Hillclimb

HILLCLIMB

COMPETITION GUIDE

The point of hillclimbing is to ride a motorcycle up a long dirt hill that frequently resembles a sheer cliff. The machines built for hillclimbing in professional classes look like no other type of motorcycle, with incredibly long wheelbases, rear tires fitted with chains (much like car snow chains) that have steel paddles welded to them, often burning nitro and alcohol.

Local hillclimb clubs have classes for everything, but the AMA-sanctioned national hillclimb championship features three classes: 500cc, 750cc and Unlimited. The 500cc and 750cc class machines can run nitro, alcohol or any other fuel, while Unlimited class machines are restricted to gasoline in AMA events.

About 11-13 events makes up the AMA championship series. Hillclimbs are won by taking the shortest amount of time to reach the top of the hill, or, if the hill is unclimbable, by getting the farthest up the slope.

In Western states, non-affiliated clubs often feature Exhibition classes. At the world's biggest hillclimb, the Bee's Motorcycle Club's Widowmaker, the Open Exhibition class is run under anything goes rules.

To give an example of the form an Exhibition racer might take, consider Roger Reed's mount: a 1400cc Sputhe Engineering Harley-Davidson Sportster burning alcohol and nitro. Reed's bike has a 72-in. wheelbase, weighs 330 lb., and runs chains and steel paddles on the rear tire. If Reed's engine were fitted in a Bonneville bike, it would probably top 200 mph. Stuffed into his hillclimber, Reed's engine makes noises and throws roost like the spectacle Exhibition hillclimbing was meant to be.