150 riders showed up to ride the 2003 Indiana State Championships hosted by the Pleasure Riders M/C near Cayuga, Indiana on September 14. John Scroggins, from Staunton, Illinois was the fastest of all the amateur riders as he flew his CR500 high over the top of the 160 foot hill in a sizzling 4.201 seconds to take the 600cc class championship, and also the Fast Time award trophy and the $100 that went with it. Scroggins slipped under Jared McKay for the win and fast time. McKay had sailed his KX500 over in 4.231 seconds, and looked like he had locked up the win, because the next fastest rider was Jake Tackitt, who had carded a 4.354 second time on Gayle Jenkins’ Honda. Butch Fetters and Tom Brown took home 4^th and 5^th.

    Scroggins’ time wasn’t the fastest overall, however, as Josh Denson nailed a 4.183 second time in the King of the Hill class to take that trophy, and another $100. This class, however, is an exhibition class, so the ‘Official’ Fast Time credit goes to Scroggins. Denson also was the winner in the 600cc 4-Stroke class, upsetting the 2002 National Champion and 2003 National #3, Butch Fetters. Fetters had only been beaten once in District climbs this year – the first one – and had run off an incredible string of 18 straight wins on his KTM520. Fetters topped the hill in a good 4.558 seconds on his first ride to take a convincing lead into intermission, but Denson, a 17 year old ‘Young Gun’ from Neoga, Illinois, blasted over the top in 4.536 seconds to take the lead in the second round. Fetters rode hard to reclaim the lead, but wheelied and had to back off, carding a 4.612 second time on his second ride, and settled for second place.

    Young (8 Years old) Dakota Blakeney, was the only rider to claim two state championships. Riding his LEM, he topped the hill on both his rides, the second in 7.792 seconds – much to the delight of the crowd. Only one other rider, National #6 Jeremiah Lyday, was able to top the hill even once, and he did it on his Cobra in 8.474 seconds. ‘Koty’ returned in the 65cc class with his KX65 and again topped the hill on both rides – the second one an amazing 5.674 high flying charge – just like the big guys. "Jammin’ Joe" McGurer was his closest competitor as he took the first round lead with a 6.558 second ride on his little Kawasaki – but crashed hard on his second ride trying to overtake Blakeney. Matt Gocken, Caleb Emory and "Joltin’ Jake" Wood also topped the hill and claimed the next three trophies.

    There were two other major upsets recorded. The Pleasure Riders boast two National Champions in their club for 2003. Shane Green is the National Champion in the 85cc Junior Mini Class, and had won 21 times in 23 races this year. But on this day, Blake Cappello was faster. Cappello set the fast time for the first round on his KX85 with a 5.834 second ride, just a bit quicker than Green who carded a 5.846 second run on his YZ85. In the second round Green flew at the hill with a full throttle but crashed hard at 120 feet, and had to settle for second place. Taking a free ride, Cappello emphasized his victory with an outstanding 5.520 second run.

    Mark Schroeder is the reigning 2003 Champion in the 400 Stock Class, and had won the class six times in the eight races he rode this year. He set a 4.648 second time on his first ride on his YZ250, but Paul Hart took the first round lead with a 4.600 second time on his Husky 250. In the second round, Schroeder flew his Yamaha over in 4.503 seconds to take the lead back, but Hart responded with an even quicker 4.481 second run to take the win.

    Other State Champions were Mike Popham in the 85cc Senior Mini class, Josh Mingee in the 125cc class and Jake Tackitt in the 200cc class. Kevin Ryan took the 250cc crown, Matt Peters was the 450cc champ, and Paul Hillard claimed the 750cc title. Randy ‘Buzz’ Green took the Open class win by 2/1,000’s of a second over Jason Northrup, Scott Sheets Jr took the Pushrod title, and the ‘Old Pro’, Gayle Jenkins was the fastest of the +40 Senior class riders. Ron Todd was the best of the (AARP)+50 class, Jared McKay won the Open Stock class, Ryan Garriott grabbed the win in the 2-stroke Quad class and Tony Kinsler was the best on the 4 stroke quads.

RESULTS:

50cc: 1.Dakota Blakeney (Lem), 2.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 3.Cory Scroggins (Hon), 4.Dakota Watson (Kaw), 5.Matt Gocken (Act).

65cc: 1.Dakota Blakeney (Kaw), 2.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 3.Matt Gocken (Kaw), 4.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 5.Jake Wood (Kaw).

85cc Jr: 1.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 2.Shane Green (Yam), 3.Chris Peters (Yam), 4.Drew Daniels (KTM), 5.Dylan Brady (Hon).

85cc Sr: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Goose Weaver (Kaw), 3.Cody Rankin (Suz), 4.Kevin Bond (Kaw), 5.Richard Miller III (Hon).

125cc: 1.Josh Mingee (Hon), 2.Brent Bowman (Hon), 3.Hon), 4.Justin Trent (Kaw), 5.Paul Hart (Hus).

200cc: 1.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 2.Gordon (Green), 3.Mike Peters (Kaw), 4.Keith Klett (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 2.Mark Schroeder (Yam), 3.Jared McKay (Yam), 4.Paul Stephenson (Kaw), 5.Danny Schumann (Kaw).

450cc: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Paul Hillard (Yam), 3.Scott Pearson (Hon), 4.Marcus Brown (ATK), 5.Will Dalenburg (Hon).

600cc: 1.John Scroggins (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 4.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 5.Kaw).

600 4-Stk: 1.Josh Denson (Yam), 2.Butch Fetters (KTM), 3.Tate Pearson (Hon), 4.Scott Pearson (Hon), 5.Will Dalenburg (Hon).

750cc: 1.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 2.Andy Fortner (Kaw), 3.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 4.Josh Brown (Yam).

Open: 1.Buzz Green (HD), 2.Jason Northrup (HD), 3.Steve Shafer (HD), 4.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 5.R.D. Miller II (HD).

PROD: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.Steve Shafer (HD), 3.Buzz Green (HD), 4.R.D. Miller II (HD).

+40: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Ron Todd (Kaw), 3.Darrell Trent (Hon), 4.Scott Petty (Hon), 5.Mark Peters (KTM).

+50: 1.Ron Todd (Kaw), 2.Keith Klett (Yam), 3.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 4.Bud Northrup (KTM).

400 Stk: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2,Mark Schroeder (Yam), 3.Jphn Gocken (Yam), 4.R.J. Watson (Kaw), 5.Kevin Ellis (Hon).

OPN Stk: 1.Jared McKay (Hon), 2.Scott Pearson (Hon), 3.Richard Allen (Hon), 4.Tom Brown (Hon), 5.Will Dallenburg (Hon).

QUAD – 2 Stk: 1.Ryan Garriot (Yam), 2.Wade Garriott (Hon), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.David Brown (Hon), 5.Brad Franklin (Suz).

QUAD – 4-Stk: 1.Tony Kinsler (Bom), 2.Darrell Schultz (Yam), 3.Mark Crum (Hon), 4.Tom Crum (Suz), 5.David Brown (Hon).

KOTH: 1.Josh Denson (Kaw), 2.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 3.John Scroggins (Hon), 4.Mark Schroeder (Yam), 5.Jared McKay (Kaw).

FAST TIME – AMATEUR: JOHN SCROGGINS, 4.201; HONDA CR500

FAST TIME – OVERALL: JOSH DENSON, 4.183; KAWASAKI KX500