The Rock River Riders 130 foot hill near Polo, Illinois is always rough and tough, but it was especially so on July 15 as only 48 of the 141 riders managed to stop the clock. The hill was badly rutted, hard and dry as the proverbial bone - offering little or no traction to the those challenging it. Veteran climber Lloyd Haas, however, was not intimidated by the hill and showed his skills with a win, two seconds, and Fast Time of the day.
    Haas' Fast Time came on his 750cc 'Kawazuki' triple - a machine he has ridden to several national championships. 'Fast Andy' Fortner set the fast time of the first round on his 'Hondasaki' triple with a 3.737 second run, but Haas sailed his screaming triple over the top in 3.643 seconds on his second ride to take the class win and the Fast Time award.Josh Carrier ran his Triumph over in 4.553 seconds for third place followed by Chris Myer and Frank Kopetko.
    Haas almost grabbed a second win as he posted the fastest time of the first round in the 250cc class with a 4.555 second run on his YZ250. In the second round, however, his brother-in-law, Eric Wheelwright slipped under the Haas time with a 4.482 second run on his Yamaha. It was certainly no real surprise to anyone, as Wheelwright is the defending national champion in that class, having won the title in both 1999 and 2000. Jon Creek ran a good 4.714 second time on his Suzuki for third place with Matt Peters and Chris Halverson running fourth and fifth.
    Haas also took the first round lead in the Open Stock Class on his YZ426, but had to settle for second when Tad Hubner tossed his Honda over the top in 4.940 seconds. 
    The Hackbarth family, Roger and Paul, had a good day as they claimed two class wins, a second and a fourth between them. Paul was the only rider in the 400cc class to top the hill, doing it in 4.608 seconds on his KTM360 for the win. He also flew his CR500 Honda over the top in an excellent 3.911 seconds in the 600cc class, but had to settle for second place when Ed Chapell sailed his KX500 over in 3.874 seconds for the win. Andy Fortner, the current point leader, had set the time to beat at 3.954 seconds on his first ride, but crashed at 128 feet in a full throttle assault trying to retake the lead on his second ride.
    Roger got his win in the Super Senior class, with a fine 5.215 second run on his Honda, the only one in the class to top the hill. Marv Wiemkin and J.D.Shults crashed hard in the second and third spots. Roger also topped the hill in the Senior Class, his 5.205 second time good for fourth, as the high flying class leader Randy (Rocketman) Trosper stretch his point lead with a 3.671 second winning ride on his Honda. Mark Peters continued his good riding on his KTM550 with a fine 3,736 second run for second place with Don Sheridan Sr claiming third with a 4.099 second run on his Honda.
    Mike Kessel also continued his excellent season , stretching his point lead in the Open Class. Riding his super fast KZ1000, he roared over the top in 4.110 seconds for the win. Chris Halverson stopped the clock in 4.260 seconds on his classy Harley for second and Scott Sheets Jr ran third on his Harley in 4.353 seconds. Bill Myers and Jake Bailey, also Harley mounted, filled in the fourth and fifth place spots.
    In youth class action, the class point leader, Dylan Brady, took the win with a 45 foot climb on his Polini, just good enough to beat Donnie Robbins who managed 43 feet on his Cobra. Mike Popham was the 85cc Junior mini winner with a 100 foot effort on his old but still fast air cooled Yamaha, with Joe Goebel running second with a 95 foot climb on his Suzuki. Brent Bowman climbed 110 feet in the Senior Mini class for that win, with Chad Cox running second with a 100 foot climb on his KX80.
    In other amateur class action, Kevin Ryan took over the point lead in the 125cc class with a win, Jerome Beckley grabbed the 200cc class win and William Myers was the winner in the Pushrod class. Andy Fortner rounded out his day witn a win in the 400cc Stock Class, giving him a first, a second and a third for the day. 

RESULTS:
50CC AUTO: 1.Dylan Brady (Pol), 2.Donnie Robbins (Cob), 3.Keegan Bohannon (KTM), 4.Alyssa Haling (KTM), 5.Chris Peters (KTM).

85CC JR: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Joe Goebel (Suz), 3.Goose Weaver (kaw), 4.Drew Daniels (KTM), 5.Aaron Wiemken (Kaw).

85CC SR: 1.Brent Bowman (Yam), 2.Chad Cox (Kaw), 3.Jake Popham (Yam), 4.Josh Warner (Kaw), 5.Don Barber III (Kaw).

125CC: 1.Kevin Ryan (Kaw), 2.Chris Halverson (Hon), 3.Adam Book (Hon), 4.Don Barber Jr (Hon), 5.Jared Hayes (Kaw). 

200CC: 1.Jerome Beckley (Kaw), 2.Glen Fuegen (Kaw), 3.Brent Warfel (KTM), 4.Kelly Senn (KTM), 5.Chris Senn (KAW).

250CC: 1.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 2.Lloyd Haas (Yam), 3.Jon Creek (Suz), 4.Matt Peters (Hon), 5.Chris Halverson (Hon).

400CC: 1.Paul Hackbarth (KTM), 2.Jerome Beckley (Yam), 3.Matt Peters (KTM), 4.Sam Cochran (Yam), 5.Shawn Chinouth (Yam).

600CC: 1.Ed Chappell (Hon), 2.Paul Hackbarth (Hon), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Frank Kopetko (Kaw), 5.Craig Schnitzler (KTM).

750CC: 1.Lloyd Haas** (Kaw), 2.Andy Fortner (Kaw), 3.Josh Carrier (Tri), 4.Chris Meyer (Yam), 5.Frank Kopetko (Hon).

OPN: 1. Mike Kessel (Kaw), 2.Chris Halverson (HD), 3.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 4.Bill Myers (HD), 5.Jake Bailey (HD).

PROD: 1.William Myers (HD), 2.Jake Bailey (HD), 3.Tim Wiggins (Tri), 4.Scott Sheets Jr (HD), 5.Chris Halverson (HD).

SNR: 1.Randy Trosper (Hon), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Don Sheridan Sr (Hon), 4.Roger Hackbarth (Hon), 5.John Stephen (KTM).

SSNR: 1.Roger Hackbarth (Hon), 2.Marv Wiemken (Hon), 3.J.D.Shults (Beta).

400CC STK: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 3.Jon Creek (Hon), 4.Craig Schnitzler (Hon), 5.J.D.Shults (Beta).

OPN STK: 1.Tad Hubner (Hon), 2.Lloyd Haas (Yam).

**FASTIME: LLOYD HAAS, 3.643, 750 KAWASAKI H2 TRIPLE