The rolling green hills of Montana rip-roared to life this past weekend with the second round of the RacerX/Suzuki NAHA Hillclimb series. Spectators and riders alike came from all across the nation, the riders were especially eager to test their mettle against the rocky, shaley, gnarly hill and for a chance at the $30,000 purse. The riders and fans were both brimming with excitement for the runs this year as the hill was insanely fast with huge gaps right from the take off and a pants-soiling gap at the top of the hill that claimed more than its fair share of motorcycle parts.

     200hp+ bikes guzzling nitro methane and nitrous oxide combined with a ridiculously fast hill and 20-30 foot gaps is quite a recipe for excitement, and unfortunately disaster! Dusty Beer the national number one rider in both the 700cc and Open classes was paving an astonishing weekend until the third gap claimed him and his motorcycle, flinging him 20 feet off into the adjoining forest. Unfortunately, Dusty dislocated his shoulder and will probably miss most of the series.  

     Jeff Thomas also made his bike and certain body parts offerings to the god of speed as he flew up the hill blazing one of the fastest times of the day. However, at the crest of the hill his bike bucked him off and landed squarely on his stomach sending him to the hospital. The ex-marine known fondly around the circuit as the “Throat Smasher” promptly returned from the hospital, barely able to walk, he hopped aboard his 100% nitro methane Yamaha and gritted through an amazing run. Talk about tough as nails! 

     The 0-700cc class was tight to say the least! Robie Peterson bested the hill with an ear shattering 9.931 second run that was the fasted time of the weekend. Dusty Beer was a sprocket tooth away putting up a 9.975 second time. Harold Waddell rounded out the podium with a 10.325 on his Suzuki GSXR. 

     Harold Waddell displayed an amazing amount of aerial grace as he and Bret Peterson trounced the competition in the Open class, Harold piloted his Suzuki to an 11.481 second winning run and Bret Peterson man handled his 1500cc Harley Davidson with an 11.801 second run. Travis Whitlock, always a crowd pleaser, put up a 12.319 to round out the podium in the hang-on-for-the-love-of-god Open class. 

     One of the real crowd pleasers was Friday night’s pit bike race. All the pro’s came out with their tricked out mini-hardware for big man on(little-bike)campus honors. Robie Peterson ran away with it in the individual class and Robie and Bret Peterson also took the team class. Each rider would ride two laps, then pit and trade off. A couple of guys were so excited to go they forgot to let off the throttle coming into the pits, hilarity ensued. Jason Smith was kind enough to pump his pit bike muscles for the ladies whipping his TTR all the way out and even putting up a heel clicker on the last lap.    

Results:

NAHA 0-700cc Class: 1.Robie Peterson (KTM); 2.Dusty Beer (Kaw); 3.Harold Waddell (Suz); 4.Bret Peterson (KTM); 5.Jeff Thomas (Yam); 6.Dave Thomas(Yam); 7.Travis Whitlock (KTM); 8.Ross Johnson; 9.Jason Smith (Yam); 10.Ken Long (Ski); 11.Corey Sweat; 12.Brian Peterson (Zab); 13.Scott Olson; 14.Dusty Quast (Yam); 15.Chris Axelson; 16.Pete Loomis (Yam); 17.Brandon Whitlock (KTM); 18.Paul Stoffers; 19.Dusty Davis; 20.Austin Fox

NAHA 701cc-Open Class: 1. Harold Waddell (Suz); 2. Bret Peterson (Har); 3. Travis Whitlock (KTM); 4. Dave Watson; 5. Jason Smith (Yam); 6. Pete Loomis (Yam); 7. Matt Coleman; 8. Corey Sweat; 9. Paul Stoffers; 10. Austin Fox; 11. Dusty Quast; 12. Brandon Whitlock; 13. Robie Peterson (Har); 14. CR Eizenzimer; 15. Jeff Thomas; 16. Colin Guy; 17. Scott Olson; 18. Chris Axelson; 19. Brian Osborn (Hon); 20. Chuck Dubell

NAHA Top 5 Shoot Out: 1. Harold Waddell (Suz); 2. Travis Whitlock (KTM); 3. Dave Watson; 4. Jason Smith (Yam); 5. Bret Peterson (Har)