Not so long after the birth of automotive industry, in 1897, the first hill climb event was held near Nice in France.
Hill climbing is one of the oldest forms of motorsport.

This competition where drivers run their cars up to the top of a mountain
attracts men and women of all ages because of its simplicity.
Hill climbing events are often held at beautiful locations where you can enjoy magnificent landscapes. The races are usually runned on public roads. These races have a unique and friendly atmosphere despite their toughness.
Though it is not popular in Japan, there are many events of this kind held in Europe or the USA and these events are very popular among the public.

The most famous hill climbing event in the world is Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as the "Race to the Clouds", which is held on the scenic road of the Pikes Peak mountain in Colorado Springs, US.
This competition began in 1916 and gathered competitors from all over the world, and it has become the hill climb event which attracts most people.
It is also the second world oldest motorsport event after the Indy 500 which started in 1911.

Drivers run their cars for about 20km to the goal at 4300 m above the sea level.
The difference in height between the start and the finish line is over 1400 m.
Many internationally famous drivers including rally champions have challenged this peak.

The real rival of those challengers who recorded supreme time in spite of
tough weather conditions and q rough road might not be the other drivers or but the peak itself.

  

 

    

         
 
“Monster” Tajima's Passion

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, held in Colorado, U.S.A, is the biggest and most famous hill climb event worldwide.
Drivers run their cars climbing to the finish line at 4300 m above the sea level. The course length is 19.87km and the vertical drop between start and goal is over 1400m.
This ultimate motor sport attracted “Monster” Tajima.
SUZUKI SPORT started challenging in Pikes Peak in 1989.
It has never been easy and we met a lot of problems on the way but our technology was sharpened and improved through those tough experiences in Pikes Peak.
We started challenging for the “Race to the Sky” in New Zealand in the late 1990’s, when we thought that the performance of our car was good enough. “Monster” Tajima showed his overwhelming speed and toughness in both events. And the mountain where occurs the race even got the nickname of “Tajima’s mountain”!
  

-ESCUDO Hill Climb Special　[2006]
This car is a new version of the 2005 machine, which was the “new generation” Hill Climb racing car designed with a concept similar to that of a formula car.
We highly considered aerodynamic influence on the car activity and completed a very effective wing. The wing is combined with its long-wheel-base chassis and enables an “on-the-rail” feeling of driving.
Compared to the 2005 one, this 2006 version has a more powerful engine, a more easily controllable steering system and a more dynamic appearance with its wider fender arch covering bigger diameter tires and wheels.
 
         
 
     
 
   
   
  -V6 ESCUDO Spec'98　[1998]  
This machine won the 1st prize in the Queenstown Gold Rush and 2nd prize in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. All parts: innovative aluminum tube space frame, 1000ps engine mounted on the mid ship layout, suspension system, brake system, tires etc. are upgraded. Aerodynamics, one of the key technologies for victory, is also improved through a large number of wind tunnel tests. It has helped to higher down force and to lower the drag. The potential of the machine increased by leaps and bounds.
     
-Twin Engine ESCUDO Spec'95　[1995]
It is the Japanese car that finished the championship with a Japanese driver in Pikes Peak Hill Climb when the course was shortened by 2/3 due to snowfall. It carries two sets of engines which provide 450ps on the front and rear of the chassis. The weight of the car is 900kg and its power is 900ps. By this excellent power/weight ratio, the acceleration performance could reach the one of F-1 cars. This machine is unique because it was the only one successfully designed with a twin engine in the world car history.
     
-Twin Engine CULTUS Spec'93　[1993]
This is the machine which convinced us to participate in the Hill Climb race. This machine achieved the win in unlimited division and fought well for the overall championship in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Both high power, which can carry out full acceleration on a steep slope and intense down force which transmits high power reaching 800ps on a road surface, are well combined in this car. The use of wind tunnel and the suspension system were the key technology for the development of aerodynamics of this machine.

