Racer X Hillclimb Results

May 7, 2007 10:19am | by: Bryan Stealey

Whitlock, Peterson Top Glen Helen Hillclimb

Round 2 of the Racer X / Suzuki N.A.H.A. Pro Hillclimb Series made its debut at Glen Helen Raceway this past weekend in San Bernardino, California. Utah’s Travis Whitlock posted the fastest time of the event with an amazing 13.543-second run to edge out Jason Smith and Harold Waddell. Robie Peterson, son of five-time Hillclimb World Champion Kerry Peterson, won the Pro 250-450cc and Pro 451-700cc classes. KTM’s factory off-road star Kurt Caselli finished second and third respectively.

Harold Waddell

“This was a first-rate event,” said Whitlock. “Ever since Saddleback Park and DeAnza disappeared, we haven’t had a National in southern California. The event had a lot of industry support and the hill was incredible. This sport has really started to grow over the past few years, and with riders like Jeremy McGrath and Kurt Caselli participating every once in a while, I think we’re on the right track. I even hear that X-Games is looking at us right now for 2008, and that would be incredible.”

“I’m blown away at how much the spectators enjoyed this,” said Peterson. “I’ve raced all around the world and have never seen so much enthusiasm. Glen Helen runs races every weekend, and a lot of the fans said that this was one of the most-unique events they had ever seen.”

“I have a lot of respect for these guys,” said Caselli. “The hill was pretty technical and the top 10 riders are extremely good. I also can’t believe some of the bikes. I rode a 115-horsepower 700cc LC4 KTM and it was almost too fast. And to think that some of the guys are riding 240-horsepower bikes in the Open Exhibition class is absolutely nuts. I’m hooked and will definitely be doing more of these in the future.”

RESULTS

PRO 250-450cc: 1. Robie Peterson (16.055); 2. Kurt Caselli (17.665); 3. Travis Whitlock (18.713); 4. Jason Smith (21.103); 5. Josh Armtrout (21.005); 6. Jeff Geraci (210.01 feet); 7. Dunn Boyer (204.06); 8. Brian Osborn (200.08); 9. Jeff Lorenzo (168.04); 10. Brian Peterson (153.04).

PRO 451-700cc: 1. Robie Peterson (14.562); 2. Harold Waddell (14.751); 3. Kurt Caselli (14.829); 4. Travis Whitlock (16.636); 5. Austin Fox (16.746); 6. Bret Peterson (16.788); 7. Brandon Whitlock (17.161); 8. Collin Guy (17.840); 9. Jeff Thomas (18.438); 10. Josh Armtrout (18.819); 11. Don Beer (19.283); 12. Wilson Ornellas (19.727); 13. Jason Smith (19.999); 14. Ross Johnson (21.270); 15. Wes Harwood (23.394); 16. Kevin Peterson (326.08 feet); 17. Paul Zischka (309.09); 18. Troy Lewis (308.01); 19. Jason Maddox (186.08); 20. C.R. Eisenzimer (278.04).

PRO Open Exhibition: 1. Travis Whitlock (13.543); 2. Jason Smith (13.743); 3. Harold Waddell (14.295); 4. Bret Peterson (16.629); 5. Brandon Whitlock (14.733); 6. Brian Osborn (16.103); 7. Jeff Thomas (14.775); 8. Devin Aymond (16.103); 9. C.R. Eisenzimer (16.494); 10. Craig Spencer (16.733); 11. Cory Sweat (16.752); 12. Jeff Lorenzo (17.562); 13. Wes Harwood (18.481); 14. Jeff Barger (18.620); 15. Greg Webster (21.189); 16. Robie Peterson (23.429); 17. Jeff Higgins (23.476); 18. Jeff Higgins (23.476); 19. Chris Anderson (328.0 feet); 20. Austin Fox (282.04).

PRO Old Timer 0-700cc: 1. Jeff Geraci (14.651); 2. Don Beer (15.029); 3. Willie Ornellas (15.478); 4. Paul Zischka (15.860); 5. Keith Thomas (16.276); 6. Jeff Higgins (16.285); 7. Erik Schaffer (16.287); 8. Craig Dillard (16.749); 9. John Howell (17.004); 10. Dana Henke (18.011).

PRO Old Timer Open: 1. Don Beer (15.784); 2. Jeff Barger (16.303); 3. Dana Henke (16.701); 4. Willie Ornellas (17.250); 5. Paul Ziswchka (17.476).

Pro Seniors: 1. Greg Nowak (17.340); 2. Myron White (17.603); 3. Jerry Williams (19.035); 4. Victor Kim (22.621). 5. George Sauer (95 feet).

Kurt Caselli

Robie Peterson

Travis Whitlock