Two Monsters will Electrify Pikes Peak Hill Climb Spectators

Two Monsters will Electrify Pikes Peak Hill Climb Spectators:

It looks like the 90th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on July 8 will be historic.
Firstly, the 12.42 mile long course is now paved the whole way to the top of the 14,110-feet mountain. If the weather cooperates it should be possible for someone to break the record set last year when it was mostly paved.
Japan’s Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima, driving a highly modified Suzuki in the Unlimited division, set that new course record at 9:51.278 minutes – the first time the elusive ten-minute barrier had been broken. Tajima has won the division and the overall crown six straight times.
This year though “Monster” aims to break his own record in an electric car that was unveiled in Japan this week by Team APEV (Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles). Few details of the prototype electric race car have been disclosed but it will have two motors and a regenerative braking system.
It will be amazing to watch him silently(?) tackle the “Race to the Clouds” in what should be an electrifying event.


John Buffum wins Pikes Peak in 1982 – photo by Lisa Rettie/Trackside Photo
Those who want to hear what they see will probably be more excited to know that Audi is bringing over the famous “Monster” 600-bhp Audi Sport Quattro S1 that Walter Röhrl drove up the mountain in 1987. He broke the record that year after it had been set and broken several times in the previous years since Audi first tackled the hill climb with a Audi Quattro rally car driven by John Buffum in 1982. Sadly Röhrl will not be going for a record but will be making an exhibition run in the “Monster” Audi.
Rally cars – or at least unique specials derived from rally cars – have essentially dominated the hill climb for the past 30 years. Could electric-powered race cars – there are several entered this year — dominate this unique race from now on?

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Related posts:

1. Best Quote So Far At The Pikes Peak Hill Climb
2. Pikes Peak Hill Climb: Can “Monster” or Millen go under 10?
3. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb: The Mountain Remains King

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