| The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, has announced the final five drivers to compete in this year’s Race to the Clouds. These final five will be competing in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division, among them is a familiar name to fans of the PPIHC, Clint Vahsholtz. |
Vahsholtz has undoubtedly checked just about every box any competitor dreams of on Pikes Peak. He grew up in the shadow of the mountain witnessing his father, Leonard’s winning ways, and eventually competing alongside him. As a second generation racer from the famed Vahsholtz family, he not only works in the motorsports industry at Vahsholtz Automotive and Vahsholtz Racing, but is a steadfast force to be reckoned with on America’s Mountain. |
| He’s raced motorcycles up the mountain and won. He’s raced cars up the mountain and won. He’s raced and won on the beloved gravel road, on the partially-paved course, as well as the current asphalt surface. |
| “Early on, my dad and Jim Ruggles, our engineer, both said, ‘Clint, everybody’s going to make a mistake, so if you make a mistake forget about it, and keep going.’ I took that to heart. I spun out my first year, and still won!” Clint Vahsholtz |
| Vahsholtz has collected 24 division wins, the most of any PPIHC competitor; 3 onboard a motorcycle, 5 in the Open Wheel division, and a whopping 16 in the Super Stock Car division behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang. |
He set division records on a motorcycle, in a stock car, and in his custom-built open wheel beast. Vahsholtz also earned Rookie of the Year in 1996, the first year he raced a stock car on the mountain. |
But one goal eluded him, the King of the Mountain crown. That is, until 2020 when he set an Open Wheel division record and clocked the fastest time of the day, charging to the 14,115′ summit in 09:35.490. With that boxed checked, the quiet and humble racer could have been satisfied to bask in the glory and step back. That’s just not the Vahsholtz way. |
| Driving a McLaren for Flying Lizard in 2018 and ’19, and then piloting the KTM Reiter X Bow GT4 Evo, Vahsholtz shared his viewpoint of working with teams outside his family-run enterprise. “I had a good experience with Flying Lizard, it was different not having my hands in it,” he recalled. “The KTM venture was similar. Although the team was less experienced, and despite our DNF in 2023, it was good to be part of that team-building process.” |
| Asked about the switch in both division and make, Vahsholtz expressed, “I’ve been intrigued by the GT4 division the last couple of years. I like the concept, the BoP (Balance of Performance), and the close competition. I also appreciated that the PPIHC has interest in it, and wants to support it. Plus, I love Yokohama as a company as they’ve been very supportive in the past.” |
| Vahsholtz has entered the Rotek Racing-owned 2023 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport that Robb Holland raced in 2024. Holland’s time was 10:56.880. “Robb is a high-end professional, with a pro motorsports team,” explained Vahsholtz. “He’s a gentleman. He’s very knowledgeable about the product I’m driving, and about me. That makes it fun and it means a lot that he feels very comfortable with me. I’ve never raced, or even driven a Porsche, so I’m pretty excited about this!” |
| “Every year you show up on the mountain is a dream come true,” said Vahsholtz. “Along with all the help from Rotek Racing, I have to thank my sponsors. Hella is part of the Robb Holland effort so I’m excited to work with them. Altitude Motorsport and Teller Wi-Fi are partnering with us as well. And one of the things I’m most excited about is a new sponsor, America’s Mountain Festival which is happening in my hometown, Woodland Park, on July 5.” |
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