The King City Dirt Riders hosted their annual Sweetcorn/Watermelon Festival hillclimb at Mt Vernon, Illinois on August 9.  123 riders showed up to run the 160 foot three stage hill, and Randy “Buzz” Green had the best night of them all.  Riding his Dale’s Harley Davidson sponsored Harley in two classes, Green claimed both class wins and also the Fast Time of the Night award, which was a 5’8” tall trophy and $300 ($100 of that from Dale’s)

            It wasn’t easy, though, as “Buzz” was in second place in the Open Class behind Jason Northrup and his FJ1200 powered Yamaha at the intermission.  Northrup turned in a good 3.803 second first round ride to take the lead, then lowered it with a 3.713 second run in the second round.  But Green had gone to taller gearing on his Harley and blasted the big bike over the top of the hill in a blistering 3.587 seconds to take the class win.  Steve Shafer took third on his Harley.

            But the Open Class time still wasn’t fast for the evening, as ‘Crazy Jake’ Tackitt, running the Gayle Jenkins Honda, had blitzed the hill in 3.573 seconds to take the win in the 600cc class, and looked as if he would claim the Fast Time award.

But the ‘Buzzman’ was up to the challenge.  He was also in second place in the Pushrod class behind Steve Shafer at the end of the first round, so needed a good ride to claim that win.  And he delivered  big time with an eye opening 3.470 second high flying blast over the top to win the class and the Fast Time award, clearly showing his Open Class ride was no accident! 

            Young (13) John Michael Gocken was also a double class winner on his YZ250 Yamaha.  Riding it stock length, Gocken turned the fastest run in the first round of the 250cc class action with a 3.906 second run, but saw that time beat in the second round by both Billy Tom Hanes (3.777 seconds) and Butch “Fearless” Fetters (3.834 seconds).  Gocken just twisted a little harder with that right hand on his second ride and flew over the top in 3.758 seconds to win the class. Gocken also ran his hot running Yamaha in the 400cc Stock class, and delivered a blazing 3.763 second time on his first round ride, which held up for the class win. Matt Peters claimed second on his YZ400F in 3.868 seconds with Paul Hart taking third on his Husky.

            In youth class action, Gocken’s younger brother, Matt,  added to the family trophy collection with a win in the 50cc class on his Action, topping the hill on both rides, his best a 7.320 second effort on his second ride, which he needed to overtake Garrett Holycross who had delivered a 7.347 second time on his KTM in first round action.  Drew Daniels took the 65cc class win on his KTM65 in 5.496 seconds, with “Jammin’ Joe” McGurer close behind him with a 5.589 second run on his KX60.

            Shane Green just keeps on winning in the Junior Mini (85CC) class on his YZ85, this night with a 4.736 second time.  Drew Daniels took second on his KTM85 in 5.029 seconds.  Mike Popham extended his lead in the Senior Mini class with a very impressive 4.339 second run, with Cody Rankin running a 4.713 second time on his RM85 for second place.

            In other amateur class action, Paul Hart took the 125cc class win, “ Flash” Gordon Green was the 200cc class winner and Matt Peters took the 450cc class win.  Jason Northrup grabbed the 750cc class win, Scott Petty was the Senior Class winner and the “Old Pro”, Gayle Jenkins was the fastest in the Super Senior class.  Greg Joy was the best of the Open Stock riders and Paul Hillard won the Quad class.

RESULTS:

50CC: 1.Matt Gocken (Act), 2.Garrett Holycross (KTM), 3.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob); 4.Logan Moody (Pol), 5.Chelsea Gill (Hon).

65CC: 1.Drew Daniels (KTM), 2.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 3.Jake Wood (Kaw), 4.Nick Green (KTM), 5.Matt Gocken (Kaw).

85CC Jr:1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Drew Daniels (KTM), 3.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters (Yam), 5.Jake Wood (Kaw).

85CC Sr: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Cody Rankin (Suz), 3.Nick Burke (Kaw), 4.Goose Weaver (Kaw), 5.Kevin Dean Bond (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.Nick Mayo (Suz), 3.Tyson Sargent (Suz), 4.Brent Bowman (Hon), 5.Josh Mingee (Hon).

200CC: 1.Gordon Green (Kaw), 2.Curtis Moore (Kaw), 3.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 4.Mike Peters (Kaw), 5.David Schrum KTM).

250CC: 1.John Michael Gocken (Yam), 2.Billy Tom Hanes (Hon), 3.Butch Fetters (Hon), 4.Matt Peters (Hon), 5.Jared McKay (Yam).

450CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Greg Joy (Yam), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.Mike Peters (Suz), 5.Rob Ellis (Can).

600CC: 1.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 2.Andy Fortner (Hon), 3.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 4.Jared McKay (Kaw), 5.Josh Denson (Kaw).

600 4-Stk: 1.Butch Fetters (KTM), 2.Josh Denson (Yam), 3.Mark Peters (KTM), 4.Curt Randall (Yam), 5.Bud Northrup (Hon).

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

OPEN: 1.Randy ‘Buzz’ Green, (HD), 2.Jason Northrup (Yam), 3.Steve Shafer (HD), 4.Jim Redpath (Kaw), 5.Richard Miller II (HD).

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

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

PROD: 1.Randy “Buzz” Green (HD), 2.Steve Shafer (HD).

400 Stk: 1.John Michael Gocken (Yam), 2.Matt Peters (Yam), 3.Paul Hart (Hus), 4.Andy Fortner (Hon), 5.R.J. Watson (Hon).

Opn Stk: 1.Greg Joy (Yam), 2.Jared McKay (Hon), 3.Blake Harper (Yam), 4.Jammie Brown (Hon), 5.Mike Bacon (Mai).

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.Jason Cappello (Hon). 3.Jeremiah Lyday (Pol).

FAST TIME:  RANDY “BUZZ” GREEN, 3.470, HARLEY-DAVIDSON.