RE: Pikes Peak: Monster Tajima goes electric
Friday 30th March 2012
Pikes Peak legend (and senior Suzuki exec) Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima is to scale the famous Pikes Peak hill climb this year using an electric vehicle.
But Tajima probably needs a bit of a new challenge, as he has won the Colorado race every year since 2006, last year becoming the first person to break the 10-minute barrier.
Pikes Peak: Monster Tajima goes electric
Hill climb legend to run zero emissions for the first time in Colorado
Monster's switch to battery power now means that the fashion for electric propulsion has reached even the most extravagant, petrolheaded reaches of the motorsport universe.
The zero-emissions prototype will be developed by Team APEV (that's the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles, if you were wondering) and Tajima's Monster Sports outfit is getting involved to help victims of the 2011 Japan earthquake disaster as well as promoting environmental education projects for children and "projects to promote active participation from the senior citizens of Japan."
Which is thoroughly commendable, but we'll probably be saving more of our cheers for the two Brit RS200 entries of Mark Rennison and Liam Doran.
From the looks of this sketch the APEV team had better get a hurry on, too - the 2012 running of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place on July 8...
Discussion
Pike's Peak no longer being a proper rally - boo.
Tajima no longer driving a 1000hp+ firebreathing turbo wagon - bigger boo.
The Susuki Escudo he used to have (the red one) was one of my favorite cars growing up - partially because of Gran Turismo, but mostly because of the sheer lunacy of the thing. This video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Wg3JUcKwM of old man Millen at Goodwood shows what a Pike's Peak unlimited car should be - utterly f
king bonkers and completely unhinged from reality.
As for cheering on the Brits? I will be, but personally, the battle between Millen and Monster is what does it for me.
Tajima no longer driving a 1000hp+ firebreathing turbo wagon - bigger boo.
The Susuki Escudo he used to have (the red one) was one of my favorite cars growing up - partially because of Gran Turismo, but mostly because of the sheer lunacy of the thing. This video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Wg3JUcKwM of old man Millen at Goodwood shows what a Pike's Peak unlimited car should be - utterly f
king bonkers and completely unhinged from reality.As for cheering on the Brits? I will be, but personally, the battle between Millen and Monster is what does it for me.
I bet the American hillbilly truck drivers said the same when Audi turned up with the Quattro. We all know what happen next.
This could be a very good style of racing for electric power. A known distance and a clear challenge for the vehicle. Also open rules that gives room for very different cars to take part.
This could be a very good style of racing for electric power. A known distance and a clear challenge for the vehicle. Also open rules that gives room for very different cars to take part.
KDIcarmad said:
I bet the American hillbilly truck drivers said the same when Audi turned up with the Quattro. We all know what happen next.
This could be a very good style of racing for electric power. A known distance and a clear challenge for the vehicle. Also open rules that gives room for very different cars to take part.
American hillbillys? "petrolheads" in the UK said the same... "Four wheel drive. Thats for farmers". The same people that are saying electric has no place. The same people who said drev has no place at Le Mans (And still do...) Racing is not about using the "right" fuel, its about being the fastest, whatever that takes and if anyone knows how to go fast on the peak...This could be a very good style of racing for electric power. A known distance and a clear challenge for the vehicle. Also open rules that gives room for very different cars to take part.
PaulMoor said:
American hillbillys? "petrolheads" in the UK said the same... "Four wheel drive. Thats for farmers". The same people that are saying electric has no place. The same people who said drev has no place at Le Mans (And still do...) Racing is not about using the "right" fuel, its about being the fastest, whatever that takes and if anyone knows how to go fast on the peak...
bks, racing is about entertaining the public.It has nothing to do with technological advancement or "being fastest" or any of that other crap.
If there were no spectators there would be no tracks to race on.
A large section of the racegoing public don't want diesel at le-mans or electric cars at pikes peak, not because they're luddites, but it isn't entertaining.
And entertainment is what its all about.
PaulMoor said:
KDIcarmad said:
I bet the American hillbilly truck drivers said the same when Audi turned up with the Quattro. We all know what happen next.
This could be a very good style of racing for electric power. A known distance and a clear challenge for the vehicle. Also open rules that gives room for very different cars to take part.
American hillbillys? "petrolheads" in the UK said the same... "Four wheel drive. Thats for farmers". The same people that are saying electric has no place. The same people who said drev has no place at Le Mans (And still do...) Racing is not about using the "right" fuel, its about being the fastest, whatever that takes and if anyone knows how to go fast on the peak...This could be a very good style of racing for electric power. A known distance and a clear challenge for the vehicle. Also open rules that gives room for very different cars to take part.
re33 said:
4 wheel drive is faster for gravel rallies, diesel is faster within current Le Mans rules. Unlimited rules electric power can be faster up Pikes Peak (and would be a great achievement) but they are all bad outcomes for any motorsport fan!!
Not any motorsport fan. I'm a motorsport fan. I enjoy the mix of diesels and petrols and Le Mans. I don't even think they sound bad, just different. I'm also looking forward to seeing what kind of crazy electric vehicle they attack Pikes Peak with.Surley motorsport is about being the fastest. Im not too worried if the car that is the fastest is an electric, deisel or fking fairy dust as long as it is the fastest! come on guys grow up a bit.
Not sayibng the internal cuumbusion engine should not be aropund for years and years to come. its similar to jet engined aircraft though. Yes piston engined fighters are nicer, but jet fighters are BETTER!
Chris.
king fairy dust as long as it is the fastest! come on guys grow up a bit. Not sayibng the internal cuumbusion engine should not be aropund for years and years to come. its similar to jet engined aircraft though. Yes piston engined fighters are nicer, but jet fighters are BETTER!
Chris.
cazzer said:
A large section of the racegoing public don't want diesel at le-mans or electric cars at pikes peak, not because they're luddites, but it isn't entertaining.
What utter nonsense. 14 second gap between 1st and 2nd at Le Mans last year after a solid 24 hours of close racing. Both diesels. You think that's not entertaining? Why? hairykrishna said:
cazzer said:
A large section of the racegoing public don't want diesel at le-mans or electric cars at pikes peak, not because they're luddites, but it isn't entertaining.
What utter nonsense. 14 second gap between 1st and 2nd at Le Mans last year after a solid 24 hours of close racing. Both diesels. You think that's not entertaining? Why? It would be a diesel. Not sure which one. But one of em.
They're dull, sound bloody awful, and skew the results.
How close was the nearest petrol engine?
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