Ralph Bruning was an 8 time winner of the Stock Car class at the Pikes Peak hill climb and had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in early 1998. He still ran the event and finished 2nd. Against all odds, he returned in 1999 to compete again but was too weak to be able to do so. He sadly never got another chance at the mountain as he passed away March 31st, 2000. Tragically his son was killed in the same car his father was going to compete in during practice for the 2001 event. RIP Ralph Bruning and Ralph Chandler Bruning Jr.