AMATEURS LOVE NASHVILLE HILL

By: Bud Northrup - Nashville, Indiana - 9/17/05

             Thomas Racing Service sponsored an excellent amateur hillclimb on the Nashville hill previously used by pros only.  The 600 foot long hill was outstanding, featuring an S-Curve and a double jump – it was basically a piece of motocross track laid out on a ski hill.  This was a first time experience for most of the amateur riders, and they all seemed to really like the hill.

            Ernie Beckwith came all the way from Plattsmouth, Nebraska to ride the hill, and emerged as the Fast Time rider of the Day.  Riding a CR500 Honda, Beckwith flew through the curve and over the doubles, topping the hill in 14.085 seconds on his first ride in the big and fast  600cc class, a time no one could match all day on all three rides.  Austin Fox came in from Redding, California to take second place on his KTM with a 14.694 second run with Jeff Mowins taking third in 14.7120 seconds on his Honda.

            Steve Squires, Jeff Colhour and Josh Perry were all double class winners.  Squires took his first win in the 125cc class with a 16.554 second time on his Yamaha with Colby Peck in second place, then returned to win the 200cc class in 15.374 seconds with Drew Quillen claiming second.

            Jeff Colhour, from Wathena, Kansas, claimed his first win in the 250cc class with a nice 15.295 second time on his third ride, beating his own 15.482 second class leading time he posted in the second round.  Kyle Galloway took second on his KX250 with a 17.875 second ride.

            Colhours second win came in the 600cc 4-Stroke class where his first ride of 15.173 seconds on Honda thumper held up for the win, nearly a second quicker than runner up Richie Sherman, who took second with a 16.116 second times on his Yamaha.

            Josh Perry, from St Joseph, Missouri, got his wins in the ATV classes.  His 15.219 second time on his first ride on his Banshee was good enough for the 450cc class win, with Jeff Mowins in second, and his first round ride of 15.496 seconds on his Yamaha was the best of the Open ATVs, with Mark Vandivier second.

            In the big bike classes, Kaleb Northrup and Austin Fox claimed victories.  Northrup, from Hastings, Minnesota, had a tough time in the 750cc class, as Boots Weber, from Wathena, Kansas set the time to beat on his first ride at 17.538 seconds.  Northrup got close to him with a 17.662 second run on his second ride, but Weber lowered his time with a good 17.266 second run on his classy Yamaha twin.  On his third ride, however, Northrup held the power on longer into the curve on his screaming Kawasaki triple, then blasted out on the straight shot at the doubles and sailed over them in motocross style, stopping the clock in 15.654 seconds.  Weber responded with another 17 second run, settling for second in a hard fought class.

            Fox had an easier time in the Open class, flying his big bore Yamaha over the crest in 14.692 seconds on his first ride.  This ride would have held up for the class win, but he beat it himself with a 14.187 second effort on his third ride – the second fastest time of the day.  Adam Doubblestein put his big Harley over in 16.121 seconds for second place.

            The AMA District 15 Hill Climb Referee, Scott Petty, showed his skills by winning the Senior Class on his CR500 Honda, with Jeff Mowins second, and also finished fourth in the Open Class on a big bore Yamaha borrowed from Jason Northrup.

            Congratulations should go to Jeff Thomas for putting on an excellent amateur event.  This year’s riders would love to see the hill added to the District 15 amateur schedule, and many urged Jeff to organize an Amateur National Championship at Nashville – sure hope he does!  

FAST TIME: ERNIE BECKWITH, 14.0850, CR500 HONDA

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