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The
‘Monster’ of the Mountain . What attracts Nobuhiro
‘Monster’ Tajima to Pikes Peak. -Junior |
| PIKE'S PEAK, CO —Coming off his third
victory in New Zealand’s Queenstown Gold Rush International Hill Climb, Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima sets his sights on not
just winning Pikes Peak 2000, but breaking the record. With as many successes behind the
wheel as Monster has had, it’s no wonder he’s become an international icon in
both international hill climbing champions and Japanese motor sports. |
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His long history of winning dates back to 1968 with multiple wins
in Japan Dirt Trial Championship and rallies. Besides a successful career as a
racecar-driver, Monster owns and operates Suzuki Sports Co. Ltd where he strives for that
same level of commitment and success.
| I had a chance to meet up with Monster, and the rest of his
crew just days before the competition. Choosing to enter Pikes Peak this year with his new
twin engine 800hp Suzuki Esteem, Monster works side-by-side with his crew to prepare the
car for qualifying. |
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You heard right, this Suzuki Motor Corp., Silverstone Tire,
and Mobile 1 sponsored car can generate a whopping 800 ponies from the two turbocharged
2.0-liter. four-cylinder 4 valve DOHC Suzuki engines. One mounted over each axle. The
entire package weights in at a modest 2116 pounds. |
| "We had to remove the larger of the two skid plates
and replace it with a smaller version due to the nose lifting at high speed." Says
Monster. Considering the aerodynamics of the car there wasn’t enough down force to
both keep the car on the ground and allow the tires to produce the traction needed to
safely maneuver through the cliff-lined corners. |
| Pikes Peak race spans 12.42 miles over fine gravel only
interrupted every so often by patches of pavement. With an elevation increase of 4,708
feet, 20 foot wide straight-aways, and 156 turns, speeds can be reached well in excess of
100 mph. |
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Monster didn’t waste any time in reaching those
speeds having set a course record during qualifying. Rumor had it he’d reached over
120 mph, but I was unable to substantiate that. Considering the horsepower of the 2001
Suzuki Esteem, Monster’s years of experience driving, and race perfect day, I
wouldn’t doubt it.
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When asked which race would he most like to win, or win
again, Monster replied with "Pikes Peak, but not without setting the record".
With an overall win, an two Unlimited Division wins, and plenty of other podium finishes
at Pikes Peak Monster’s day is sure to come. This being his twelve trip to the
mountain. |
There supporting Monster in full force was American Suzuki Motor
Corporation, including president Rick Suzuki. The energy and excitement was shared by all
on race-day while final preparations were made to the car, last minute interviews by
media, and a well deserved breakfast to send Monster off to victory. Of all the types of
motor sport races, hill climb racing can be considered one of the most mentally and
physically challenging to both driver and team.
[insert photo]
Racers and their teams spend months preparing for this one chance to spend less
than12-minutes speeding up a dirt road lined by 1000-foot drop-offs. But no matter how
hard you try, no matter how long you prepare, one just can’t prepare for everything.
There’s always that one thing that could go wrong and end it all in a fraction of the
time it took to get there in the first place. But that’s racing.
| In the case of Monster and his well-equipped Esteem, it was
mechanical failure that struck in the second turn sending the car off the course. |
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Driver was ok but the car didn’t fair as well. Yes,
that’s racing. You don’t reach the top of a successful race career as Monster
has without having had your share of letdowns. And what makes a great team such as the
Suzuki team is that they will pick up, rebuild, and be right back at it. And that too is
racing.
 ZW
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