Big Nasty Hillclimb Proves Nasty (For the 6^th Year in a Row)

By Ron Dillon

NEW PLYMOUTH, ID, SEPTEMBER 12-14

The only professional motorcycle hillclimb in the Northwest, the 6^th annual, Edge Performance Big Nasty, returned on September 12-14 and brought together its usual eclectic mix of interesting hillclimbers, machines and fans. The Big Nasty again it lived up to its name; as less than half of the pros climbed the 600-foot big hill over the entire weekend, and even less scaled the 252-foot, nearly vertical, qualifying hill.  Both of the hills gave most of the 409 entries from nine states fits at times. 

Known as “Idaho’s largest motorcycle event,” the Big Nasty continued to grow, and attendance hit a new record, drawing a confirmed 12,000 spectators for a weekend of sunny, 85 degree weather, and the typical Big Nasty, Woodstock feel continued.  Children played in an inflatable toy area, the Metal Mulisha SCS Freestyle team performed motorcycle aerial tricks, local bands played on Friday and Saturday nights, pumpkins were shot at the hill, and a carnival brought in some rides which were located adjacent to the camping area.    

For the first time, the small hill was lighted and half of the trophy riders climbed under the stars on Friday night.  Only one rider made the top…Idaho’s Toni Howard, who borrowed her dad’s stretched YZ490, smoking not only the other women, but all of the men as well.  Saturday’s action began with pro qualifying and Dusty Beer, now in his mid-40’s easily won the 450 qualifying round, blowing over the nearly vertical 252-foot hill, that later proved to be so nasty that only nine of the 700 pros made it.   

On Saturday evening, the remaining trophy riders lined up to take a shot at a slightly easier hill, but very few of them made it, the notable exception being Oregon’s Shane Donaca who rode over again and again, picking up a total of six class wins in the process.  Also, local rider and KTM factory pilot, David Kamo, hustled back from the ISDE just in time to get to the hill, and rode all weekend on a variety of KTM two and four-strokes.

Sunday’s main event consisted of three pro classes: 450, 700 and open.  These bikes continue to be some of the most exotic machines in motorcycling and many are stretched out and run steel, chained or bolted paddle tires on the rear and use any type of fuel including nitromethane, alcohol and nitrous.  Some of them produce over 250 horsepower and are incredibly loud and exotic.  Utah’s Jason Smith repeated as champion in the 450 pro class, with Harold Waddell, out of Omaha, Nebraska, winning the 700 pro division.  The Open class was topped by Team Peterson’s Bret Peterson, who blew over the top in 19.130 seconds, narrowly edging Dusty Beer who posted a 19.183 run. 

The weekend ended with the King of the Hill Shootout, giving the top five Open bikes a final shot at the hill.  California’s Peterson repeated his Open Pro win, blasting his nitro-powered KTM over the hill again, putting another $500 in his pocket and becoming the first two-time winner of the Big Nasty “King of the Hill” perpetual trophy.   

Next year’s Big Nasty Hillclimb will be held on September 18-20, 2009.  For more information visit: www.bignastyhillclimb.com. 

Results:

King of the Hill: 1. Bret Peterson (KTM).

701-Open Main Event: 1. Bret Peterson (KTM); 2. Dusty Beer, (Kaw); 3. Jason Smith (Yam); 4. Travis Whitlock (Kaw); 5. Harold Waddell (Suz).

451-700cc Main Event: 1. Harold Waddell (Suz); 2. Dusty Beer (Kaw): 3. Robie Peterson (KTM); 4. Jason Smith (Yam); 5. Bret Peterson (KTM).

0-450cc Main Event: 1. Jason Smith (Yam); 2. Travis Whitlock (KTM); 3. Bret Peterson (KTM); 4. Robie Peterson (KTM); 5. Dusty Beer (Kaw).

Pro/Semi-Pro Old Timer 40-Up, 701-Open: 1. Lonnie Sparks (Kaw); 2. Kelly Petersen (Hon); 3. Shane Bradford (Kaw); 4. Ray Halsey (Kaw); 5. Jeff Higgins (Hon).

Pro/Semi-Pro Old Timer 40-Up, 0-700cc: 1. Lonnie Sparks (Kaw); 2. Shane Bradford (Kaw); 3. Myron White (Hon); 4. Jeff Higgins (Hon); 5. Shawn Smith (Hon).

