Story: Evan Rothman
Favourite to not only win the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2010 this past weekend, Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima and his rapid Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb machine claimed the overall win for the fifth consecutive year but were unable to slip beneath the 10-minute time barrier.
Competing in the Unlimited Class in this the 88th edition of the famous hill climb on Sunday 27 June, Tajima fired up his not-so-showroom-standard Suzuki SX4 to do battle with the 19,87km–long course and its 156 corners in near perfect weather conditions.
Tajima powered from 9,390ft start line to the chilly conditions at the 14,110ft finish line after an error-free run. However, stopping the clock at 11m 11,490s, Tajima was surprised at the slower pace. “I’m very disappointed,” said Tajima. “The car worked well and it was a very good run – I thought I was faster.”
This run was quicker than his 2009 winning time, but considerably slower than his 2007 record-setting pace of 10m 01,408s.
The second fastest man up the hill was Paul Dallenbach, a three-times winner of this specialised event. In his two-wheel drive Chevy, Dallenbach posted a time of 10m 39,534s, a respectable time despite him having to change his car’s engine with a less powerful back up.
Rhys Millen suffered ill luck on his timed-run up Pikes Peak, setting a time of 11m 06,208s. His RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580 was beset with gremlins off the start line: his gearbox gave problems and the front brakes overheated to cause him to run wide into a number of turns.
Savannah Rickli, the youngest female driver to compete in the history of the event, and co-driver Rebecca Greek powered their 2003 Mini Cooper S to a time of 13m 58,232 to finish third in the Time Attack Two-Wheel Drive Division.
Although Tajima didn’t set an overall record this year, there were four new records set:
• Super Stock Division: Clint Vasholtz (Ford Mustang) – 11m 33,320s
• Time Attack Two-Wheel Drive: Jeff Zwart (Porsche 911 GT3) – 11m 31,095s
• Open Class: Randy Schranz (2010 Shelby Cobra) – 11m 57,098s
• Vintage Modified Race Cars: Doug Mockett (Oldsmobile Super 88) – 13m 05,710s
In its first attempt at the challenging 19,87km-long course, the factory Ducati North America team of Greg Tracy and Alexander Smith powered their Ducati Multistrada 1200 S machines to glory. Tracy won the 1205cc Division with a time of 11m 46,550, while Smith finished third. Walter Pew (Buell XBSTT) split the two Ducatis.
Dave Carapetyan won the Pikes Peak Open Division in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX with a time of 11m 34,017s.
In the Rally America Class, favoured to win Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) did not make it to the top. The class win went to Dick Rockrohr with 13m 13,898s. William Casell followed him to second place in his BMW 318i with 13m 50,059s.
In total, 21 of the 22 Classes were represented at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and 141 of the 152 entrants completed the event.
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