Pit Rally, Central City

There's a seven-mile stretch of road in Central City that climbs to an altitude of 2,500 feet. On just about every day of the year, it's a quiet, four-lane, mountain road. But every summer, it transforms into a closed-course, high-speed race track—and just about anybody can hit the pavement. Pit Rally invites racing enthusiasts (competition class, race-licensed drivers who reach speeds of up to 150mph) and the racing curious (touring-class drivers who race for the chance to see what their car is made of—usually some combination of plastic and metal).

Spectators to the event get free admission. A bus shuttles them between stunning vantage points from which to watch the race. At the finish line, automotive vendors display and demonstrate their wares, while visitors browse classic and modern cars.