The D-17 2005 hillclimb season opened on April 30 on a cold, wet Saturday night at the Pleasure Riders clubgrounds near Cayuga, Indiana.  ‘Fast Andy’ Fortner put on a clinic in how to go fast as he set the two top times of the night.  On his first ride in the 600CC class, he sailed his CR500 off the 3^rd breaker of the 155 foot muddy hill, landed and shot over the top in 4.620 seconds to take the first round lead and set the Fast Time mark.  No one was able to match that time all night, but he took his second ride anyway and flew high over the top in a blazing 4.570 seconds just to punctuate his win.

             Young Mike Popham was the closest challenger to his Fast Time with a 4.718 second ride on his YZ250 to win the 250cc class.  Popham was the only rider other than Fortner to break into the four’s, though the District 15 Hillclimb Referee, Scott Petty, came close with a 5.013 second run oh his CR500 to win the Senior (+40) class.

            Andy got a biggest thrill, however, from his stepson, ‘Joltin Jake’ Wood.  Jake set the Youth Fast Time of the night with a 6.288 second time on his Suzuki RM85 to win the 85CC Junior Mini class on his first ride Saturday night.

            The D-17 season started off on a painful note, as the first rider on the hill Saturday night, Ryan Garriott, endoed his Yamaha Quad over the top and broke his wrist in the crash.  His 5.422 second time actually won the 2-Stroke Quad class, but Ryan paid a painful price for the win – we hope he heals quickly and is back in action soon.

            Jason Northrup was a double winner, taking the 750cc class win with a 5.340 second run oh his Kawasaki triple, then ran his big Jeff Thomas built 1220cc ‘YZF1220’ Yamaha over in 5.489 seconds for the win in the Open class.                         

RESULTS: 

50CC AUTO:  1.Kolt Kinsler (Kaw), 2.Logan Moody (Pol), 3.Cole Garriott (Pol), 4.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 5.Garett Holycross (KTM).

65cc: Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 2.Logan Moody (Kaw), 3.Matt Gocken (Kaw).

85CC Jr: 1.’Joltin Jake’ Wood (Suz), 2.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 3.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters (Yam), 5.Jeremy James (Kaw).

85cc SR. 1.’Blazin Blake’ Cappello (Kaw), 2.Cody Swarner (Yam), 3.Justin James (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Kevin ‘Bubba’ Bond (Hon), 3.Mike Popham (Yam), 4.Justin Trent (Kaw), 5.R.D. Miller III (Kaw).

200CC: 1.’Crazy Jake’ Tackitt (Kaw), 2.Bubba Bond (Kaw), 3.Chris Peters (Kaw), 4.Keith Klett (Kaw), 5.Lonnie Estes (Hon).

250CC: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.R.D. Miller III (Kaw), 3.Shane Green (Yam), 4.John Colbert (Yam), 5.John Michael Gocken (Yam).

450CC: 1.Mike Bacon (Yam), 2.John M. Gocken (Hon), 3.Robbie Ellis (Hon), 4.Paul Hillard (Yam).

600CC: 1.’Fast Andy’ Fortner (Hon), 2.Ron Todd (Kaw), 3.Justin Trent (Hon), 4.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 5.Cody Jenner (Hon).

600 4-Stk: 1.Scott Pearson (Hon), 2.Mike Peters (Yam).

750CC: 1.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 3. Joshua Brown (Yam).

OPEN: 1. Jason Northrup (Yam), 2.Bud Northrup (Tri).

SNR +40:  1.Scott Petty (Hon), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Kevin Bond (Hon), 4.Robbie Ellis (Hon), 5.Scott Pearson (Hon).

SSNR +50: 1,Ron Todd (Kaw), 2.Billy Pearson (Suz), 3.Keith Klett (KTM), 4.Bud Northrup (Hon).

PROD: 1.Bud Northrup (Tri).

400 STK: 1.Mark Schroeder (Yam), 2.John Colbert (Yam), 3.R.J. Watson (Hon), 4.John M. Gocken (Yam), Danny Schuman (Kaw).

OPN STK: 1.Tom Brown (Hon), 2.Scott Pearson (Hon), 3.David Frailey (Yam), 4.Jammie Brown (Hon).

QUAD 2-St: 1.Ryan Garriott (Yam), 2.Wade Garriott (Hon), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.Mark Crum (Yam), 5.Brad Franklin (Suz).

QUAD 4-St: 1.Jody Timmins (Yam), 2.Jim Mahan (Hon), 3.Tony Kinsler (Yam), 4.Tom Crum (Suz), 5.Mark Crum (Hon).

YOUTH FAST TIME:  “Joltin’ Jake Wood, 6.288, RM85 Suzuki

AMATEUR FAST TIME:  ‘Fast Andy’ Fortner,4.570, CR500 Honda

Fast Andy Fortner on his CR500

Fast Andy Fortner with stepson 'Joltin Jake' Wood, and holding his 2 year-old son Andrew