PETERS PREVAILS AT PLEASURE RIDERS HILLCLIMB
By: Bud Northrup
Cayuga, In June 24, 2001


    Matt Peters, from Neoga, Illinois, picked up his first Fast Time Trophy at the Pleasure Riders hillclimb on his hot running KTM380. Peters didn't waste any time setting the mark, as he flew over the top of the rough and rutted 150 foot hill in 3.877 seconds on his first ride in the 400cc class, taking his second win of the weekend, and posting a time no one would match the rest of the day. Paul Hackbarth, just as he was the night before, was Peters closest challenger with a 4.085 second time on his KTM360. 
    Peters missed having a perfect day as he had to settle for a second place in the 250cc class, his 4.192 second run on his CR250 being 1/10th of a second slower than the winning time set by Mark Goodman Jr on his KX250. Jon Creek was only 5/1,000's behind Peters for third, with a fine 4.197 second run on his RM250.
    Goodman was a double winner, also taking the win in the super competitive 750cc class. Riding his Kawasaki triple, the young gun from Indianapolis posted a 3.927 second first round time which held up for the win. The 'Wild Child', Tom Daniels unleashed one of his patented full throttle attacks on his 'Wild Thing', and screamed up the hill trying to start another fast time streak. The wild triple broke traction and endoed over the top, tossing Daniels over the bars, then slamming him into the ground. Tom suffered serious injuries to his shoulder and underwent surgery to repair the damage on June 26. We all wish the 'Wild Child' a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the circuit soon - no one rides harder and thrills the crowd more than this guy. Daniels' time of 3.980 seconds held up for a painful second with Lane Schultz, Wade Schultz and Boots Weber, all Yamaha twin riders, filling out the top five.
    Butch Fetters, Matt Peters' brother in law, joined the winners circle with an excellent 3.900 second run on his KX500 in the 600cc class to snatch the win from the grasp of 'Fast Andy' Fortner who was sitting on a 3.910 second first round time on his Honda. D-15 Hillclimb Referee Scott Petty showed he was still fast with a 3.954 second run on his Honda for third and the 'Rocketman' Randy Trosper joined the 3 second club on his CR500 with a 3.963 second time for 4th while Lane Schultz just missed the 3 second barrier with a 4.003 second run for fifth place on his Honda.
    Trosper was a double winner, however, taking the titles in the Senior and 400CC Stock classes. His 3.957 first round time on his CR500 was unchallenged all day in the Senior Class, with Mark Peters his closest challenger with a 4.257 second run on his KTM550 and Kevin McKay only 1/1,000 behind Peters with a 4.258 second run on his KX500. Trosper's first round ride in the 400CC Stock class also held up all day. His 4.275 second run on his CR250 was good enough to hold the class point leader, Andy Fortner, who topped the hill in 4.320 seconds for second place.
    In youth class action, Donnie Robbins won his second 50cc Automatic class title of the weekend with a crowd pleasing 6.066 second time on his Cobra, while class point leader Dylan Brady also brought cheers from the crowd with a 6.664 second effort on his Polini for second place. Kieven Hillard, riding a KX60 and carrying an 'Angel on his Shoulder', showed up the bigger bikes with a sizzling 5.834 second ride to take the 85cc Junior Mini class win. Steven Joe 'Goose' Weaver, also running a KX60, topped the hill in 6.091 seconds for second place. Donnie Barber III, riding a KX80, flew over the top in 5.108 seconds to take the Senior Mini win with Billy Hanes, also KX80 mounted, taking second with a 5.271 second time.
    In other amateur class action Kevin Ryan took his second straight win and stretched his point lead in the 125cc class with Jared McKay doing the same in the 200cc class. Lane Schultz rode his 850cc Norton to the Open Class win while his brother Wade took the Open Pushrod Class win on his hot Harley. Gayle Jenkins continued his dominance in the Super Senior class with OldnSlo Bud running second. Jammie Brown was the Open Stock winner and Ryan Garriott was the fastest Quad rider for the second day in a row.

RESULTS:
50CC: 1.Donnie Robbins (Cob), 2.Dylan Brady (Pol), 3.Chris Peters (KTM), 4.Jake Hunsaker (Pol).

85CC JR: 1.Kieven Hillard (Kaw), 2.Goose Weaver (Kaw), 3.Richard Miller III (Kaw), 4.Alan Petty (Hon), 5.Justin Trent (Kaw).

85CC SR: 1.Donnie Barber III (Kaw), 2.Billy Hanes (Kaw), 3.Josh Denson (Kaw), 4.Chad Cox (Kaw), 5.Josh Warner (Kaw).

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

200CC: 1.Jared McKay (Kaw), 2.Brent Warfel (KTM), 3.Jacob Tackitt (Kaw), 4.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 5.Gordon Green (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Mark Goodman Jr (Kaw), 2.Matt Peters (Hon), 3.3.Jon Creek (Suz), 4.Andy Fortner (Hon), 5.Don Barber Jr (Hon).

400CC: 1.Matt Peters** (KTM), 2.Paul Hackbarth (KTM), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.Ron Todd (Kaw), 5.Marc Brown (ATK).

600CC: 1.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 2.Andy Fortner (Hon), 3.Scott Petty (Hon), 4.Randy Trosper (Hon), 5.Lane Schultz (Hon).

750CC: 1.Mark Goodman Jr (Kaw), 2.Tom Daniels (Kaw), 3.Lane Schultz (Yam), 4.Wade Schultz (Yam), 5.Boots Weber (Yam).

OPEN: 1.Lane Schultz (Nor), 2.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 3.Adam Doubblestein (HD), 4.Mike Kessel (Kaw).

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

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

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

400 STK: 1.Randy Trosper (Hon), 2.Andy Fortner (Hon), 3.Tom Brown (Hon), 4.Richard Allen (Hon), 5.R.J. Watson (Kaw).

OPN STK: 1.Jammie Brown, 2.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 3.Bud Northrup (Yam).

QUADS: 1.Ryan Garriott (Yam), 2.John Barna (Yam), 3.Wade Garriott (Hon), 4.Paul Stephenson (Yam), 5.Paul Hillard (Yam).

**FAST TIME: MATT PETERS, 3.877, KTM380