K and Ns Michael Coburn Breaks ATV Pikes Peak Climb Record Time for 3rd Straight Year

Coburn pushed hard all the way to the top, resetting the bar with an impressive time of 11:59.021

When George Mallory was asked “Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?” his famously quoted retort was “Because it’s there.” For K&N sponsored ATV racer, Michael Coburn, another legendary mountain ascent cast much the same sort of straight forward spell over him.

“I saw it (Pikes Peak race) on TV when I was little and I dreamt about how cool it would be to race up it someday,” Coburn told K&N Race News.

In the 2011 running of the Pikes Peak race to the clouds, Coburn broke his own impressive record set last year by three seconds in the Quad Modified class (11:59.021), making it the third straight year he has reset his own record. Coburn broke his own Pikes Peak record for the third straight year, riding aboard his K&N sponsored Hoosier/Spark’s Racing Honda TRX 450R Big Bore ATV. Had it not been for the steady 30mph wind near the top of the mountain, Coburn feels he may have set an even lower time.

Yet, slightly over three years ago, Coburn wasn’t even certain what was required to enter the race. “I did some research and found out what it took to enter the race and decided to enter it,” said Coburn.

Coburn regularly competes in the Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals, an eight round series with venues spread out throughout the country. For the past two years Coburn has held the Pro Champion title.

“This year I am currently in second. Had a few rough races, and now I’m trying to regain some points,” Coburn adds. “We have two rounds left. This weekend we have round seven at my home track (Garretson, South Dakota). We are putting this race on, and have been busy lining up sponsors, track equipment and workers. We have been putting a lot of time in on the track to make the best race we can. Then the first week in September we finish up our season at Busco Beach, North Carolina.”

Coburn says he loves all sorts of racing and that he’s always been open to new events and new types of racing challenges. He’s hot-lapped a sprint car and a street stock car on dirt ovals, but he mostly sticks with ATV racing for now. “I have been riding ATV’s since I was six,” says Coburn. “Growing up riding was my hobby and most favorite thing to do.” In 2004 he started racing TT at his local track, and then two years later Coburn started racing on the national level.

“I put a lot of time and effort into my racing season. I workout every day and also train on my quad about five days a week. I try keeping myself in the best shape possible, because racing is a tough sport, and can definitely wear you out. It’s especially important to have good cardio for Pikes Peak, because the elevation is so high, and the air lacks oxygen. This Pikes Peak I ran pretty close to the same set up as the year before. I focused a little more on my jetting and gearing. That is very important at this race.”

Coburn feels had it not been for the wind at this year’s race, he may have broken his 2010 record by even more. “The wind I feel was a big factor this year. The lower sections of the mountain were real fast and the wind was hard to notice. But the closer I got to the summit the stronger the wind became. On some straightaway’s the wind was strong enough that it was hard to pull fifth gear. I think if it wasn’t so windy the times would have lowered a little more for everyone.”

In regards to his relationship with K&N Coburn explains, “I have always run K&N on all my stuff. That’s the only filter I have ever known. Growing up I always saw K&N stickers on performance vehicles and wanted them on my ATV’s. A couple years ago I sent some stuff in for rider support. Ever since then, John Jump has been helping out our race team.”

“I am going to finish the Extreme Dirt Track Series out, hit some local races, and start rebuilding stuff for next season,” continues Coburn. “Hopefully I will be setting up a new ATV. I also do some ice racing in the winter, and maybe I’ll race in the Tulsa Shootout too, if they offer an ATV class this year.”

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