The 100 foot, steep, rough hill of the Central Illinois Motorcycle Club was also wet and slippery on May 15, but nearly 100 hillclimbers attacked it with a passion. The 600cc class, as always, was very fast, and in the first round, Brent Bowman nailed a very quick 2.751 second run on his Gayle Jenkins/RevLoc Honda to set an early fast time. In the 750cc class, however, Jason Northrup was waiting with his 750cc Kawasaki triple and flew it screaming over the top in 2.725 seconds to take the fast time into intermission. Northrup had had two very fast rides missed by the clock at White City the week before, and was primed to win one.

In the second half, Jon Creek nearly set a new time with a very impressive 2.744 second run on his Honda, but it was ‘Fast Andy’ Fortner, the last rider in the 600cc class, who sailed his Honda over the top in a breathtaking 3.627 seconds to set a new fast time. Northrup attacked the hill with a full throttle assault on his triple, and also bettered his first round time with a 2.682 second run – not quite good enough to overtake Fortner.

On Sunday, the same plot seemed to be playing out again, as Bowman set the early fast time with a 2.719 second run in the 600cc class, with Northrup setting a new one on his first ride in the 750cc class with a blistering 2.617 second run on his triple. In second round action, however, it was Josh Denson who challenged the Northrup time the hardest, flying his RevLoc KX540 over in 2.638 seconds to take the 600cc class win, but Northrup claimed his first Fast Time award in 2004.

Bowman wasn’t to be denied his day, however, as he turned a 2.580 second time in the one run exhibition King Of The Hill series, taking that trophy for the second straight week. Jared McKay was his closest challenger there with a 2.628 second run on his KX540.

Jeff Jack, from Wappella, Iowa, made a rare District 17 appearance, and took the wins in both the 400cc Stock and Open Stock classes on Sunday. His 2.961 second time in the Open Stock class was actually good enough to get him into the 10 bike ‘King’ contest, and he impressed us all with an excellent 2.884 second run on his stock length KX500 to claim 6^th place.

Matt Peters had a very good weekend, claiming the wins in the 200cc, 250cc and 450cc classes on Saturday night, and doubling on Sunday with wins in the 200cc and 450cc classes – ‘slipping’ to second in the 250cc class.

In youth action, ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer was a double winner, taking the win in the 65cc class on both days, and Blake Cappello took the 85cc Senior Mini class wins at both events.

In amateur action, Kevin Dean Bond took the wins on both days in the 125cc class, as did Ron Todd in the Super Senior Class. Northrup and Steve Shafer were Triple winners, Northrup taking both 750cc class wins plus one in the Open Class, while Shafer took the other Open Class win and both Pushrod wins.

RESULTS 5/15/04:

50CC Auto: 1.Matt Gocken (KTM), 2.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 3.Logan Moody (Pol), 4.Chelsea Gill (Hon), 5.Kaylee Cox (Hus).

65CC: 1.’Jammin Joe’ McGurer, 2.Matt Gocken (Kaw), 3.Brett Kalaher (Kaw).

85CC Jr: 1.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 2.Jeremy James (Kaw), 3.Chris Peters (Yam), 4.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 5.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw).

85CC Sr: 1.Blake Cappelloo (Kaw), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Shane Green (Yam).

125CC: 1.Kevin Dean Bond (Hon), 2.Shane Green (Yam), 3.Mike Popham (Yam), 4.Brent Bowman (Hon), 5.Richard Miller III (Kaw).

200CC: 1.Matt Peters (Kaw), 2.Gordon Green (Kaw), 3.Jimmy Cox (Kaw), 4.Don Whaley (Suz), 5.Keith Klett (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Matt Peters (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Yam), 3.Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 4.Josh Mingee (Hon), 5.Jon Creek (Suz).

450CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Cody Jenner (Yam), 3.Gordon Green (KTM), 4.Paul Hillard (Yam), 5.Mike Peters (Yam).