 

■ Chassis / body work
The steel pipe framework of the body is developed according to a concept which is almost the same as a formula racing car. To lighten the weight, cowls are made of carbon and Kevlar FRP. Concentrating heavy loads such as engine, driver etc. on the center of a narrow and highly rigid frame highly improves the machine maneuverability. Long suspension arms were added so that tires are always in a satisfactory grounding state.
       
■ Engine/Power train
We combined the Escudo 2.7L V6 engine with a twin turbo and completely reformed its internal parts to reach a 995ps output. In fact, since the race is held at 2000~4000m above the sea level, the power decreases while climbing to the top. Such high power is required as a basic engine performance in order to get an overall win in Hill Climb. Moreover, there is much technology acquired from empirical rules also about ECU mapping for high-ground compensation and it is useful to develop an engine for hill climbs.
■ Aerodynamics
The aerodynamics design is very important when you run a dirt course at 200km/h. We have considerably improved aerodynamics since 1993. Aerodynamics has evolved especially after installing a model wind tunnel in our factory in 1997. We have designed each part considering thoroughly aerodynamics: from the large-sized wings at the front and back of the car and we installed it. Moreover the whole body acts as a wing because the undersurface shape is greatly scooped out toward the back. A strong down force is generated this way.
 

● Results
Driver: Nobuhiro Tajima (exception: green-colored character)
■ 1989
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine CULTUS
---
Unlimited Div.DNF＊
Qualifying order: 3rd
■ 1990
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT CULTUS GT-i
---
4ＷＤ Open Rally Div.DNS＊
Qualifying order: 1st
■ 1991
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine CULTUS TYPE2
12' 34''51
PP Open Div. 3rd
Qualifying order: 1st
■ 1992
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine CULTUS TYPE2
12' 51''63
Unlimited Div.1st
Qualifying order: 1st
■ 1993
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine CULTUS TYPE2
10' 44''22
Unlimited Div.1st
Overall 2nd
■ 1994
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine ESCUDO
10' 51''15
Unlimited Div. ２nd
Overall 5th
■ 1995
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine ESCUDO
7' 53''00
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
■ 1996
PPIHC
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
10' 21''88
Unlimited Div. 2nd
Overall 2nd
■ 1997
PPIHC
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
---
Unlimited Div.　DNF＊
■ 1998
QGR
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
8' 13''60
Unlimited Div.1st
Overall 1st
PPIHC
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
10' 32''57

Unlimited Div. 2nd
Overall 2nd
■ 1999
QGR
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
8' 33''31
Unlimited Div.1st
Overall 1st
PPIHC
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
10' 37''35
Unlimited Div. 2nd
Overall 2nd
■ 2000
QGR
SUZUKI V6 ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
8' 40''916
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
PPIHC
SUZUKISPORT Twin Engine CULTUS
PP Open Div. DNF
Qualifying order: 1st
■ 2001
QGR
SUZUKI ESCUDO Queens Town Special
---
Unlimited Div. DNF
PPIHC
SUZUKI AERIO Pikes Peak Special
---
Unlimited Div. DNF
SUZUKI ESCUDO Pikes Peak Special
（Yutaka Awazuhara）
11' 01''77
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 4th
■ 2003
RTTS
SUZUKI AERIO Hill Climb Special
8' 10''02
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
■ 2004
RTTS
SUZUKI ESCUDO Hill Climb Special
8' 17''848
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
■ 2005
RTTS
SUZUKI ESCUDO Hill Climb Special
8' 10''8446
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
■ 2006
RTTS
SUZUKI ESCUDO Hill Climb Special
8' 01''1730
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
PPIHC
SUZUKI ESCUDO Hill Climb Special
7' 38''
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
■ 2007
RTTS
SUZUKI ESCUDO Hill Climb Special
8' 3''9354
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
PPIHC
SUZUKI XL7 Hill Climb Special
10'01.408
Unlimited Div. 1st
Overall 1st
●PPIHC=Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
●RTTS=Race To The Sky （QGR=Queens town Gold Rush）
＊DNF:Do Not Finish ＊DNS:Do Not Start

 

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