Pike's Peak: 10-Minute Barrier Broken- Monster Tajima Runs 9:51

by Murilee Martin

Published: June 26th, 2011

pike s peak 10 minute barrier broken monster tajima runs 9 51

History made on the mountain just a few minutes ago: Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima just ran 9:51 and change in his run to the Pike’s Peak summit. Sayonara, 10-minute barrier!

I’m not sure of the exact time, but the crowds on the mountain have been shouting “9:51! WHOOOO!” for a while now. Congratulations, Monster!

#Pike'sPeakHillClimb #PikesPeak #Racing #Rally #Suzuki #SuzukiSx4 #SX4

Murilee Martin

Murilee Martin is the pen name of Phil Greden, a writer who has lived in Minnesota, California, Georgia and (now) Colorado. He has toiled at copywriting, technical writing, junkmail writing, fiction writing and now automotive writing. He has owned many terrible vehicles and some good ones. He spends a great deal of time in self-service junkyards. These days, he writes for publications including Autoweek, Autoblog, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars and Capital One.

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Robert Schwartz on Jun 26, 2011

What is the car?

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- Th009 on Jun 26, 2011
  
  It's a Suzuki SX4. The class is production-based but I think the rules allow rather intense modifications.
  
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- PhilMills on Jun 27, 2011
  
  @th009 The above statement requires some finger-quotes. Tajima-san's car is "a Suzuki SX4" in the same way that a NASCAR entry is "a Toyota Camry". That is to say: not at all. The "Unlimited" class is basically "anything goes as long as it meets safety check". The car is a one-off, custom tube framed, purpose-built racecar with an engine that is rumored to have started life as the one from the Grand Vitara. It has some stickers on it and a shape that some may choose to interpret as "SX4-esque". Regardless, it is astoundingly fast and was a joy to watch come around the dirt corner at 11-Mile.
  
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Stuki on Jun 26, 2011

Daaayyyyuuuummm!

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Parkwood60 on Jun 26, 2011

It is a shame they are going to pave the remainder of the course in the near future. Am I right, or is that an awful rumor?

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- Th009 on Jun 26, 2011
  
  It's true. Apparently forced by a lawsuit ...
  
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- DenverMike on Jun 26, 2011
  
  @th009 The dirt is what makes it "Pike's Peak". This one's vintage all dirt and shot on VHS. Insane helicopter piloting too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DOlBmkmvlI
  
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- Safe as milk on Jun 26, 2011
  
  @th009 beautiful clip. definitely not vhs. probably film but it's hard to be sure because somebody added so much compression that it looks solarized.
  
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- CarPerson on Jun 27, 2011
  
  Only been up it in a rental car so no big shakes regarding vehicle damage caused by flying rock. However, changing the last few feet between the gravel road surface and a 1,000 feet plunge with something with a bit more last-second traction is pretty cool. Observe the near-absence of guardrails...
  
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Holydonut on Jun 27, 2011

Subscribe to this channel to see when they post his latest lap time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy8hqFiK5Sc To see his previous run, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y3OFf0ArU

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