Rod Millen, Monster Tajima to Battle at Pikes Peak
Two of Pikes Peak’s most seasoned veterans will have a showdown at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb when Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima and Rod Millen face off in the Electric Auto Division.
Combined, the elder Millen and Tajima have locked down 17 wins at the famous Hill Climb, with Tajima becoming the first driver to ever break the 10-minute barrier with a 9:51.278 in 2011. Last year, Tajima competed with his new Tajima Motors E-Runner, but was forced out of the race when it developed a small fire.
SEE ALSO: Watch ‘Monster’ Tajima Tackle Pikes Peak in his EV
Tajima will again compete in the E-Runner this year, while Rod Millen will be climbing into the cockpit of the Toyota TMG EV P002, which won last year’s Electric title with Fumio Nutahara behind the wheel. While it may seem that Millen or Tajima would be the favorite to win the class, the Electric division is a loaded class this year and will also include the 2010 and 2011 champion (of the class) Ikuo Hanawa.
Rod Millen’s son, Rhys, will be competing in the Unlimited class with the 2013 Hyundai PM580T. Last year, Rhys Millen set the all-time mark on Pikes Peak with a 9:46.164.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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