Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127752
HILLCLIMB' . AMA National Championship HillcUmbSeries By Jay Herndon It) 0'\ 0'\ "'""" ..n N I-< IV E u o 32 OREGONIA, OH, OCT. 8 n front of a record crowd of 8173, , Steve Dresser and Paul Pinsonnaul t dotted their "i's" and crossed their "t's" on the National Championship Hillclimb Series by posting champiortship-clinching class wins on the infamous Devil's Staircase hill in Oregonia, Ohio. In 'the 800cc class, D.resser and· defending champ Lou Gerencer Jr. went into the final round with the title on the line, but when all was said and done, Harley-Davidson-mounted Dresser had beaten Gerencer by a full second to record his first National Hillclimb Championship. The 25-year-old Dresser, who hails from Arkport, New York, won just two hillclirnbs aU year compared to Gerencer's six, but Dresser's .consistency was the key to his success. In the 13-round series, Dresser finished among the top three in aU but one round. At th.at round he finished filth. In Ohio, Canadian Wade Williams finished second, followed by Rodney Williams and Gerencer. Pinsonnault, of Ludlow, Massachusetts, wrapped up the series championship with his third straight title in the 540cc class. The 39-year-old rider edged out series rival Richard Soter by a tenth of a second for the overall win, w hiIe Ted Wilkins finished third. A $20,433 purse was also on .the line in Ohio with Dresser and Pinsonnault taking home the lion's share of the pot at what was the 47th rurming of the Devil's Staircase hillclimb. The Dayton Motorcycle Club-hosted event got underway with Alan Hoskins . making the first blast up the hill, stopping the clocks with a pace-setting 9.003-second run . But it was Pinsorrnault who was the king of the hill. His first attempt saw him stop the clocks with a 8.396, then he came out for his second run and topped that with an 8.213-second run. His second time would stand for the day, resulting in his capturing his fourth hillclimb national win and third consecutive championship. "This year was really tough because Rick (Soter) put a lot of pressure on me all the way," said Pinsonnault. Soter struggled on the day, his best time coming on his second run with an 8.330, which came after a mediocre 8.875. His much-improved second shot up the hill rewarded him with second place on the day, something he had previously done three times during the course of the season. Soter would finish out the year just seven points behind Pinsonnault, in second. Wilkins clocked an 8.579 and an 8.332 for the day, his second run good enough to nab third, just ahead of Rookie of the Year David Watson. The title chase in the 800cc class came down to the wire between Dresser and Gerencer Jr. Dresser put his Pro USA Team's Harley to the Devil's Staircase twice. The timing lights mal{unctioned for his first, fast and flawless ride, forcing the New Yorker to ride again. Dresser's consistency showed as he rode the same groove to the top in a center-line ride to clock an impressive 7.559. His time would stand all day. Final round: Devil's Staircase Da "I got to the top and they didn't get the time on that (first ride)," said Dresser. "I was kind of angry, swore a little bit, and my second ride I think I turned a 7:55 and that held for the day. I didn't think it was gonna. I thought someone would go faster, but I managed to better Lou (Gerencer Jr.)." Gerencer couldn't break into the seven-second mark, his best time being an 8.001. That time would be good enough.for fourth. Runner-up honors went to Wade Williams, who blasted his four-cylinder Honda up the hill with a 7.961, followed by a slower 8.903. Relying on his quicker first run, Williams would finish just ahead of the 7.964 turned in by Rodney Williams. a Dayton Motorcycle Club Oregonia, Ohio Results: October 8, 1995 ~40: 1. Paul Pinsonnault (Hon); 2. Richard Soter (BSA); 3. Ted Wilkins (Rtx); 4. James Zucco (Kaw); 5. Scott McNeeJy (Hon); 6. Paul Lowe (Kaw); 7. 'terry Thompson (BSA); 8. Alan Hoskins (Hon); 9. David Watson (Hon); 10. Kevin Zucco (Kaw); 11. William Price (Yam); 12. Robert Shreiner (BSA); 13. Aa-ron Brown (Hon); ]4. Michael Pulver (Hon); 15. Michael DeBusk (BSA); 16. Walter Herrick (Suz); 17. Jeff Thomas (K.w); 18. Tommy Wells (KTM); 19. P.ul Garrety (Kaw); 20. Scott Kiofirna (Hon); 21. Doug Klont (Tri); 22. Tason Petty (Kaw); 23. Curt Snelling (Yam); 24. John Hislop (BSA); 25. Randy Dillon (Hon). 800: 1. Steve Dresser (H~n); 2. Wade Williams (Hon); 3. Rod Williams (H-D); 4. Lou Gerencer Jr. (H-D); 5. Jimmy Dingee (H-D); 6. Tom Reiser (H-D); 7. Greg Williams (Han); 8. Mickey Dent (H-D); 9. Rodney Smith (Yarn); 10. Wallace Fowler (Suz); 11. Russell Vanderveen (H-D); 12. Robert Castledine (H~D); 13. Thomas Zink (Tri); 14. Glend.1 Petty Jr. (H-D); IS. Randy Gabriel (H-D). 540« NATIONAL HILLCLIMB C'SHlP SERIES FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Paul Pinsonnault (178/4 wins); 2. Richard Soter ill (168/4); 3. Ted Wilkins (135/3); 4. D.vid Watson (128/1); 5. Paul Lowe (117/1); 6. Scott McNeely (1l6); 7. Mich.e) Pulver (87); 8. Terry Thompson (81); 9. William Price (76); 10. Michael DeBusk (66); 11. Kevin Zucco (63); 12. Alan Hoskins (55); 13. J.son Petty (45); 14. Robert Shreiner (42); IS. James Zucco (41); 16. Ralph Kreeger (34); 17. Aaron Brown (29); J8. Paul Garrety (27); 19. Doug Klont (16); 20. John Hislop (15). 800« NATIONAL HILLCLIMB C'SHIP SERIES FINAL POINT STANDINGS, I. Steve Dresser (178/2 wins); 2. Lou Gerencer Jr. (168/6); 3. Rod Williams (138); 4. Jimmy Dingee (134/1);·S. Tom Reiser (128/1); 6. Randy Gabriel (99); 1. ·Wallace Fowler (98); 8. Robert CasHedine (97); 9. Glend.! Petty Jr. (9S/1); 10. Rodney Smith (89); 11. Greg Williams (77/1): 12. Harry Schreiber (51/1); 13. Russell Vanderveen (33); 14. Mickey Dent (26); 15. Roger McNeely (25): 16. Tim Frazier (22); 17. Wade Williams (14); 18. Richard Carlson (6); 19. Thomas Zink (3). (Above) The spoils of victory: Steve Dresser (right) and Paul Plnsonnault have their hands full after winning the day'S event and the series championships. (Left) Dresser launches off one of the hill's three "kickers" en route to his first 800cc-elass championship. (Below) Plnsonnault WlUI unbeamble In the 540cc class. His CR5QO.powered Honda hlllclimber carried Plnsonnault to his third consecutive class title.