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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127845
HILLCLIMB AMA NAnONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HILLCUMB SERIES 3: Bushkill Valley MC (Left) Greg Williams won the Bushkill Valley Me National Hlllclimb In Pennsylvania. (Below) Paul Plnsonnault (left) won the 540Cc class and Williams (right) the 800cc class. By Robin Wiseman and Jay A. Herndon Photos by S.L. Photo FREEMANSBURG, PA, JUNE 8 anadian Greg Williams brought out the "heavy artillery" - his father's championship-winning, 1973-based Honda - and assaulted the hill to win the 800cc class at the AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series round held at the Bushkill Valley Motorcycle Club. Paul Pinsonnault's first-round ride in the 540cc class proved victorious, but his elected second ride proved even faster, re-emphasizing his current Ptampionship status. The third stop on the AMA National Hillclimb circuit proved, as usual, that the 480-foot hill is one of the toughest stops on the schedule. Located near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the hill boasts three major jumps: first a small kicker at 75 feet off the starting log, with the first jump at the lSD-foot marker; the second jump at the 275-foot marker; and the last jump at the 41D-foot marker. The hill finishes off at a steep 71-degree angle. The wooded hill chokes the narrow course, elimina ting boundary lines - if you're out of bounds, you're in the trees. 540cc 38 Under sunny skies, and with a crowd of 3200 spectators on hand, Ralph Kreeger started the action, after drawing the first ride in the 540cc class. Kreeger got the event started with an ~xit from the center of the starting log. Once onto the face of the hill, Kreeger stayed straight as he jumped each obstacle, wringing his stretched Triumph for all it had. Kreeger went through the timing lights with a crowd-pleasing 10.6967- second run, even though his chain broke near the top. Kreeger's second run proved faster, with a straight run up the hill th~t saw him clock in at 10.4036 seconds, which earned him 12th overall. Paul Pinsonnault got off the starting log fighting a wheelie as he approached the first jump. He utilized body language to stay on the center line to the light, clicking off a time of 8.9189 seconds. Pinsonnault immediately jumped onto the bubble and stayed there for the duration of the day. He elected to ride again in round two, and he put together an even better climb. Straight as an arrow, Pinsonnault showed his championship style, as he managed to keep the Honda from wheelying too hard while motoring over the top of the hill. Beating his own time, Pinsonnault logged a 8.8127 to take his first win of the 1997 season. "I just wanted to make sure the bike was okay," Pinsonnault said. '1've been dealing with some funny gremlins the past couple of hillclimbs." David Watson jumped onto the hill on his stretched Honda while negotiating the first jump. Staying close to the center line, and being careful not to step off the narrow path, Watson continued to build up speed and distance off of each jump as he progressed up the 480foot course. He capped off the run with a respectful 9.4443. • Watson's return to the hill proved faster, even with a bobble at the bottom just prior to the first jump. Underway, Watson buckled down - as if to look for a more efficient riding position - as the climb came together for him. Getting a bounce off the second kicker, Watson lost step with his right leg, letting.it dangle off the footpeg while motoring to and past the third jump. Improving his time with a 9.4035, Watson was fast enough to finish second behind Pinsonnault. "My dad's been working on the bike real hard for about a month now, and we finally got it halfway straightened out," Watson said. "I just tried to pull the best run I could through there, and it worked out pretty good." Canadian Ted Wilkins rolled his snowmobile-based Rotax hillclimber sporting an inverted motor and an even lighter frame than the previous years' setup - into the starting box. Screaming out of the box, Wilkins held on as the wheelie-plagued ride went to the right side of the course. He fought one more wheelie at the lights, bringing the crowd to its feel. Referee Harold White announced the 10.2975 time. Wilkins returned in round two, making the Rotax scream even louder. Wilkins used body language to stay straight on the grooved path' launching 20 to 30 feet up the face of the hill off of each jump. He managed to keep the throttle open as he drifted far left coming off the third jump. Staying out of the trees, Wilkins squeezed the clock for a 9.5420-second run, which was fast enough for a third-place finish. "I had to do something to my bike," Wilkms said. "It was looking old and ta tty, so 1 took the hacksa w to it and chopped a whole bunch of excess parts off. Now it's much lighter and slimmer, and has a lot more ground clearance. Once I learn how to ride it, I'll be okay." 800cc Greg Williams got the 800cc class started as he brought his 1973-based Honda to the starting box. Once the IDfoot-long nitro-burner came to life, Williams boarded and exited quickly only to get a kick-out to the right. He quickly recovered and flew over the first jump, casing the bike off the landing. Williams responded with more throttle and more air time off the next jumps. Getting a good 3D-foot leap off the last