A racer has died in a practice session for this weekend’s Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
Carl Sorensen, a racer with years of experience at Pikes Peak, went off a cliff near the top of the mountain in a practice session yesterday. He was the sixth rider to die in Hillclimb history.
The last rider fatality at Pikes Peak was 2014, when Bobby Goodin lost control of his motorcycle in gravel after completing the course; he died after falling off a cliff as well.
The aftermath of Sorensen’s crash saw even more chaos, as six spectators in a car were struck by lightning; reports seem to indicate they are fine.
Following the crash, Sorensen’s family and the Pikes Peak hillclimb organizers released this statement:”
“The collective hearts of the Colorado Springs community and the Board of Directors of The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, share the grief and pain of Carl Sorensen’s family, friends and fans over his untimely death.
Throughout the 92 years that this unique race has been conducted on America’s Mountain, we have experienced the ultimate joy in triumph, the disappointment of failure and now, the unexpected heartbreak of the loss of a competitor, whose love of the race brought him to Pikes Peak. We mourn the tragic death of Carlton and he will be in all of our hearts this Sunday for the 93rd Race to the Clouds.
He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend with a tremendous sense of humor and a passion for racing.
He left our lives while doing something that he loved, and it is the only thing that has the ability to deal with the reality of life, the acceptance of the competitors of the dangers in the race, and the heart and soul of a great man.
With our deepest condolences,
The Family of Carl Sorensen and Board of Directors of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.”
