Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

AMA National Cham ionshi Hillclimb Series: Round 3 HILLCLIMB ~ ~ Tom Reiser faltered o~ first nm, but rebounded to post the fastest time in the 800cc class. Reiser, Pinsonnault conquer Bushkill The narrow Bushkill Me hill is perhaps the most difficult ascent on the National circuit. Tom Reiser (left) and 540cc class winner Paul Pinsonnault display the fruits of victory. By Jay Herndon FREEMANSBURG, PA, JUNE 13 om Reiser's second run up the Bushkill Valley M.e. hill put another win in the USA Team rider's pocket, after he fell short on his first attempt on the Soo-foot hill. With a crowd of 4300 watching, Harley-Davidson-mounted Reiser made it look easy the second time around as he garnered the top honors in the 800cc class for the second round in a row. Paul Pinsonnault grabbed the win in the 540cc class. His conservative start turned into an aggressive sprint to the 490-foot mark and then with some kicks and body English he sailed his Honda over the top to score his first win of the young season on his initial attempt The hill, which is located just outside a small community called Steel Town that is close to Freemansburg, has a reputation as one of the roughest stops on the pro hillclimb circuit, if not the toughest. The loose dirt and gravel hill starts with a generous slope and a new kicker at the 7S-foot marker, with a grade increase in the climb up to the first jump at the 200foot marker. The hill's increased slope climbs up to the 265-foot marker and the second major jump, with another increase in the angle to the 460-foot marker and the last jump. The hill tops out at 500 feet, 20 feet past the timing lights. Nineteen 540cc class riders were first to attack the hill Triumph-mounted Scott . Everett drew the 12th starting slot and he turned in a straight fast run ·up the narrow hill. Each of the three jumps T launched Everett 30 to 40 feet up the hill, and he finally broke the tape with a time of 11.232 seconds. He would come up short on his second attempt and his first round time earned him third place. Paul Pinsonnault followed Everett in the first round and his climb started off conservatively, but he quickly turned it up and he and his Honda cleared the three jumps with kicks at each jump and stopped the timing clocks at 10.774 seconds. Pinsonnault elected to let his first climb speak for itself and it turned out to be the class winner and the fourth fastest of the day. For Pinsonnault it was deja vu time as he made it back-te-back wins at Freemansburg, having won the National there last year. BSA-mounted Michael Debusk earned runner-up honors with a stylish second round ride that was timed at 11.036 seconds. The ,first round of the BOOcc class saw only four riders complete their climbs. Gary Miller, whose first attempt ended at the 375-foot marker, executed his second attempt with precision and speed. His Harley-Davidson took a straight line up the hill, stopping the clocks at 10.369, which was good for third on the day. Lou Gerencer Jr., who also failed to complete his first attempt, turned in a 10.004 second climb on his second attempt and that earned him runner-up honors in the 800cc division. Reiser started his day with a first round ride that ended at the 390-foot mark after a hard landing off the 265-foot jump. Reiser's second run up the hill could not have been any straighter and at a time of 9.81 seconds it turned out to be a winner. 01 Results 54(), 1. Paul PinsonnaUJ' (Han); 2. Mid1ae1 Debus!< (BSA); 3. Scott Everett (Tri); 4. Paul Garrety (BSA); 5. Ralph Kreger (Tri); 6. Roger McNeely (Yam); 7. Steve Dresser (Suz); 8. Alan Hoskins (Hon); 9. Ernie Fellin (Hoo); 10. Steven Patrick (Yam); 11. Paul Lowe (!

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