142 riders showed up to compete in the 2003 District 17/Illinois State Hillclimb Championships hosted by the Central Illinois M/C near Neoga, Illinois. Jason Northrup, a substitute teacher from Mahomet, Illinois, claimed two class championships and also the Fast Time Award. He flew his 750cc Kawasaki triple over the top of the steep, rough 95 foot hill in 2.737 seconds on his first ride to take that class lead, and the fast time into intermission. In second round action, no one in any class could match his time, but he rode anyway and turned an even faster 2.707 seconds, giving him the top two rides of the evening. ‘Fast Andy’ Fortner was the closest to him in both categories, as his 2.904 second time on his Kawasaki triple took second place in the 750 class, and his 2.766 second first round time in the 600cc class on his CR500 was fast time until the Northrup dash. Jared McKay was Fortner’s closest challenger in the 600cc class with a 2.777 second run on his KX500.

    Northrup followed his 750 class win with a victory in the Open class, but had to come from behind to do it. Riding his Jeff Thomas built 1220cc Yamaha, he found himself in 4th place after the first round with a time of 3.274 seconds, with Scott Sheets Jr sitting on the lead with a good 3.052 second run on his Harley. In the second round, however, Northrup delivered a straight, controlled ride up the center of the hill and carded a 3.021 second time to take the lead. Sheets responded with a good ride of his own, but the clock failed to stop, so he had to ride again. His reride was also quite good, but the clock stopped at 3.088 seconds. He did, however, claim a Championship title anyway on his hot Harley, as he claimed the Pushrod title in 3.097 seconds with Steve Shafer and his Harley running second in 3.589 seconds.

    Matt Peters, a young farmer from Neoga, also enjoyed a double win evening. He got his first in the 250cc class where his 2.838 second time on his CR250 on his first ride was holding down the early fast time. No one in the class could match that all night, with Jared McKay closest with a 3.065 second run on his YZ250.

    Peters’ second win came in the very next class, the 450cc class. His first round 3.241 second time on his KTM380 also held up through the evening, with his nephew, Mike Peters his closest challenger with a 4.034 second run on his RM400.

    In youth class action, National Champion Shane Green had to come from behind to claim the 85cc Junior Mini title. He crashed hard at 84 feet on his first ride, but was the halftime leader as no one in the class was able to top the nasty hill. In the second round, the class was nearly finished, still with no hilltopping rides, when 8 year old "Jammin’ Joe" McGurer brought the crowd to its feet and wild cheers erupted as the little guy on a 65cc Kawasaki pegged his throttle and held it on – riding the wildly bucking bike over the top in 4.656 seconds to take the lead. Green then showed his national championship skills as he responded with a controlled but fast ride on his YZ85 to stop the clock in 4.279 seconds to take the win.

    In other youth action, National #6 Jeremiah Lyday took the 50cc title with Dakota Blakeney second, Blakeney took the 65cc title with McGurer second, and Cody Rankin was the 85cc Senior mini champ with Kevin Dean Bond in second place.

    The other amateur class winners were Brent Bowman in the 125cc class, Jake Tackitt in the 200cc class, Butch Fetters in the 600cc 4-stroke class and Kevin McKay in the Senior (+40) class. Ron Todd was the Super Senior (+50) winner, John Michael Gocken took the 400cc Stock class win and Jared McKay was the best of the Open Stock riders.

RESULTS:

50cc: 1.Jeremiah Lyday (Cob), 2.Dakota Blakeney (Lem), 3.Garett Holycross (KTM), 4.Logan Moody (Pol), 5.Corey Scroggins (Hon).

65cc: 1.Dakota Blakeney (Lem), 2.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 3.Matt Gocken (Kaw), 4.Nick Green (KTM), 5.Caleb Emory (Kaw).

85cc Jr: 1.Shane Green (Yam), 2.Joe McGurer (Kaw), 3.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters (Kaw), 5.Drew Daniels (KTM).

85cc Sr: 1.Cody Rankin (Suz), 2.Kevin Dean Bond (Kaw), 3.Mike Popham (Yam), 4.Goose Weaver (Kaw), 5.Richard Miller III

125cc: 1.Brent Bowman (Hon), 2.Josh Mingee (Hon), 3.Billy Tom Hanes (Hon), 4.John Michael Gocken (Kaw), 5.Kevin Dean Bond (Hon).

200cc: 1.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 2.Gordon Green (Kaw), 3.Mike Peters (Kaw), 4.Keith Klett (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Matt Peters (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Yam), 3. Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 4.Kevin Cappello (Kaw), 5.Billy Tom Hanes (Hon).

450cc: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Mike Peters (Suz), 3.Tate Pearson (Hon), 4.Will Dalenburg (Hon), 5.Robbie Ellis (Can).

600CC: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Jared McKay (Kaw), 3.Jake Tackitt (Hon), 4.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 5.Jon Creek (Hon).

600cc 4-Stk: 1.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Josh Denson (Yam), 4.Tate Pearson (Hon), 5.Curt Randall (Yam).

750cc: 1.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 2.Andy Fortner (Kaw), 3.Mike Schobert (Suz), 4.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 5.John Potter (Yam).

OPEN: 1.Jason Northrup (Yam), 2.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 3.Steve Shafer (HD), 4.Buzz Green (HD), 5.Mike Schobert (Suz).

PROD: 1.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 2.Steve Shafer (HD), 3.Buzz Green (HD).

SENR: 1.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Scott Petty (Hon), 4.Steve Shafer (HD), 5.Bob Fisher (Hon).

SSNR: 1.Ron Todd (Hon), 2.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Richard Potter (Kaw), 4.Keith Klett (Yam), 5.Bud Northrup (Hon).

400cc Stk: 1.John Michael Gocken (Yam), 2.R.J. Watson (Kaw), 3.Paul Stephenson (Kaw), 4.Matt Peters (Yam), 5.Joe Ellis (Hon).

OPN Stk: 1.Jared McKay (Hon), 2.Will Dalenburg (Hon), 3.Tad Hubner (Hon), 4.Tate Pearson (Hon), 5.Mike Bacon (Mai).

FAST TIME: JASON NORTHRUP; 2.707; KAWASAKI 750 TRIPLE