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.
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.
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...
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 fking 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff