Hillclimb Series Opens in California
Kit Palmer | April 10, 2006
The following is a release from NAHA:
This weekend marked the opening round for the 2006 Racer X/Suzuki NAHA Hillclimb Series. More than 10,000 spectators showed up in Tracy, California, to watch hundreds of pro and amateur racers battle for king of the hill honors and a portion of the $30,000 prize money. This climb was also the field’s first chance to see what they are up against this year and, with the onslaught of exotic fuels and racing engines, the roar emanating from the Manteca Trailer and Motorhome Championship Hill was frightfully impressive.
A mere 3.3 seconds was the difference between taking home the win and coming in 10th place. Travis Whitlock, Dusty Beer, Jason Smith and Jeff Thomas slugged it out for top honors in both the 0-700cc and Open classes. Whitlock brought the crowd to its feet with his 15.616 run in the Open Exhibition class run, only to be bested by the up-and-coming Smith’s blazing 15.024-second run minutes later. In the end Whitlock took home the win in the 700cc class with Beer and Smith trailing in second and third, respectively.This weekend marked the opening round for the 2006 Racer X/Suzuki NAHA Hillclimb Series. More than 10,000 spectators showed up in Tracy, California, to watch hundreds of pro and amateur racers battle for king of the hill honors and a portion of the $30,000 prize money. This climb was also the field’s first chance to see what they are up against this year and, with the onslaught of exotic fuels and racing engines, the roar emanating from the Manteca Trailer and Motorhome Championship Hill was frightfully impressive.
A mere 3.3 seconds was the difference between taking home the win and coming in 10th place. Travis Whitlock, Dusty Beer, Jason Smith and Jeff Thomas slugged it out for top honors in both the 0-700cc and Open classes. Whitlock brought the crowd to its feet with his 15.616 run in the Open Exhibition class run, only to be bested by the up-and-coming Smith’s blazing 15.024-second run minutes later. In the end Whitlock took home the win in the 700cc class with Beer and Smith trailing in second and third, respectively.
Smith took top honors in the wild Open Exhibition class with Whitlock and Thomas rounding out the podium.
Smith (left) took top honors in the wild Open Exhibition class with Whitlock and Thomas rounding out the podium.
Kit Palmer | Off-Road Editor
Kit Palmer started his career at Cycle News in 1984 and he’s been testing dirt and streetbikes every since – plus covering any event that uses some form of a knobby tire. He’s also our resident motorcycle mileage man with a commute of 120 miles a day.
