Just because the road to the summit was paved doesn’t mean that Pikes Peak is any less dangerous. The hill climb is still a dangerous affair and if anything, the addition of asphalt has created a false sense of security, with racers trusting the road’s grip instead of being prepared for any and everything with the dirt course. And no amount of roadwork will save anyone if the car makes it over the edge of the roadway…from there, you are simply a passenger along for the ride. It’s nerve-wracking enough to see it from the outside, and even more from an in-car camera, but how about through the eyes of the driver? You are on-board with Jeff Zwart, who is driving a Porsche 911 GT3-spec car that was specially prepared for running Pikes Peak. From the launch forward the Porsche had fuel pump issues, but with speeds hitting near 140 miles an hour, we doubt that was the top of his concerns. Within a couple of minutes of the summit the Porsche starts to buck and throw fits, and the motions are enough that I was feeling sincerely nervous for Zwart. This isn’t you trying to drive while breathing thin air, but it’s as close as you can get.
