Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/164130
A White Knuckle Ride Inside Mike Ryan's Freightliner Cascadia Pikes Peak Special R acing fans were invited to attend Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Tech Inspection Day On Monday, June 24 at the Colorado Springs World Arena. Every driver and racer had to register, then go through tech inspection before being allowed to take part in daily morning practices on Pikes Peak on the Tuesday – Friday leading up to race day on Sunday, June 30. The event was free to the public and every racer was on hand with their vehicles and bikes as they went through inspection. This gave fans the chance to see the machines and meet the competitors, who posed for pictures and sign autographs. Fans could also take a ride around a special autocross course in a Scion FR-S and enjoy the thrills of riding in the passenger seat of the swift automobile. Mike Ryan's Banks Super-Turbo Pikes Peak Freightliner drew a huge crowd, effectively shutting down normal proceedings once it was fired and driven off of the transporter. Spectators, officials and competitors alike were overwhelmed by the scale of the vehicle and the complexity of the systems installed at Banks, not to mention the loud and unique sound of the engine. After receiving a thumbs-up from the race safety officials, Mike Ryan made a detour through the Scion FRS-sponsored test drive / test-drift course with the truck, under the auspices of 'scuffing in' the fresh set of tires on the truck. The ensuing clouds of smoke and wild tail-out driving exhibition both sent the Scion drivers back to the trailer and drew attention from the local paper, which featured a photo of Ryan's Freightliner on the front page of coverstory 0913.indd 6 the Sports section the following day. Three days later, after completing his practice run on the lower section of Pikes Peak, Ryan was kind enough to take this writer back to the World Arena and allowed me to ride 'shotgun' for another drifting demonstration. To say it was an adrenaline rush would be an understatement. Brad Bentley (left), Editorial Director for Big Rig Owner, with Mike Ryan after a wild ride in his Banks Super-Turbo Pikes Peak Freightliner. Mike Ryan put on a display of driving skills like I had never experienced. With 2,400 horsepower at his disposal, he took me from pure exhilaration to sheer exhaustion in a matter of minutes. At times, we would be traveling full-speed toward a lightpole and Mike would calmly shift directions and drift around the obstacle. I was amazed and appreciative. Mike made the truck turn on a dime and did a burnout that produced more smoke than the crowd at the Widespread Panic concert playing at the nearby Red Rocks Amphitheater. I now know first-hand the definition of a white knuckle driver. It was indeed a wild ride. • 8/7/13 11:53 AM