The Waldo Canyon Fire forced the postponement of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but don’t think that the delay has killed the spirit surrounding the renowned race.The PPIHC Fan Fest kicks off the racing weekend Friday night by getting fans pumped up for the main event on Sunday. The fan fest is free and open to the public, and will fill up Tejon Street downtown between Platte and Colorado avenues. Organizers expect a crowd of nearly 35,000 people.”It’s there to promote the race,” says the PPIHC’s Director of Operations Megan Leatham, “but the fan fest has kind of taken on a life of its own.”Leatham says this year’s fan fest is highlighted by a show from the Red Bull motorcycle jumpers (now a fan fest staple, thanks to the efforts of Sam and Kathy Guadagnoli) and a live performance by local pop-rock band “The Martini Shot.” Attendees will also see an appearance from the Red Bull skydiving team. A beer garden will be available for those seeking some adult beverages. For kid-friendly activities, check out the climbing wall or the inflatable tug-of-war course.In keeping with the fan fest’s mission to promote the race, the Hill Climb’s top qualifiers and most famous drivers, like Nobuhiro Tajima and Rod Millen, will have their cars on display and be available to meet fans and sign autographs.However, you don’t have to be a die-hard fan of the Hill Climb to enjoy yourself.”It’s just about coming out for a fun time,” Leatham says. “For those who don’t want to get up to the mountain to see the race, it’s a great chance to see the cars. It’s basically just a huge festival.”Bob Gillis, a former chairman of the PPIHC Board of Directors, was involved in starting the fan fest 11 years ago. He says the festival was conceived as part of a “speed week” — a “whole week of racing related activities” — with the fan fest falling between the Hill Climb and races at the Pikes Peak International Raceway.”It’s a thank you to the fans,” says Gillis. “A fun event before we get serious about racing.”While he is still a board member, Gillis has enjoyed taking a step back and adopting the role of a “working fan.” Having attended all 10 previous fan fests, he certainly has some fond memories.An unforgettable experience came last year, when Gillis was the “personal escort” for actor Paul Walker, of “The Fast and the Furious” fame. The Hollywood star served as the race’s master of ceremonies. Gillis got to spend some quality time with Walker after being forced to whisk him away from the fan fest — due to uncontrollable throngs of fawning women.”It was nice to sit down and have a drink with him,” Gillis says. “It was just going crazy with all the girls.”