In just a few weeks, the 2017 Tire Rack SCCA Championship Tour will make the only stop to the Mountain States. Colorful Colorado is home to Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR), in Fountain, Colorado, a facility that once hosted NASCAR, IRL, Global Rally Cross and World Challenge events. However, from June 9th to 11th, the twelve acres of grippy asphalt in the “VIP Lot” is reserved for some high-altitude Tire Rack Championship Tour competition.
Fountain, Colorado is only six hours from Farmington NM, and a day’s drive from Lincoln, Dallas, Salt Lake City and Phoenix. PPIR provides limited covered parking (under the grandstands), bathrooms, showers, compressed air and an air-conditioned classroom to escape the mild Colorado weather. The grandstands also offer a matchless view of the entire course, from above.
Colorado is home to over two hundred breweries, including Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Odell and Left Hand Brewing. If you prefer outdoor activities, Colorado has plenty of opportunities for hiking, camping, rock climbing and whitewater rafting. Other available outdoor activities include natural hot springs, Mesa Verde National Park, Estes Park, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Seven Falls and Garden of the Gods. Colorado has 54 "Fourteener" (Elevation of 14,000 feet or more) mountains, including Pikes Peak, home of the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. If you plan to spend an extra day in the Fountain area, make sure you take a drive to the top of Pikes Peak to fully appreciate the beauty of Colorado and the accomplishments and courage of the hill climbers.
Whether you are an autocross idol looking to polish your skills on the path to another National Championship or you are new to the sport and wanting to know where you stand on a larger scale, there will be something for everybody in Colorado. The Colorado and Continental Divide Regions have been producing SCCA National Champions for over 25 years and while many of those champions will be in attendance, the Colorado Championship Tour competition will also cater to families. Over the past few years, Colorado has developed a deep and talented pool of ladies and formula junior drivers as well. And once the sun sets on PPIR, you can keep the adrenalin pumping at Colorado Springs’ new indoor karting facility, Overdrive Raceway.
So come one, come all and make the 2017 Tire Rack SCCA Colorado Championship Tour your family vacation destination.
