Kaleb Northrup, through his website, kingofthehill.org, sponsors two King of the Hill series in Midwest hillclimbing. The King of the Hill competition consists of the ten fastest riders of the day, regardless of class, competing in a one run, winner take all shootout at the end of regular competition. One series is run in Illinois and Indiana, the other in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The winner at each individual event gets a nice trophy, plus any cash the local club tosses in, and most are quite willing to provide a nice monetary award in addition to the trophy provided by Northrup. Well over $1,000 was awarded to KOTH Championship Series winners this year.

    In addition, this year, the top five finishers in each series also met in an inter-district clash at the Midwest Hillclimb Championships held in Red Wing, Minnesota with Minnesota’s Kurt Koester winning that ‘grudge match’.

    The Illinois/Indiana series featured one run at each of seven clubs. As it was last year, the final determination of the overall King came down to the last ‘King’ run of the year at the Belleville Enduro Team climb on September 18. Any one of three riders, Cody Jenner, Brent Bowman, and Jared McKay, could emerge with the overall title. Jenner had two wins and a third, Bowman had two wins, and McKay had a win and 2 seconds going in to the final round of action. If any one of those three won at Belleville, he would claim the overall title. As it turned out, none of the top contenders claimed the win at Belleville. ‘Crazy Jake’ Tackitt, who had won the 2003 title on the last ride on the same hill, took the fast time of the day and the King of the Hill win for that event. McKay took second with Jenner taking third, leaving Jenner with the overall season crown. He will get a nice trophy, plaque and cash from Northrup at the January, 2005 District 17 awards banquet in Ottawa.

    Todd Cipala took the season title in the six event Minnesota/Wisconsin series, claiming Three wins, a fourth and a ninth, with Kirk Mueller his closest challenger with one win, three seconds and two thirds. Going into the final event at Dickeyville, WI, Mueller was the only person who could have kept Cipala out of a 2^nd-straight series championship – but he had to win to do it. Cipala turned in a blazing run, with the only 10 second time in the KOTH class, taking the series title as Mueller finished 3^rd on the day behind Lane Schultz. Mike Wood and Chuck Neinfeldt finished third and fourth, each with one win.

1. Cody Jenner (2 wins, 2 thirds)

2. Brent Bowman (2 wins)

3. Jared McKay (1 win, 3 seconds, 1 third)

4. Jake Tackitt (1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds)

5.Eric Wheelwright (1 win, 1 fourth)

1. Todd Cipala (3 wins, 1 fourth, 1 ninth)

2.Kirk Mueller (1 win, 3 seconds, 2 thirds)

3.Mike Wood (1 win, 2 fifths)

4.Chuck Neinfeldt (1 win)

5.Arnold Jelinek (1 second, 1 fourth, 1 tenth)