Pikes Peak fully paved now?

[Justin]

I guess I missed this news  

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46399

If that's true, I guess some records will be broken next season  

[jbs80106]

It will be true.

As of September 11, 2011, only 0.7 miles of the road remains unpaved.

At this years hill climb the talked about the time changes due to more of the road being paved than the year before.  Seems like to me the old records set on pavement/dirt should stand forever.  Every run up the mountain from 2012 would be a record setter for each class.  Don't mix them, in my opinion.  Apples and Oranges.

[Justin]

It will be true.

As of September 11, 2011, only 0.7 miles of the road remains unpaved.

At this years hill climb the talked about the time changes due to more of the road being paved than the year before.  Seems like to me the old records set on pavement/dirt should stand forever.  Every run up the mountain from 2012 would be a record setter for each class.  Don't mix them, in my opinion.  Apples and Oranges.

Oh, I agree, the old records should be set in stone now, as the course was different. I'm just saying that the overall time records will be crushed next year due to it being fully paved. But they should not replace the existing records.

[DenverC-14]

Sounds like a trip up Pikes Peak is now in order for next year  

[sfarson]

Oh, I agree, the old records should be set in stone now, as the course was different. I'm just saying that the overall time records will be crushed next year due to it being fully paved. But they should not replace the existing records.

I used to think PPIH records would be crushed, but after reading Monster Tajima's remarks after his record setting run this past summer, I think the lowering of speeds will be more modest.  Tajima noted after totally over heating and destroying the car while on his record run, that he had more traction in the dirt.  Rod Millen set a record in 1994 at 10:04 on a totally dirt course.  It stood for 13 years until Tajima lowered it to 10:01 in 2007.  Despite more and more paving since 2007, it was only this year that Tajima broke the ten minute barrier.  The second place finisher this year, on a course mostly paved, finished in 10:09.... still well behind the 1994 totally dirt record.  Tajima is an animal.

I once cranked off a ten minute assault of the 12:42 mile Pikes Peak mountain course.  But still had six miles to go.  

[Justin]

Good points - but up in till now, the cars had to be setup to handle multiple surfaces. If it is 100% paved, and the cars are setup 100% for asphalt, then I think they may go faster. We'll see next year!

[sfarson]

Good points - but up in till now, the cars had to be setup to handle multiple surfaces. If it is 100% paved, and the cars are setup 100% for asphalt, then I think they may go faster. We'll see next year!

With the big majority of the 12 miles already paved at this year's PPIH, and the dirt smooth/hard packed, almost pavement like, I'm not sure teams dinked around much with set-up compromises.  I would have gone 100% hard surface settings.  There are predictions for more competitors entering in 2012, with the course completely paved next year.  I think records will be lowered, but not significantly so.

[Justin]

With the big majority of the 12 miles already paved at this year's PPIH, and the dirt smooth/hard packed, almost pavement like, I'm not sure teams dinked around much with set-up compromises.  I would have gone 100% hard surface settings.  There are predictions for more competitors entering in 2012, with the course completely paved next year.  I think records will be lowered, but not significantly so.

It sounds like you know far more actual facts about the racing than my assumptions, so I digress

Might have to take a scoot down there for a ride, haven't been up PP in a number of years.

[DenverC-14]

I've only been up there on the ol' cog railway, years ago, so taking the bike up will be sweet.

[Justin]

I've only been up there on the ol' cog railway, years ago, so taking the bike up will be sweet.

I've ridden up, and driven up a few times over the years - although it's hard not to pretend your are taking part in the Pikes Peak challenge when you do   - been a few years though now.

[Justin]

Well, it looks like being fully paved is making a BIG difference, at least with the bikes.

http://www.motorcycle.com/events/2012-pikes-peak-international-hill-climb-report-91360.html

Last year’s motorcycle winner, #5 Carlin Dunne on the Ducati Multistrada 1200, eclipsed his 2011 time of 11:11.3 with an unbelievable 9:52.8 to take the 1205 motorcycle class victory. Dunne’s Ducati was fast, achieving a maximum of 144 mph on the course.

One minute and 20ish seconds is huge gain for a year!

Can't wait to see Monster's run this year, should be interesting.

[bluedogok]

Tajima was running an EV class (electric vehicle) car this year and it caught fire ending his attempt.

Wired.com - One More Weekend Car-B-Q: Reigning Champ’s Pikes Peak EV Catches Fire

[sfarson]

Good points - but up in till now, the cars had to be setup to handle multiple surfaces. If it is 100% paved, and the cars are setup 100% for asphalt, then I think they may go faster. We'll see next year!

Indeed, the bikes smoked the previous bests.  My response was to yours regarding cars.  The record was very modestly lowered... something like 5-6 seconds.  About what I thought it would be... "I think records will be lowered, but not significantly so."  I really need to go one of these years!

[Justin]

Indeed, the bikes smoked the previous bests.  My response was to yours regarding cars.  The record was very modestly lowered... something like 5-6 seconds.  About what I thought it would be... "I think records will be lowered, but not significantly so."  I really need to go one of these years!

It's all good, I wasn't posting to rub it in your face  . After what you said, I just wasn't expecting the bikes to beat previous records by a full minute. As to the cars, it looks like the record was only beat by less than 10 seconds, so you were right on that front  .

[sfarson]

Oh I did for bikes, with their two skinny wheels no longer on three miles of dirt, but when Tajima in '11 noted he had better traction on dirt with his four massive tires, while cranking out a 9:51, I wasn't sure one could go significantly faster in a car.  Looks like Millen and the Frenchman were at 9:46.  Think I'll try to match that on the Ulysses next year.    Wouldn't that be great if it is a bike one of these years with the fastest time ever to the top?  That will open some eyes.

[black hills]

Oh I did for bikes, with their two skinny wheels no longer on three miles of dirt, but when Tajima in '11 noted he had better traction on dirt with his four massive tires, while cranking out a 9:51, I wasn't sure one could go significantly faster in a car.  Looks like Millen and the Frenchman were at 9:46.  Think I'll try to match that on the Ulysses next year.    Wouldn't that be great if it is a bike one of these years with the fastest time ever to the top?  That will open some eyes.

I would love to see bikes be the fastest but I don't think it will happen, the physics doesn't work out. cars just have more sq. inches of rubber per pund of vehicle on the road so they are going to be able to change direction quicker.