No.: 20030796
An American legend… One
of Walter Röhrl’s most legendary races was his 1987 victory at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), the “Race to the Clouds” in the Rocky Mountains. Less well known is that the American Bobby Unser also won Pikes Peak the year before in an Audi Sport Quattro. He set a new course record of 11:09 min at the time, which was then shattered the following year by Röhrl with a time of 10:47 min. The record now stands at 9:46 min.
But who is Bobby Unser?
Relatively unknown here, the now 83-year-old Robert William is an American racing legend. He is one of only 10 drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 at least three times and is one of only two drivers to have won the Indy 500 in three different decades. He has emerged victorious at Pikes Peak 13 times—more than anyone else—earning him the nickname “King of the Mountain.” His brothers race (successfully), his son races (winning Pikes Peak nine times), and his nephews race. The UNSER family literally has gasoline in their blood.
The new “’69 Torino” from CARRERA is the car UNSER drove to victory at Pikes Peak in 1969. The car was built by FORD specifically for the hill climb and went straight into the PIKES PEAK Museum afterward, so it never raced again.
Here, by the way, is an interview with Bobby about the race and the car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTkEb0qXsHo
Best
regards, CoMod Lotus
