Jon Creek picked up his first Fast Time of the young hillclimb season at the Central Illinois M/C Saturday night climb on May 17. The 33 year old rider from Avon, Indiana, made a come from behind ride to take the 600cc class win and the Fast Time award. Creek crashed hard a 85 feet on his first ride, and needed a good ride just to make it into the top five. Ron Todd flew his KX500 over the top in a sizzling 2.719 seconds to take the class lead, and was sitting on the fast time bubble until Creek unleashed his Honda with a picture perfect run over the very steep and rough 90 foot ledge in 2.521 seconds on his second ride to take the win. Butch ‘Fearless’ Fetters had carded a good 2.774 second time on his first run and saw it hold up for third place. 16 year old Josh Denson showed his stuff in the second round with a 2.810 second time for fourth on his KX500.

Matt Peters was a double class winner, taking the 450cc class win with a very good 2.853 second time on his KTM380, with Paul Hillard taking second on his Yamaha 350 twin. Peters second win came in the 400cc stock class, where he rode his 400cc Yamaha thumper to a 3.226 second win, with R.J. Watson claiming second on his KX250.

Todd had an overall good night, as he took another second in the Senior (40+) class and the win in the Super Senior (50+) class on his 87 Kawasaki. ‘Marvelous ‘ Mark Peters beat Todd out of the Senior Class win, turning a very good 2.721 second time on his KTM550 to set the time to beat in the first round. Todd, as always, launched his KX500 at full throttle to overtake Peters, but crashed at only 46 feet on his first ride. Bruised but still game, the 51 year farmer from Ridge Farm, Illinois, assaulted the hill again on his second ride and nearly pulled it off, skying over the top in 2.792 seconds – just 7/100’s off the Peters time.

In youth class action, six year old Logan Moody rode his Polini – newly acquired from Dylan Brady – for the first time and claimed the win in the 50cc automatic class with a 38 foot ride on his first attempt. No other 50 could match that footage, with 7 year old Graham Cornwell coming the closest with a 35 foot effort on his little Honda.

Nick Green (Buzz’s boy), grabbed the win in the new 65cc class with a 63 foot ride on his KTM, with ‘Joltin’ Jake’ Wood in second place behind him on his KX65 with a 60 foot ride. ‘Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer claimed third with a 54 foot run on his KX60.

Shane Green continued his perfect season with his third straight win in the 85cc Junior Mini class. He was the first rider to top the hill, posting a 4.967 second run on his Yamaha YZ85 on his first ride. He was the only rider in the Junior Mini class to see the top of the tough Neoga hill. Cody Rankin, however, topped the hill twice on his new RM85, his 4.016 second first round time good for the win in the 85cc Senior Class. Defending class champion Mike Popham was also running strong as he took his YZ85 over in 4.304 seconds to claim second place. Kevin Bond, ‘Goose’ Weaver and Nick Burke also topped the hill to fill in the next three places.

Other amateur class winners were Billy Hanes in the 125cc class, Jake Tackitt in the 200cc class and Jared McKay in the 250cc class. Butch Fetters took the 600cc four stroke win, Scott Petty grabbed the win in the 750cc class and Randy (Buzz) Green was the winner in the Open class.Steve Shafer grabbed the Pushrod win and ‘Maico Mike’ Bacon was the Open Stock winner.

RESULTS:

50CC Auto: 1.Logan Moody (Pol), 2.Graham Cornwell (Hon), 3.Garrett Holycross (Suz), 4.Matt Gocken (Yam), 5.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 6.Todd Blevins (Yam).

65CC: 1.Nick Green (KTM), 2.Jake Wood (Kaw), 3.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 4.Drew Daniels (KTM), 5.Matt Gocken (Kaw).

85CC Jr: 1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 3.Chris Peters (Yam), 4.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 5.Dylan Brady (Hon).

85CC Sr: 1.Cody Rankin (Suz), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Kevin Bond (Kaw), 4.Steven Joe Weaver (Kaw), 5.Nick Burke (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Billy Hanes (Hon), 2.Josh Denson (Hon), 3.Josh Mingee (Hon), 4.Brent Bowman (Hon), 5.Alan Petty (Yam).

200CC: 1.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 2.Gordon Green (Kaw), 3.Mike Peters (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Jared McKay (Yam), 2.Kevin Cappello (Yam), 3.Jon Creek (Suz), 4.Butch Fetters (Hon), 5.Matt Peters (Hon).

450CC: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Paul Hillard (Yam), 3.Mike Peters (Suz).

600CC: 1.Jon Creek (Hon), 2.Ron Todd (Kaw), 3.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 4.Josh Denson (Kaw), 5.Paul Lowe (Kaw).

600 4-St: 1.Butch Fetters (KTM), 2.Curt Randall (Yam), 3.Jerril Jones (Kaw).

750CC: 1.Scott Petty(Yam), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw).

OPEN: 1.Randy Green (HD), 2.Steve Shafer (HD), 3.R.D. Miller II (HD).

SENR: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Ron Todd (Kaw), 3.Scott Petty (Hon), 4.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 5.Mike Bacon (KTM).

SSNR: 1.Ron Todd (Kaw).

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer (HD), 2.Randy Green (HD).

400 STK: 1.Matt Peters (Yam), 2.R.J. Watson (Kaw), 3.Jerril Jones (Kaw).

Opn Stk: 1.Mike Bacon (Mai).

FAST TIME: JON CREEK, 2.521; HONDA CR500