The final hillclimb of the District 17 season was staged by the Belleville Enduro Team on October 5 on their 200 foot hill near Belleville, Illinois. Jake Tackitt took the most wins (4), but Jared McKay would have to be considered the big winner, as he overtook class leaders in not one, but two classes to take the season points championships.

    Riding his classy retro-black/yellow YZ250, McKay topped the hill in 4.530 seconds to take the 250cc class win and move around Matt Peters to claim the overall points championship for the year. Jon Creek topped the hill in 4.704 seconds on his RM250 for second place. In the 600cc class, McKay took second place with a 4.350 second run behind Tackitt, but also slipped by ‘Fast Andy’ Fortner who placed third with a 4.420 second time, giving McKay the season points championship and dropping Fortner to second. It was a come from behind effort for McKay, as Fortner had carded a 4.462 second time on his first ride, with McKay behind him with a 4.510 run and the pressure all on his 17 year old shoulders – one good run for the season championship – and he delivered. He also rode unopposed in the Open Stock class to add that to his win total.

    Tackitt was the fastest in the 600cc class with a blistering 4.159 second run on Gayle Jenkins’ Honda, which was also the fast time of the night. He rode unopposed in both the 200cc and 750cc classes, but claimed another very impressive win in the King Of The Hill one run shootout. This class is for the ten fastest riders of the entire day, regardless of the class, and ‘Crazy Jake’ proved to be the fastest of the fast as he sailed the Jenkins Honda high over the top in 4.134 seconds – beating his own fast time of the day. Fortner was his closest competitor with a 4.487 second time with Josh Denson running third with a 4.614 second time.

    In Youth action, little 8 year old Kaylee Cox brought loud cheers from the crowd as she rode her little Husky 179 feet up the hill to take the win in the 50cc Automatic class. Jeremiah Lyday and Logan Moody tied for second with 165 foot rides, and Lyday won the tiebreaker with a crowd pleasing 180 foot climb – but had to take second place as he was riding only for that tie breaker. ‘Joltin Jake’ Wood grabbed the 65cc class win with a 6.530 second ride on his KX65, overtaking Drew Daniels who posted a 6.986 second time on his KTM. Justin James was the fastest in the 85CC Junior Minis with a good 6.312 second time, slipping past Dylan Brady who carded a 6.403 second time on his CR85. Mike Popham took the Senior Mini class win with a 5.693 second time.

    Brent Bowman finished his impressive district championship season with yet another win on his Honda in the 125cc class, topping out in 4.856 seconds with Mike Popham second. National Champion Brent Stewart took the 450cc class win on his KTM380, Fortner was the 600CC 4-Stroke winner and John McFarland took the Senior Class win. Ron Todd took the Super Senior class win, as well as the season points championship, and R.J. Watson did the same in the 400cc Stock class.

RESULTS:

50CC Auto: 1.Kaylee Cox, 2.Jeremiah Lyday, 3.Logan Moody, 4.Stephan Lannon, 5.Travis Zapfe.

65CC: 1.Jake Wood, 2.Drew Daniels, 3.Caleb Emory.

85CC Jr: 1.Justin James, 2.Dylan Brady, 3.Drew Daniels, 4.Caleb Emory, 5.Austin Creek.

85CC Sr: 1.Mike Popham.

125CC: 1.Brent Bowman, 2.Mike Popham, 3.Louise Krakosky.

200CC: 1.Jake Tackitt.

250CC: 1.Jared McKay, 2.Jon Creek, 3.Tim McFarland.

450CC: 1.Brent Stewart, 2.Josh Denson, 3.Adam Krakosky, 4.Rob Ellis.

600CC: 1.Jake Tackitt, 2.Jared McKay, 3.Andy Fortner, 4.Josh Denson, 5.Jon Creek.

600CC 4-Stk: 1.Andy Fortner, 2.Josh Denson.

750CC: 1.Jake Tackitt.

OPEN: 1.Mike Schobert, 2.Adam Krakosky.

SENR: 1.John McFarland, 2.Ron Todd, 3.Kevin McKay.

SSNR: 1.Ron Todd, 2.Richard Potter.

400 STK: 1.R.J. Watson, 2.John McFarland, 3.Danny Schumann, 4.Joe Ellis.

OPN STK: 1.Jared McKay.

KOTH: 1.Jake Tackitt, 2.Andy Fortner, 3.Josh Denson, 4.Brent Bowman, 5.Jared McKay.

FAST TIME: Jake Tackitt, 4.140, Honda CR500