Everyone knows the 19.95 km Pikes Peak international hill climb right? If not, the hill climb has become an iconic race with a mix of dirt and tar roads making it a race to the top - not for the faint of heart. Drivers have very little time to react to fast corners where slacking off just a little bit means the difference between winning and losing - in this event, 2nd isn't good enough.
If you know a bit of Pikes Peak, you'll know of Monster Sport - the owner Nobuhiro Tajima and his very very quick Suzuki's over the years. He really is the benchmark and breaking the 10 minute barrier the aim for all new entrants for the past 2 years! This year 2011, Monster returned to face the hill - this year being a special year because from the next hill climb - the course will be completely tarred. This means each record from 2012 onwards won't really have the same dramatic impact and will see a flood of time attack vehicles taking part - sort of making the race, less meaningful.
As such, breaking the 10 minute barrier is important - and the last real chance - the last record that really counts. Monster did it!! They broke 10 minutes and set up what is the iconic record for the life time of Pikes Peak - leaving behind a legacy to all who attend the event in future.
>>
9:51<< This is the only record that will ever count to avid fans of the race.
Take a ride with him on this amazing closure to a great time climbing the old course:
