VIDEO: 2011 Pikes Peak Record Breaking Run with Monster Tajima

One of my favourite races in the world.
Sadly this was the last time we could enjoy the cars sliding in the gravel, as it will be all tarmac next year.

This race was made famous in Europe (cult status) ever since Audi and Peugeot began racing there, and I can tell you guys, there are a lot of euro fans who'd give an arm to make it there and enjoy the hillclimb.

Any chance of MotoIQ taking a sneak peak at Tajima's SX4 in the near future? That whould be great.

By the way, what seems to be the problem with Rhys car this year?

Maybe now that they'll be paving the course we could see some more time attack cars take to the hill... I thought that FXMD said at one point they wanted to take their talents to Pike's Peak... any chance we could see Sierra Sierra Evo or any of the top US teams like GST as well there next year

Marillionado - The link at the bottom of the article is Motoiq's inside look at Monster's Suzuki. I was really bummed for Rhys, he suffered from brake issues on his way to the second fastest time of the day. I know that the last two years he's struggled with one issue or another and agonizingly so. He SO wanted to break the record like his Dad had done decades ago. Nice to see his Dad break another one before the great pave!

Henry - You've gotta think a whole slew of cars will come out with 100% pavement. It'll make for great times but that record of Rod's had such meaning with so much more dirt and gravel than today's current percentages.

Quiet a handful to drive that car it seems...

It probably goes without saying that the saner people are in the cars, and not standing at the apex points.
My appreciation for this sport grows everything I see the Scandinavian flick aimed at what appears to be absolutely nothing. I found my self pressing firmly on my imaginary brake in the last third along those straights anytime I looked to the right and saw blue skies.
Considering how little time the drivers have to check the course their ability to memorize the course is amazing.

It loses a lot of it's magic to me when it's all paved. Hell, next year an F1 car could do it.

Scary moment just after the 8 minute mark. It takes big balls to go that fast at 14k ft. I don't think it will lose any "magic" when it's fully paved. It will simply make it less versatile. It is still amazing.

Maybe Gran Turismo could put this in the game to help people learn the course. I've heard from countless people that Nurburing is much easier for beginners after playing GT5. Sounds like a noobish statement, but it's true.

Is it just me or does that car have one hell of a high speed twitch, especially at the lower elevations?

Big brass ones ...

If you thought Monster Tajima's run was nerve wrecking take a look at Chip Yates' run in his full electric motorcycle... he was running top ten times on the paved section until the dirt slowed him down to his eventual 30th overall finish

Maybe there is a future in electric at the hill since there is no power drop off at altitude except there is also no reduction in weight from burned off fuel

Mooners at 2:25! LOL!