Thomas Racing Services hosted a weekend doubleheader on a ski hill near Nashville, Indiana.  The hill was very unusual for Midwest hillclimbers as the ‘track’ up the hill was basically a section of a motocross track winding up the hill for 600 feet, complete with a hairpin turn, double jump and a sweeping berm – very difficult to navigate with the extended frame hillclimbers. – and also  a very rocky and low traction hill as well.

            Kaleb Northrup traveled from Hastings, Minnesota to ride the entertaining hill and made his trip worthwhile by winning 2 classes and taking the Fast Time of the day on Saturday on his 750cc Kawasaki Triple.  He topped the hill in 13.280 seconds on his first ride to take the 750cc class lead, but was well off the fast time mark as Chris Huizenga posted a 12.161 second time in the 450cc class to take the Fast Time into intermission.

 In second round action, Shane Green flew his KX500 over the top in a blazing 11.728 seconds to take the 500cc class win and set a new fast time.  Northrup’s first round 750 class time got beaten in the second round by Dan Baldwin who sailed his fast triple over the top in a very good 12.254 seconds to take the lead.  But Northrup was up to the challenge and made a full throttle charge on his screaming machine, flying the beautiful Kawasaki over the top in a blistering 11.723 seconds to not only claim the 750 class win, but snatch the Fast Time from Green by a mere five THOUSANDTHS of a second – incredibly close action on a 600 foot hill!  Northrup and Green were the only riders breaking the 12 second barrier all day.

Northrup returned in the Open Class on his Yamaha R1 1000cc powered Jeff Thomas built  beauty  and carded a 13.022 second run on his first ride, good enough for the class win, just two tenths of a second quicker than Cody Jenner and his overbored KZ1000.  Northrup finished his day on a bad note, however, as his fast triple kicked up a rock into the left side case and shattered the ignition system while running in the exhibition class – taking the potent Kawasaki out of action for the rest of the weekend.  Green claimed the exhibition class win and the big bucks that went with it, taking the sting out of losing the Fast Time to Northrup.

Huizenga still had a good day, claiming two class wins on his strong running YZ450F Yamaha. His first win came in the 450cc class where his first round run would have won for him, but he bettered it with a 12.141 second time on his second ride – the fifth fastest time of the day.  Green was his closest challenger with a 12.446 second run on his KTM380.  Huizenga crashed the Yamaha at 75 feet on his first ride in the 600cc 4-stroke class, but recovered nicely by nailing an excellent 12.018 second time on his second run for the win – the third fastest time of the day.  Mike Popham was right behind him on his fast Yamaha with a 12.124 second time – the fourth fastest of the day.  Popham was also second behind Green in the 600cc class with a 12.210 second time – sixth fastest of the day.

In youth class action Joe ‘Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer was the Youth Fast Time winner with a 16.456 second ride on his KX85 to win the 85cc Senior Mini class with Dylan Brady second.  National champ Dakota ‘D.J.’ Watson claimed the 50cc class win with a 227 foot effort – just one foot better than Clint Garriott.  Logan Moody was the best of the 65cc class riders with a 19.738 second ride on his KX65 with Cole Garriott second.  Brett Kalaher claimed the 85cc Junior Mini class win with a 18.497 second ride on his KX85 with Logan Moody running second.

On Sunday, the track was altered, toughened and lengthened – taking the ride over the top to over 650 feet.  Chris Huizenga adapted the best to the hill’s new look, winning two classes on his 450cc Kawasaki and taking the Fast Time of the day.  His Fast Time ride came in the 450cc class where he took the first round class lead with a 16.517 second time, then beat it himself with a sizzling 16.205 second ride for the class win and Fast Time.  Cody Jenner was second in 17.466 seconds on a YZ450F Yamaha. 

Huizenga brought the Kawasaki back in the 600 4-Stroke class and posted a 16.268 second run on his first ride – the Fast Time for the first round of action, which held up till Chris beat it himself – giving him the top 2 rides of the day.  Rodney Riddell was well back in second place with a 18.212 second time on his Yamaha.

Joe ‘Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer, Logan Moody, Jeff Jack and David Quillen all enjoyed double win days also.  McGurer claimed the 85cc Senior Mini class with a 21.868 second ride, which also was good for the Youth Fast Time.  He then returned to ride his KX125 in the 125cc class and topped the hill on his first run in 19.195 seconds for the win. Jeremy James carded a 19.325 second time for second place.

Moody took his first win on his KX65, the only rider in the 65cc class to top the hill, doing it in 33.011 seconds, with D.J. Watson taking second with a 300 foot effort. He then returned with his KX85 and was again the only rider in the 85cc Junior Mini class to stop the clock, this time in 28.039 seconds.  Defending District class champ Brett Kalaher took second with a 175 foot effort on his KX85.

Jack took his first win in the 200cc class  with a first round 17.320 second run on his KTM with Jake Tackitt second.  He returned n the Senior (+40) class and sailed his Kawasaki over the top in 17.309 seconds to take the first round lead, then bettered that time with a 17.241 second time in the second round for the win.  Defending class champion and District 15 Hillclimb Referee, Scott Petty, took second on his CR500 with a 18.327 second run.

Quillen’s first win came in the 250cc class where he set the best first round time with a 17.664 second run.  Blake Cappello beat that time however in the second round with a quicker 17.402 second run on his KX250.  But Quillen dialed his YZ250 up a notch and flew it over the top in 17.226 seconds to retake the lead and claim the win.  Quillen  brought the Yamaha back in the 400cc Stock class and posted another good run, a 17.605 second ride on his first ride which held up for the class win.  Defending District 15 class champion Mike Pulver claimed second on his CR250 with a 18.449 second round ride., moving around Kaleb Northrup who carded a 18.839 second run on his RM250.

