SCARED?
author: Leon Botha
I am, just thinking about it...
Although I would like to see them race down the mountain which will give big-balled lower-power teams a bit of a chance as well, I still get scared just to think about having to enter a race such as the Pikes Peak and Race tot the Clouds!
|
|
The Peak
|
The driving is not as scary as thinking about having to control that incredible amount of power up a mountain where spot-spot you don't have something called "propper traction" but with a possibility of going down!
That incredible acceleration, then hard on brakes, down one or two gears depending on the corner and back onto the power feeding about 1 horsepower per kilogram into a car that weights about 1100kg onto the road while ticking off the corners one-by one until you completed the 156th one!
Click for a bit of action
When we eventually have the sponsorships at Rallystar sorted out for all we want to do, we hope to be able to see what action we can create with around 600bhp in a car weighing around 1400kg.
That should already be sensational?
So I am sure a real petrol-head who have ever been in a car that makes real power will at least get that anxious feeling I am trying to describe when you imagine about 1000bhp on 1000kg fitted with 20 inch tyres for more grip because you want to break the 10 minute barrier going up over 19.72km of twisty road peaking out at 6413m above sea level?
Japan's Nobuhiro "Monster' Tajima who has been dominating the "Open Class" for many years will this year try to get through that magic barrier that has been waiting to be broken for more than almost ever.
On average there was 150 competitors per event since 1916 and this race has been won by names such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, and Robby Unser (the current class record holder, achieving 10:05.85 min in 1994). The overall record is held by Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima from Japan who clocked a time of 10:01.408 on July 21st 2007 driving the 1000 hp mid-engined Suzuki XL7 Hill Climb Special, breaking the previous record (set in 1994 by Rod Millen) by less than three seconds. The winning time in 1916 was 20:55.40, set by Rea Lentz.
The first running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb was promoted by Spencer Penrose. Penrose had finished widening the narrow carriage road into a much wider "Pikes Peak Highway." He decided to encourage tourists to visit by creating a race to the clouds.
In 1989, an award-winning short film about the 1988 event was released by French director Jean-Louis Mourey. The film, titled Climb Dance, captured the efforts of Finnish former World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen, as he won the event in a record-breaking time with his turbocharged Peugeot 405 T16.
The 2006 race was on July 1, a change from the more common July 4 (Independence Day) running, as was the 2007 race on July 21. (¹
|
|
The Monster!!
|
Tajima "Monster" said that he believes he can get a fifth consecutive win in the Nation's second oldest race after the Indianapolis 500 despite strong competition from upcoming challengers such as Rhys Millen who will be driving a V8 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
Tajima's confidence was further fueled by his 5.3-mile qualifying run on Friday, which he covered in 4.28min.
"That's a qualifying record," Tajima said. "I'm excited about that, but I know it's Sun that matters most."
Millen will make his first appearance in the Unlimited Division, the most competitive grouping, which Tajima has dominated in recent years. He brings a new approach to the division with his Hyundai Genesis Coupe and would like to return the Unlimited Division record to the Millen family as his father Rod won in a record time of 10m4.6s in 1994!
So hold onto your helmets - the 2010 Race to the Clouds will be something to see!
Maybe we should again look at something like the King of the Mountain race - improve the organisation and crowd control even more - instead of simply canning it?
|
|
The Car
|
All over the world events such as these are dangerous and people will always risk life and limb attending or participating - while locally we pack up and run at the first sign of any problem?
|
|
