FasterSkunk Racing

From the Mind of Rob

The top of the mountain is nuts.

We drove into the clouds.

Then we raced out of them.

I’m fully qualified.

Which, to be clear, means the officials have looked at my driving and decided I am legally allowed to continue making increasingly questionable life choices at higher altitudes.

And here we are.

Today only gave us one run, but it was a good one. I got some incredible instruction from Jeff Zwart, and now the challenge is figuring out how to store decades of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb knowledge inside the brain of a software architect from North Carolina before race day.

Unfortunately, the mountain claimed a car today. The driver is okay, which is what matters most, but it ended our day early. It’s a sobering reminder that Pikes Peak doesn’t care about your plans, your budget, your sponsorship deck, or how many times you’ve watched onboard videos at 2:00am.

Also, there are places up there where the road simply ends and Colorado becomes a suggestion.

Next up is heading back down the mountain for more practice, more note-taking, and more attempts to remember everything Jeff told me before my brain replaces it with random song lyrics and diesel fuel prices.

And through all of it, we’re carrying 523 names of people lost to ALS. Every trip up the mountain carries them a little closer to the summit. Racing for ALS is the reason we’re here, and it’s what keeps this whole adventure grounded when the rest of it feels completely absurd.

One run closer.

One lesson wiser.

One day closer to finding out whether I’m actually qualified, or merely certified as a participant. 🏔️💙🏁

Well, the Audi has officially passed tech!

Tomorrow begins the next phase: qualifying.

Send us, all the competitors, staff, and crew all the positive vibes this week as we drive Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

NOPI
Lifetime Audi Parts
OneOf250
Racing for ALS
Babyface Fabrication
Audi Club Carolinas
NCR SCCA
CJM Industries