Jason Northrup came home from Arizona to ride in the National Hillclimb Championships, and stayed long enough to make a brief appearance in district hillclimbing.  He made his presence felt, as he came with 1/100^th of a second of a four win, Fast Time perfect day at the King City Dirt Riders hillclimb near Mt Vernon, Illinois. 

            Northrup took his first win in the 600CC class, where he flew a Honda borrowed from Gayle Jenkins high over the top of the 230 foot hill in 4.031 seconds on his first ride.  No one in the class could get under that time , but young Jared McKay was close, with a 4.059 second run on his KX500 for second, and Scott ‘Scooter’ Sheets Jr was also fast with a 4.081 second time on his CR500.  Randy Trosper and Andy Fortner finished 4^th and 5^th on their Hondas.

            Northrup’s other two wins came on his classy Husaberg 501.  Riding in the Open Stock Class, his very quick 4.429 second time was well ahead of Jammie Brown who carded a 4.687 second run on his CR500.  In 600CC four stroke action, he posted a good 4.554 second time to take the win, with his father, ‘Old Bud’ Northrup running second on his ATK.

            Northrup’s perfect day was ruined for him in the 750cc class.  He flew his 750cc ‘Hondasaki’ triple high and far over the top in a blazing 3.960 seconds to set the fast time of the day to that point.  Tom ‘Wild Child’ Daniels, however, was better by a scant 1/100^th of a second, as he carded a 3.950 second run to take the class win and the fast time.  It was Daniel’s tenth fast time of the season, which tied him for the most fast times ever in one season with guess who? – Jason Northrup.  With Northrup back in Illinois next year, these two wild men and their incredibly fast Kawasaki triples will be facing each other nearly every week. In addition, Northrup is also building an Open Class FJ1200 and rumor has it that Daniels has an Open Class triple in the making. Add guys like Mike Kessel, Scooter Sheets, Buzz Green, Steve Shafer, Andy Fortner, Mark Goodman and the Schultzes, 2002 will be some kind of great year with guys like that battling it out in the big bore classes.

            Scott Sheets Jr was a double class winner on his hot Harley. Turning in a 4.224 second time to win the Open Class with Maryland’s David Price running second with a 4.371 second time on his Triumph.  Scooter brought his Harley back to post a 4.284 second run to take the win in the Open Pushrod Class with Price second again and Tim Wiggins taking third on his Triumph.

            The halftime entertainment included a hilldrag challenge by 69 year old Bill Mayo to 59 year old Bud Northrup.  Northrup beat Mayo on their drag, then foolishly challenged 8 year old Dylan Brady, who took the holeshot and sailed his Polini 50 over the top in front of Northrup and his YZ250.  There will be a rematch when the Pleasure Riders run their next event!

            Young Brady really enjoyed a great day, because in addition to smoking (his words) the D-17 Hillclimb Director in the drag race, he also claimed the 50cc class win with a fine 5.884 second time on his Polini, barely ahead of Donnie Robbins who stopped the clock in 5.899 seconds on his Cobra.

            In other youth class action, Justin Trent won his second straight 85cc Junior mini class climb with a 5.303 second time on his KX80, with Cody Rankin and his YZ80 running second  in 5.455 seconds.   Brent  Bowman also won his second straight in Senior Mini action, sailing his RM80 over the top in 5.047 seconds for the win with Billy Hanes grabbing second on his KX80 in 5.095 seconds.

            The highlight of the day came at the end, however, as an exhibition ‘Powderpuff’ class was run.  Everyone came to watch as Bob Fisher’s wife, Phyllis, and Scott Sheets’ mother, Tina, rode Fisher’s massive Harley up and over the hill – both even grabbing some air off the breakers. Eight ladies rode, including such as Brent Bowman’s mother and Scott Sheets girlfriend – much to the delight of the crowd.  We might have to make this a permanent class!

            Other amateur class winners included Nick Mayo in the 125cc class, Brent Warfel in the 200cc class and Ray Aguilar in the 250cc class.  Aguilar was also a double winner as he also took the 400cc stock class win.  Class leaders Tom Trosper and Gayle Jenkins were the Senior and Super Senior winners, Jared McKay took the 400cc class win and Paul Hillard was the fastest of the Quad riders.

RESULTS:

50CC AUTO: 1.Dylan Brady (Pol), 2.Donnie Robbins (Cob), 3.Taylor Hungate (Cob), 4.Samantha Brown (Hon), 5.Justin Bailey (Suz).

85CC JR: 1.Justin Trent (Kaw), 2.Cody Rankin (Yam), 3.Alan Petty (Hon), 4.Randy Williams (Kaw), 5.Goose Weaver (Kaw).

85CC SR: 1.Brent Bowman (Suz), 2.Billy Hanes (Kaw), 3.Chad Cox (Kaw), 4.Josh Denson (Kaw), 5.Jake Sledge (Suz).

125CC: 1.Nick Mayo (Suz), 2.Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 3.Damon Mayo (Suz), 4.Paul Hart (Hus), 5.Josh Denson (Kaw).

200CC: 1.Brent Warfel (KTM), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 4.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 5.Travis Sandy (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Ray Aguilar (Suz), 2.Randy Trosper (Suz), 3.Jon Creek(Suz), 4.John Williams (Kaw), 5.Gordon Green (Yam).

400CC: 1.Jared McKay (Yam), 2.Paul Hillard (Yam), 3.Marcus Brown (ATK), 4.Gordon Green (Yam), 5.Ernie Bruss (Yam).

600CC: 1.Jason Northrup (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Scott Sheets Jr (Hon), 4.Randy Trosper (Hon), 5.Andy Fortner (Hon).

600cc 4-stk: 1.Jason Northrup (Hus), 2.Bud Northrup  (ATK).

750CC: 1.Tom Daniels (Kaw), 2.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 3.Andy Fortner (Kaw)

OPN: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.David Price (Tri).

PROD: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.David Price (Tri), 3.Tim Wiggins (Tri).

SENR: 1.Randy Trosper (Hon), 2.Bob Fisher (Hon), 3.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 4.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 5.Tim Wiggins (Tri).

SSNR: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Richard Potter (Kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Yam).

400 STK: 1.Ray Aguilar (Suz), 2.Robert Vail (Yam), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Jon Creek (Hon), 5.Randy Hart (Hus).

OPN STK: 1.Jason Northrup (Hus), 2.Jammie Brown (Hon), 3.Bud Northrup

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.Josh Wright (Suz), 3.Rusty Trolley (Hon), 4.Don Richardson (Suz).

FAST TIME: TOM DANIELS  3.950, KAWASAKI 750CC TRIPLE