The Central Illinois Motorcycle Club from Neoga, Illinois, runs it’s own ‘King of the Hill’ series, awarding beautiful trophies to the riders who earn the most season points at their events. This year the club held five hill climbs, and two riders, Matt Peters and Jason Northrup, emerged as double class winners.

    Peters claimed wins in the 250cc and 450cc classes. He took the 250cc class title on his CR250 with three wins and two seconds. Jon Creek was his closest challenger with a win and 2 seconds. In the 450cc class, he was simply unbeatable, winning all five events on his KTM380.

    Northrup took his titles in the 750cc and Open classes. Riding his 750cc Kawasaki triple, he took the first four wins in the series, and a second on the last run of the year. Paul Hillard and his triple took the one leftover win and added four seconds for the runner up spot. Northrup’s win in the Open class was more closely contested as he posted three wins and two seconds on his FJ1220, with Steve Shafer pressing him hard on his classy Harley with two wins and three seconds, yielding the championship to Northrup by only 5 points.

    The closest class race was the 600cc 4-stroke class where Butch Fetters and his KTM 520 came in to the last race with a mere one point lead over Josh Denson and his KTM450. Fetters took the first round lead with an excellent 2.999 second time, with Denson carding a only slightly slower 3.003 seconds. On the second ride, however, Denson attacked the hill full throttle and sailed over the top in an outstanding 2.768 seconds, taking the class win and the ‘King’ title for 2004 by four points.

    The other ‘Kings’ crowned were Jeremiah Lyday (50cc), Brett Kalaher (65cc), Caleb Emory (Jr Mini), and Blake Cappello (Sr Mini) in the youth classes. In other amateur classes, Bubba Bond took the 125cc crown, Gordon Green was the 200cc class winner, and Andy Fortner was the 600cc champ. Steve Shafer was the Pushrod champion, Mark Peters was the Senior class winner and Ron Todd was the best of the AARP card carrying Super Senior class. In stock wheelbase action, R.J. Watson was the best in the 400cc stock class while Jared McKay claimed the crown in the Open Stock class.

RESULTS:

50cc: 1.Jeremiah Lyday, 2.Chelsea Gill, 3.Logan Moody, 5.Kaylee Cox.

65cc: 1.Brett Kalaher, 2.Joe McGurer, 3.Matt Gocken, 4.Logan Moody, 5.Chelsea Gill.

85cc Jr: 1.Caleb Emory, 2.Drew Daniels, 3.Jeremy James, 4.Chris Peters, 5.Jake Wood.

85cc Sr: 1.Blake Cappello, 2.Mike Popham, 3.Shane Green, 4.Justin James, 5.A.J. Book.

125cc: 1.Bubba Bond, 2.Brent Bowman, 3.R.D. Miller III, 4.Mike Popham, 5.A.J. Book.

200cc: 1.Gordon Green, 2.Jimmy Cox, 3.Jake Tackitt, 4.Matt Peters, 5.Chris Peters.

250cc: 1.Matt Peters, 2.Jon Creek, 3.Jared McKay, 4.Josh Mingee, 5.James Kalaher.

450cc: 1.Matt Peters, 2.Cody Jenner, 3.Paul Hillard, 4.Gordon Green, 5.Mike Peters.

600cc: 1.Andy Fortner, 2.Josh Denson, 3.Jon Creek, 4.Cody Jenner, 5.Jared McKay.

600cc 4-St: 1.Josh Denson, 2.Butch Fetters, 3.Mike Peters, 4.Cody Jenner, 5.Daryl Johnson.

750cc: 1.Jason Northrup, 2.Paul Hillard, 3.Bud Northrup, 4.Daryl Johnson.

OPEN: 1.Jason Northrup, 2.Steve Shafer, 3.R.D. Miller II.

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer, 2.Daryl Johnson.

SENR: 1.Mark Peters, 2.Ron Todd, 3.Kevin McKay, 4.Steve Shafer, 5.Scott Petty.

SSNR: 1.Ron Todd, 2.Bud Northrup, 3.Keith Klett.

400cc Stk: 1.R.J. Watson, 2.John M Gocken, 3.Al Petty, 4.Don Whaley, 5.Rod Kalaher.

OPN Stk: 1.Jared McKay, 2.Bud Northrup, 3.Mike Bacon, 4.Brian Klett.

[Editors note: The CIMC King of the Hill series is not affiliated with this website - although we think the name is kind of catchy!]