Pike's Peak International Hill Climb

[f6fhellcat13]

Another round of America's second-oldest motorsports event happened this weekend. I love hillclimbs such as this because it/they combine off-the-wall manufacturer-sponsored insanity with grassroots racing. Say I'm from the '70s or '80s, but really, who doesn't love comically-oversized wings and turboes, and amateur participation?

Sadly, the results this year weren't quite as good as I was expecting. I though that the ten-minute barrier could have been broken, but sadly it was not. The most skillful and experienced Unlimited-class driver, Monster Tajima, improved his time by four seconds from last year, but was unable to break either the record he set in 2007 or the ten-minute barrier. Likewise, the most promising car, Rhys Millen's Hyundai, failed to make much of an impact. He set a new record in 2WD Time Attack last year, but I suppose wasn't familiar enough with the car and its speed to compete with Monster Tajima's experience and SX4.

However, in the 2WD Time Attack class, the record set by Millen last year was smashed. Jeff Zwart beat Millen's time (set in a Genesis coupe) by over half a minute in his 911.

Internet sensation William Casell also participated in his $500 BMW bought on craigslist that has already participated in a WRC event and a number of other rallying events.

Did anyone in the area (Sledge ) attend? I would love to have some pictures in this thread.

The pertinent classes, full results can be found here:
Unlimited Class

Place Car# Driver Name Vehicle Make Vehicle Model Type Course Time
1 Nobuhiro Tajima Suzuki SX4 4WD 10:11.490
98 Paul Dallenbach Chevy 2WD 10:39.534
6 Rhys Millen Hyundai RMR JE09 4WD 11:06.208

Time Attack 2WD

Place Car# Driver Name Vehicle Make Vehicle Model Type Course Time
111 Jeff Zwart Porsche 2WD 11:31.095
22 Ken Stouffer Nissan 240SX 2WD 13:19.056
127 Savannah Rickli Mini Cooper S 2WD 13:58.232
119 Roy Tomkins Toyota Corolla 2WD 14:04.268

Time Attack 4WD

Place Car# Driver Name Vehicle Make Vehicle Model Type Course Time
16 Jeff Denmeade Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4WD 11:53.212
61 Karl Scheible Subaru Sti 4WD 11:54.989
156 Dave Kern Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4WD 12:55.418

[clutch-monkey]

i must attend this one day. reminds me of world time atatck in some ways, in terms of the crazy aero mods on the top end cars.

[csl177]

Miss the annual buzz surrounding Pike's Peak, too bad there's no TV coverage anymore... once upon a time, it was as big a deal as Indy and run by the same sanctioning body, AAA and later, USAC. Amazing place to visit, even if just flogging a wheezy rental up to the top.

My favorite year was 1985 just because of Michelle Mouton. A decade later the Suzuki Escudo was the revelation... hard to believe than in nearly 100 years from the first record of about 20 minutes, the time to the top is (only) half that now.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKKfzR7dX-c]YouTube - 1985 Pikes Peak Audi quattro S1 Mouton[/ame]

[pimento]

Millen commented after practice that his car wasn't setup or even designed for the gravel part of the course, this was mostly a shakedown year in anticipation for next year after the rest of the course is paved. Which to my mind is a damn shame, I like that it's part tarmac part gravel.

Also, holy crap, that 2WD time is amazing.. is there any info on the car? To be faster than an Evo up something like that is very impressive.

[f6fhellcat13]

Zwart's car: Six-Time Champion Jeff Zwart Returns to PPIHC (I think that's about this years car)

I agree that the two different surfaces are what gives the race a lot of its character and it will be sad to see asphalt monotony in the future.

[wwgkd]

I'll stop being interested once it's all asphault. What's the point then? It's not really Pikes Peak anymore.

Zwart is my new hero, and proves that Evo's/STI's are highly over rated.

[f6fhellcat13]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5djWO2oCSo&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Pikes Peak 2010 - Jeff Zwart Qualifying[/ame]

[Drones]

Porsche 911

Interesting, how time can show Corvette ZR1 or Gallardo Superleggera

[pimento]

YouTube - Pikes Peak 2010 - Jeff Zwart Qualifying

That's a hugely impressive drive.

[clutch-monkey]

love it when it just changes to gravel.

[f6fhellcat13]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvqZDiU4NRM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvqZDiU4NRM[/ame]

This year is the last year of both a paved and loose surface Pike's Peak. It's 90% paved already, but hopefully it will be a nice last hurrah for this unique style of hillclimbing. As cool as it may be to see some classic European hillclimb machinery make its way across the pond, I think Pike's Peak will be losing its most interesting characteristic.

I think breaking the ten-minute barrier would be a fitting send off for a partially-gravel Pike's Peak.

Like last year, there is no real media coverage of the event so if anyone sees a video of a run, be sure to post it here.

[faksta]

Live Streaming (they say so).

Wish Pikes Peak will attract more interesting cars later, though.

[RacingManiac]

Considering that I miss the boat already to watch the pavement/gravel mix, I'd settle for anything in the future...definitely on the list to watch in person once in my like...

Switching to tarmac will probably means less compromised setup....and ability to use even more downforce and ground effect....

[Matra et Alpine]

thansk faksta, watching it

After a day of competing in Scottish Hillclimb in the clouds/rain it's nice to see blue sky and sun

[Kitdy]

9:51!!!