The first of the motorcycles wait their chance to run at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
(Photo: Ken Bingenheimer)
Despite widely held expectations that the 10-minute barrier would be broken this year in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, no such history was made. The 12.2-mile race up the mountain was held today.
Nobuhiro Tajima, the current record holder at 10:01.41, turned in a time of 10:11.49, while other top competitors, Paul Dallenbach and Rhys Millen, ran the course in 10:39.534 and 11:06.208 respectively.
Once entirely dirt, the road is progressively being paved, and with new asphalt going up to the top there were many who felt it likely that the old record, set in 2007, would fall.
A variety of other class records did fall, however, including the Vintage Motorcycle class, where Chuck Lee set a new best at 12:58.670 on his Triumph Champion. The previous record was held by Eddie Mulder, who ran his Triumph Bonneville at 13:23.25 in 2007.
Winners and their divisions included the following.
- 125cc: Greg Tracy, Ducati MultiStrada, 11:46.550
- 250cc: Davey Durelle, Kawasaki KX250, 12:27.239
- 450cc: Joe Prussiano, Honda CRF 450, 12:15.883
- 450cc SuperMoto Leeland Sinclair, Honda CRF, 12:24.186
- 750cc: Gary Trachy, Ducati MultiStrada, 11:33.710
- Exhibition: Ikuo Hanawa, EV Sports Concept HER-02, 13:17.575
- Exhibition Powersport: Doug Siddens, Polaris RZR-S, 13:03.458
- Open Wheel: Spencer Steele, Wells Coyote, 10:53.102
- Pikes Peak Open: Dave Carapetyan, Mitsubishi Evolution, 11:34.017
- Quad 450cc: Robert Kline, Honda 450, 12:44.870
- Quad 500cc: Michael Coburn, Honda 450R, 11:44.460
- Rally America: Dick Rockrohr, BMW 318i, 13:13.898
- Sidecar: Dave Hennessy, Suzuki EML, 15:32.706
- Super Stock: Clint Vahsholtz, Ford Mustang, 11:33.320
- Time Attack 2WD: Jeff Zwart, Porsche, 11:31.095
- Time Attack 4WD: Jeff Denmeade, Lancer Evolution, 11:53.212
- Unlimited: Nobuhiro Tajima, SX4, 10:11.490
- Vintage Modified Race Cars: Doug Mockett, Oldsmobile Super 88, 13:05.710
- Vintage Motorcycle: Chuck Lee, Triumph Champion, 12:58.670
- Vintage Race Cars: Keith Davidson, Ford Fallon Sprint, 13:21.437
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Comments
To make it to the top (and back) is an accomplishment.
I'm sure they all have stories to tell around camp fires for years to come. I feel sorry for people who immerse themselves in the all might dollar, only to have nothing but ‘things’ to show for it. I’ll take the experiences that you get by really living life instead. Those are the better things to leave your grandchildren – stories of experiencing a good and noble life will be far more valuable to them.
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