In other Youth action, Dylan Dekan climbed 123 feet to edge D.J. Watson by one foot for the 50cc class win. 

RESULTS: (Saturday, 6/30/07)

50cc: 1.’D.J.’ Watson, 2.Clint Garriott, 3.Levi Peters, 4.Dylan Dekan, 5.Andrew Fortner.

65cc: 1.Logan Moody, 2.Cole Garriott, 3.D.J. Watson.

85Jr: 1.Brett Kalaher, 2.Logan Moody.

85Sr:  1.Joe ’Jammin Joe’ McGurer, 2.Dylan Brady.

125cc: 1.Jeremy James, 2.Schuyler Kalaher, 3.Joe McGurer, 4.Dylan Brady.

200cc: 1.Jeff Jack, 2.Jake Tackitt, 3.Roger Bibbler, 4.Schuyler Kalaher, 5.Keith Klett.

250cc: 1.Mike Popham, 2.R.D. Miller III, 3.Shane Green, 4.David Quillen, 5.Blake Cappello.

450cc: 1.Chris Huizenga, 2.Shane Green, 3.Justin James, 4.Joe Bibbler, 5.Matt Peters.

600cc: 1.Shane Green, 2.Mike Popham, 3.Justin Trent, 4.David Quillen, 5.Dan Baldwin.

600 4-St: 1.Chris Huizenga, 2.Mike Popham, 3.Butch Fetters, 4.R.D. Miller III, 5.Matt Peters.

750cc: 1.Kaleb Northrup, 2.Dan Baldwin, 3.Andy Fortner, 4.Jason Northrup, 5.Paul Hillard.

OPN: 1.Kaleb Northrup, 2.Cody Jenner, 3.R.D. Miller III, 4.Paul Hillard.

+40: 1.Mike Pulver, 2.Jeff Jack, 3.Scott Petty, 4.Randy Trosper, 5.Mike Bacon.

+50: 1. Roger Bibbler, 2.Mike Bacon, 3.Keith Klett.

400 St: 1.David Quillen, 2.Mike Pulver, 3.Jason Northrup, 4.Kyle Galloway, 5.Al Petty.

OPN St: 1.Justin James, 2.Mike Pulver, 3.Kyle Galloway, 4.Tom Brown, 5.Zack Brown.

Quad – 2: 1.Evan Zimmerman, 2.Wade Garriott,  3.Ryan Garriott, 4.Brad Franklin, 5.David Brown.

Quad – 4: 1.Jim Mahan, 2.Jeff Ramey, 3.Kyle Jack, 4.Brad Franklin, 5.Marty Thayer.

YOUTH FAST TIME: ‘Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer, KX85, 16.456

AMATEUR FAST TIME:  Kaleb Northrup, Kawasaki 750 Triple, 11.723

RESULTS: (Sunday 7/01/07)

50cc: 1.Dylan Dekan, 2.Andrew Fortner, 3.Clint Garriott, 4.D.J. Watson, 5.Sam VanderVeen.

65cc:: 1.Logan Moody, 2.D.J. Watson, 3.Cole Garriott.

85Jr: 1.Logan Moody, 2.Brett Kalaher.

85Sr: 1.Joe McGurer.

125cc: 1.Joe McGurer, 2.Jeremy James, 3.Dylan Brady, 4.Schuyler Kalaher, 5.James Best.

200cc: 1.Jeff Jack, 2.Jake Tackitt, 3.Roger Bibbler, 4.Keith Klett.

250cc: 1.David Quillen, 2.Blake Cappello, 3.Shane Green, 4.Jason Northrup, 5.Kyle Galloway.

450cc: 1.Chris Huizenga, 2.Cody Jenner, 3.Joe Bibbler, 4.Shane Green, 5.Rodney Riddell.

600cc: 1.Shane Green, 2.David Quillen, 3.Kaleb Northrup, 4.Chris Huizenga, 5.Dan Baldwin.

600 4-St: 1.Chris Huizenga, 2.Rodney Riddell, 3.Gordon Green, 4.Brian Klett.

750cc: 1.Dan Baldwin, 2.Andy Fortner, 3.Jason Northrup, 4.Paul Hillard.

OPN: 1.Cody Jenner, 2.Kaleb Northrup, 3.Paul Hillard.

+40: 1.Jeff Jack, 2.Scott Petty, 3.Mike Pulver, 4.Mike Bacon, 5.Kevin L. Bond.

+50: 1.Mike Bacon, 2.Roger Bibbler, 3.Keith Klett.

400 Stk: 1.David Quillen, 2.Mike Pulver, 3.Kaleb Northrup, 4.Jeff Jack, 5.Kyle Galloway.

Opn Stk: 1.Mike Pulver, 2.Kyle Gallway, 3.Zack Brown, 4.Tom Brown, 5.Brian Klett.

Quad 2: 1.Wade Garriott, 2.Evan Zimmerman, 3.David Brown, 4.Ryan Garriott, 5.Paul Hillard.

Quad 4: 1.Jeff Ramey, 2.Jim Mahan, 3.Kyle Jack, 4.Brad Franklin, 5.Mark Parker.

YOUTH FAST TIME:  ‘Jammin’ Joe’ McGurer, KX85, 21.858 seconds

AMATEUR FAST TIME: Chris Huizenga, KX450F, 16.205 seconds.

Joe McGurer

Kaleb Northrup

Jeff Jack

Jason & Kaleb Northrup

Logan Moody