Sexagenarian to Pilot EV up Pikes Peak for New World Record

[PaleMelanesian]

"Monster" Tajima to Pilot EV up Pikes Peak for New World Record

Alexander George - WIRED - August 9, 2012

He set a record last year. Can he beat that this time in a new car? --Ed.

EV technology has reached motorsports-level performance for rally racing, and may even outrun combustion engines. Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima and his design team have created the 2012 E-Runner Pikes Peak Special, an EV hill climber with which he’ll attempt to break all speed records, both for combustion and electric.

Designed for the 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the Special was designed “to help save our beautiful planet Earth for our children,” according to Tajima. Groan away, but sending an EV out on Pikes peak — all 14,110 feet, 12.42 miles, and 156 turns of it, with a legendary driver — is a realized next step in certifying EVs as legitimate performance vehicles.

Electricity has an edge in a race like this. EVs have high torque and the motors aren’t affected by the thin air at high altitudes. At just over 12 miles, range isn’t an issue, and regenerative braking is used to keep topping up the batteries during the run. A lightweight all-carbon-fiber body gives swift acceleration, and an enormous rear wing provides downforce when Tajima crests triple-digit speeds.

... [Read More]

Here is a full video of his record-breaking run last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBaIlQOGgwc. The track was mostly paved but parts were still dirt. This year it has been fully paved. Looks like Tajima is taking a new approach in a new era.

A video of an earlier climb, back in 1988 when it was all dirt. It's a different ballgame today. This was basically a modified Group B rally car after the series was canceled. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-K1B4sTX4o

It's happening this weekend.

[EVuser]

He set a record last year. Can he beat that this time in a new car? --Ed.

Yes he can. Will he remains to be seen. It is about staying on the road.

In a few years perhaps a EV 500 at the Brickyard The technology is there it just needs interest. The biggest hindrance on the tech side is that it may be to reliable to be exciting.

[Jay]

“to help save our beautiful planet Earth for our children,”--as he hauls his electric race car to the race in a gas-guzzling truck and tops off the traction batteries with gasoline burning generators...

[CRT1]

Originally Posted by Jay

“to help save our beautiful planet Earth for our children,”--as he hauls his electric race car to the race in a gas-guzzling truck and tops off the traction batteries with gasoline burning generators...

Motorsports make headlines. When EVs are competing and winning events the sheeple will realize they are for real. We have the cars (Leaf, Volt, PIP, etc) now we need to change the culture. The latter is a tough nut to crack.

[PaleMelanesian]

Because it's awesome! How much energy is consumed building the Olympic stadia, powering them, filling them with people, etc? We like to watch people do the very best a human can do, and this is another manifestation of that.

Besides,
Because Race Car!

[herm]

I tought it had something to do with sex!

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

I wonder why they call him "Monster".

[PaleMelanesian]

Rhys Millen beat Tajima's record from last year by 5 seconds (9:46), but on a fully paved route this year. Tajima's car did not finish. It started smoking partway up. He had a great qualifying run.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/08/p...ning-of-a-new/

[Tajima] didn't disappoint, setting blistering times of 4:14.8 and 4:13.3 in the two practice sessions. To compare, Tajima set times of 4:45.9 and 4:33.8 last year, albeit those were partially on dirt

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Too bad.