The District 17/Illinois State Hillclimb Championship event was hosted by the Central Illinois M/C at their clubgrounds near Neoga, Illinois on July 21. 'Wild Wade' Schultz claimed the Fast Time of the Day award, and three other riders, Andy Fortner, Scott Sheets Jr, and Matt Peters claimed two class titles each.
Schultz set his fast time winning the 600cc class with a come from behind second round ride. Randy Trosper was the first rider of the day to break the 3 second barrier, as he flew his Honda over the top in 2.859 seconds to take the class lead into intermission with Schultz sitting in second place with a 3.057 second run on his Honda. In the second round, however, Butch 'Fearless' Fetters slipped under Trosper with a 2.831 second time to take the class lead. Schultz then blitzed the hill in his patented full throttle high flying assault, and stopped the clock in an astounding 2.643 seconds, scoring a convincing win and setting a fast time no one else would match the rest of the day. Trosper turned in another excellent ride, incredibly turning an identical time to his first ride, and had to settle for third place. 'Fast Andy' Fortner and Jared McKay took the 4th and 5th place spots.
    Fortner took his first title in the 750CC Class where he could have won with only one ride as his first round 2.866 second run was not bettered by any other rider. He ran twice, however, and was the closest challenger to the Schultz fast time as he flew his 'Hondasaki' triple over the top in a sizzling 2.776 seconds. Schultz was also Fortner's closest competition in the 750 class, taking second place on his Yamaha twin with a 3.010 second time.
    Fortner's second win came in the 400cc Stock class where, again, his first round ride of 3.941 seconds was good enough for the win. The only rider in the class to break the 4 second mark, he took a 'free' ride in the second round and carded a very good 3.580 second time for the class win. Paul Hart grabbed second place on his 125 Husky in 4.140 seconds, with Jon Creek, Doug Campbell and Scott Bucholz rounding out the top five.
    Scott Sheets Jr took the titles in both the Open and Pushrod classes for the second year in a row. Things didn't look good for the 17 year old 'Young Gun' from Sparland Illinois at first, as he failed to top the hill on either of his first round runs, his hot Harley shedding its chain on both attempts. His uncle, Bob Fisher, figured out the problem just in time however, and 'Scooter' first took the Open class win with a 3.459 second run, then returned and blasted over the top in the Pushrod class in a blazing 2.923 seconds to snatch the win from Wade Schultz who had carded a 3.061 second time on his Harley to take the lead into intermission.
    Matt Peters was also a double winner, claiming the titles in the 250cc and 400cc classes. Riding a CR250, Peters turned in a 3.095 second first round ride which held up for that class win as Don Barber Jr was his closest challenger with a 3.266 second time on his Honda. Peters had to work harder in the 400cc class, however, as Jared McKay took the first round lead on Steve Shafer's Yamaha with a fine 3.298 second run, with Peters sitting in second with a 3.415 second time. But in the second round, Peters kept his KTM380 under control better and topped the hill in 3.209 seconds to snare his second state title. McKay had a very good second ride, but his 3.302 second run would leave him in second place with Paul Hillard and his Yamaha close on him with a 3.311 second time for third.
    The Popham family celebrated a double victory day also, with brothers Mike and Jake taking the wins in the 85cc youth classes. Eleven year old Mike took the Junior Mini win with an 86 foot first round effort which held up for the win, as no Junior Mini rider was able to stop the clock. Mike's brother, fourteen year old Jake, completed the family sweep as he came from behind in the Senior Mini class to win with a 5.320 second run in the second round after crashing his Yamaha at 73 feet on his first ride. Chad Cox, the first rider over the hill, took second place with a first round time of 5.483 seconds on his KX80.
    The other class champions were Donnie Robbins in the 50cc class, Kevin Ryan in the 125cc class and Brent Warfel in the 200cc class. Randy Trosper was the Senior (+40) champ while Gayle Jenkins was the best of the Super Seniors (+50) and Steve Shafer claimed the Open Stock crown. 

RESULTS:
50CC AUTO: 1.Donnie Robbins (Cob), 2.Dylan Brady (Pol), 3.Chris Peters (KTM), 4.Graham Cornwell (Yam). 

85CC JR: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Nicholas Burke (KTM), 3.John Gocken (Kaw), 4.Bobby Senn (Kaw), 5.Steven Joe Weaver (Kaw).

85CC SR: 1.Jacob Popham (Yam), 2.Chad Cox (Kaw), 3.Billy Hanes (Kaw), 4.Brent Bowman (Suz), 5.Josh Denson (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 2.Paul Hart (Hus), 3.Damon Mayo (Suz), 4.Don Barber Jr (Hon), 5.Jacob Popham (Hon). 

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

250CC: 1.Matt Peters (Hon), 2.Don Barber Jr (Hon), 3.Jon Creek (Suz), 4.Cody Jenner (Hon), 5.John Jolliff (Hon).

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

600CC: 1.Wade Schultz** (Hon), 2.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 3.Randy Trosper (Hon), 4.Andy Fortner (Hon), 5.Jared McKay (Kaw).

750CC: 1.Andy Fortner (Kaw), 2.Wade Schultz (Yam), 3.Lane Schultz (Yam), 4.Mike Kessel (Yam), 5.Scott Petty (Yam).

OPN: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.Lane Schultz (Nor), 3.Steve Shafer (HD), 4.Mike Kessel (Kaw).

SNR: 1.Randy Trosper (Hon), 2.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 3.Kevin Weaver (Hon), 4.Mark Peters (KTM), 5.Doug Campbell (Kaw).

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

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

400 STK: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Paul Hart (Hus), 3.Jon Creek (Hon), 4.Doug Campbell (Yam), 5.Scott Bucholz (Kaw).

OPN STK: 1.Steve Shafer (KTM), 2.Len Bucholz (Kaw), 3.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 4.Bud Northrup (Yam).

**FAST TIME: 'WILD WADE' SCHULTZ, 2.643, HONDA CR500