Clay Wilwert has done an outstanding job improving the infamous 500 foot hill outside of Dickeyville, Wisconsin, actually making it possible to run two hills at the same time. The 2003 National Amateur Hillclimb Championships will be hosted by Wilwert’s Harley Davidson, and use that two hill format. It should be very entertaining.

The last Dickeyville climb of 2002 was held on September 15 with Lloyd Mueller, from Kewaskum, Wisconsin, posting the fastest ride of the day. Riding his beautiful Harley Davidson, and fresh from winning the 2002 National Championship in the Open Class, Mueller came from behind to win the Open Class at Dickeyville. Todd Cipala had set the first round fast time for the class (and overall) at 10.13 seconds on his hot Harley, while Mueller was hot on his heels with a 10.38 second run. In the second round, however, Mueller chose a new line up the hill and really made it work, posting a 9.97 second run. Cipala (National number 2) crashed at 395 feet on a full throttle attack trying to overtake Mueller, and had to settle for second place. Chad Koopsma blasted over in 10.70 seconds on his Honda for third with Harold Waddel and Mike Schobert taking 4^th and 5^th.

In the King of the Hill dash for cash, Mueller and Cipala again emerged at the top. Cipala carded an exceptional 9.78 second time, but Mueller wasn’t to be denied – he delivered an unbelievable ride, roaring over the top in an astounding 9.05 seconds to take the King of the Hill money as well as the overall fast time award. Harold Waddel, Chad Koopsma and Lane Schultz filled in the top five spots.

Cipala still had a good day for himself, however, as he came from behind for the win in the 750cc Novice class. Tom Daniels had set the first round time at 11.38 seconds on his Kaw Triple, and Cipala posted a 11.68 second run on his triple. In the second round, Kaleb Northrup flew his National number 2 triple over the top in 11 seconds flat to take the class lead. Daniels crashed trying to overtake Northrup, and all waited for Cipala to come to the line. Cipala was late coming, as he had to change rear wheels from his KX500 to the triple (he’d flattened the triple’s tire), but the work paid off for him as he carded a 10.66 second run to take the class win. National number 4 Jason Northrup finished fourth with Chris Meyer claiming fifth.

Harold Waddell was a double winner, taking the 600cc four stroke and 750 Expert class wins on his Triumph twins. The 4-stroke class was exceptionally tight with Waddel’s winning time of 11.97 seconds only 9/1,000’s quicker than Todd Cipala with his YZ426, in at 12.06 – and that just barely good enough to beat Lloyd Haas on his YZ426 with a 12.08 second run. Boots Weber was close in fourth on his Honda 4-cylinder beauty with a 12.15 second run with Troy Sherwood hot on his heels in 12.15 seconds. Only 21/1,000’s of a second separated the top five.

Waddell’s 11.16 second ride in the second round of the 750 Expert class gave him a come from behind win there, as National number 3 Lloyd Haas had run a 11.56 second time to take the lead into intermission. Stacy Ulmer turned in a 11.52 second time in the second round to also slip by Haas in to second place. The Schultz brothers, Lane and Wade, took 4^th and 5^th.

Kirk Mueller also staged a come from behind win in the 600cc Novice class. Cipala had posted a 10.93 second time to take the first round lead, but slipped to third behind Mueller and Ernie Beckwith, who nailed a 10.58 second run for second place. Kaleb Northrup claimed the fourth place cash with Chad Koopsma taking fith.

Kurt Koester was fast as always, blitzing the hill in 10.11 seconds on his KX500 for the 600cc Expert win, with Waddel running a close second in 10.31 seconds on his CR500. Honda riders Paul Hackbarth, Lane Schultz and Lloyd Haas filled out that class top five spots.

RESULTS:

600 Nov: 1.Kirk Mueller (Kaw), 2.Ernie Beckwith (Hon), 3.Todd Cipala (Kaw), 4.Kaleb Northrup (Hon), 5.Chad Koopsma (Hon).

600 Exp: 1.Kurt Koester (Kaw), 2.Harold Waddel (Hon), 3.Paul Hackbarth (Hon), 4.Lane Schultz (Hon), 5.Luke Haas (Hon).

600 4-Stk: 1.Harold Waddel (Tri), 2.Todd Cipala (Yam), 3.Lloyd Haas (Yam), 4.Boots Weber (Hon), 5.Troy Sherwood (Hon).

750 Nov: 1.Todd Cipala (Kaw), 2.Kaleb Northrup (Kaw), 3.Tom Daniels (Kaw), 4.Jason Northrup (Kaw), 5.Chris Meyer (Yam).

750 Exp: 1.Harold Waddel (Tri), 2.Stacey Ulmer (Tri), 3.Lloyd Haas (Kaw), 4.Lane Schultz (Yam), 5.Wade Schultz (Yam).

OPN: 1.Lloyd Mueller (HD), 2.Todd Cipala (HD), 3.Chad Koopsma (Hon), 4.Harold Waddel (Suz), 5.Mike Schobert (Kaw).

KOTH: 1.Lloyd Mueller (HD), 2.Todd Cipala (HD), 3.Harold Waddel (Hon), 4.Chad Koopsma (Hon), 5.Lane Schultz (Hon).

FAST TIME: LLOYD MUELLER, 9.05 SECONDS, HARLEY DAVIDSON