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Dateline, Saturday, 9.22.09 6;30AM, drinking coffee in the garage, considering a number of chores I need to do today. Luke calls and asks if I want to go to the Hill climb in Troy this afternoon. I said I really needed to mow the grass, change the oil in my compressor, and put together a spreadsheet for work, but screw it, lets go. And by the way, lets take the bikes and compete. Luke is jazzed and we're on the road. We arrive early and view the hill, I'm thinking, WTH did I just get myself into!? The left side is much tougher than the right, but the right side is plenty challenging, especially to get over the top, fast, straight and smooth. I registered in the "OT" class, (Old timers", 40+ age, I'm 52 so I guess I'm a real fooking OLD TIMER!). You only have about three bike lengths of flat ground before you go vertical and this gave me a sense of fear and trepidation. There is a practice hill in the woods nearby a number of guy were riding so I took a few shots at it. I would start in 2nd gear just like a HS start and try to generate as much ground speed as possible before hitting the base of the hill. This worked well. I took my 1st run in competition starting in 2nd and stayed in 2nd the whole climb. Luke told me my time but I don't remember it as there was too much happening. Later on after the intermission I took my 2nd run and hammered the start pretty good. right before the third and final step I hit 3rd gear. My time was 8.60 seconds. That's really not all that fast as the best time of the night was 6.17 seconds. I'm don't remember which side it was on. There were 4 open bikes, a 650 Yamaha, 500 BSA, and two inline 4 cylinder jap bikes. The sounds these things made were straight out of a monster movie. The setup is very spectator friendly, concessions, playground stuff for the kids, etc, and only $7 to spectate, ($10 more if you want to ride). There is a big 2 day event there next month that I understand will draw competitors for many states away. It's way different than hare scrambles where you can slack for a few seconds here and there if necessary. In hill climb, you may only be on the bike for 8 seconds or so, but it's a damned intense 8 seconds. If you've never been there, check it out, it's good entertainemt. I think the web site is; http://www.kingofthehill.com

-Harvey
'04 EXC450
'06 300XCW
'05 FLTRI Road Glide

You didnt tell us what bike you used. The Road Glide right

Hayden

I was going to ride the Glide but I was afraid if I dropped it I'd need a helicopter to pick it up. I rode the 300.

-Harvey

WAY cool! I used to love attending the hill climbs in Holt. Likewise, very family and spectator friendly. I've driven past the one near Troy, but not attended a competition there.

That link was no good, but I did find a hill climb related forum at:
http://forums.kingofthehill.org/index.php

If anyone finds a source for information regarding when the events are, please reply here!

Enjoy this video of a quad competing in the Troy, KS hill climb:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3a8NeAKHk

Dang Harvey wish I woulda known! I took the quad and raced that night also! I was the white LTR450 that did the 3 lap race. Made it to the last time I needed to go up the steep side and caught a rut sending the front end skyward. I saved it but barely. So then I was stuck on the top of the steepest hill with my mangear in the fully sucked up and in position. Finally 2 guys came over and helped. In the stock class I ran an 8.1 but forgot to let of throttle over second terrace and got way to much hang time. The second run I was pulling to the left REAL hard causing me to miss the shift into second gear so I ran the whole hill in first and still got an 8.4. As I loaded into truck I realized my left rear tire was totally flat. It was alot of fun and I will go back, but I will also take dirtbike also!

Sorry we missed you Motoracer. The actual "races" up the steeper side then down the easier side was cool. By the time they ran the exhibition bike "race" it was getting pretty dark as I guess they didn't want to turn on the lights because it would be in the riders eyes going down hill. They should have at least turned them on for the uphill climb. With no lights at all, it was in my opinion downright dangerous near the end. Did you see all the bike guys with womens wigs on and dressed like, well, you can fill in the blanks. Turns out they were a bunch of AA FMHS guys that were part of a bachelor party. They came to ride the exhibition race, and take a couple quick shots at the hill then left for KC to party. We stayed for the whole thing and didn;t get home until 3;45 AM Sunday morning. The whole night was a riot.

-Harv
Mk IV Series 80 Government Model