Mt Vernon, Illinois celebrated it’s annual Sweetcorn/Watermelon Festival on August 21 and 22, and the King City Dirt Riders put on a doubleheader hillclimb as part of the celebration. 130 riders showed up to ride the 150 foot hill on Saturday night, but none went away happier than nine year old Joe ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer. The youngster from Brownsburg, Indiana took the wins in both the 65cc and 85cc Junior Mini classes. His 4.830 second time on his KX65 was well ahead of runner up Matt Gocken who carded a 5.419 second time in the 65cc class. Riding his KX85, ‘Jammin Joe’ was even faster, topping the hill in 4.651 seconds to take the win in the Junior Mini class, with good buddy Jake Wood taking second in 5.170 seconds on his RM85. Joe didn’t get the Youth Fast Time award, however, as Jake Popham flew his YZ85 over in a blazing 4.498 seconds for the win in the Senior Mini class, and the Youth Fast Time award.

    On Sunday, however, ‘Jammin Joe’ was even better as he took both class wins again, but also the Fast Time award. He won the 65cc class with a 4.684 second time, with Brett Kalaher second, then blitzed the hill in an incredible 4.369 seconds for the Junior Mini win and also claimed the Youth Fast Time award. Schuyler Kalaher took second in this class. National Champion Shane Green took the win in the Senior Mini class with very good 4.545 second time with Popham claiming a very close second with a 4.565 second run.

    ‘Crazy Jake’ Tackitt took the Amateur Fast Time trophy and a $400 cash prize on Saturday night with a 3.501 second run on Gayle Jenkins RevLoc equipped Honda CR500 in the 600cc class. Jared McKay was second on his KX540 with Brent Bowman, also riding a Jenkins RevLoc CR500 in third. Tackitt enjoyed a triple class win weekend as he claimed the 200cc class wins both days also.

    On Sunday, Josh Denson, riding his RevLoc KX540 was the fastest of the fast, as he sailed over the top in 3.467 seconds to take the 600cc class win and the Fast Time award. Tackitt was second with a 3.494 second time and Bowman third in 3.581 seconds, giving RevLoc the top three places.

    Other double class winners included Matt Gocken in the 50cc class, Brent Bowman in the 125cc class, Mark Peters in the +40 Senior class, Gayle Jenkins in the +50 Super Senile class, Scott Sheets Jr in the Open Pushrod class, Paul Hart in the 400 Stock class and Paul Hillard in the 750cc class. Matt Peters only rode on Sunday, but was a triple class winner, taking the wins in the 250cc, 450cc and 600cc Four Stroke classes. Paul Hillard enjoyed a ‘double double’, as he took the wins both days in the 750cc class on his Kawasaki triple, and also in the Quad class on his Banshee.

    But the most exciting/entertaining moment of the weekend came on Saturday afternoon when Steve Shafer set himself on fire trying to clean a spark plug. He had masterfully fouled the plug by kicking Jason Northrup’s XR70 unmercifully with the ignition switch off and had no replacement plug. So he had Northrup spray the plug (his hand and arm also) with a cleaning spray, which he then lit with his lighter – you can imagine the result. There were a half dozen ‘advisors’ standing around watching this (including me), and I know we would have rushed to his aid but were doubled over laughing too hard. No harm done, however (other than extreme embarrassment on Shafer’s part - it’s hard to be cool after you set yourself on fire, you know) - and the spark plug was still fouled. Luckily, a charitable rider gave Steve a replacement plug – good thing, too – it might have saved his life!! All this so Steve’s daughter, Lauren, could ride the bike, which she did with great joy, making it all worthwhile..

RESULTS: (Saturday, 8/21/04)

50cc Auto: 1.Matt Gocken (KTM), 2.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 3.Kendra Mason (Pol), 4.Garett Holycross (KTM), 5.Logan Moody (Pol).

65cc: 1.’Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer (Kaw), 2.Matt Gocken (Suz), 3.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 4.Nick Green (KTM), 5.Chelsea Gill (Kaw).

85cc Jr: 1.’Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer (Kaw), 2.Jake Wood (Kaw), 3.Jeremy James (Kaw), 4.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw), 5.Chris Peters (Yam).

85cc Sr: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 3.Jessy Seals (Hon), 4.Dan Montgomery (Kaw), 5.Justin James (Kaw).

