Dick Heikes enjoyed an outstanding career in southern Colorado racing, competing in oval track stock car racing as well as Hill Climb events in open wheel and stock car divisions. Always popular with the fans and other drivers, Dick would race anything at any time. Early in his career, for example, he would drag race his Corvette on Friday, then hit the Continental Divide Road course the next day.
Dick joined the Pikes Peak Stock Car Racing Association in 1965, competing in a stock car given to him by a G.I. who was shipping out. The only thing he asked was that Dick keep the number 711 on the car, which he did in the many years and race cars that were to follow. The 711 team raced at Pikes Peak Speedway until it closed, and in 1968 became part of the “Race to the Clouds”, The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Dick finished well in his rookie year, racing in the Champ Car Division, then moved to the Stock Car class, piloting a succession of well-prepared Plymouth Dusters in the years to follow. He always considered his 8th place finish in 1970 to be a victory, since he finished higher in the order than Mario Andretti, who was a rookie in the division that year.
In 1976 Dick retuned to oval track racing when Colorado Springs International Speedway opened, and claimed the Inaugural Track Championship in the Late Model Division. The 711 racing team competed at tracks in five different states while earning a second Championship title at CSIS in 1980. Dick raced into the early 1990’s on dirt and paved tracks, and retired from the sport with a well-earned reputation for hard, clean driving and strong competitive spirit.
Dick and the 711 crew set an example for what it means to be a professional race team. They raced against the best competition in the region, and each person on the team had a specific job they performed with the utmost professionalism. They had a singular objective, and that was to win. Dick drove the cars and led the team, but was eager to give credit to the crew for the racing success they earned.
Dick Heikes passed away in 2022. He will long be remembered for his excellence on the track his role as a racing mentor whose positive influence continues in the racing sons and daughters of the original 711 team members to this day.
For his exemplary career and the legacy he created, we are proud to induct Dick Heikes into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.
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