The Variety Riders of Ottawa, Illinois hosted the Illinois/District 17 Hillclimb Championships race on June 17, with 122 riders competing.  Paul Hackbarth and Eric Wheelwright emerged as the top riders of the day.

            Hackbarth was the Fast Time award winner, flying his CR500 high and far over the top in a sizzling 3.238 seconds on his second ride in the 600cc class, overtaking Wheelwright who had posted a 3.297 second run on his first ride to take the fast time in to intermission.  Wheelwright responded to Hackbarth’s ride with a second round run of   3.2430 seconds – just 5/1,000’s off the Hackbarth winning time.

            Wheelwright still had an outstanding day, with three wins to go with the second place 600 class finish.  His first came in the 250cc class  where he set an early fast time on his YZ250 and went even faster on his second ride, a 3.243 second time for the win, with Mike Popham running second with a 3.530 second time on his Yamaha.  Wheelwright then rode his CRF450 to the win in the 450cc class with a very quick first round time of 3.322 seconds, with Hackbarth claiming second on his KTM 360 in 3.4170 seconds.

            Wheelwright and Hackbarth would meet one more time – in the King of the Hill class – a one run shootout for the top ten riders of the day.  Wheelwright blitzed the hill in a stunning 3.189 seconds to take the Kingofthehill.org trophy, with Hackbarth his closest challenger, claiming second with a 3.228 second run.  At day’s end, Wheelwright claimed 3 wins and a second and the ‘King’ award, while Hackbarth claimed a win, three seconds and the Fast Time award..

            Lloyd Haas also had a good day, winning two championships.  Riding Kawasaki triples, Haas claimed the wins in both the 750cc and Open classes.

            ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer was the fastest of the youth riders, topping the hill in 4.720 seconds on his KX85 to take the 85cc Junior Mini Class title, and the Youth Fast Time award.  Braxton Stamm was the 50cc champion, Chase Amos the 65cc winner, and Caleb Emory the best in the 85cc Senior Mini class.

RESULTS:

50CC: 1.Braxton Stamm, 2.D.J. Watson, 3.Thor Rick, 4.Maverick Thomas, 5.Morgan Wheelwright

65CC: 1.Chase Amos, 2.Billy Anderson, 3.Morgan Wheelwright, 4.Braxton Stamm, 5.Brett Kalaher.

85 Jr: 1.Joe McGurer, 2.Matt Kinkin, 3.Brett Kalaher, 4.Amber Fraederich,

85 Sr: 1.Caleb Emory, 2.Jeremy James, 3.Jessica Coon.

125CC: 1.Blake Cappello, 2.Caleb Emory, 3.T.J. Russell, 4.Schuyler Kalaher, 5.John Rice.

200CC: 1.Kelly Senn, 2.Kevin ‘Bubba’ Bond, 3.Chris Senn, 4.Keith Klett.

250CC: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Mike Popham, 3.D.J. Compton, 4.Shane Green, 5.Craig Schnitzler.

450CC: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Paul Hackbarth, 3.Shane Green, 4.Kurt Krohmer, 5.Andy Groth.

600CC: 1.Paul Hackbarth, 2.Eric Wheelwright, 3.D.J. Compton, 4.Cody Jenner, 5.Lloyd Haas.

600 4-St: 1.Mike Popham, 2.Paul Hackbarth, 3.Mike Bacon, 4.Gordon Green, 5.Don Sheridan Jr.

750CC: 1.Lloyd Haas, 2.Paul Hillard, 3.Bobby Senn, 4.Bobby Walker, 5.Shawn Mortenson.

OPN: 1.Lloyd Haas, 2.Nick Isotov, 3.Scott Petty.

PROD: 1.Nate Simenec, 2.Bill Myers, 3.Terry Bailey, 4.Tim Wiggins.

+40: 1.Kevin L. Bond, 2.Don Sheridan, 3.Scott Petty, 4.Mike Bacon, 5.Terry Bailey.

+50: 1.Steve Daniels, 2.Bill Myers, 3.Bud Northrup, 4.Keith Klett, 5.Robert Woods.

400 Stk: 1.D.J. Compton, 2.Gordon Green, 3.Kieven Hillard, 4.Craig Schnitzler, 5.Casey Rick.

Opn Stk: 1.Kevin ‘Bubba’ Bond, 2.Josh Graves, 3.Brian Klett.

WMN: 1.Jessica Coon, 2.Amber Fraedrich, 3.Chantel Denson, 4.Brandy ‘Bumble Bee’ Coon.   

KOTH: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Paul Hackbarth, 3.D.J. Compton, 4.Cody Jenner, 5.Mike Popham.

Amateur Fast Time:  Paul Hackbarth, Honda CR500

Youth Fast Time: ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer, KX85

Overall Fast Time:  Eric Wheelwright, CR500

Paul Hackbarth