Pikes Peak Hill Climb First Timer

My wife got me tickets to the 2024 Pikes Peak Hill Climb for one of my bucket list trips (wanted to go the the 100th and kinda glad we couldn't). I'm super geeked about it. We got parking tickets for Devil's Playground. Does anyone have any tips for this location or where the best parking spots are. What equipment I should bring? Was debating between bringing up a gazebo or a tent but didnt know how smooth the ground was up there if it should have a floor that would get damaged or not. Appreciate any inside info I can get. Already prepared to get there early.

 

how fun... no advice... but you can always drive up a day or two early to check it out... quite frankly, you have to go early so you can drive the entire road if you haven't already done it

 

I have never been there. So the whole trip to the mountain and the race will be a first for me. We are used to the elevations and camping in weather. Not too concerned about that as long as I know what to expect as far as terrain and how close the vehicles are to the viewing areas.

 

I drove most of the way up. on the drive down put your transmission in a low gear and coast it down. I have a 5 speed and coasted down at 3k rpm and had to pull over several times to let a convoy of people pass me. its a ton of fun and I do not remember where the devils playground is and what it looks like, so as far as advice for gear, I got nothing for you.

 

I haven't been up for the hill climb but I've biked up pikes peak a number of times. For the bike ride there is an aid station at devil's playground. It's surprisingly flat and possibly a little downhill on the way up. The aid stations have tables so it should be pretty flat. There is a small parking and nothing is too far from the road unless they changed something the last couple years. You have to get up there super crazy early, like 3 or 4 if I remember right. They close the road pretty early to make sure no one is on it for the race. Try to make it up to the summit house if you can. They redid it a few years ago and it's much nicer than the old one. I live in Colorado springs and see pikes peak everyday (edit* most days. its covered by clouds today)