Bay City hosts first hillclimb motorcycle event in 20 years

• Hillclimb rider

A hider heads up the hill outside Bay City in the first hillcllimb event in 20 years.

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BAY CITY - After 20 years, hillclimbing returns to Bay City, WI. The event was held Labor Day weekend and it was a big one. A crowd of 1,000 was expected, but more than triple that came. