After a huge wildfire delayed the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, it has finally had its day in the spotlight, and it did not disappoint. The entire PPIHC was chock-full of craziness and highlights, along with some low-lights worthy of mention.
The biggest highlight of the day was seeing a record set at last year's race fall. It fell not only once, but twice in only 10 starts. Switzerland's Romain Dumas – a PPIHC rookie – fired up the hill, completing the course in just 9:46.18 in his 2012 Porsche->ke1 GT3 RS. This demolished the 9:51.278 record set by Nobuniro Tajima In 2011. Just 10 starts later, Rhys Millen, an 18-year PPIHC veteran, beat Dumas' time by 0.02 seconds in his 2012 Hyundai Genesis coupe. Yeah, figure that one out; a Hyundai->ke201 beat a Porsche GT3 RS->ke617.
Dejected, Dumas vowed never to race Pike's Peak again, claiming it is unfair because he raced in rainy conditions, while Millen got a drier track to run on. In all honesty, though, 10 starts just doesn't seem like a long enough time frame to cause a huge discrepancy in track conditions. We're calling “Sore loser” on this one. That's no way to get a good name in the racing world.
A huge low-light in this year's race is the fact that the 2011 champion and former record holder, Nobuniro Tajima, didn't even get a shot at the title, as his electric motor burned up. Tajima had a pretty good chance to win the race in back-to-back years, but that was apparently not in the cards this year. We're sure he'll be back near the top next year.
Let's take a look at the top-3 in each class, plus the top-10 overall results.
Click past the jump to see these results.
250 Division
This division consists of all 250 cc motorcycles and dirt bikes.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Jason Archuleta |
11:41.015 |
2005 Yamaha YZ250 |
2 |
Zach Warnock |
11:44.169 |
2011 KTM 250SX |
3 |
Codie Vahsholtz |
11:52.529 |
1996 Kawasaki KX |
450 Division
This division consists of all motorcycles and dirt bikes with a 450 cc engine.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Travis Newbold |
11:06.618 |
2009 Honda CRF450X |
2 |
Greg Chicoine |
11:12.312 |
2009 Kawasaki KX500SPPR |
3 |
Daniel Berendes |
11:12.970 |
2008 Honda CRF 450 |
750 Pro
This division covers singe-cylinder 4-stroke 700 cc dirt bikes and twin-cylinder 750 cc dirt bikes.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Gary Trachy |
10:40.753 |
2010 TM 660 SMX |
2 |
Jeff Grace |
11:02.472 |
2005 KTM 610 SMR |
3 |
James McKay |
11:31.423 |
2006 Husaberg FS650C |
1205 Division
This division covers all dirt bikes that are 900 cc or greater with 2- or 3-cylinder engines.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Carlin Dunne |
9:52.819 |
2012 Ducati Multistrada |
2 |
Greg Tracy |
9:58.262 |
2010 Ducati Multistrada |
3 |
Bruno Langlois |
11:05.342 |
2010 Ducati Street Fighter |
Electric
This class, as you would expect, covers all of your electric vehicles
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Furnio Nutahara |
10:15.380 |
2012 Toyota Motorsport TMG EVP002 |
2 |
Hiroshi Masuoka |
10:30.850 |
2012 Mitsubishi Motors i-MiEV Evolution |
3 |
Elias Anderson |
11:00.857 |
2012 HCE Lightning XP12 |
Exhibition Powersport
This is an interesting class that includes all powerssport vehicles – Utility-Terrain Vehicles, ATVs, 750 cc and up quads, etc. – that simply do not fit in any other category.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Douglas Siddens |
10:15.380 |
2009 Polaris RZR-X |
2 |
Glenn Conser |
10:30.850 |
2008 Yamaha R1 |
3 |
Mike Applehans |
11:00.857 |
2006 Suzuki GSXR |
Exhibition
Much like the Exhibition Powersports division, these are cars, trucks, and SUVs that simply do not fit in any other division.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Ryan Knoop |
10:15.380 |
1958 Lister Knoop/Mann Special |
2 |
Ken Gushi |
10:30.850 |
2012 Lexus IS F CCS-R Concept |
3 |
Andrew Comrie-Picard |
11:00.857 |
2010 Scion xD |
Open Wheel
Just like the name implies, this division includes open-wheel racers of all kinds. This is typically one of the fastest divisions in the entire race.
Unfortunately, there are no lap times listed to the open wheel division at this time.
