153 riders showed up to run in the District17/Illinois State Hill Climb championship race at Mt Vernon, Illinois.  Shane Green and Joe ‘Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer emerged as the top competitors.  Green claimed two class championships and the Amateur Fast Time award, while McGurer also claimed two class wins and the Youth Fast Time award.

            Green took his first class win in the 250cc class, coming from behind to overtake five riders in the second round.  Mike Popham flew his YZ250 over the top in 3.548 seconds to take the first round lead, with Green in the middle of the pack in sixth place with a 3.642 second run.  In the second round, however, Green blazed over the top in 3.430 seconds on his Yamaha to take the class win.  Popham’s first round time held up for second place.

            Popham took the first round 450cc class lead also with a 3.427 second run on his YZ450F, with Green close behind with a 3.467 second run on his KTM380.  In the second round, Green blasted over the top of the 140 feet hill in a blistering 3.256 seconds to not only take the class win, but also set a new fast time for the night, slipping under R.D. Miller III who had run a first round fast time of 3.343 seconds on his KTM525 on his way to winning the 600cc four stroke class.  Matt Peters also slipped under Popham in the 450cc class on his KTM with a 3.323 second ride to claim second place – and second fastest time of the night.

            McGurer got his first win in the 85cc Senior Mini class.  He took the class lead on his first ride with a 4.565 second time on his KX85, but Devin Campbell moved into the lead in the second half with a 4.420 second time.  ‘Jammin’ Joe’ was up to the challenge, however, as he flew his little Kawasaki over in 4.141 seconds to take the class win, and also snatch the Youth Fast Time away from Tom Goodnick, who had won the 85cc Junior Mini class with a 4.252 second time.

            McGurer came back to ride against the men and got his second win in the 125cc class on his KX125.  His 3.781 second run on his first ride held up all night for that class win with Jeremy James posting a 3.915 second time for the second place trophy.

            Cody Jenner and Brad Franklin also enjoyed double class wins.  Jenner got his first win in the 600cc class with a good 3.362 second run on his Honda, taking away Green’s bid for a perfect night.  Green claimed second with a   3.437 second time on his KX500.

            Jenner’s second win came in the Open Class on his big bore Kawasaki four banger.  His 3.564 second time was a winner with Paul Hillard taking second in 3.710 seconds on his overbored Kawasaki Triple.

            Franklin got his wins in the Quad classes.  Riding his Suzuki ‘Quadzilla’, he came from behind in the second round with a 3.804 second run to overtake Ryan Garriott who had taken the first round lead on his Yamaha with a 3.952 second run.  Garriott was a little faster on his second ride, but his 3.924 second effort left him in second place.

Franklin took the first round lead in the four stroke quad class with a 4.177 second run on his Honda.  That time would have been good enough for the win, but Franklin beat it himself with a 4.040 second round in the second half.  Mark Parker took second in 4.185 seconds on his Yamaha.

Other Youth Class champions were Dakota ‘D.J.’ Watson in the 50cc class and Jeremiah Lyday in the 65cc class.  Other Amateur champions were Jake Tackitt (200cc), Paul Hillard (750cc), Scott Petty (+40), Mike Bacon (+50), Buzz Green (Pushrod), D.J. Compton (400 Stock), Greg Joy (Open Stock) and Carissa Harwell (Women).

RESULTS:

50cc: 1.D.J. Watson, 2.Nathanial Blevins, 3.Levi Peters, 4.Reece Hutton, 5.Steve ‘Bug’ Coon Jr,

65cc: 1.Jeremiah Lyday, 2.Logan Moody, 3.D.J. Watson, 4.Kendra Mason, 5.Tonnie Pauley Jr.

85 Jr: 1.Thomas Goodnick, 2.Brett Kalaher, 3.Jeremiah Lyday, 4.Logan Moody, 5.Chance Laue.

85 Sr: 1.Joe McGurer, 2.Devin Campbell, 3.Remington Duncan, 4.Nick Green, 5.Dylan Brady.

125cc: 1.Joe McGurer, 2.Jeremy James, 3.Schuyler Kalaher, 4.Chad Altfillisch, 5.Dylan Brady.

200cc: 1.Jake Tackitt, 2.Schuyler, 3.David Schrum, 4.Tonnie Pauley Sr, 5.Chris Peters

250cc: 1.Shane Green, 2.Mike Popham, 3.Chad Altfillisch, 4.Blake Cappello. 5.Kyle Galloway.

450cc: 1.Shane Green, 2.Matt Peters, 3.Mike Popham, 4.Greg Joy, 5.Jake Sledge.

600cc: 1.Cody Jenner, 2.Shane Green, 3.Jake Tackitt, 4.Bubba Bond, 5.Scott Petty.

600 4-St: 1.R.D. Miller III, 2.Mike Popham, 3.Matt Peters, 4.Gordon Green, 5.Dustin Simmons.

750cc: 1.Paul Hillard, 2.Buzz Green.

OPN: 1.Cody Jenner, 2.Paul Hillard, 3.Buzz Green, 4.R.D. Miller III.

+40: 1.Scott Petty, 2.Mike Pulver, 3.Kevin L. Bond, 4.Mark Peters, 5.Mike Bacon.

+50: 1.Mike Bacon, 2.Steve Horath, 3.Ricky Horton, 4.Ronald Pauley, 5.Bud Northrup.

PROD: 1.Buzz Green, 2.Nate Simenec, 3.Bud Northrup.

400 St: 1.D.J. Compton, 2.Steven Campbell, 3.Gordon Green, 4.Kyle Galloway, 5.James Garner.

Opn St: 1.Greg Joy, 2.Kyle Galloway, 3.John Williams, 4.Phillip Opell, 5.Mike Pulver.

QD – 2St: 1.Brad Franklin, 2.Ryan Garriott, 3.Paul Hillard, 4.David Brown, 5.Evan Zimmerman.

QD- 4St: 1.Brad Franklin, 2.Mark Parker, 3.Chase Atwood, 4.Marty Thayer, 5.Stash Pyszka.

WMN: 1.Carissa Harwell, 2.Jessica Coon, 3.Kendra Mason, 4.Stephany Williams, 5.Lakota Asworth.

AMATEUR FAST TIME: SHANE GREEN, 3.256, KTM

YOUTH FAST TIME: JOE ‘JAMMIN’ JOE’ McGURER, 4.141, KAWASAKI

Shane Green	Mike Bacon	Cody Jenner
Class Champions Front row: Carissa Harwell, D.J. Watson, Jeremiah Lyday Back row:  D.J. Compton, .Paul Hillard, Joe McGurer, Shane Green, 5.R.D. Miller III, Cody Jenner, Buzz Green, Greg Joy, Brad Franklin
Joe McGurer		R.D. Miller III