The 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs |
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John V.
SubmitYOURArticle.com
March 31, 2011
Racing season is opening around the country and Colorado Springs, Colorado, has already started preparation for the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26th. Pikes Peak's veteran competitors Paul Dallenbach and Rhys Millen have entered the "unlimited division" for the venerable Rocky Mountain race to the top - both hoping for another chance at cracking the elusive ten-minute barrier up The Peak. The current "Hill Climb" record is 10:01.41 set by Nobuhiro Tajima in 2007. The 2010 motorcycle division was won by Gary Trachy on a Ducati MultiStrada in a time of 11:33.71.
Five-time unlimited champion and record-holder Nobuhiro Tajima announced in December that he will return again this summer, but his Monster Sport Racing team hasn't commented since the recent tragic events in Japan. Many other Pikes Peak power riders expect additional high profile entries in what may be the best field in the historic racing event. Colorado's own Dallenbach and Californian Millen finished second and third respectively behind Tajima and his 10:11.49 winning time last summer. Millen will compete for the 19th time and Dallenbach will make his 16th Hill Climb appearance. Last year's Pikes Peak Open Division winner, Dave Carapetyan, from Austin, Tx., is moving to the Unlimited Division this summer.
As of this article, 95 motorcycle riders and 33 auto drivers had registered to compete in the world-famous Pikes Peak racing event. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America behind only the Indianapolis 500 race. This is an early summer tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak area. With the first competition in 1916, this year marks the 89th running of the "Race to the Clouds."
In 2011, the race will take place on Sunday, June 26, with racing related events happening all-week. Friday's Fan Fest is expected to draw over 35,000 spectators into downtown Colorado Springs. Fan Fest features motorcycle daredevils, beer gardens, a chili cook-off, live bands, and a show by the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders. Should be fun for motorcycle fans.
There are all kinds of ways to get a better ride up Pikes Peak or around the neighborhood. Some of the most successful attempts to get to the top of Pikes Peak and break that ten-minute barrier are related to power and suspension. You can enhance your own power and suspension with aftermarket products like custom springs, carb kits, and lighter components. We support Japanese relief.