125cc: 1.Brent Bowman (Hon), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Paul Hart (Hus), 4.AJ Book (Kaw), 5.Dustin Compton (Kaw).

200cc: 1.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 2.Gordon Green (Kaw), 3.Jimmy Cox (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters (Kaw), 5.Keoth Klett (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Billy Hanes (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Yam), 3.Robby Noyes (Kaw), 4.James Kalaher (Kaw), 5.Paul Hart (Hus).

450cc: 1. Cody Jenner (Yam), 2.Adam Boone (Yam), 3.Greg Joy (Yam), 4.Josh Denson (KTM), 5.Gordon Green (KTM).

600cc: 1.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Brent Bowman (Hon), 4.Cody Jenner (Hon), 5.Justin Trent (Hon).

600 4-Str: 1.Josh Denson (KTM), 2.Jake Popham (Yam), 3.Mike Peters (Yam).

750cc: Paul Hillard (Kaw), 2.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Yam).

OPEN: 1.Nick Mayo (Kaw), 2.Jason Northrup (Yam), 3.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 4.Buzz Green (HD), 5.Steve Shafer (HD).

SENR: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 3.Scott Petty (Hon), 4.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 5.Jeff Jack (Kaw).

SSNR: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Mark Williams (Yam), 3.Randy Hart (Hus), 4.Keith Klett (KTM), 5.Bud Northrup (Hon).

PROD: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.Buzz Green (HD), 3.Steve Shafer (HD).

400 Stk: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.Robby Noyes (Kaw), 3.Rod Kalaher (Kaw), 4.Tom Walgeh (Hon), 5.Jeff Jack (Yam).

OPN Stk: 1.Jared McKay (Hon), 2.Adam Boone (Yam), 3.Greg Joy (Yam), 4.Lyndell Allison (Hon), 5.Jeff Jack (Kaw).

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.Chad Carnes (Yam), 3.Jake Tackitt (Yam), 4.Paul Hollan (Yam), 5.Stanley Pyszka (Yam).

RESULTS: (Sunday, 8/22/04)

50cc Auto: 1.Matt Gocken (KTM), 2.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 3.Lauren Shafer (KTM), 4.Garett Holycross (KTM), 5.Logan Moody (Pol).

65cc: 1.’Jammin Joe’ McGurer (Kaw), 2.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 3.Chelsea Gill (Kaw), 4.Nick Green (KTM), 5.Logan Moody (Kaw).

85cc Jr: 1.’Jammin Joe’ McGurer (Kaw); 2.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw), 3.Drew Daniels (KTM), 4.Jake Wood (Suz), 5.Chris Peters (Yam).

85cc Sr: 1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 4.Justin James (Kaw), 5.Jesse Sails (Hon).

125cc: 1.Brent Bowman (Hon), 2.Shane Green (Yam), 3.Mike Popham (Yam), 4.Paul Hart (Hus), 5.A.J. Book (Kaw).

200cc: 1.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 2.Gordon Green (Kaw), 3.Jimmy Cox (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters (Kaw), 5.Keith Klett (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Paul Hart (Hus), 3.Robby Noyes (Kaw), 4.Jon Creek (Suz), 5.Billy Hanes (Hon).

450cc: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Greg Joy (Yam), 3.Gordon Green (KTM), 4.Lyndell Allison (Hon), 5.Paul Hillard (Yam).

600cc: 1.Josh Denson (Kaw), 2.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 3.Brent Bowman (Hon), 4.Jared McKay (Kaw), 5.Jon Monroe (Hon).

600cc 4-Str: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Josh Denson (KTM), 4.Jake Popham (Yam), 5.Jon Monroe (Yam).

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

OPEN: 1.Jason Northrup (Yam), 2.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 3.Steve Shafer (HD).

PROD: 1.Scott Sheets (HD), 2.Steve Shafer (HD).

SENR: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Scott Petty (Hon), 3.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 4.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 5.Steve Shafer (HD).

SSNR: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Keith Klett (Hon), 3.Bud Northrup (Hon).

400 Stk: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.Rod Kalaher (Kaw), 3.Robby Noyes (Kaw), 4.Jeff Jack (Yam), 5.Justin Trent (Hon).

OPN Stk: 1.Greg Joy (Yam), 2.Jared McKay (Hon), 3.Jeff Jack (Kaw), 4.Lyndell Allison (Hon), 5.Brian Klett (Kaw).

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.John Williams (Yam).