VIDEO: In-car with Rhys Millen's Hyundai Genesis Coupe at Pikes Peak
Rhys Millen on Pikes Peak - Click above to watch the video after the jump
The 2009 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a wild and crazy race where vehicles of all makes and classes traverse the 14,110-foot summit in the fastest possible time. Super drifter Rhys Millen took on the Peak this year with his RWD Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and he set a course record on his 17th run covering 12.4 miles in 12 minutes, 9.397 seconds. While it sounds impressive to climb Pikes Peak at such a high rate of speed, it looks downright scary when watching it on video.
We're amazed that anyone would have the intestinal fortitude to fly up a gravel-laden Pikes Peak with the intent to reach the summit in world record-setting time, and the birds-eye view provided by the camera shows us just how dangerous a climb this was. Many stretches of road don't even have guard rails, which makes the fact that Millen wore his tires down to their steel belts that much more amazing.
Follow the jump to view video of Rhys' record-setting run.
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
usingthelou 12:54PM (7/29/2009)
AAH!!! Pick me to drive instead!
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esteva03 5:44PM (7/29/2009)
yeah. me too. i could so totally do that way faster!!!!
my "icandoit" gland is telling me i can, you know, the pace next to the "medula badidea".
XD
pcmodeler 1:21PM (7/29/2009)
""We're amazed that anyone would have the intestinal fortitude to fly up a gravel-laden Pikes Peak with the intent to reach the summit in world record-setting time""
I totally understand. Years back I took my motorcycle down from Estes Park, CO, which is the highest paved road in North America. It was awesome. I was hitting the corners pretty hard and many times the back wheel would start slipping in the turns when you whipped it in the coners. It was exhilerating.
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Justin Maldonado 1:00PM (7/29/2009)
It was a great run, and he looked fantastic doing it!
I think you should make it clear that it was a record setting run IN HIS CLASS. Those that don't know much about the race might think you're implying that he set the record for the entire mountain which of course is held by the Monster Tajima. Just saying.
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Justin Maldonado 1:07PM (7/29/2009)
oh, and I can see myself at the corner at 8:40 :-)
Fau Veh 1:01PM (7/29/2009)
They should bronze up a pair of TruckNutz, stick them on a trophy base and give them out to anyone who completes this course.
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greatsunjester 2:22PM (7/29/2009)
Anyone who can make this run has no need of the trophy -- they have the real thing.
JMF 1:19PM (7/29/2009)
Sounds like the car jumped out of gear, or broke a gear while rounding a corner right at the 10:00 minute mark - and then Rhys selected another gear, waited for the boost and went back to the task at hand. Incredible drive.
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:13PM (7/29/2009)
Many stretches don't have guardrails? Virtually none of the road has guardrails.
I do see that unlike what I asserted, the does hang the rear out on the asphalt. He could probably shave time off by not doing so. I would suggest he take a look at Sebastien Loeb, he smoked the competition in the WRC for years now, partially by introducing a new driving style where he takes more corners with standard out in out on the asphalt instead of using a Scandinavian Flick.
That engine sounds great doing it's job there.
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Steven 2:20PM (7/29/2009)
That's what I was wondering also, thanks for the info.
Arkz 2:55PM (7/29/2009)
My sentiments exactly. As I was watching this clip, I couldn't help but wonder if he knew that he was in a time trial and not in a drifting competition. I mean, going sideways is undoubtedly faster on gravel, but surely not on tarmac. Other than that, a great video coupled with an awesome soundtrack.
adrenalnjunky 4:10PM (7/29/2009)
It seems to me that the bumper cam was being panned left & right @ times. Sometimes the in-car actions didn't seem to reflect the motion seen at the front bumper.
Osprey 2:51PM (7/29/2009)
Looking off a cliff in that video gave me goosebumps
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usctrojan4jc 3:30PM (7/29/2009)
Source should say, "Inside Line" or "Edmunds.com Inside Line," not YouTube.
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usctrojan4jc 3:31PM (7/29/2009)
Btw, Hyundai supplied IL with the video. :o)
Bungle 5:59PM (7/29/2009)
Bird's-eye view? What kind of bird are you talking about, a chicken?
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Dave 6:48PM (7/29/2009)
I know he has to run the same tires he qualified on. Is it possible he qualified on gravel or intermediate gravel-pavement tires, hence the almost constant sliding on pavement?
Regardless, that is an amazing drive, serious cojones. I wonder how many of those 12+ minutes were sideways.
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Xa 10:17PM (7/30/2009)
the clock is overlayed. that means the vid has been sped up by one percent to make the car look 3 seconds faster. didn't actually happen. *sarcasm at anti gtr bandwagon*
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