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/143876
(Clockwis·efrom left) Kerry Peterson throttles his mightly Harley. Winner Keith Roessler stands beside his Honda 9 0 0 based climber. One of the exotic speedwayengined bikes keeps its alcohol cool. Utah resident Mel Kimball Jr. placed in two classes. Roessler, Peterson reach new heights at DeAnza BC By Kit Palmer SUNNYMEAD. CA. SEPT. 4-5 The promise of $25,000 in .p urse and contingencies brought hillclimbing's biggest guns to DeAnza Cycle Park to take aim at a hill designed to- be unclimbable. Keith Roessler was the only rider to crest the hill, aided by 970cc of overbored Honda 900 to make the climb, although, Kerry 18 Peterson took home the lion 's share of the weekend's purse. Peterson rode three classes on three differen t brands of bikes. The largest purse ever adv ertised for a hillclimb brought out the riders, but the hill and the event drew good comments from the riders. Unfortunately, the event was marred by reports that winners ' checks were being returned unpaid. Also unfortunate was the fact, according to Bob DeRosa , the reports were true. Peterson, who talked to the promoter Bob Glazier of Cher Shell. said, " Ap pa rently, the riders who got to the bank before the promoter did, go t paid. The promoter says that everyone will get their money. and since h e (Glazier) has something to do with next year's Widow maker and Billings hillclirnbs, he will probably payoff . _.o r get hurt on thoseevents." Deanza owner Doug Hall called in a quote, " Everyo ne who received a check with a hold on it was also sent a registered letter. They will receive their money as soon as the promoter gets out of the hospital, where he is undergoing open-heart surgery." Almost as exciting as'watchlligihe' hillclimb itself was taking a gander at some of the highly modified and exotic machinery. Some were simple, backyard specials, while others were expensive, high-powered, two-wheeled tractors. Many handcrafted frames sported huge Harley-Davidson, Triumph and more exotic Jawa and Maley motors, normally seen on speedway bikes. Even a few fourcylinders did their best to conquer th e hill. Other bizarre features found on some of the bikes were: dune-buggy tires, rims without tires, nitro burning motors and three-shock rear suspensions. Probably the most awesome bike at the event was Kerry Peterson's nitro. fed, John Bjorkman wrenched Har- ley. When Peterson first rode the machine. .it had too much horsepower for him to handle. So Peterson had to "de-tune" the big Harley to make it somewhat manageable. On Saturday. Roessler took his Ray Brindos tuned. 970cc Honda to the top of the mountain on his first attempt in the Open Exhibition class. "Momentum is the key," Roessler exclaimed after his ride to the top, "Momentum gets you up the hill. not sheer horsepower." Roessler had in mind the base of the hill when he spoke. The bottom turned into an ocean of axle-deep powder which formed throughout the day. This caused slow runs at the foot of the summit, reducing the much-needed momentum near the top. Deep trenches were formed by rototiller rear-wheels. causing the hill to become quite gnarly. Roessler came out of the starting chute on the gas, all 970cc of it sending a geyser of dirt and dust into the