MEGA Photo Gallery: Pre-Climb, the 2024 Pikes Peak Fan Fest Gets Wild!
More than 35,000 fans get up close with racing legends, hot cars, and cool displays. And it’s all free.
Held on the Friday before race day, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Fan Fest is a larger-than-life party in the streets, and everyone is invited. Because of the remote nature of the race, the Pikes Peak Fan Fest's location in Colorado Springs itself makes it a great way for motorsports enthusiasts of all ages to get up close and personal with the race vehicles, meet the drivers, gather autographs, watch freestyle motocross demos, and of course chow on the best food truck gourmet the Rocky Mountains has to offer.
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The free event takes over 10 blocks of downtown Colorado Springs and, like the race, is held rain-or-shine. Over the course of four hours, more than 35,000 people make the pilgrimage to the town’s celebration of speed. There’s simply no other place where the public can get as close to million-dollar racing machines, along with their builders and drivers, as they can at Pikes Peak Fan Fest.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is not only the second oldest motorsport event in the country, but also an important part of Colorado history and a significant driver of tourism to Colorado Springs. “This race was built and made for the community, to promote tourism into the area. That's why Spencer Penrose put this whole thing together way back in 1916.” explains Melissa Eckhoff, CEO of the Hill Climb.
Among the more popular displays at the 2024 event were Ford’s Lightning SuperTruck, piloted by legendary racer Romain Dumas, along with the company’s off-road focused Switchgear Lightning. Loni Unser drew long lines along with her Mobil 1-backed Porsche GT3. Also on hand to great fans was Randy Pobst, a staple around MotorTrend track days, who was tapped last minute to pilot one of Hyundai’s impressive Ionic 5 N TA-spec cars up the mountain. Also on display was Ken Block’s Porsche 911, the Hoonipigasus, that Lia Block drove in 2023. And these were just a few of the hundreds of vehicles lining the streets.
If you’re planning on attending, or competing in, the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (which will take place on June 22nd) or anywhere close to Colorado Springs on the Friday before, be sure to add Fan Fest as a must-see event.
Jason Gonderman was born and raised in sunny Southern California and grew up with subscriptions to 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Four Wheeler, and many other off-road magazines. The off-road bug bit hard after a summer building up a Baja Bug with friends to drive in the sand dunes of Glamis (Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area). After that it was over and he bought his first 4wd vehicle, a 1999 Ford Ranger that eventually transformed into a capable desert pre-runner and back-country adventurer. Jason has logged thousands of miles off-road in many different terrains and vehicles. He has raced the Baja 1000, participated in the Ultimate Adventure, and covered Top Truck Challenge, Diesel Power Challenge, Real Truck Club Challenge, and many other big name events. When not behind the computer Jason can be found fabricating truck parts, shooting short-course off-road races, riding dirt bikes with his wife, or participating in any sort of other 'extreme' activity.
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