'Monster' Tajima races special Suzuki SX4 to Pike's Peak Hill Climb win

(June 28, 2010) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — It was Monster’s day. Driving his modified 2010 Monster Sport (Suzuki) SX4 Hill Climb Special, Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima solidified his race to the clouds reputation with a finish time of 10:11.490 and his fifth consecutive overall win at the 88th edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday.

On a day that was hotly competitive and punctuated by any number of near misses on the Peak’s winding, tortuous route, Monster Tajima was at one with his 2010 Monster Sport SX4 Hill Climb Special. A derivative of Monster’s racer from 2009, the aerodynamic tweaks and additional 25 horsepower served the Monster Sport driver well in his ascent to the Peak’s finish line.

Monster Tajima first challenged Pikes Peak, North America’s second oldest motorsports event, in 1988. His first win in the Unlimited division took place in 1993, followed by his second overall title in 1995. Fast forward to 2006, where his overall win primed the pump for a record-breaking run of 10:1.408 in 2007.

Monster Tajima successfully defended his king of the mountain title against several well-known competitors, including Paul Dallenbach who finished second with a time of 10:39.534 and Rhys “We Fear No Monster” Millen who finished third at 11.06.208.