600CC: 1.’Fast Andy’ Fortner (Hon), 2.Jon Creek (Hon), 3.Brent Bowman (Hon), 4.Jared McKay (Kaw), 5.Josh Denson (Kaw).

600CC 4-St: 1.Butch Fetters (KTM), 2.Josh Denson (Yam), 3.Cody Jenner (Yam), 4.Curt Randall ( Yam), 5.Mike Peters (Yam).

750CC: 1.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Kaw).

OPEN: 1.Jason Northrup (Yam), 2.Steve Shafer (H-D).

SNR +40: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Scott Petty (Hon), 3.Ron Todd (Kaw), 4.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 5.Steve Shafer (H-D).

SSNR +50: 1.Ron Todd (Kaw), 2.Keith Klett (Kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Kaw).

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer (H-D).

400CC ST: 1.John Michael Gocken (Yam), 2.R.J. Watson (Hon), 3.Jeff Jack (Yam), 4.Alan Petty (Yam), 5.Don Whaley (Suz).

OPN St: 1.Jared McKay (Hon), 2.Jeff Jack (Kaw), 3.Mike Bacon (Mai), 4.Bud Northrup (Yam).

QUAD: 1. Paul Hillard (Yam).

FAST TIME: ‘FAST ANDY’ FORTNER; 2.627; HONDA CR500

Results 5/16/04:

50CC Auto: 1.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 2.Chelsea Gill (Hon), 3.Dakota Watson (Pol), 4.Kaylee Cox (Hus), 5.Logan Moody (Pol).

65CC: 1.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 2.Brett Kalaher (Kaw).

85CC Jr: 1.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 2.Drew Daniels (KTM), 3.Schuyler Kalaher (Kaw), 4.Austin Creek (Hon), 5.Joe McGurer (Kaw).

85CC Sr: 1.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 2.Mike Popham (Yam).

125CC: 1.Kevin Dean Bond (Hon), 2.Brent Bowman (Hon), 3.Mike Popham (Yam), 4.Richard Miller III, 5.Josh Mingee (Hon).

200CC: 1.Matt Peters (Kaw), 2.Gordon Green (Kaw), 3.Jimmy Cox (Kaw), 4.Keith Klett (Kaw), 5.Don Whaley (Suz).

250CC: 1.Jon Creek (Suz), 2.Matt Peters (Hon), 3.Jared McKay (Yam), 4.Josh Mingee (Hon), 5.Rod Kalaher (Kaw).

450CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Gordon Green (KTM), 3.Paul Hillard (Yam), 4.Cody Jenner (Yam), 5.Mike Bacon (Yam).

600CC: 1.Josh Denson (Kaw), 2.Brent Bowman (Hon), 3.Jon Creek (Hon), 4.Andy Fortner (Hon), 5.Jared McKay (Kaw).

750CC: 1.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Kaw).

OPEN: 1.Steve Shafer (H-D), 2.Jason Northrup (Yam).

SNR+40: 1.Scott Petty (Hon), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Jeff Jack (Kaw), 4.Ron Todd (Kaw), 5.Steve Shafer (H-D).

SSNR+50: 1.Ron Todd (Kaw), 2.Keith Klett (kaw), 3.Bud Northrup (Kaw).

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer (H-D).

400CC St: 1.Jeff Jack (Kaw), 2.R.J. Watson (Hon), 3.Mike Pulver (Hon), 4.Alan Petty (Yam), 5.Don Whaley (Suz).

OPN ST: 1.Jeff Jack (Hon), 2.Mike Pulver (Hon), 3.Jared McKay (Hon), 4.Mike Bacon (Mai), Bud Northrup (Yam).

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam).

KOTH: 1.Brent Bowman (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Josh Denson (Kaw), 5.Scott Petty (Hon).

FAST TIME – AMATEUR: JASON NORTHRUP, 2,617, KAWASAKI 750CC TRIPLE

FAST TIME – OVERALL: BRENT BOWMAN, 2.580, HONDA CR500