The big news over the week-end is of course, as I'm sure all auto-enthusiasts are aware, that a new record has been set for the historic sprint up Pikes Peak Mountain. Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima drove a 'mildy' modified Suzuki XL7 up the hill in a hair over 10min, finally besting Rhys Millen's decade-old record by about 3 seconds. He vows to return next year and chase the 10min barrier.

Millen also got some press this year for winning in the 2WD Time Attack class; piloting a 2006 Solstice GXP breathing E85, Millen actually ran faster than some 4WD vehicles.

Before all this, the only association I had with Pikes Peak came from a certain car in GT3 with the word "Escudo" in it. Although I am still shocked at the mammoth size of the wing and that whatchamacallit aero-concoction at the front.

Official Results:http://www.ppihc.com/contentx.aspx?tabid=13&xsltfilename=PPIHCRaceDay&xmlfilename=~/Results/PPIHCResultsRaceDay&contentid=258 (http://www.ppihc.com/contentx.aspx?tabid=13&xsltfilename=PPIHCRaceDay&xmlfilename=%7E/Results/PPIHCResultsRaceDay&contentid=258)



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0f/RandySchranz.JPG


Millen's (formerly) record-setting AWD Celica
video:http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7520952481241532306&q=millen+pikes+peak&total=11&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search&plindex=3
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1398-1.jpg


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7520952481241532306&q=millen+pikes+peak&total=11&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search&plindex=3
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/tajima_raceday02.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/3289-5.jpg

How much of a "mild" setup can the suzuki have??? considering thats a 1000H.P. A-W-D Celica!!! any specs/???anybody???

Thats awesome, and he is gonna try break 10 mins next year. he probably will be able to do it.

How much of a "mild" setup can the suzuki have??? considering thats a 1000H.P. A-W-D Celica!!! any specs/???anybody???
http://www.sportscarforums.com/f10/suzukis-new-xl7-pikes-peak-hillclimb-21075.html
Thats all i know, but theres probably heaps of stuff if you google it, but i CBF.

Wow, congrats to Tajima and the Suzuki team. Fair play to them, if the race was based on looks and madness alone they would have it licked.

But what an achievement it is, three seconds is not a lot up a 10min course, congrats to them.

Actually, Tajima beat Rod Millen, Rhys Millen's father. Fun race that doesn't get the coverage it deserves plain and simple.

How long did it take the fastest Group B rally cars to get it done?

10 minutes on a 20 km course uphill with an average grade of 7% is damn impressive.
If anyone would broadcast this here, even if it isn't live, I'm sure I'd watch the climb.

I thought Rod Millen set the record in 1994 with a Toyota "Tacoma".

Forgive my ignorance but on the photos above you can see asphalt and I have a film called 'Climb dance' I'm pretty sure everybody saw that film it shows Ari Vatanen climbing in Peugeot 405 T16 on Pikes Peak and there is no asphalt so I have a question. Did they changed the road and put asphalt on the old course or it's another course or maybe there was asphalt there back in the old days but it isn't showed it that film or maybe it's different race?

Forgive my ignorance but on the photos above you can see asphalt and I have a film called 'Climb dance' I'm pretty sure everybody saw that film it shows Ari Vatanen climbing in Peugeot 405 T16 on Pikes Peak and there is no asphalt so I have a question. Did they changed the road and put asphalt on the old course or it's another course or maybe there was asphalt there back in the old days but it isn't showed it that film or maybe it's different race?

I think they had to pave it because some environmentalists were complaining that there was dirt in the river near by.