TACKITT

TACKITT, KALAHER PERFECT AT MT VERNON

By: Bud Northrup - Mt Vernon, IL - 8/20/05 - Pictures by Keith Klett

The King City Dirt Riders closed out the MT Vernon Sweet Corn/Watermelon Festival week at Mt Vernon, Illinois with a motorcycle hill climb on their 140 foot hill. Jake ‘Crazy Jake’ Tackitt had a perfect night as he won the Fast Time award ( a BIG trophy plus $500) and both the classes he entered. Young Brett Kalaher also had a perfect night as he won both classes he entered, plus taking the Youth Fast Time Award.

Tackitt had to come from behind to get the win in the 600cc class, as Cody Jenner posted the fast time in the first round with a fine 3.109 second time. Tackitt found himself mired in seventh place at the end of the first round with a 3.694 second time, but pinned the throttle on his CR500 and held it there his second ride. He flew high over the top, stopping the clock in 3.078 seconds for the class win, and the coveted Fast Time Award. Jenner couldn’t improve on his first ride so had to settle for second, with ‘Fast Andy’ Fortner running third in 3.149 seconds.

Tackitt’s second win came in the 200cc Class where he topped the hill in 3.434 seconds on his old but still fast KDX200. Nick Skorch, also on a KDX, was second in 3.756 seconds.

Brett Kalaher is the point leader in the 65cc so it was no surprise to see him win that class with a 4.658 second first round run on his KX65. Matt Kinkin, on a RM85, took second in 5.120 seconds. But, for the first time, Brett also rode in the 85CC Junior Mini class. Brett’s brother, Schuyler, had broken his arm and couldn’t ride, so Brett rode his KX85 – and Boy did he ride it! He flew over the top in 4.185 seconds on his first ride to find himself in second place behind ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer and his 4.109 second run. But in the second round, young Kalaher sailed over the top in a sizzling 4.013 seconds for the class win – and the Youth Fast Time trophy. McGurer also bettered his first round time with a 4.097 second time for second place while his good buddy, ‘Joltin Jake’ Wood claimed third with a 4.107 second time on his RM85.

Paul Hillard and Randy ‘Buzz’ Green were both double class winners also. Hillard took his first win in the 750cc class with an excellent 3.332 second time on his Kawasaki triple, with Bud Northrup and his XS750 running second. His second win came in the 2-Stroke Quad class with a 3.773 second time on his Banshee, with Brad Franklin his closest challenger with a 3.934 second time on his Suzuki.

Green grabbed his first win with a very quick 3.263 second run on his big bore Kawasaki 4-banger in the Open Class, with Northrup running second on his Triumph twin. Then Green brought his Harley to the line and blasted it over in an even faster 3.241 seconds to win the Push Rod class, with ‘Old Bud’ second again on the Triumph with a 3.932 second run.

In other Youth Class action, Nathanial Blevins took the 50cc class win with Steve Coon Jr second, while Seth Bullock claimed the 85cc Senior Mini win with Jesse Seals in second place.

65CC: 1.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 2.Matt Kinkin (Suz), 3.Chance Hoskey (Suz), 4.Brandon Purkaple (Suz), 5.Tony Pauley (Yam).

85CC Jr: 1.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 2.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 3.Jake Wood (Suz), 4.Nick Green (KTM), 5.Garret Cox (Hon).

85CC Sr: 1.Seth Bullock (Yam), 2.Jesse Seals (Hon), 3.Damon Wright (Hon), 4.Remington Duncan (Hon), 5.Carrissa Harwell (Yam).

125CC: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Paul Hart (Hus), 3.Shane Green (KTM), 4.Kenny Coon (Suz), 5.Steve Campbell (KTM).

200CC: 1.Jake Tackitt (KDX), 2.Nick Skorch (KDX), 3.Chad Barrett (KDX), 4.Robbie Ellis (KDX), 5.Lisa Ellis (KDX).

250CC: 1.Billy Tom Hanes (Hon), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Shane Green (Yam), 4.Paul Hart (Hus), 5.Jon Creek (Suz).

450CC: 1.Shane Green (KTM), 2.Cody Jenner (Yam), 3.Adam Boone (KTM), 4.Greg Joy (Yam), 5.Mike Bacon (Yam).

600CC: 1.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 2.Cody Jenner (Hon), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Justin Trent (Hon), 5.Jon Creek (Hon).

SENR: 1.Scott Petty (Hon), 2.John Williams (KTM), 3.Robbie Ellis (Hon), 4.Mike Bacon (Yam), 5.Randy Hart (Hus).

400 Stk: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.John Kindle (Kaw), 3.Rod Kalaher (Kaw), 4.Alan Petty (Hon), 5.Steve Campbell (KTM).

OPN Stk: 1.Tom Brown (Hon), 2.Josh Denson (KTM), 3.Greg Joy (Yam), 4.Adam Boone (KTM), 5.John Williams (KTM).

QUAD – 2 St: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.Brad Franklin (Suz), 3.Cody Shipley (Suz), 4.Jim Mahan (Hon).

QUAD 4-St: 1.Chad Carnes (Yam), 2.Stach Pyszka (Yam), 3.Brad Overman (Hon), 4.Jim Mahan (Hon), 5.Corey Sumner (Hon).