It’s hard to believe, but the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is just a couple of weeks away. Those who are competing are mostly already there, getting their cars ready and taking every chance they can to practice the 12.42 mile course. Among them is Paul Dallenbach, who is competing in the appropriately-named “Unlimited” class.
Dallenbach has won the Unlimited class in years past, and this year he is bringing a custom-built, 1,400 horsepower beast of a hill climber with so much power that it tears the cameras right off the front fender, as this next video shows. This is even more power than last year, when the racer made *only* 1,307 horsepower. This is so much power that the car is still breaking the tires loose at 144 mph in 5th gear.
Generating this incredible amount of horsepower is a Chevy big-block engine running a turbo system from Banks Power that has been recalibrated for the thin mountain air. Dallenbach’s racer also has an all-new aerodynamics kit as the entire Pikes Peak course is now paved, a big departure from precious years.
It’s kind of insane, listening to this engine absolutely scream as Dallenbach flies up the mountain road, barely slowing down for the corners. But he is a professional racer; this is what he does for a living.
Note the lack of guard rails, and how narrow the road gets at points. This is not a race for the feint of heart, that is for sure. Do you have the stones to handle Pikes Peak?