regularly on the PPIHC Web Site for those who are looking for same day results.