I’LL BE 10 MINUTES

Not so if you were a competitor in last weekend’s legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb as the Mountain held firm. The quest to break the 10-minute barrier, that has eluded competitors since 1916 fell short again in 2010.

Tokyo, Japan’s Nobuhiro Tajima scored his fifth consecutive victory in the Unlimited Class, posting a time of 10 minutes, 11.490 seconds in his Suzuki. That time, however, was short of his ultimate course record of 10:01.408 established in 2007, and leaves the 10-minute milestone intact for yet another year.

Individual class champions came from California, Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and South Dakota, as well as Japan, Australia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A total of seven Colorado drivers were among champions of last weekend’s 88th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Drivers competed on the 156-turn course containing elevation changes of 4,721 feet and both paved and gravel surfaces in the “Race to the Clouds,” America’s second-oldest auto race, which dates back to the inaugural running in 1916.

Crowd favourite Savannah Rickli, of Littleton, Colo. became the youngest female competitor in Pikes Peak history at age 16, finishing the Climb in 13:58:232 in her 2003 Mini Cooper.

Ikuo Hanawa of Moriya, Japan won the Electric Division with a time of 13:17.575 in his EV Sports Concept, while Jeff Denmeade of Jannall, Australia was the Time Attack 4WD champ, posting a time of 11:53.212 in his Lancer Evolution Mitsubishi. Doug Mockett of the U.S. Virgin Islands times in at 13:05.710 to win the Vintage Modified Class in his Oldsmobile Super 88.

The Colorado champions included Spencer Steele of Denver (Open Wheel), Keith Davidson of Golden (Vintage Race Cars), Clint Vahsholtz of Woodland Park (Super Stock), J.T. Taylor of Colorado Springs (Exhibition), Chuck Lee of Castle Rock (Vintage Motorcycle), Davey Durelle of Elizabeth (250 CC) and Leeland Sinclair (450 CC SuperMoto).

California champions were Jeff Zwart of Greenbrae (Time Attack 2WD), Gary Trachy of Orange (750 CC), Greg Tracy of Long Beach (1205 CC) and Mike Ryan of Santa Clarita (Exhibition Truck). Texas champions were Dave Carapetyan of Austin (Pikes Peak Open) and Joe Prussiano of Conroe (450 CC). New Mexico champs were Dave Hennessy of Rio Rancho (Sidecar) and Doug Siddens of Ruidoso (Exhibition Powersport).

Dick Rockrohr of Boise, Idaho was the Rally America champion. Michael Coburn of Garretson, SD won the Quad 500 CC title, while Robert Kline of Columbia, Pa. was the champ in the Quad 450 CC class.