Eric Wheelwright, from Elizabeth, Illinois, had a near perfect day at the Rock River Riders hillclimb near Polo, Illinois on June 16. Riding his Jackson Performance YZ250 he flashed his National Champion skills with a sizzling 3.228 second run on his second ride to take the win in the large and very competitive 250cc class. He had taken the class lead in the first round with a 3.441 second ride, but his buddy and traveling companion, Crag Schnitzler, put the pressure on him in the second round with a 3.390 second run to take the lead – at least for a while. Wheelwright was the 250cc class National Champion in 2000 and number 2 in 2001.

Wheelwright is the reigning National Champion in the 600cc class, and clearly showed those skills also. Riding his JPC CR500, he posted a good 3.409 second run in the first round action to take the class lead into intermission. The, just as in the 250 class, Schnitzler took the class lead with a blazing 3.114 second run on his KTM550 to move into the class lead. And, just as in the 250 class, Wheelwright responded with a full throttle attack of the hill, flying high over the top and stopping the clock in a breath-taking 2.969 seconds. The time was not only good for the class win, but was also the fastest overall time of the day. Butch Fetters was also fast, posting a 3.202 second time on his KX500 to take third, followed closely by Paul Hackbarth with a 3.268 second run on his Honda.

Wheelwright had his perfect day spoiled in the 400cc class where he ‘only’ got second. Riding another YZ250, he posted a good 4.823 second time, but Matt Peters, riding a YZ400 thumper, roared over the top in an impressive 4.019 seconds for the win.

As a side note, it is heartwarming to know that Wheelwright donated his $185 in prize winnings to the Katie Fisher fund – a truly class act by a class guy. Many other riders followed his lead, and with a $300 club contribution and an incredible turnout for a 50-50 drawing (mostly by the Harley riders in the crowd when they heard she was the daughter of Bob ‘Flyin Fish’ Fisher), over $1500 was raised to help the tragically injured teenager.

Brent Stewart made his first District 17 appearance of the year and made his usual outstanding ride on his KTM380, winning the 450cc class. He took the class lead into intermission with a 3.877 second run on his first ride, but then in the second round saw his time beat several times, the fastest of whom was who else but Craig Schnitzler. Schnitzler sailed his KTM360 over the top in a sizzling 3.089 seconds to take the class lead and set a new fast time of the day. Stewart, flashing his two National Championships style, blew over the top in 3.001 seconds, taking the class win and setting a new fast time – which fell to Wheelwright a few minutes later. Paul Hacbarth, Lloyd Haas and Jerome Beckley filled in the top five places.

With 3 second places on 3 outstanding rides, Craig Schnitzler must be wondering just what it is he has to do to win!

In other amateur class action, Garrett Ballard won the 125cc class on his CR125 and Kelly Senn rode his KTM 200 to the 200cc class win. Lloyd Haas, also a muti time National Champion, took the 750cc class win on his Kawasaki triple, and Jacob Bailey rode his Harley to the Open Class win. Harley riding Steve Shafer took the Pushrod class win and Tad Hubner was the best in the Open Stock class. In the Senior classes, Jerome Beckley (I can’t believe he’s that old!) grabbed the +40 class win and longtime veteran Roger Hackbarth was the fastest of the AARP card carrying crowd with a win in the +50 class.

In youth action, Chase Hubner was the 50cc class winner. Kevin Bond took the Junior Mini win with Andrew Ballard second. Bobby Senn was the best of the Senior Mini climbers, beating Mike Popham by a single foot.

RESULTS:

50cc Auto: 1. Chase Hubner

85cc Jr: 1.Kevin Bond (Kaw), 2.Andrew Ballard (Kaw), 3.Alyssa Haling (Kaw), 4.Aaron Wiemken (Kaw), 5.Drew Daniels (KTM).

85cc Sr: 1.Bobby Senn (Kaw), 2.Mike Popham (Yam), 3.Joe Goebbels (Suz), 4.Jake Lewis (Kaw), 5.Spencer Hines (Kaw).

125cc: 1.Garrett Ballard (Hon), 2.Jared Patterson (Kaw), 3.Adam Book (Hon), 4.Joe Goebbel (Kaw), 5.Chris Senn (Hon).

200cc: 1.Kelly Senn (KTM), 2.Chris Senn (Kaw), 3.Gordon Green (Kaw), 4.Jacob Steder (Kaw), 5.Jerome Beckley (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 2.Craig Schnitzler (Hon), 3.Kevin Cappello (Kaw), 4.Paul Hackbarth (Hon), 5.Matt Peters (Hon).

450cc: 1.Brent Stewart (KTM), 2.Craig Schnitzler (KTM), 3.Paul Hackbarth (KTM), 4.Lloyd Haas (Yam), 5.Jerome Beckley (Yam).

600cc: 1.Eric Wheelwright (Hon), 2.Craig Schnitzler (KTM), 3.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 4.Paul Hackbarth (Hon), 5.Mike Miller (Hon).

750cc: 1.Lloyd Haas (Kaw), 2.Tom Daniels (Kaw), 3.Mike Miller (Kaw), 4.Mike Sarver (Kaw), 5.Dan Walstad (Kaw).

OPEN: 1.Jacob Bailey (H-D), 2.Steve Shafer (H-D), 3.Mike Kessel (Kaw).

PROD: 1.Steve Shafer (H-D), 2.Jacob Bailey (H-D). 3.Dan Walstad (BSA), 4.Tim Wiggins (Tri), 5.Bill Myers (H-D).

SENR: 1.Jerome Beckley (Yam), 2.Roger Hackbarth (Hon), 3.Mark Peters (KTM), 4.Tim Wiggins (Tri).

SSNR: 1.Roger Hackbarth (Hon), 2.Marvin Wiemken (Hon), 3.Greg Haas (Yam).

400 STK: 1.Matt Peters (Hon), 2.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 3.Jesse Wellenstein (Gas), 4.Jeff Wiemken (Kaw).

OPN STK: 1.Tad Hubner (Hon), 2.Ron Carlson (Yam), 3.Butch Fetters (KTM), 4.Don Sheridan Jr (Yam), 5.Mike Bacon (Mai).

FAST TIME: ERIC WHEELWRIGHT, HONDA CR500