With speeds escalating at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, officials have enacted new safety measures for 2014, including limiting spectators to six designated areas. Get all the latest news in the Executive Briefing. -photo courtesy Colorado Springs Sports Corp.
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+ Toyota sold a record 2.583 million vehicles in the the first quarter of 2014, maintaining its lead over rivals General Motors and Volkswagen. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Land Rover has debuted a Range Rover long-wheelbase hybrid with V6 diesel power at the Beijing motor show. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ First-quarter earnings at Hyundai Motor fell short of analyst estimates, which the company attributed to a 3 percent slip in North American sales. More at Reuters.
+ The bribery trial of Formula One czar Bernie Ecclestone is under way in Munich, where Ecclestone has denied that his $45 million payment to convicted banker Gerhard Gribkowsky was a bribe. More at BBC News.
+ Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann has targeted the number-two spot in sales in Europe, where the automaker now ranks third behind Volkswagen and Ford. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ Volkswagen has confirmed production plans for the 395 hp Golf R400 hot hatch concept that debuted at the Beijing Motor Show. More at Road & Track.
+ General Motors declared only $125 million in profits in the first quarter or 2014, writing off $1.3 billion in costs incurred in the ignition recall. More at The Detroit News.
+ In a safety move, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb officials have restricted spectators at this year’s event to six designated areas. More at the Colorado Springs Gazette.
For the previous Executive Briefing from April 21, click here.
Looks like Pikes Peak is gonna be a lot less enjoyable for spectators.
How many deaths and serious injuries were there at the nation’s baseball and football stadiums last year? Did those sports survive?
If I’m not mistaken, there have been fewer than five fatalities during the hill climb in ninety-seven years. Spectators face greater dangers driving to and from the event. I think they can open up more viewing areas.
Having attended and covered the PPIHC, I’m sympathetic to the officials’ decisions. Realistically, they have no choice. The old 10-minute benchmark has been blown in the weeds, with cars now doing nearly 8 flat. It was impossible to police the spectators along the entire 12-mile course and things have been getting out of hand in recent years, with people leaning out into the course and so on like a third-world rally event. One spectator injury could easily end the event permanently.
I see your point, however; Any form of motor sport carries an inherent danger to both participants and spectator. Look at the back of any spectator ticket and it is full of disclaimers. Participants have to sign a waiver, perhaps its time for spectators to also.
This just in…due to recent events, roadside ice cream stands have been abolished. Going forward, all ice cream cones must be purchased online from the safety of your home.