Tajima tops record

Soon after Nobuhiro Tajima broke Rod Millen’s 1994 course record in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Saturday, another mission began.

Nicknamed “the Monster,” the native of Iwata-gun, Japan, asked for a few moments to catch his breath at the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, where clouds gathered by noon but rain held off until after the race.

When he heard his time a few minutes later, Tajima’s eyes grew misty but his shoulders dipped slightly.

“Only one second,” he said. “OK, I’m happy. But I want to break the 10-minute barrier.”

Racing a custom-built 2007 Suzuki XL7, Tajima reached a top speed of 127 mph en route to his recordsetting time of 10:01.41, which beat Millen’s record of 10:04.06.

With a new goal of 9:59, Tajima said he plans to return to Pikes Peak in 2008 for the 86th running of the race.

So does Rhys Millen, Rod’s son, who offered his congratulations and a latent challenge to Tajima.

“For many, many years, he played bridesmaid to my father and he’s been trying to break that record,” Millen said. “Who knows, it may even inspire (my father) to come back.”

Millen, who dominated the Time Attack two-wheel drive division (12:45.15), said he would like to race in the Unlimited division against Tajima and would “love to” reclaim the record for the Millen family.

On a 12.42-mile, 156-turn course that Tajima called “slippery,” he may have benefited by being the last car up the mountain in this year’s format, which had motorcycles and quads follow cars and trucks.

As the surface hardened in the sun Friday after overnight storms, many competitors said the uphill traffic loosened the top layer of gravel. The result was terrain that resembled “marbles on a boiler plate,” said Greg Chicoine, who won the 450cc motorcycle division (12:35.89).

In his 31st and final competitive Hill Climb, Woodland Park’s Leonard Vahsholtz claimed his 18th title in the Pikes Peak Open division with a personal-best of 11:30.53, the third-fastest mark of the day.

“I overachieved,” said Vahsholtz, the winningest driver in Hill Climb history.

But Clint Vahsholtz, Leonard’s son, missed out on his bid for a 12th straight Super Stock Car title as mechanical problems sidelined him at Ski Area (10,900 feet).

“I guess my luck was going to run out,” Clint Vahsholtz said. “But I’m super happy for my dad.”

Racing on his backup motor after his main engine blew Wednesday, Bobby Regester of Colorado Springs claimed the Super Stock title for his first win since 1995, edging Layne Schranz by five seconds and setting a record (11:46.75).

New record holders also include Fountain’s Davey Durelle in 750cc, who set a Hill Climb record in 450cc last year; Chuck Lee in 250cc; and Eddie Mulder in Vintage, who broke his record from 2006.

Edged by his older brother, Wally Dallenbach Jr., last year, Paul Dallenbach reclaimed the Open Wheel class title, besting David Donner by seven seconds.

Other winners included Todd Cook, who claimed his fourth Mini Sprint title; Nathan Conley (Time Attack four-wheel drive); Mike Childress (ProTruck); Michael Ell (Quad 500); David Hennessy (Sidecar); Scott Hoffman (Supermoto 450); Colorado Springs’ Randy Schranz (Exhibition); Steven Tutt (quad 450); Paul Thede (Motorcycle Exhibition) and Ryan Arciero (Volkswagen Exhibition).

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4803 or kate.crandall@gazette.com

HIGHLIGHTS

- Nobuhiro Tajima breaks Rod Millen’s 13-year-old Hill Climb record with a time of 10 minutes, 1.41 seconds.

- Leonard Vahsholtz of Woodland Park wins his final competitive Hill Climb race. It’s his record 18th win.

- Clint Vahsholtz’s streaks of 11 Super Stock Car wins and 14 wins on the mountain end.