Eric Wheelwright, from Hanover, Illinois, made his first appearance in District 17 hillclimbing at Ottawa on July 8 and made his presence felt by taking the Fast Time Award while winning the the 600cc class on his CR500. Wheelwright, the defending National Champuion in the 250cc class, shot his Honda over the rough, low traction 130 foot hill in 3.899 seconds to take the win. Randy 'Rocketman' Trosper was his closest challenger with a 4 second flat run and class point leader 'Fast Andy' Fortner claimed third with a 4.039 second time on his Honda. Marc Stamm and Lane Schultz, both also Honda mounted filled out the top five places.
Wheelwright nearly had a perfect day, but his good buddy Marc Stamm spoiled that by taking the 250cc class win with a 4.327 second run on his YZ250, while Wheelwright delivered a 4.363 second run on his Yamaha for second place. As noted above, Wheelwright is the defending National Champion in the class, but Stamm is no slouch, as he carries the 2N plate, noting he finished second behind Wheelwright at the 2000 Nationals. Jon Creek was close behind Stamm for third with a 4.416 second time on his RM250 with Honda pilots Matt Peters and Cody Jenner finishing fourth and fifth.
    Wade Schultz had another double win day, his first coming in the 750cc Class where his 4.044 second run on his Yamaha twin was a decisive winner. Lloyd Haas, running his Kawazuki Triple ran second in 4.437 seconds, with Lane Schultz, Kaleb Northrup and Josh Carrier following. Schultz's second win came in the Open Pushrod class where he blasted his hot Harley over the top in 4.305 seconds for the win. Scott Sheets Jr was second to Schultz with a good 4.475 second run on his Harley with Tim Wiggins, Bill Myers and Jake Bailey filling out the top five.
    The Northrups had a good day as Kaleb and Bud both claimed a win. Kaleb, now living in Woodbury, Minnesota, took the Open Class win on his classy 800cc Triumph, posting a 4.278 second run. Bill Myers ran second on his Harley in 4.564 seconds with Sheets, Bailey and Lane Schultz taking the next 3 spots. Bud, the D-17 Hillclimb Director, got his first win in the 'Super Senile' class (50 years old or more). Riding Kaleb's CR500, the 59 year old veteran topped the hill in 5.379 seconds, the only +50 rider to make the hill. Class point leader Gayle Jenkins, the youngster in the class at age 55, crashed at 123 feet for second place while 69 year old Charlie Casey ran third with a 108 foot effort. Marvelous Marv Wiemkin, age 57, took fourth, and the crowd favorite, 79 (Yes, I said 79!) year old Dorance Johnson placed fifth on his venerable BSA.
    In youth class action, Donnie Robbins took the win again in the 50cc Automatic class on his Cobra with a 120 foot climb. Point leader Dylan Brady ran second on his Polini and KTM rider Keegan Bohannon took third. Joe Goebel was the 85cc Junior Mini winner, topping the hil in 6.595 seconds with Richard Miller and Bobby Senn running second and third. Billy Hanes stretched his lead in the Senior Mini class with a 6.354 second winning run on his Kawasaki, with Dan Myers and Don Barber III running second and third.
    The other amateur class winners were Paul Hart in the 125cc class, Paul Hillard in the 200cc class, and Brent Stewart in the 400cc class. Randy Trosper took yet another Senior (+40) class win, Bill Kingery was the 400cc Stock Class winner while Lloyd Haas was the Open Stock class winner.
    The event was shortened when an incredible downburst of rain fell while the 125cc class was running their second time, leaving the hill unclimable. There were even injuries incurred by riders trying to get their bikes up out of the starting area on the access trails. (At Ottawa the riders take their bikes down to the starting line, then race up to the pit level) Winners were determined by the first round ride results only for all but the Youth classes. 

RESULTS:
50CC AUTO: 1. Donnie Robbins (Cob), 2.Dylan Brady (Pol), 3.Keeghan Bohannon (KTM).

85CC JR: 1.Joe Goebel (Suz), 2.Richard Miller (Kaw), 3.Bobby Senn (Kaw), 4.Steven Joe Weaver (Kaw), 5.Aaron Wiemken (Kaw).

85CC SR: 1.Billy Hanes (Kaw), 2.Dan Myers (Suz), 3.Don Barber III (Kaw), 4.Chad Cox (Kaw), 5.Brent Bowman (Suz).

125CC: 1.Paul Hart (Hus), 2.Dan Myers (Suz), 3.Damon Mayo (Suz), 4.Mike Miller (Kaw), 5. Don Barber Jr (Hon).

200CC: 1.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 2.Kelly Senn (KTM), 3.Jacob Tackitt (Kaw), 4.Gordon Green (Kaw), 5.Jared McKay (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Marc Stamm (Yam), 2.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 3.Jon Creek (Suz), 4.Matt Peters (Hon), 5.Cody Jenner (Hon).

400CC: 1.Brent Stewart (KTM), 2.Paul Hackbarth (KTM), 3.Matt Peters (KTM), 4.Gordon Green (Yam), 5.Shawn Chinouth (Yam).

600CC: 1.Eric Wheelwright** (Hon), 2.Randy Trosper (Hon), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Marc Stamm (Hon), 5.Lane Schultz (Hon).

750CC: 1.Wade Schultz (Yam), 2.Lloyd Haas (Kaw), 3.Lane Schultz (Yam), 4.Kaleb Northrup (Kaw), 5.Josh Carrier (Tri ).

OPN: 1.Kaleb Northrup (Tri), 2.Bill Myers (HD), 3.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 4.Jake Bailey (HD), 5.Lane Schultz (Nor). 

PROD: 1.Wade Schultz (HD), 2.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 3.Tim Wiggins (Tri), 4.Bill Myers (HD), 5.Jake Bailey (HD).

SENR: 1.Randy Trosper (Hon), 2.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 3.Mark Peters (KTM), 4.Tim Wiggins (Tri), 5.Daryl Johnson (BSA).

SSNR: 1.Bud Northrup (Hon), 2.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 3.Charlie Casey (Yam), 4.Marvin Wiemken (Hon), 5.Dorance Johnson (BSA).

400CC STK: 1.Bill Kingery (Kaw), 2.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 3.Craig Schnitzer (Hon), 4.Jon Creek (Suz), 5.Lloyd Haas (Yam).

OPN STK: 1.Lloyd Haas (Yam).

**FAST TIME: ERIC WHEELWRIGHT, 3.899, HONDA CR500