In honor of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb this upcoming weekend, let’s take a look back at history and watch this stunning, award winning film called “Climb Dance”. After Peugeot got out of WRC after the end of Group B rallying (the year I was born, 1986), they took a trip to Colorado to participate in the world famous hill climb. The car featured is a Peugeot 405 T16, with 600hp, big aero, 4wd & 4 wheel steering. Driver Ari Vatanen, who turned race car driver into politician & is currently a candidate to become the next FIA president, piloted the Peugeot to a historic win.

To say this hill climb takes balls, would be an understatement. Drop offs around every corner up the 12.42 mile “Race to the Clouds”, there are over 156 turns and the elevation goes from 4,721 ft at the start to the end of 9,390 ft. The track record to date, is from 2007 as Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima drove his 1000hp Suzuki XL7 Hill Climb Special to the time of 10:01.408, beating the previous 13 yr old record set by Rod Millen in 1994 of 10:04.06. The goal for the top teams this year to break the magical 9 minute barrier.

Hyundai is inviting everyone to come drive their brand new sports car, the Genesis. Featuring a 210hp, 2.0L turbocharged I-4 or a 306hp 3.8L V6, the Genesis is RWD, comes with an optional LSD, Brembo brakes and other goodies that should make it the new, hot FR machine for an affordable price.

As long as you’re 18 or older, check to see if Hyundai is coming to a metro location near you.
http://www.drivegenesis.com/Overview.aspx

These are the final installments of the Mustang in Japan series, all done for the promotion of the 2010 Ford Mustang. Vaughn Gittin, or “JR”, got a lifetime experience thanks to Ford Motor Co.

Episode 4:

Episode 5:

Episode 6:

All episodes & extra videos available here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2FE25C532E274504

2006 24hrs of Daytona winners, TPC Racing and their owner, Mike Levitas, recently did a PCA club race down at VIR. Dubbed “Cat Dog”, it has been Mike’s race toy for a long time now. Running upwards of 700+hp, JRZ suspension and older ALMS prototype wheels/tires, it is simply a beast.

Running a 1:53 flat, it was faster than last year’s Grand-Am GT track record. For reference, this year’s GT qualifier was 1:51.742 and DP’s fastest was 1:41.646.