Andy Fortner, from Pittsboro, Indiana, was the fastest guy at the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders night hillclimb on August 3. Riding a CR500 Honda, 'Fast Andy' flew over the 120 foot hill in a blazing 3.673 seconds on his first ride in the 600cc class, setting a time which would not be matched all night. Butch 'Fearless' Fetters was his closest competition, both in the 600 class and overall. Fetters carded a 3.797 time on his KX500 on his second ride to claim the second place money, while young Jared McKay took third on his KX500 in 3.872 seconds. John Scroggins made his first district appearance of the year and took fourth place on his Honda with Richard Bell running fifth.

Fortner also took the 750cc class win with a 4.010 second run on his Kawasaki triple, with Greg Rankin taking second on his Yamaha twin.

Randy 'Buzz' Green and Gayle Jenkins also enjoyed double win evenings. Green rode his beautiful Harley to wins in both the Open and Pushrod classes, while the 'Old Pro', Jenkins, claimed first place in both the Senior (40+) and Super Senior (50+) classes.

Billy Hanes, a 15 year old youngster from Mount Vernon is running away with the 125cc class district championship. After losing two in a row to Josh Denson (including the State Championship), young Hanes rebounded at White City with a 4.213 second winning run on his Honda in the second round, but his 4.325 second first round ride would have been good enough as Denson's best time was 4.397 seconds for second place. Hanes has built up a commanding lead over Denson for the points championship, while Denson with a midseason surge, has moved well ahead of Brent Bowman for second place.

Sixteen year old Jared McKay is also riding strong this year, and continued at White City. Jared was the 250cc point leader going in to the State Championship, but his engine blew before he got to compete in that double point event - which Kevin Cappello won, moving him into second place with defending point champion Matt Peters moving into first. On this evening, Mckay - with a fresh engine in his YZ250 - posted the best two times in the 250 class (3.877 and 3.899 seconds) and took the win. Cappello's 4.037 second time on his KX250 was good for third place, and with Peters settling for an uncharacteristic fifth, Cappello took over the point lead - but only by 2 points over McKay and 3 over Peters. This class is going to be fun to watch the rest of the year as these three guys fight it out!

In other amateur class action Dan Janus took the 200cc class win, Matt Peters was the best of the 450cc riders and Matt Ringstrom was the fastest of the 400cc Stock bikes. Butch Fetters has been very successful on his KTM520 this year, leading in both the Open Stock and 600 4-stroke classes. He stretched his already considerable lead in the Open Stock class with a win there, but the 4-stroke class (a non-point paying exhibition class in D-17) was not offered.

In Youth action, Jeremiah Lydell was the winner in the 50cc class and Kevin Bond moved a little closer to district point leader 'Goose' Weaver in the 85cc Junior Mini class with a win there. Donnie Barber III grabbed the win in the Senior Mini class on his KX80.

RESULTS:

50cc Auto: 1.Jeremiah Lyday

85cc JR: 1.Kevin Bond (Kaw), 2.Cody Rankin (Yam), 3.Nick Burke (Kaw), 4.Steven Joe Weaver (Kaw), 5.Blake Cappello (Kaw).

85cc SR: 1.Donnie Barber III (Kaw), 2.Spencer Smith (Hon).

125cc: 1.Billy Hanes (Hon), 2.Josh Denson (Hon), 3.Dwayne McKee (Hon), 4.Brent Bowman (Hon), 5.Chuck Mathewson (Kaw).

200cc:1.Dan Janus (Kaw), 2.Jake Tackitt (Kaw), 3.Mike Peters (Kaw), 4.Mark Kanallakan (Kaw).

250cc: 1.Jared McKay (Yam), 2.Mike Wargo (Hon), 3.Kevin Cappello (Yam), 4.Derek Tobermon (Suz), 5.Matt Peters (Hon).

450cc: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Paul Hillard (Yam), 3.Richard Bell (Yam), 4.John Potter (Suz).

600cc: 1.Andy Fortner (Hon), 2.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 3.Jared McvKay (Kaw), 4.John Scroggins (Hon), 5.Richard Bell (Hon).

750cc: 1.Andy Fortner (Kaw), 2.Greg Rankin (Yam).

OPN: 1.Buzz Green (H-D), 2.Jim Redpath (Kaw).

SNR: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon), 2.Kevin McKay (Kaw), 3.Mark Peters (KTM).

SSNR: 1.Gayle Jenkins (Hon).

PROD: 1.Randy Green (H-D).

400 STK: 1.Matt Ringstrom (Kaw), 2.Homero Diaz (Kaw), 3.Andy Fortner (Hon), 4.Matt Peters (Yam), 5.Jon Creek (Hon).

OPN STK: 1.Butch Fetters (KTM), 2.Spencer Smith (Yam), 3.Paul Lenz (Hon).

FAST TIME: ANDY FORTNER, HONDA CR500