Sport Truck
For The Record
I work for Praco, the company that assists the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with advertising, public relations and printed materials such as the race program. Last week, I received a phone call from Glenn Harris, a former hill climb competitor. He took issue with the story that appeared in your November ’91 issue, “Politics At The Peak.” The second to last paragraph begins, “(Don) Adams would have made history by winning two divisions in the same race.” According to the book, “Pikes Peak Is Unser Mountain” by Stanley L. DeGeer, Glenn Harris won both the Truck S and Group A Open Rally divisions in 1986. Unfortunately, the Group A Open Rally division was not included in the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb Champions listed in the ’91 program, which could have confused the author. Race categories at the event have changed from time to time and different categories have been added and dropped. Unfortunately, some of the divisions that no longer exist were dropped from the ’91 program, and I apologize for the error. I’ll be sure that complete winner statistics are included in the ’92 version. I’m simply letting you know that Mr. Harris has a grievance and will let you decide from here what action, if any, you would like to take. I have written to him and explained the program error. Amy Starks, Praco, Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO
Thanks for bringing this point to our attention— it obviously needs some clarification beyond what you state in your letter. After checking a copy of DeGreery book, “Pikes Peak Is Unser Mountain,” we discovered that Mr. Harris is listed as winner of the Group A Rally Division in 1988, not 1986, as well as being listed at the Truck S class winner the same year, earning him the distinction of being a two-time winner in the same race. Don Adams, did in fact, nearly repeat that feat in 1990 by winning Division C for Production Class vehicles in an all- wheel-drive Eagle Talon, only to have his hopes for a win in Class F for trucks dashed by time penalties for starting out of line. According to the records, Adams did in fact run the hill quicker than eventual winner Jack Flannery timewise, but was assessed 40 seconds in penalties for starting out of position, because his helicopter ride from the top delayed his arrival at the starting line. An appeal of the penalty assessment was denied by the sanctioning body. In defense of our author, and citing your own point, the information on Mr. Harris’ accomplishment was not included in the press materials and was subsequently left out of the story.
