Andy Fortner demonstrated very clearly why he’s called ‘Fast Andy’ at the Central Illinois M/C hillclimb near Neoga, Illinois on June 8. It wasn’t easy, though, as young Jared McKay was running very strong also. McKay blitzed the 90 foot hill in an astounding 2.668 seconds on his KX500 in first round action, a time so much faster than all the rest that most everyone felt that it would hold up. Everyone but Fortner, that is, and he brought cheers from the crowd as he charged the hill on his CR500 and flew high and far over the top in a breathtaking 2.555 seconds for the class win and the Fast Time plaque and money. Scott Petty claimed 3^rd on his Honda with a 3.003 second run with Randy Trosper and Butch Fetters close behind him in 4^th and 5^th.

Fortner also claimed the win in the 750cc class on his ‘Hondasaki’ triple, but missed a perfect evening as he had to settle for 4^th place in the 400 Stock class. Matt Peters was the winner in that class on his YZ400F thumper with Mark Schroeder and Kevin Weaver claiming second and third.

McKay had a very good night for himself also, as he claimed the win in the highly competitive 250cc class. Riding a beautiful yellow and black ‘retro’ 2000 YZ250, McKay startled the onlookers with a 2.915 second time on his first ride – a time which would be fastest of the night until he himself broke it in the 600 class. The 2001 defending class champion, Matt Peters was his closest competitor as he posted a 3.195 second time on his Honda. Kevin Ryan was close on Peters as he claimed third with a 3.203 second time on his KX250, followed by Jon Creek and Cody Jenner.

Matt Peters also had a very good night as he grabbed a win in the 450cc class on his KTM 380 to go with his win in the 400 Stock class and second place 250 finish. His brother, Mark Peters, was the fastest of the Seniors, blazing over the top in an excellent 2.786 seconds on his KTM550, followed by Doug Campbell with a good 2.892 second run on Andy Fortner’s Honda.

In youth class action, Brittany Schroeder, the only young lady riding, nearly took the win in the Junior Mini class as she sailed her KTM 65 over the second breaker and crashed at 71 feet on her second run – the best run of the day. Steven Joe ‘Goose’ Weaver, the class point leader, got around Brittany, however – as he also sailed his KX85 over the bad breaker and crashed at 82 feet to take the class lead. But then Alan ‘Big Al’ Petty cleared the jump on his CR80 and held it together over the top, the only Junior Mini to top the hill, his 5.054 second time taking the win. Mike Popham cleared the hill in 4.468seconds on his YZ85 to take the Mini Senior class win with John Gocken running second on his Kawasaki in 4.820 seconds. ‘Dangerous Dylan’ Brady crashed his 50cc Polini at 39 feet to take the win in the 50cc Automatic class.

Josh Denson topped the hill in a good 3.459 seconds on his CR125 to take the 125cc class win, with Billy Hanes running second on his Honda. Other amateur class winners were Brent Warfel in the 200cc class, Buzz Green in both the Open and Pushrod classes, Jammie Brown in the Open Stock class, Butch Fetters in the 600 four stroke class and Paul Hillard in the Quads.

Josh Denson and Billy Hanes came to the judges stand after their 125cc class rides and announced that they wanted to contribute their prize money to 16 year old Katie Fisher (daughter of Bob ‘Flyin Fish’ and Phyllis Fisher), who suffered a devastating automobile accident on May 5 and is in for a long and expensive recovery. They were quickly followed by Jacob Tackitt and Jared McKay and then it was as if a floodgate opened, as rider after rider passed their winnings on to Katie. By the time the weekend was over, the riders had contributed over $800 to Katie, and with the proceeds from a club run 50-50 drawing, over $1,000 was collected in Katie’s behalf. I’ve never been prouder of my hillclimbing friends as I was that weekend.

RESULTS:

50cc: 1.Dangerous Dylan Brady, (Pol)

85cc Jr: 1.Big Al Petty (Hon), 2.Goose Weaver (Kaw), 3.Brittany Schroeder (KTM), 4.Cody Rankin (Yam), 5.Kevin Bond (Kaw).

85cc Sr: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.John Gocken (Kaw).

125cc: 1.Josh Denson (Hon), 2.Billy Hanes (Hon), 3.Damon Mayo (Suz), 4.Nick Mayo (Suz), 5.Josh Mingee (Hon).

200cc: 1.Brent Warfel (KTM), 2.Jacob Tackitt (Kaw), 3.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 4.Mike Peters (Kaw), 5.Gordon Green (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Jared McKay (Yam), 2.Matt Peters (Hon), 3.Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 4.Jon Creek (Suz), 5.Cody Jenner (Hon).

450cc: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Paul Hillard (Yam).

600cc: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Scott Petty (Hon), 4.Randy Trosper (Hon), 5.Butch Fetters (Kaw).

750cc: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Greg Rankin (Yam).

OPN: 1.Buzz Green (H-D).

SNR: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Doug Campbell (Hon), 3.Randy Trosper (Hon), 4.Scott Petty (Hon), 5.Kevin McKay (Kaw).

SSNR: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Ron Todd (KTM), 3.Bud Northrup (ATK).

PROD: 1.Buzz Green (H-D).

400 STK: 1.Matt Peters (Yam), 2.Mark Schroeder (Yam), 3.Kevin Weaver (Hon), 4.Andy Fortner (Hon), 5.R.J. Watson (Kaw).

OPN STK: 1.Jammie Brown (Hon), 2.Butch Fetters (KTM), 3.Mark Peters (KTM), 4.Bud Northrup (ATK).

600 4-Stk: 1.Butch Fetters (KTM), 2.Bud Northrup (ATK).

QUAD: 1.Paul Hillard (Yam), 2.Ryan Garriott (Yam).

FAST TIME: ’FAST ANDY’ FORTNER, 2.555, HONDA CR500