PIKE’S PEAK, Co. – Kenworth, Sterling and Freightliner trucks will all take to the Adelphia Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on July 4, in one of the greatest tests of endurance in North American racing.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb runs over a 12.42-mile course on a groomed gravel highway to the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado.

Grades along the journey reach a maximum of 10.5 per cent and an average of seven per cent, while competing trucks and cars will twist through 156 turns.

Defending his 1999 Class 8 title will be Mike Ryan and his modified Freightliner Century Class, powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine. His time last year was 15 minutes, three seconds.

Kenworth and CFI will team up once again to sponsor an entry in the Semi (Class 8) Truck Division at the popular Colorado event. Veteran Bruce Canepa will race a T2000 prepared by a volunteer team of 10 Kenworth engineers.

A modified 1,200-hp, A-line Sterling will be driven by truck racer Shane Chapman of New Zealand in his first attempt at Pike’s Peak.

A 14.6-litre Detroit Diesel Series 60 will be mounted behind the driver, feeding its power through a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at 1,200 hp

“When it shifted from fourth gear to fifth, the wheels were spinning and burning rubber,” Chapman said of a recent test run. “It has a heap of power.” n