COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The theme for the 85th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is simple: “Beat the Record.”
It refers to the speed record set by Rod Millen in 1994, and a host of drivers in numerous classes will be taking aim on the mark as they race to the top of Pikes Peak Saturday morning.
Millens record of 10 minutes, 4 seconds has stood for 12 seasons, but this could be the year for it to fall. Japan’s Nobuhiro Tajima, who races in the Unlimited class, will once again set his sights on the record after poor weather conditions kept him from challenging Millens’ time last year.
Rain, sleet, snow and hail forced race officials to shorten the track for Tajima and drivers in two other classes a year ago, and they finished the race more than three miles shy of the mountains 14,110-foot summit. Tajima will make another run at history in his Suzuki over the 12.42-mile track that begins at more than 9,200 feet.
The Race to the Clouds will feature nearly 20 classes of motorcycles, 4-wheelers, trucks and off-road race cars as more than 160 drivers battle for $50,000 in prizes. An additional $5,000 will be awarded to the driver who breaks Millens speed record by the most time this year.
Just about all the defending champs in each class will be back, including Leonard Vasholtz, who will be looking to expand on his record 17 titles when he makes his 31st and final appearance in the Hill Climb.
Motorcycle racer Davey Durelle, who won the 750cc Pro class a year ago, will be looking for his 11th career title and Gary Trachy (1200cc Pro Division), who had the fastest motorcycle run in the Hill Climb’s history last year, will also be back to defend his title.
In all, seven classes saw records fall in 2006.
Racers reached speeds up to 130 mph on the dangerous course, which features 156 turns and 2,000-foot cliffs with no guardrails. The race, founded by Spencer Penrose, has been held since 1916, when Rea Lentz won with a time of 20:55.6. It is the second-oldest motor sports event in the country, behind only the Indianapolis 500.
