Three major competitors look set to hit the 10 minute mark this year. Millen is back with the wild Hyundai, the "Monster" Suzuki is back, and Dallenbach now has two new snails to push his wings around.
I am rooting for the underdog (Dallenbach). I always wondered why his car wasn't more competitive.
There is such a thing as too much power.
Oh my God.
I have never seen a car move around on the dyno quite like that. Wild!
Sweet. What I like about Pikes Peak is that it has everything: rally cars, stock cars, trucks, bikes, open-wheel cars and then crazy stuff like that. You should go. (Yes, you.)
Dacia is preparing an 800hp, Nissan GT-R-powered, all-wheel-drive Duster for this year's Pikes Peak Hillclimb!
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/dacia-duster-teased-preparing-for-pikes-peak-assault/
Wheelies!
What the heck is a Dacia Duster? I must learn more about that one.
I was wrong last time, but my money's on Millen again this year. Like Bocephus, it's a family tradition-he will hold the record there eventually.
-edit- Just watched the Dallenbach video. Good stuff there!
Dacia Duster = Renault-built Romanian cute-ute:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacia_Duster
It's a running joke on Top Gear that James May likes the Dacia Sandero and Duster and will bring them up any chance he gets, but the other two hosts shut him down. Seriously, have you seen the last couple of seasons of Top Gear?
RexSeven wrote: Seriously, have you seen the last couple of seasons of Top Gear?
Honestly, no. I've been a busy guy...but thanks for the update! 
I personally like watching the big rigs race up the mountain. There is something SO wrong yet so right with watching them go at it.. blowing smoke like nobody's business
I got the chance to drive up Pikes Peak several years ago. It looks much wider/bigger on tv. I couldn't help but wonder about the logistics side of putting on the hillclimb. I didn't see an area around there that could serve as a pit area. I'd think most of the larger race teams use tractor trailers, and I never saw a place to get a hauler nearby. Anyone know how they handle that side of things? Pikes Peak is on my bucket list. Concerning Dallenbach's 1300 hp ride, my first thought is there's not enough rubber on the back of that thing. With all that power, it seems like you'd want more tire meeting the road.
yes and no.. how much power is it making at the TOP of the mountain? The air is a LOT thinner up there, turbos or not
mad_machine wrote: yes and no.. how much power is it making at the TOP of the mountain? The air is a LOT thinner up there, turbos or not
Assuming the turbos have the headroom, it should make as much up top as it does at sea level.
Plus there's the sound, too. We were at Pikes Peak the last year Millen ran the Celica. Wow. Yeah, the car was fast, but the sounds are nearly impossible to describe. Here's a hint, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_Kbxj-h5I
I hiked up there last week, it was still pretty cold. 
David S. Wallens wrote: Plus there's the sound, too. We were at Pikes Peak the last year Millen ran the Celica. Wow. Yeah, the car was fast, but the sounds are nearly impossible to describe. Here's a hint, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_Kbxj-h5I
Mmmmmmmmm delicious Toyota 503E motor!
Same motor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Wg3JUcKwM
I thought that was "Dahlback" for a minute for some reason. I'm slightly disappointed, but the power makes up for it. 
Just pray Dallenbach doesn't show up for the Solo II Nats.
We are running the Peak again this year. last year we ran it with a Mazda RX7 T2, this year we are helping Rally Ready with thier Evo.
BoostedBrandon wrote: There is such a thing as too much power. Oh my God.
See, I disagree. Now, of course, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that thing while its on the dyno. But too much power? Never.
Jerry From LA wrote: Just pray Dallenbach doesn't show up for the Solo II Nats.
Or maybe he should pray Joe Cheng doesn't show up at Pikes Peak :).
First thing I thought when I saw that car was "pssh, it's just an A-Mod car on knobbies" :D.
The main pits are in the woods at the picnic area alongside the start line - the high-ticket teams park their semis along the road. The rest of the big rigs pit down at the reservoir and they drive the race cars to the start area.
Relative to open wheel cars, we should remember that Robby Unser ran a 10:05 in an open wheeler the same year Millen set his 10:04 record, back when the run was still dirt. Nobody has come close with an open wheel car since then. But the potential is there, particularly as the road approaches full pavement.
Where is the best spot to camp out along the course to take photos?
nervousdog wrote:BoostedBrandon wrote: There is such a thing as too much power. Oh my God.See, I disagree. Now, of course, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that thing while its on the dyno. But too much power? Never.
"It will not have enough power until I can spin the wheels at the end of a long straight in top gear." -Mark Donohue
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