The Rock River Riders hosted a hill climb on July 22 and 103 riders challenged the steep, rough hill.  Lloyd Haas was the fastest of the fast, and Glen Fuegen, Mike Pulver, Paul Hackbarth and Dakota ‘D.J.’ Watson all enjoyed double class win days.

            Mike Popham set the first round fast time in the 600cc with a 3.147 second run on his Honda.  But in the second round, both Wade Schultz (3.117) and Shane Green slipped under Popham’s time.  Green’s 3.091 second run was felt to be probably good enough for the Fast Time, as the always fast 600cc class claims the Fast Time award more than any other class.

            But not this time. In the Open Class, Schultz (Wild Wade) had taken the first round lead on his big Suzuki with a good 3.239 second run.  Lloyd Haas was in second place  on his 800cc Kawasaki Triple with a 3.346 second first round run, but held the throttle open just a fraction of a second longer on his second ride and flew his screaming 2-stroke high over the top in 3.077 seconds, taking the class lead and setting a new Fast Time.  Schultz responded with a very good ride, but his 3.161 second effort fell short of the Haas time.  Cody Jenner was fast, too, on his big Kawasaki, blazing over the top in 3.163 seconds - just two thousandths off the Schultz time.

            Fuegen ran unopposed in the 200cc class for that class win, but had to work for his win in the Open Stock class.  He was the only rider in the class to top the hill on both rides, and his 3.881 second time on his first ride on his Yamaha was good for the win.  Terry Steffen was the only other rider to stop the clock - his 5.033 second run on his Kawasaki in the second round was good for second place.

            Paul Hackbarth had to work for both his wins.  His 3.230 second ride in the second round of the 450cc class on his KTM overtook Eric Wheelwright who had stopped the clocks in 3.317 seconds in the first half to take the class lead into intermission.  Wheelwright nearly got the win anyway, as his second time was 3.235 seconds, leaving him just five thousandths of a second off the lead.  Wheelwright was still a winner, taking the 250cc class win with a very good 3.176 second time on his YZ250, with Matt Altfillisch in second on his Yamaha in 3.269 seconds.

            In the 600cc 4-stroke class, Hackbarth took the first round class lead with a 3.382 second run on his KTM, but Scott Lisk sailed his Yamaha over the top in 3.482 seconds in the second round to move into the top spot. Hackbarth was up to the challenge, however, and responded with a fine 3.318 high flying run for the class win. Bobby Senn claimed third on his KTM. 

            Hackbarth actually won three classes, as he was also the fastest in the King Of The Hill class, a one run, winner take all dash for cash for the top riders of the day.  He paid painfully for that win, however, as he looped his KTM at the top of the hill and crashed hard, breaking his ankle.  We all hope Paul will mend quickly and be back in action soon.

            Mike Pulver posted a first round time of 3.520 seconds in the first round action of the Senior (40+) class, and that time would have held up for the win.  He beat his own time in the second half, however, with an even quicker 3.332 second run on his Honda. Glen Fuegen added a second place to go with his two wins with a 3.582 second time on his Honda.

 Pulver got his second win in the 400cc Stock class, where his first round time of 4.188 seconds on his CR250 was the best in the class.  He was the only rider to top the hill twice – or at all – in the class.  Mike Sarver claimed second with a 109 foot effort.

In Youth class action, 50cc National Champion Dakota ‘D.J.’ Watson took the 50cc class win on his Cobra with a 53 foot ride, with Brianna Haignt in second place.  D.J. rode unopposed in the 65cc class and rode his KX65 100 feet for that win. 

Glenn Poppen was the only youth rider to top the hill, doing it on his second run in the 85cc Senior Mini class, stopping the clock in 5.921 seconds on his KX85.  Alyssa Haling rode her CR85 120 feet up the steep hill for second place.  Chase Hubner was the 85cc Junior Mini class winner with a 58 foot ride with Zack Bailey second.

RESULTS:

50cc: 1.Dakota ‘D.J.’ Watson, 2.Brianna Haignt.

65cc: 1.Dakota Watson.

85Jr: 1.Chase Hubner, 2.Zack Bailey.

85Sr: 1.Glen Poppen, 2.Alyssa Haling, 3.Joe McGurer, 4.Devon Plachno.

125cc: 1.Chad Altfillisch, 2.Josh Beckley, 3.Matt Altfillisch, 4.Joe McGurer, 5.Glen Poppen.

200cc: 1.Glen Fuegen.

250cc: 1.Eric Wheelwright, 2.Matt Altfillisch, 3.Shane Green, 4.Craig Schnitzler, Mike Popham.

450cc: 1.Paul Hackbarth, 2.Eric Wheelwright, 3.Mike Popham, 4.Shane Green, 5.Scott Lisk.

600cc: 1.Shane Green, 2.Wade Schultz, 3.Mike Popham, 4.Cody Jenner, 5.Lloyd Haas.

600 4-St: 1.Paul Hackbarth, 2.Scott Lisk, 3.Bobby Senn, 4.Dan Groth, 5.Andrew Groth.

750cc: 1.Wade Schultz, 2.Paul Hillard, 3.Lloyd Haas, 4.Mike Sarver, 5.Bobby Senn.

OPN: 1.Lloyd Haas, 2.Wade Schultz, 3.Cody Jenner, 4.R.D. Miller III, 5.Nick Isotov.

+40: 1.Mike Pulver, 2.Glen Fuegen, 3.Jerome Beckley, 4.John Steffen, 5.Terry Steffen.

+50: 1.John Steffen, 2.Marvin Wiemken.

PROD: 1.Nate Simenec, 2.R.D. Miller III, 3.Cody Jenner, 4.Mark Kirking, 5.Nick Isotov.

400 Stk: 1.Mike Pulver, 2.Mike Sarver, 3.Keegan Bohannon.

Opn St: 1.Glen Fuegen, 2.Terry Steffen, 3.Mike Pulver, 4.Nick Lamb.

YOUTH FAST TIME: GLEN POPPEN, 5.821, KX85

AMATEUR FAST TIME:  LLOYD HAAS, 3.077, 800CC KAWASAKI TRIPLE

Mike Popham

Paul Hackbarth