Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Yesterday we were at the 91st Pikes Peak Hill Climb race, our 6th or 7th time.

Some of you know my stance on such things - but I believe everything happens for a reason and everything happens as it should.

If you don't know this race it's different from anything else in the world - both the racers and spectators.

We try to get there early (usually 5-6am) so we can get our favorite spot to watch the race. It's like a general admission concert so get there early - but you never know how many people are going to show for the race. We got there about 5:15am and lines were backed up a couple of miles already - ouch.

After 2 hours of crawling we started seeing cars coming back down - that means the good spots (including ours at the old ski area) were full - they jammed us into the campground like sardines and we hauled our coolers and chairs out on the road. Liz and I found a corner on an embankment and parked ourselves. This is not California - there are no grandstands or designated areas to be in - you find a reasonably safe spot to sit and that's it. I emphasize "reasonable" because you ARE on a race road and this is where you sit.

We were disappointed not getting our favorite spot but that's the way it goes - and here's the story:

The third bike through the corner we're at is Takakoro Itami, 41 year old 2013 Rookie from Japan on a 2012 Triumph Speed Triple R. He lost it around the corner and slid into the embankment right in from of me. He was OK and walked away. Picture below.

Updating with Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-wUozxk-pg



A couple of racers later - Michael Applehans (2006 GXR600 from Denver - his second time on the mountain) crashed pretty bad on the same corner. I hand Liz my camera and go to help - I'm wearing the green hat and my GAP Triple t-shirt. He had a compound fracture on his leg.
Note: This culvert/drainage ditch has rough hand-formed cement to mitigate erosion and he hit it pretty hard. One of the high-resolution camera guys showed me a zoom detail - what happened is his left boot tip caught the road and acted like a jack - lifted the bike as he rounded the corner. The bike was torn in half held together by the wiring harness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B5Qr5wTZl0

The video below is my point about everything happening as it should.

This is not the spot we like but our normal area was full so we ended up on this corner.
This is Alex Moreno, 35 years old from Dublin Ohio. 2013 Rookie on a CBR1000RR.

I turned on my camera a second to late to get this - but when Alex he slid out and slammed into the culvert and burst into flames. Another guy did get it filmed and promised to send me the video with me pulling him out.

I dropped my camera and ran over to help - he way lying face-down next to the gas tank in a pool of fire - the whole top of him engulfed in flames - I could see his helmet in the middle of the fire inches from the gas tank. People were shouting from the other side of the road to leave him alone - don't move him - but this was no little fire - it was BIG so I grabbed his broken legs and pulled him several feet out of the fire. The Sheriffs and EMTs were there quick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=796bY_ENaEg

The point I'm making is I think the Great Guy upstairs wanted me on this corner for a reason - that's why we were not at our usual spot. I don't know that someone else might not have pulled him out - or that he might have lasted a few more seconds without his face shield melting off - I don't know. But I was there and did what was needed. Others too ran over to help put out the fire on him and assist.

This corner does not have any history of being so dangerous. It's been paved for several years without incident. This race is very unique with constant weather changes. We had a cold morning, hot afternoon, then rain, then snow, then hail and more rain, then hot again - then cold. You can imagine what the pavement and tires are like.

Here's a pic of the two bikes.



Later on one of the electric cars also crashed on this corner - flipped and caught on fire but the guy did crawl out right away.

Another open wheel care slid out on this corner but did not crash - but did a wicked 360.

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

Nice job buddy!

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........

It was certainly good that you were there. It's bad when people hear on TV not to move an injured person, and are unable to use any judgement to decide that preventing a possible death by burning might be more important than risking making an injury worse.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

Exactly. Leave the person alone UNLESS they are in more harm at that spot.

You did well Barry

Nice job and a great post Barry.
Did you catch your breath yet???

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Bad decisions make the best stories.

That guy took a pretty hard hit, twice. Just the slam into the road looked bad, then into the ditch.

I thought it was the right thing to do - did not have any time to think about it though.

I updated the post to show Takariho Itami's crash - he's the one that walked away. updated - as - third bike not second to start. They mixed up the starting order this year with the motorcycles going first - not any of the cars. Very cold pavement.

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

So the Pike is paved all the way to the top now.....correct ?

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Busy doing more riding than wrenching.......

Yes - last years race (which was delayed because of the fire) was the first year for 100% paved.

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

Good job Barry, hope someone like you is around if I every crash hard.