Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Fan Fest draws thousands to downtown Colorado Springs

A weekend full of tradition kicked off Friday night with thousands convening in Downtown Colorado Springs to experience the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Fan Fest ahead of Sunday’s race.

Race cars lined Tejon Street for the event.

“I’m super stoked,” Laura Ferioli said. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“It’s my dream, I’m a huge motorhead,” Mark Wilcoxen said.

Wilcoxen came from Oklahoma for the Fan Fest and Hill Climb.

“We’re definitely going up to Devil’s Playground,” Wilcoxen said.

The cars capturing every passerby’s attention, many can’t help but snap a photo with the souped up engines, and the eye-catching paint jobs.

Kyle Jensen and his son Gavin, drove 15 hours from Minnesota for the race.

“Watching the cars come in, it’s been fun,” Kyle Jensen said.

But the action wasn’t limited to four wheels on the ground. Fan’s eyes were up in the sky as a freestyle motocross riders showed off their stunts.

“It’s a great venue for Colorado Springs,” Brandon Davis said.

Davis brought his two boys to the even to experience it all.

“They love seeing the dirt bikes going way high and they love seeing the big old lifted trucks and the fast cars,” Davis said.

Whether from down the street, out of town, a fan behind the wheel as a driver, Fan Fest leaves excitement roaring for Sunday’s race to the clouds.

“It’s almost like a family reunion,” driver Davis Schmidt said. “I see different competitors only once a year. We see each other at this and it’s like a family reunion.”

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