The District 17 Hillclimb mid season point leaders were honored at the Pleasure Riders hill on July 13 by receiving Mid-Season Point Leader hats. The mid season event was held the night before on that hill. Three riders, Matt Peters, Butch Fetters, and Randy Green were leading in two classes each at that point in time.

Peters is leading in the 250cc and 450cc classes. He has a somewhat comfortable lead of 42 points over Jared McKay in the 250cc class, and leads Paul Hillard by 59 points in the 450cc class.

Fetters also has a rather comfortable lead of 37 points over Jared McKay in the 600cc class, and is running away with the 600cc Four stroke class. Fetters is the National Champion in the 4-stroke class and has won twelve of the 13 climbs he’s ridden in this year with a whopping 140 point lead over runner up Bud Northrup.

‘Buzz’ Green, riding his Dale’s Harley Davidson, was leading both the Open and Pushrod classes on July 12, but fell to second in the Open Class behind Jason Northrup on July 13. Northrup moved into the lead by 7 points on that Sunday. But Green still has a substantial 65 point lead over Steve Shafer in the Pushrod class.

The tightest race is in the 65cc class, where good buddies ‘Joltin Jake’ Wood and ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer are fighting it out for the lead – with Wood holding a slim 6 point lead on July 13.

Other riders with very substantial leads included Shane Green with 13 wins in 15 rides and a 72 point lead over Blake Cappello in the Senior Mini class. Brent Bowman had a 75 point lead over Josh Mingee in the 125cc class, Paul Hillard with a 84 point lead over Scott Petty in the 750cc class, Petty with a 56 point lead over Mark Peters in the Senior Class, R.J. Watson with a 89 point bulge over John Michael Gocken in the 400 Stock class and ‘Maico Mike’ Bacon with a 73 point lead over Bud Northrup in the Open Stock class.

But all the riders know that very significant changes in the standings will occur in the last two months of the season, as riders start ‘tossing out’ points. The points awarded for the final standings will be for the best twenty rides of each rider, and with 27 climbs scheduled, riders who have missed several events in the early part of the season will have their chance to catch the leaders. The last several events are always very exciting in the season, and 2003 won’t be any less so.

MIDSEASON POINT LEADERS:

50CC: 1.Logan Moody, 2.Garrett Holycross, 3.Matt Gocken, 4.Dakota Watson, 5.Dakota Blakeny

65CC: 1.Jake Wood, 2.Joe McGurer, 3.Drew Daniels, 4.Nick Green, 5.Dakota Blakeney

Jr Mini: 1.Shane Green, 2.Blake Cappello, 3.Drew Daniels, 4.Chris Peters, 5.Justin James

Sr Mini: 1.Mike Popham, 2.Kevin Dean Bond, 3.Cody Rankin, 4.Steven Joe Weaver, 5.Nick Burke

125CC: 1.Brent Bowman, 2.Josh Mingee, 3.Billy Tom Hanes, 4.Alan Petty, 5.Josh Denson.

200CC: 1.Jake Tackitt, 2.Gordon Green, 3.Mike Peters, 4.Keith Klett, 5.Kelly Senn

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

450CC: 1.Matt Peters, 2.Paul Hillard, 3.Mike Peters, 4.Scott Pearson, 5.Jason Northrup.

600CC: 1.Butch Fetters, 2.Jared McKay, 3.Jon Creek, 4.Andy Fortner, 5.Scott Petty

600 4-Stk: 1.Butch Fetters, 2.Bud Northrup, 3.Curt Randall, 4.Scott Pearsom, 5.Will Dalenberg

750CC: 1.Paul Hillard, 2.Scott Petty, 3.Andy Fortner, 4.Jason Northrup, 5.Wade Schultz

OPEN: 1.Randy Green, 2.Jason Northrup, 3.Steve Shafer, 4.Lane Schultz, 5.Mike Kessel

PROD: 1.Randy Green, 2.Steve Shafer, 3.William Myers, 4.Josh Carrier, 5.Scott Sheets, Jr

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

SSNR: 1.Ron Todd, 2.Bud Northrup, 3.Keith Klett, 4.Gayle Jenkins, 5.William Meyers

400 STK: 1.R.J. Watson, 2.John Michael Gocken, 3.Mark Schroeder, 4.Matt Peters, 5.Kevin Weaver

OPN STK: 1.Mike Bacon, 2.Bud Northrup, 3.Scott Pearson, 4.Will Dalenberg, 5.Casey Rick/Tad Hubner