Story: Evan Rothman
Pictures: Monster Sport
The annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place this weekend, and the 2010 edition is sure to be a memorable one. A total of 168 teams have entered!
This weekend sees Colorado Springs play host to the 88th edition of the venerable Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. With a bevy of high-cost, high-power machinery lining up to take on the 12,42mi (19,87km) course on Sunday morning, all eyes will be on the stopwatch to see who and if the elusive 10-minute time barrier can be beaten…
With 11 Unlimited Division Class wins to his name and 10 overall victories at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb since 1989, Japanese driver Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima and his powerful Monster Sport Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special machine are favourites for victory here once more. Rhys Millen (who has been slaving away at a new car for 2010) and Paul Dallenbach will be hoping to pip the Japanese crew to the finish line. Millen’s new-for-2010 RMR Hyundaiu Geneses PM580 will be aiming to return his family’s name to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record books this weekend.
Tajima set the current course record in 2007 with a time of 10min 01,41sec, beating Rod Millen’s (Rhys’ father) record of 10min 04,06sec that stood since 1994. “The main focus now is to be the fastest car up the hill, slay the Monster and get the record back in the family name, the Millen name,” he said during recent practice runs.
Tajima’s monster Suzuki SX4 is based upon a low drag and high down-force concept, and was extensively fine-tuned in both a wind tunnel and exhaustive tests in Japan. This year’s event route consists of more smooth asphalt and less gravel than in 2009, so should favour the mightily powerful Monster Sport Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special.
Six-time Open Wheel Class winner Dallenbach is attempting to be crowned Unlimited Division Class winner this weekend with his own 98 Open Wheel Rally Style Car, a traditional Pikes Peak machine.
The 12,42mi (19,87km) course consists of 156 turns, starting at an altitude of 9 390 feet above sea level and reaching a dizzying 14 110 feet at the summit of America’s Mountain. The thin air plays a decisive role in the course time, as it drains the cars of crucial kiloWatts and muscle power from the drivers.
A total of 168 drivers and racers will take part this weekend, with 14 returning champions. The car and motorcycle classes are brimming with not only talent and skills, but with beautiful machinery. Ducati North America will be going all out in the motorcycle division, entering two Multistrada 1200s, and Team Spider Grips will once again be in force with their two bikes ridden by Greg Tracy (five-time champion) and Alexander Smith.
The youngest entrant this weekend (and in the event’s history) is Savannah Rickli, a 16-year-old student from Littleton, Colorado. She will be driving her 2003 Mini Cooper S with co-driver Rebecca Greek in the otherwise all-male Time Attack Two-Wheel Drive Division.
More information on this event can be found by visiting the event’s website at www.usaracing.com/ppihc and for results and news flashes at http://handbrakeshairpins.wordpress.com.
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