Beginning in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has held races in the high elevation of the Rocky Mountains. In the 100 examples of the race that have taken place, Ford vehicles have been a prominent force in the competition.

In the first example of the race, a Ford Model T made the climb to the summit of 14,115ft above sea level with a time of 28 minutes and three seconds. The course weaved through the mountains with a few different turns than we see today and was all dirt at the time. Over the years, many exemplary events featuring fords occurred, including the iconic racer Parnelli Jones setting multiple division records in a Mercury Marauder, which Ford used as a marketing campaign post-race.

Motorsports Hall of Famer, IndyCar Race, and Pikes Peak legend Bobby Unser even sported the Ford blue oval in 1969 while driving a Ford Talladega, setting a Stock Car Class division record with a time of 13:40:05.

The Vahsholtz family is perhaps the most die-hard Ford enthusiasts on the mountain, taking the widest variety of Fords to the hill starting in 1981 in a Ford Fairmont, with continued racing today. The family has raced everything from their original Fairmont, to Mustangs, Rangers, and even a custom built Ford powered open wheel. The family has claimed several division records and aim to set more in 2023.

In 2009, a Rally team entered the competition with an 800HP Rally spec Ford Fiesta. Lead driver Marcus Granholm and navigator Andreas Eriksson were able to wheel the mostly dirt road to a second palace finish with a time of 11:28.96.

On June 25th, 2023 Ford Performance takes the challenge of the mountain with Supervan 4, an all-electric vehicle based on the Ford Transit. Supervan 4 will be piloted by motorsports icon and PPIHC record holder Romain Dumas.

We took a deep dive into the history of Ford vehicles competing at the Pikes Peak and created a list to showcase the drivers and nameplates that have braved the mountain:

● Ford nameplates which have competed at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb: Model T, Model A, Ford Spl, V8 Roadster, Ford 8, Ford Supercharged, Ford Cragar Spl, V8 Spl, 57 Ford, Ford Flathead, 63 ford, Torino, Cyclone, Mustang, Cougar, Fairmont, Grenada, thunderbird, ranger, Probe, F150, Escort, Bronco, Explorer, Falcon, Fiesta, RS200, Fusion.

● 1916 - Five Ford’s enter the first ever iteration of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, with Guy Petersen earning the top Ford finish with a time of 28:03:00

● 1922 Noel Bullock wins Open Wheel class powered by Ford with a time of 19:50.90

● Ford entered the Fiesta in 2009 and finished 2nd in the unlimited class

● 1962 Curtis Turner set the Division record in a Ford with a time of 14.55.50

● 1963 Parnelli Jones set the Division record in a 1963 Mercury Marauder with a time of 14:17.20 in the stock car class

● 1964 Parnelli Jones set the Division record in a 1964 Mercury Marauder with a time of 13:52.20 in the stock car class

● 1965 Ak Miller won the sports car class in a Cobra Ford with a time of 14:09.10

● 1969 Bobby Unset set the Division Record in a Ford Talladega in the Stock Car Class with a time of 13:40:05

● 1971 Ak Miller won the stock car class with a time of 14:18:60 in a 70 Ford Mustang

● 1972 Randy Schranz won the Truck Production class with a time of 14:33.40

● 1973 Randy Schranz won the Truck Production Class with a 1972 Bronco 351 with a time of 14:16.78

● 1981 Leonard Vahsholtz won the stock car class in a 1981 Ford Fairmont with a time of 12:55.11

● 1986 Leonard Vahsholtz won the stock car class in a 1986 Thunderbird with a time of 12:15.49, setting the new Division Record.

● 1987 Leonard Vahsholtz won the stock car class in a 1987 Ford Thunderbird with a time of 12:58.55

● 1988 Robert Seivert won the Truck Class 8 in a 1981 Ford with a time of 15:04.53

● 1989 Leonard Vahsholtz won the stock car class in a 1989 Ford Thunderbird with a time of 12:23.31

● 1990 Leonard Vahsholtz won the stock car class in a 1990 Ford Probe with a time of 12:35.90

● 1993 Leonard Vahsholtz won the stock car class in a 1990 Ford Probe with a time of 11:47.28, setting a new Division Record.

● 1994 Antonin Chorouz won High Performance Showroom Stock class with a time of 12:28.06, setting a new Division Record

● 1996 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super Stock Class in a 1996 Ford with a time of 12:10.83

● 1997 Clint Vahsholtz won the super stock class in a 1996 Ford Mustang with a time of 11:46.47

● 1998 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 1996 Ford Mustang with a time of 11:55.09

● 1999 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 1999 Ford Mustang with a time of 12:04.66

● 2000 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 1996 Ford Mustang with a time of 12:04.66

● 2001 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super Stock class  in a 2000 Ford with a time of 11:49.61

● 2002 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2000 Ford with a time of 11:53.00

● 2003 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2000 Ford with a time of 11:43.90

● 2004 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a  Ford Mustang with a time of 5:21.28 (Short course)

● 2005 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2002 Ford Mustang with a time of 11:53.00

● 2006 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2004 Ford with a time of 12:16.39

● 2008 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2002 Ford with a time of 11:45.49

● 2009 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2002 Ford with a time of 11:39.66

● 2009 Marcus Granholm finishes 2nd in Unlimited Class with 2009 Fiesta in 11:28.96

● 2010 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2004 Ford with a time of 11:33.32, setting a new division record

● 2011 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2006 Ford with a time of 10:55.60, setting a new division record

● 2012 Clint Vahsholtz won the Super stock class in a 2006 Ford with a time of 04:36.87 (Short Course)

● 2013 Randy Schranz won the Pikes Peak Open in a 2013 Shelby GT500 with a time of 11:21.41

● 2013 Clint Vahsholtz won the Open Wheel class with a 2013 Ford in 11:07.30

● 2013 Ralf Christensson won the Pikes Peak Vintage Class in a 1967 Ford Mustang GT350 in 12:08.50

● 2014 Clint Vahsholtz won the Pikes Peak Challenge-Open wheel class in a 2013 Ford open in 9:54.70

● 2014 Ralf Christensson won the Pikes Peak Challenge - Exhibition in a 1967 GT350 in 10:46.00 setting the division record

● 2016 Codie Vahsholtz won Pikes Peak Challenge Open wheel in a 2013 Ford Open in 9:54.50

● 2017 Clint Vahsholtz won Pikes Peak Challenge Open wheel in a 2013 Ford Open in 9:35.74

● 2016 Clint Vahsholtz won Open wheel in a 2013 Ford Open in 9:54.05

● 2017 Clint Vahshotlz won Pikes Peak Challenge Open Wheel class in a 2013 Ford Open in 9:35.74

● 2020 Clint Vahshotlz won open wheel class in a 2013 Ford Open in 9:35.49

● 2022 Shelby American entered a GT500SE for the 100th anniversary of PPIHC running and 60th anniversary of Shelby American.

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY FORD ARCHIVES