For the fifth consecutive time, Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima combined experience, skill and Falken to claim overall victory in the 88th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Although he did not set a new record with his latest win, achieved one day before his 60th birthday, Tajima continues to hold the current overall record for reaching the peak, beating hill climb veterans Paul Dallenbach and Rhys Millen in the Unlimited Class. He drove his new car, the 910-hp Monster Sport SX4 Hill Climb Special on Falken WildPeak A/T tires, the powerful new line of all-terrain, all-season tires Falken launched this past April, and finished with the time of 10:11.49, a few seconds faster than his winning time last year.
Though Tajima set a record of his own by winning for the fifth consecutive time, he expressed disappointment at not beating his own record of 10:01.41 set in 2007. “It was a very good run,” said Tajima. “The car and everything worked well.”
Following exhaustive tests in a Japanese wind tunnel facility, Monster’s 2010 race car underwent extensive aerodynamic changes to better adapt to the modified road surface on the race to the clouds, which assumed a smoother tarmac and less gravel than last year. Thinning air ascending the mountain robs most motors of their power by 30 or more percent, but the increase in horsepower over last year’s race car helped push the driver forward.
With the WildPeak A/T, Falken brought its extensive technological advantage to the established light truck/SUV tire market,” said Andrew Hoit, Falken Director of Marketing. “And regardless of the track conditions, we were confident that ‘Monster’s’ talent and determination and our WildPeak A/T tires would be enough to take on both the mountain and tough competition and come away victorious,” added Hoit. “We are delighted to celebrate with ‘Monster’ and add his victory to our growing list of trophies from Falken’s extensive North American motorsports efforts.”
