“MONSTER� TAJIMA IS BACK TO TAKE ON PIKE’S PEAK
Record-setting driver looking to break the all-time record with Evolution Suzuki Sport Grand Vitara


BREA, Calif. --  Nobuhiro “Monsterâ€? Tajima is a busy man. As president of Suzuki Sport Co., Ltd. he runs a company that designs and builds high-performance equipment for Suzuki vehicles. As a record-setting race driver, the legendary Tajima competes in major hill climb racing events held around the world.

Following his winning and record-setting winning run in New Zealand’s “Race to the Sky� in April, Monster Tajima is set to take on the toughest hill climb event in the United States, the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. In April in New Zealand Tajima earned a new name, “King of the Mountain� as he set a new course record of 8 minutes, one second.

On July 1, Monster Tajima will attempt to set a new record in the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb, known as the “Race to the Clouds.� The current record is held by New Zealander Rod Millen at 10 minutes, .04 seconds set in the 1994 running of the Pike’s Peak classic.

Monster Tajima and his crew at Suzuki Sport Co. Ltd. based in Shizuoka, Japan have built a formidable race machine to challenge Pike’s Peak and Millen’s record. It is a modified Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV fitted with a 1,000 horsepower, twin-turbo V6 engine in a purpose-built space-frame chassis covered by a high-strength, lightweight carbon fiber body. Getting all that power to the ground is a set of huge 285/60R18 Falken S/TZ04 tires.

Monster Tajima, his crew and the racing Grand Vitara are scheduled to arrive in Colorado Springs at the base of Pike’s Peak on June 23 to begin final preparations for qualifications on June 29 and June 30. The official timed runs are scheduled to begin on July 1.