Pro/Semi-Pro Senior 50-Up: 1. Erik Schaffer (Hon); 2 Victor Kim (Suz); 3. Ray Halsey (Kaw); 4. Myron White (Hon); 5. Jerry Williams (Yam).

Pro/Semi-Pro 0-90cc Exhibition:  1. Cameron Christensen (Yam); 2. Ricky Ables (Kaw); 3. Tristan Childs (Yam); 4. Cameron Ambroz (Yam).

Vintage: 1. Dennis Harmon (Hon); 2. Marc Smith (Tri); 3. Jerry Williams (Yam).

Women: 1. Toni Howard (Yam); 2. April Zastrow (Hon); 3. Jenny Kouba (Hon); 4. Courtney Durbin (Hon); 5. Nikki Bradford (Kaw). 

Trophy Senior 50-Up: 1. Dennis Harmon (Hon); 2. Gary Smith (Kaw); 3. Jerry Williams (Yam); 4. Tom States (KTM).

Altered Stock Trophy 251cc-Up: 1. Ray Babcock (Kaw); 2. Brandon Windmiller (Hon); 3. Destry Haslet (Hon); 4. Shane Donaca (Hon); 5. Matthew Garretty (Hon).  

Altered Stock Trophy 0-250cc: 1. Shane Donaca (Suz); Rory Schinsing (Hus); 3. Derick Seacrist (Yam); Justin Jamison (Yam); 5. Jimmy Cramer (Hon).  

Stock Trophy 251cc-Up, 4-Stroke, 40-Up: 1. Shane Donaca (Suz); 2. Tim Swenson (Hon); 3. Ken Thornton (Hus); 4. Roger Andree (Hon); 5. Loyal Gibbons (Husa).

Stock Trophy 251cc-Up, 2-Stroke, 40-Up: 1. Shane Donaca (Hon); 2. Brian Howe (Hon).

Stock Trophy 251-650cc-4-Stroke: 1. Matt Teichert (Hon); 2. Shane Donaca (Hon); 3. Taylor Friesz (Kaw); 4. Tyler Sproat (Hon); 5. Ken Thornton (Hus).

Stock Trophy 251-650cc-2-Stroke:  1. Shane Donaca (Hon); 2. Brent Thomas (Suz); 3. Matthew Garretty (Hon); 4. JJ Hill (KTM); 5. Daniel Clark (Hon).

Stock Trophy 126-250cc-2-Stroke: 1. Shane Donaca (Suz); 2. Derek Gabbitas (Yam); 3. David Kamo (KTM); 4. Derray Quarders (Yam); 5. Rory Schinsing (Hus).  

Stock Trophy 151-250cc-4-Stroke: 1. Shane Donaca (Suz); 2. April Zastrow (Hon); 3. Wyatt Doan (Kaw); 4. Erik Burkholder (Hon); 5. Austin Kouba (Hon).

Stock Trophy 91-125cc: 1. Chris Rogers (Yam); 2. Erik Burkholder (Hon); 3. Rory Schinsing (Hus); 4. Dan Mastrude (Kaw); 5. Ricky Ables (Hon).  

Stock Trophy 0-150cc 4-Stroke: 1. Brandon Durham (Hon); 2. Knight Woodward (Yam); 3. Michael Niedrich (Yam); 4. Justice Woodward (Yam); 5. Ivy Brubaker (Hon).  

Stock Trophy 71-90cc: 1. Braxton Prieto (Kaw); 2. Ayden Goodfellow (Yam); 3. Brodie Garner (KTM); 4. Brandon Davis (Yam); 5. Jordan Scoggan (Hon).

Stock Trophy 56-70cc: 1. Braxton Prieto (Kaw); 2. David Cornett (KTM); 3. Bailey Kouba (KTM); 4. Joel Atkinson (KTM); 5. Cameron Ambroz (KTM).

Stock Trophy 0-55cc Shifter: 1. Cody Lambertson (Suz). 

Stock Trophy 0-55cc Automatic: 1. Devan Gomez (KTM); 2. Nathan Schnepp (Yam); 3. Chaney Larson (Suz); 4. Gage Bastian (KTM); 5. Baylie Larson (Yam).

Complete Results - Adobe .pdf format