Tom Daniels, the 26 year old 'Wild Child', from Amboy, Illinois had another good day at the 2001 Indiana State Hillclimb Championships hosted by the Pleasure Riders M/C. Daniels posted a win and a second, plus took the coveted Fast Time Award. His win came in the 750cc class where he screamed his 'Wild Thing', a Fast by Gast Kawasaki Triple, high over the 150 foot hill on his first ride in a startling 3.797 seconds. That time would stand the rest of the day, winning the 750cc class and taking the beautiful Fast Time Trophy. Mark Goodman Jr was the only other rider in the class to break into the 3's, as he took second place on his Kawie triple in 3.921 seconds and 'Fast Andy' Fortner ran third in 4.062 seconds on his 'Hondasaki' triple.
    Daniels' perfect day was ruined in the Open Class, where he also broke into the threes, this time a 3.961 second run on Steve Shafer's Harley. It would be only good enough for second place, however, as Scott 'Scooter' Sheets Jr blasted over the top in 3.948 seconds on his Harley for the win. Mike Kessell, the district point leader, topped the hill in 4.065 seconds on his KZ1000 for third place.
Jon Creek, from Avon, Indiana, was the only double state champion. He took his first win in the 250cc class, sailing his RM250 high over the top of the hill in 3.136 seconds, overtaking Mark Goodman Jr and Don Barber Jr who had times of 4.175 and 4.201 seconds on the book. Cody Jenner grabbed fourth place and Gordon Green took the 5th place trophy.
    Creek's second win came in the 400cc Stock class where his first round time of 4.292 seconds on his CR250 held up for the win. Tom Brown was close behind him with a 4.324 second time on his Honda with Andy Fortner even closer behind him with a 4.340 second run on his CR250. Doug Campbell and R.J. Watson picked up the 4th and 5th place trophies.
    Young Jared McKay nearly picked off his first 600cc class win. The 15 year old rider from Neoga flew his dad's KX500 over on his first ride in 4.100 seconds, and was sitting on the lead at intermission. In the second round, however, the district point leader, Andy Fortner burst McKay's bubble with a 3.945 second blistering ride on his CR500. To his credit, young McKay responded well, flying his KX over on his second round under four seconds also, but falling just short of the win with a 3.963 second time. He has definitely established himself as one of the top riders in the class. Mark Goodman Jr also broke into the threes, his 3.969 second run putting him in third place. Ron Todd and Randy Trosper filled in the fourth and fifth place spots with times of 4.043 and 4.046 seconds.
McKay did come away with a state championship, however, doing it in the 200cc class. Riding a 1987 KDX200 once owned and ridden to many national championships by Mel Piontek, McKay posted a 4.456 second time to take the title. KTM riders Kelly Senn and Brent Warfel were close behind him with times of 4.491 and 4.499 seconds, with Gordon Green and Jake Tackitt running fourth and fifth on their old but still fast KDX200's. 
    In Youth class action, National #5 Donnie Robbins topped the hill in 6.071 seconds on his Cobra for the win, overtaking National #10 Dylan Brady who had taken the first round lead with a 6.372 second run on his Polini. Richard Miller II came down from Michigan to grab the 85cc Junior Mini class title, posting a 4.965 second time on his CR80 to snatch the win from the grasp of Cody Rankin who had taken the first round lead with a 5.506 second time on his YZ80. National #7 Brent Bowman topped the hill in 4.949 seconds on his first ride on his RM80, a time which would have held up for the win except Bowman beat it himself with a second round 4.812 second run. Chad Cox was closest to ho him with a 5.087 second run on his KX80.
    Other amateur class winners were Kevin Ryan in the 125cc class and Matt Peters in the 250cc class. Steve Shafer took the 600cc 4-Stroke class win, national #4 Randy Trosper was the Senior (+40) class winner, and Ron Todd was the fastest of the AARP card carriers, the Super Senior (+50) class. Wade Schultz was the Pushrod Class champ, Scott Pearson took the Open Sock crown and David Brown was the fastest Quad rider.

RESULTS:
50CC: 1.Donnie Robbins (Cob), 2.Dylan Brady (Pol), 3.Cody Blakeny (Act), 4.Chris Peters (KTM), 5.Jake Hunsaker (Pol).

85CC JR: 1.Richard Miller II (Kaw), 2.Cody Rankin (Yam), 3.Kieven Hillard (Kaw), 4.Steven Joe Weaver (Kaw), Alan Petty (Hon).

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

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

200CC: 1.Jared McKay (Kaw), 2.Kelly Senn (KTM), 3.Brent Warfel (KTM), 4.Gordon Green (Kaw), 5.Jake Tackitt (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Jon Creek (Suz), 2.Mark Goodman Jr (Kaw), 3.Don Barber Jr (Hon), 4.Cody Jenner (Hon), 5.Gordon Green (Yam).

400CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Jared McKay (Yam), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.Marc Brown (ATK), 5.Gordon Green (Yam).

600C: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Mark Goodman Jr (Hon), 4.Ron Todd (Kaw), 5.Randy Trosper (Hon).
600 4-STRK: 1.Steve Shafer (KTM), 2.Bud Northrup (Yam).

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

OPN: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.Tom Daniels (HD), 3.Mike Kessel (Kaw).

SNR: 1.Randy Trosper (Hon), 2.Ron Todd (Kaw), 3.Boots Weber (Yam), 4.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 5.Mark Peters (KTM).

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

PROD: 1.Wade Schultz (HD), 2.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 3.Steve Shafer (HD), 4.Tim Wiggins (Tri).

400 STK: 1.Jon Creek (Hon), 2.Tom Brown (Hon), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Doug Campbell (Yam), 5.R.J. Watson (Kaw). 

OPN STK: 1.Scott Pearson (Yam), 2.Jammie Brown (Hon), 3.Steve Shafer (KTM), 4.Bud Northrup (ATK).

QUAD: 1.David Brown (Hon), 2.Ryan Garriott (Yam), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.John Barna (Yam), 5.Wade Garriott (Hon).

FAST TIME: Tom 'Wild Child' Daniels 3.797 Kawasaki 750cc Triple