Pikes Peak Open
These are cars that look similar to their stock counterparts, yet they have had heavy modifications performed on the engines, transmissions, and suspensions.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Romain Dumas |
9:46.181 |
2012 Porsche GT3RS |
2 |
Randy Schranz |
11:11.218 |
2012 Shelby Cobra |
3 |
Jeff Denmeade |
11:19.722 |
2009 Skelta G-Force |
Quad Modified
The only limitations in this class are its dimensions and the fact that the engine displaces only 500 cc. Other than that, the options are wide open on these quads.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Steve Tutt |
11:40.521 |
2004 Honda TRX450R |
2 |
Scott Kolm |
11:53.226 |
2007 Yamaha Raptor |
3 |
Mike Tollett |
12:00.056 |
1987 Suzuki LT 500 R |
Sidecar
These are exactly what the division title says they are... Motorcycles with sidecars, a driver, and a passenger. As expected, not many people are crazy enough to compete in this division, leaving only three teams this year.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
John-Thomas Wood |
11:41.406 |
1996 Suzuki Windle F2 |
2 |
Wade Boyd |
11:44.682 |
1970 Calgard Special GSXR 1000 |
3 |
Hans Schulz |
15:26.140 |
2001 Suzuki Hyabusa 1300 |
Super Stock Car
These are essentially PPIHC-ready NSACAR vehicles. They are built for two purposes: to be fast and to be safe. That is it.
This class had only three participants and no times are available at this time.
Time Attack
This division is for production-based, two-and four-wheel-drive vehicles only. They must also be a closed-body variety.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Rhys Millen |
9:46.164* |
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe |
2 |
David Kern |
10:20.774 |
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution |
3 |
Toshiki Yoshioka |
10:49.009 |
2000 Nissan Silvia |
*New PPIHC record
Unlimited
This division is a no-holds-barred division. The cars can be built to any specification, just as long as they pass the initial safety inspection.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
David Donner |
10:04.652 |
2012 Palatov D4PPS |
2 |
Cody Loveland |
11:39.766 |
1991 Acura NSX |
Vintage
This division is set up for only classic bikes with a 650 cc or 750 cc engine and twin-cylinders.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Marc LaNoue |
12:39.782 |
1969 Triumph Bonnie |
2 |
Lloyd Hale |
12:46.479 |
1973 Shell Yamaha XS 750 |
3 |
Keith Speir |
13:13.859 |
1969 Trimuph 750 |
Vintage Automobile
Any classic automobile is welcome in this class, but it must pass the safety inspection.
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
1 |
Jess Neal |
12:03.858 |
1971 Plymouth Cuda |
2 |
John Groendyke |
12:26.357 |
1949 Cadillac 62 Coupe |
3 |
John Rogers |
12:26.371 |
1965 Ford Mustang |
Overall Standings
The overall winner was determined by only a fraction of a second, as Rhys Millen beat Romain Dumas' record-setting time by just 0.02 seconds. The remainder of the top-10 list is pretty straightforward with the exception of Douglas Siddens' 2009 Polaris RZR-X coming in 10th. The RZR-X is a pretty bad-ass UTV, but to read about a UTV being in the top-10 of a race that included some of the most powerful cars in the world is simply awesome. At least it wasn't a Kawasaki Mule we guess!
Position |
Name |
Total Time |
Vehicle |
Position |
1 |
Rhys Millen |
9:46.164 |
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe |
Time Attack |
2 |
Romain Dumas |
9:46.181 |
2012 Porsche GT3R |
Pikes Peak Open |
3 |
Carlin Dunne |
9:52.819 |
2012 Ducati Multistrada |
1205 |
4 |
Greg Tracy |
9:58.262 |
2010 Ducati Multistrada |
1205 |
5 |
David Donner |
10:04.652 |
2012 Palatov D4PPS |
Unlimited |
6 |
Fumio Nutahara |
10:15.380 |
2012 Toyota Motorsport TMG EVP002 |
Electric |
7 |
David Kern |
10:20.774 |
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution |
Time Attack |
8 |
Hiroshi Masuoka |
10:30.850 |
2012 Mitsubishi Motors i-MiEV Evolution |
Electric |
9 |
Douglas Siddens |
10:40.669 |
2009 Polaris RZR-X |
Exhibition Powersport |
10 |
Gary Trachy |
10:40.753 |
2010 TM 660 SMX |
750 |
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