Pastor, entrepreneur and race car driver, Don Wickstrum, will return to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 23, 2024. Driven by the motivation of achieving the dream he has had since he was a child and improving in the race, Don will race for the sixth time.
Known as ‘The Race to the Clouds,’ Pikes Peak is the second-oldest motorsports race in America. Boasting 156 turns over a 12.42-mile course, beginning at over 9,300 feet and ending at 14,115 feet above sea level, the harrowing course has long served as a driver’s proving ground.
Notably, Don overcame all obstacles — even with a troublesome motor — and went on to finish 2nd in his class and 11th overall in the 2021 PPIHC. The next year in 2022, Don fulfilled a lifelong dream of reaching the Summit on the 100th running of the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. Last year, Don came in 13th overall with an impressive time of 10 minutes flat.
Don’s story entails pushing through doubts, surviving crashes and coping with an aggressive cancer diagnosis. His journey of perseverance encourages audiences, old and young, to achieve their lifelong dreams — even and especially through adversity.
The weekend-long event features the International Hill Climb Race, Fan Fest and opportunities to meet the acclaimed racer himself. Fan Fest will be held on the Friday evening before Race Day, where more than 30,000 people will gather in the heart of Downtown Colorado Springs to experience this widely-anticipated 10-block street party. Don Wickstrum will serve as a key piece in this epic event weekend of innovation and competition, bringing excitement, encouragement and vision to audiences everywhere in this ongoing larger-than-life story.
WHO:
Don Wickstrum is a pastor, entrepreneur, engineer and competitor at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Don and his family live in Monroe, Wisconsin. Visit https://fastestpastor.com/ for more information about Don.
For more insight, Top Gear published a recent feature on Don Wickstrum in the latest issue, detailing his “message of hope” within his story, highlighting his profound goals and accomplishments in racing and leaving the reading audience with a desire for victory on all accounts for the “Fastest Pastor” and his ongoing journey.
WHEN/WHERE:
- Fan Fest – Friday, June 21
- 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Downtown Colorado Springs, CO
- Fan Fest Information Page: https://ppihc.org/fan-fest/
- Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race – Sunday, June 23
- Event start: 2:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.
- Race begins at 7:30 a.m.
- Location: 5089 Pike Peak Highway, Cascade, CO 80809
- PPIHC Tickets and Information Page: https://ppihc.org/tickets-
camping-permits/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
I Am Second is a nonprofit launched in 2008 that ignites hope and inspires people to live for God and for others. Its website, iamsecond.com, features written and film-based stories of more than 150 athletes, actors, models, musicians, cultural influencers and everyday people who have stepped in front of the camera and declared, “I Am Second.” For more information, visit iamsecond.com.
Two years ago, I Am Second released “Chasing Hope,” an exclusive short documentary that offers viewers an intimate look at Don Wickstrum’s years-long journey to conquer the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb while leaning on his faith and battling an aggressive cancer diagnosis.
You can watch the film here: https://www.iamsecond.com/
I Am Second has also partnered with Don Wickstrum and Chasing Hope Ministries to bring the Chasing Hope Tour, a nationwide tour with Don and The Band Reeves, to schools, universities, jails, conferences, business events, car events, fundraisers and churches to bring the message of hope, purpose and perseverance. For more information and to book the Chasing Hope Tour, visit: https://www.chasinghopetour.