Twenty five of the nation’s top AMA Professional Hillclimbers made the long trip to Red Wing, Minnesota for the Indianhead Cycle Club’s second annual professional hillclimb sponsored by Pace American Trailers. The motorcycles were much more extreme looking than the amateur bikes that had raced Red Wing’s hill only one month prior to this event. These bikes had considerably longer rear wheel extension, were allowed to run chains or paddle tires, and used nitromethane as fuel, making them crackle as they idled.

    In 540 class, Indiana’s Jack Mason took the lead with a 6.361 second run, but was soon overtaken by current class champion Jeff Thomas on a Honda with a time of 6.319 seconds. Ludlow, Massachusetts’s Dave Watson, however, led the class going into the second round after he rode a 5.861 second run on his Honda. Early in the second round, Logan, Ohio’s Chad Disbennett took and held the lead with a 5.723 second ride. Watson was able to close in on Disbennett’s tome with a 5.744 second run, but was unable to push past it. "I turned the throttle, went though the lights, and when I opened my eyes it was over," Disbennett joked.

    In the 800 class, Connecticut’s Bob Templeton lined up his Harley Davidson and set a time of 5.314 seconds. It wasn’t until the third round that Templeton’s time would be challenged. Ludlow, Massachusetts’s Dave Watson was the first challenger able to gain the lead, but three time professional hillclimbing champion Jim Larger took his Harley to the top of Red Wing’s hill in 5.258 to take the win. "I got a good strong hole shot and hit the jumps perfect," Large commented. "I had instructions from my pit crew to keep it on and they said it would work."

    At intermission for the second year, ten of District 23’s top micro mini hillclimbers took their shot at the hill as the pros watched on. Last year’s winner Zach Degross took his Polini to 205 feet, but was surpassed by fellow Polini rider Logan Cipala who topped the hill in 17.021 second and took the win.

Results

540 1.Chad Disbennett 2.Dave Watson 3.Anthony Dehart

800 1.James Large 2.Dave Watson 3.Bob Templeton