The King City Dirt Riders hosted their first night/day doubleheader hill climb at their club grounds near Mt Vernon, Illinois on June 5/6. The Saturday night event featured a $400 cash award for the fast time, with a beautiful 6 foot tall trophy. The Mt Vernon club also awards an excellent trophy to the fast time in the youth classes.

Matt Peters was the big winner Saturday night, flying his classy KTM 380 over the top of the 150 foot hill in 3.647 seconds, overtaking Brent Bowman who delivered a 3.742 second run on his RevLoc Honda in the first round to win the 600cc class. Bowman crashed hard on his second ride, and was unable to compete in the Sunday climb – passing the Gayle Jenkins owned Honda to Jake Tackitt.

Peters nearly duplicated his feat on Sunday, with a 3.778 second 450cc Class winning time on his first ride, but was beaten twice by riders in the 600cc class in second round action. Cody Jenner flew his CR500 over the top in 3.760 seconds to take a brief lead, but then ‘Crazy Jake’ Tackitt, riding the RevLoc Honda, sailed high over the rim in a blistering 3.722 seconds to take the Fast Time - $100 plus the big trophy on Sunday.

Jenner, however, still came out a major winner as he blasted over the hill in 3.737 seconds to take the win in the King Of The Hill one run shootout for the 10 fastest riders of the day. Peters was second with a 3.763 second run with Tackitt third with a 3.841 second time. Jenner picked up $50 prize money plus a nice trophy provided by Kaleb Northrup and ‘Kingofthehill.org’.

Caleb Emory was the big Youth class winner of the weekend as he took the Youth Fast Time trophy on both days. Riding a KX85 in the Junior Mini Class he turned times of 4.461 seconds on Saturday and 4.353 seconds on Sunday to take not only the class wins, but also the Fast Time awards. Blake Cappello was his closest challenger on Sunday, posting a good 4.468 second Senior Mini Class winning ride. On Saturday evening, the 2003 National Champion in the Junior Mini Class, Shane Green, was the closest to Emory as he topped the hill in 4.633 seconds to take the Senior Mini Class win. Green enjoyed a double win night, as he also took the win in the 125cc class with an outstanding 3.955 second run on his YZ125.

Several other riders won their classes on both days. Jeremiah Lyday won the 500cc class twice, ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer, took both 65cc classes, Josh Denson turned the trick in the 600CC 4-stroke class while Jason Northrup ran his 750cc winning streak to seven with both wins. Gayle ‘Old Pro’ Jenkins was a double winner in the Super Senior (50+) class, Steve Shafer was the Pushrod Class winner both days and Paul Hillard was a double winner on his Quad.

Randy ‘Buzz’ Green and the King City Dirt Riders should be commended for putting on such a excellent event. Many riders expressed their pleasure at the cash payout and the overall running of the event. The club’s next event will be another night/day double header on August 21-22 and will be coordinated with the Mt Vernon Watermelon/Sweetcorn Festival. It will be their best hillclimb weekend ever, according to Green. I highly recommend being there!

50CC Auto: 1.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), Garrett Holycross (KTM), 3.Chelsea Gill (Hon), 4.Kendra Mason (Pol), 5.Kaylee Cox (Hus).

65CC: 1.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 2.Nick Green (KTM), 3.Brett Kalaher (Kaw).

85CC Jr: 1.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 2.Drew Daniels (KTM), 3.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters (Yam), 5.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw).

85CC Sr: 1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 4.Kieven Hillard (Kaw), 5.Justin James (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Brent Bowman (Hon), 3.Paul Hart (Hus), 4.Josh Mingee (Hon), 5.Richard Miller III (Kaw).

200CC: 1.Curtis Moore (Kaw), 2.Matt Peters (Kaw), 3.David Schrum (KTM), 4.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 5.Jimmy Cox (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.Matt Peters (Hon), 3.Billy Hanes (Hon), 4.Josh Mingee (Hon), 5.Robby Noyes (Kaw).

450CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Cody Jenner (Yam), 3.Gordon Green (KTM), 4.Mike Peters (Yam), 5.Paul Hillard (Yam).

600CC: 1.Brent Bowman (Hon), 2.Cody Jenner (Hon), 3.John Scroggins (Hon), 4.Scott Petty (Hon), 5.Jason Northrup (Hon).

600CC 4-St: 1.Josh Denson (Hon), 2.Mike Peters (Yam).

750CC: 1.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Kaw).

OPEN: 1.Jim Redpath (Kaw), 2.Jason Northrup (Yam), 3.Steve Shafer (H-D), 4.R.D. Miller II (H-D).

40+: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Darrell Trent (Hon), 3.Steve Shafer (H-D), 4.Scott Petty (Hon), 5.Gayle Jenkins (Hon).

50+: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Bud Northrup (Hon).

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer (H-D), 2.R.D. Miller II (H-D).

400CC St: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.R.J. Watson (Hon), 3.Al Petty (Yam), 4.Robbie Ellis (Hus).

OPN Stk: 1.Bud Northrup (Hon).

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.James Moody (Suz).

50CC Auto: 1.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 2.Chelsea Gill (Hon), 3.Logan Moody (Pol), 4.Kaylee Cox (Hus), 5.Garrett Holycross (KTM).

65CC: 1.’Jammin Joe’ McGurer (Kaw), 2.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 3.Nick Green (KTM).

85CC Jr: 1.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 2.Drew Daniels (KTM), 3.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters, 5.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw).

85CC Sr: 1.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Kieven Hillard (Kaw), 4.Justin James (Kaw), 5.Alex McKenzie (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Richard Miller III, 2.Paul Hart (Hus), 3.Mike Popham (Yam), 4.Josh Mingee (Hon), 5.Bubba Bond (Hon).

200CC: 1.Gordon Green (KDX), 2.Jake Tackitt (KDX), 3.Chris Peters (KDX), 4.Jimmy Cox (KDX), 5.Lisa Ellis (KDX).

250CC: 1.Matt Peters (Hon), 2.Paul Hart (Hus), 3.Billy Hanes (Hon), 4.Rod Kalaher (Kaw), 5.Josh Mingee (Hon).

450CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Cody Jenner (Yam), 3.Greg Joy (Yam), 4.Gordon Green (KTM), 5.Robbie Ellis (Hon).

600CC: 1.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 2.Cody Jenner (Hon), 3.Jason Northrup (Hon), 4.Josh Denson (Kaw), 5.Justin Trent (Hon).

600CC 4-St: 1.Josh Denson (Hon), 2.Mike Peters (Yam).

750CC: 1.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw).

OPEN: 1.Jason Northrup (Yam), 2.Steve Shafer (H-D).

40+: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Steve Shafer (H-D), 3.Steve Davis (Hon), 4.Darrell Trent (Hon), 5.Mark Peters (KTM).

50+: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Bud Northrup (Hon).

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer (H-D).

400CC St: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.Robby Noyes (Kaw), 3.R.J. Watson (Hon), 4.Robbie Ellis (Hon), 5.Al Petty (Yam).

OPN Stk: 1.Greg Joy (Yam), 2.Bud Northrup (Hon).

Quad: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam)

KOTH: 1.Cody Jenner (Hon), 2.Matt Peters (KTM), 3.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 4.Justin Trent (Hon), 5.Jason Northrup (Kaw).