Hillclimb returns to Bay City this Sunday

• Bay City Hillclimb 1970s

As this photo from the 1970s show, the annual hill climb event outside of Bay City was quite popular in its day.

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• Valley Springs Motorcycle Club

BAY CITY – Something old is something new again.

After a 20-year absence the Bay City Hillclimb event will take place again this Sunday starting at 9 a.m. on the hill on CTH. EE just outside of Bay City.

Just like it did for 15 years from 1976-1991.

Back then hillclimbers from across the country came to Bay City and Pierce

County to test their skills and luck riding their modified motorcycles up the steep hill.

Now they’ll do so again come Sunday and it has county hillclimbers excited to be competing on their home turf instead of the nearest hill being in Red Wing.

“People wanted to open it up again,” Dean Gerdes said of the Valley Spring Motorcycle Club said. “A new club, which we never had before, was formed by local hillclimbers and other motorcycle enthusiasts and one of the things they really wanted to do was bring back the hillclimb.”

It was just recently the hill was fenced off and use as part of an elk farm by Dean’s father Larry Gerdes. As hillclimbing lost interest in the early 1990s, Gerdes decided to use the hill for something else. But over the past five years there’s been a hillclimb revival in Pierce County as old riders and their young kids take up the sport.

“It’s a family fun sport” Dean said. “Everyone rides from the mom and dad to the children, brothers and sisters, you name it. You get several families involved like the Cipalas, Paiders or the O’Neils to name a few.”

Corey O’Neil of Hager City climbed the Bay City hill when he was a teen and is very much looking forward to climbing it again alongside his seven-year old son Bodee, who recently won a national hillclimb competition in Ohio in the 50cc class.

“I can’t wait to do it, it’s going to be very exciting,” Corey said. “It’s going to be just like nationals with a lot people there because the hill in Bay City has a reputation of being very tough.”

Actually the hill was in good shape for being out of commission for so long Dean said. Brush had to be cleared along with other growth on the hillside and the pathways for the bikes were reestablished. But there were no trees at the top of the hill, which meant it could be fixed up quickly by Larry Gerdes and Gordon Redmann. Although when it’s over with the grass that’s there will be worn down to dirt.

“What was always nice about the hill was that it was really rough and it evened out the competition,” Dean Gerdes said. “You didn’t need to dollars to win it.”

Hillclimbers get two runs per class of bike and are scored on both timing and distance. The event will cover two competition districts in both Minnesota and Wisconsin which organizers hope will bring a big crowd.

“The adrenaline rush you get from climbing is incredible,” Corey O’Neil said. “It’s great feeling and watching your kids compete in the same sports, same events just adds to it.

Bodee, who currently lead in the points standings in District No. 23 (Minnesota) and is second in District 16 (Wisconsin) also can’t wait to climb the hill either.

“My dad race it and I’m excited to do so too,” Bodee said.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. and also featured will be XGames gold medalist and Ellsworth native Justin Hoyer with a demonstration and a ride-in bike show which will be judged by the public.

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