|
This weekend
marked the opening round for the 2006 Racer X / Suzuki N.A.H.A.
Hillclimb Series. More than 10,000 spectators showed up in
Tracy, California to watch hundreds of pro and amateur
racers battle for king of the hill honors and a portion of the
$30,000 prize money. This climb was also the field’s first chance to
see what they are up against this year and, with the onslaught of
exotic fuels and racing engines, the roar emanating from the Manteca
Trailer & Camper Championship Hill was frightfully impressive. A
mere 3.3 seconds was the difference between taking home the win and
coming in 10th place! Travis Whitlock, Dusty Beer, Jason Smith and
Jeff Thomas slugged it out for top honors in both the 0-700cc and
Open classes. Travis Whitlock brought the crowd to their feet with
his 15.616 run in the Open Exhibition class run, only to be bested
by the up and coming Jason Smith’s blazing 15.024 run minutes later!
In the end Travis Whitlock took home the win in the 700cc class with
Dusty Beer and Jason Smith trailing in second and third. Jason Smith
took top honors in the wild Open Exhibition class with Whitlock and
Jeff Thomas rounding out the podium. The season opener was an
exciting foray into the world of hillclimbing and goes to show that
this season is going to be hotly contested all the way to the end. |
