Fire on the Mountain

For more than a century, one mountain has stood at the intersection of danger, ambition, and raw human ingenuity. Rising above the Colorado plains, Pikes Peak has been a landmark for explorers, settlers, aviators, and dreamers-but since 1916, it has been defined most vividly by those who dare to race to its summit. Fire on the Mountain is the definitive narrative history of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the oldest continuously contested motorsport event in America and one of the most demanding races in the world.This sweeping chronicle traces the full arc of the Hill Climb’s evolution-from gravel-choked switchbacks to a fully paved rocket course, from roaring combustion engines to silent electric prototypes, from local pioneers to an international cast of champions. Along the way, it explores legendary families like the Unsers, breakthrough performances from rally heroes and innovative manufacturers, and the race’s transformation into a global showcase for engineering excellence. The book also examines the cultural weight of the mountain itself, its role in American identity, and the delicate balance between tradition, technology, and the fragile alpine environment.Drawing on more than a century of factual history, Fire on the Mountain brings together the courage, creativity, and obsession that shaped the Peak-and the competitors who continue trying to conquer it. This is the story of a mountain that refuses to yield, and of the men and women who return every year to climb toward the sky.