169 riders rode the Rock River Riders tough hill on June 19, with Wade ‘Wild Wade’ Schultz emerging as the fastest rider of the day. He actually had the top two fastest rides of the day on his CR500 while taking the wins in both the 600cc and Senior (+40) classes.
Schultz crashed at 100 feet on his first ride in the 600cc class, and had to come from behind for that win. ‘Jammin Joe’ McGurer flew his KX500 over the top in 3.569 seconds to take the first round lead, but the hill got a lot faster after intermission. Schultz blitzed the hill in a sizzling 3.144 seconds to take the class win and the Fast Time award. McGurer was a lot faster also on his second ride, but his 3.211 second time came up just a bit short. ’Fast Andy’ Fortner claimed third with a good 3.260 second time.
Schultz brought his Honda back in the Senior (+40) class and took the first round lead with a good 3.582 second run, but had to come from behind again to overtake Mike ‘The Pulverizer’ Pulver who posted a 3.216 second time to take the second round lead. Schultz was up to the challenge, however, and flew his Honda over the top in 3.170 seconds to take the class win and post the second fastest time of the day.
The Wheelwright family had a great day, winning every class they entered. Eric took the wins in the 250cc, 450cc and 600cc 4-Stroke classes, while his daughter Morgan claimed the wins in the 85cc Senior Mini and Women’s class.
Eric took the 250cc class win with a 3.432 second run on his CR250, convincingly ahead of runner-up Kurt Krohmer and his 3.814 second time. Jon Creek was third in 3.824 seconds. Wheelwright rode his CRF450 thumper to the win in the 450cc class with a 3.305 second run, with Matt Altfillisch second with a 3.495 second run and Matt Peters third. Eric rode the fast Honda again in the 600 four stroke class and took that class win with a 3.319 second time, closely followed by Paul Hackbarth with a 3.347 second time on his KTM, and Krohmer in third.
Eric’s daughter Morgan rode her Suzuki 126 feet to take the 85cc Senior Mini class win, but got the bike over the top in 4.867 seconds to win the Women’s class – the only lady to see the top with Becky Lawson the closest at 116 feet.
Lloyd Haas rode his Kawasaki triples to two class wins, coming from behind after a first round crash to overtake Nick Walton and his BSA who had taken a the first round lead with a 4.232 second run. Haas turned a very fast (third fastest of the day) 3.187 seconds to take the class lead on his second ride. Walton was faster also, with a 3.717 second time, but had to settle for second place. Lane Schultz, also BSA mounted, claimed third in 3.899 seconds.
Haas then ran his 800cc triple in the Open class, and took that class win with a 3.267 second time. Lane Schultz was second on his Suzuki with brother Wade, also Suzuki mounted, coming in third.
Andrew ‘Little Fast Andy’ Fortner was the only youth rider to top the hill and did it on both rides. His 5.886 second run on his CR85 took the win in the 85cc Junior Mini class, with ‘Lightning’ Levi Peters second with a 109 foot effort. In other youth class action, Brodie Bennett was the 50cc class winner with a 50 foot climb with Jaydn Aliprandini second. Hank Smith was the best in the 65cc class with a 114 foot effort, with Levi Peters second with a 83 foot climb.
RESULTS:
50cc: 1.Brodie Bennett, 2.Jaydn Aliprandini, 3.Hunter Gehrt, 4.Lilah McGurer, 5.Kody Groth.
65cc: 1.Hank Smith, 2.Levi Peters, Charles Helfrich, 4.Tori Daniels, 5.Kane Ulve.
85Jr: 1.Andrew Fortner, 2.Levi Peters, 3.Jonathon Brian, 4.Hank Smith, 5.Charles Elfrich.
85Sr: 1.Morgan Wheelwright.
125cc: 1.Glenn Poppen, 2.Josh Peterson, 3.Pat Kopetko, 4.Jesse Hetrick.
200cc: 1.Jeff Jack, 2.Brian Shutt, 3.Chris Senn, 4.Kyle Galloway, 5.Austin Shutt.
250cc: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Kurt Krohmer, 3.Jon Creek, 4.Joe McGurer, 5.Derek Swanson.
450cc: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Matt Altfillisch, 3.Matt Peters, 4.Troy Camerer, 5.Mike Popham .
600cc: 1.Wade Schultz, 2.Joe McGurer, 3.Andy Fortner, 4.Kurt Krohmer, 5.Troy Camerer.
600 4-St: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Paul Hackbarth, 3.Kurt Krohmer, 4.Mike Popham, 5.Kirk Gorsuch.
750cc: 1.Lloyd Haas, 2.Nicholas Walton, 3.Lane Schultz, 4.Nate Simenec, 5.Matt Stephen.
OPN: 1.Lloyd Haas, 2.Lane Schultz, 3.Wade Schultz, Mark Kirking.
+40: 1.Wade Schultz, 2.Mike Pulver, 3.Jon Creek, 4.Frank Kopetko, 5.Mark Kirking.
+50: 1.Jeff Jack, 2.Jerry Bohren, 3.Mark Dunbar, 4.John Steffen, 5.Tom Rollins.
400 St: 1.Mike Pulver, 2.Kyle Galloway, 3.Tim Dwyer, 4.A.J. Groth, 5.Andy Fortner.
Opn St: 1.Paul Hackbarth, 2.Joe McGurer, 3.Mike Pulver.
WMN: 1.Morgan Wheelwright, 2.Becky Lawson, 3.Lilah McGurer, 4.Stacey Morris.
YOUTH FAST TIME: ‘Little Fast Andy’ Fortner, 5.886, CR85.
AMATEUR FAST TIME: ‘Wild Wade’ Schultz, 3.144, CR500.
Wade Schultz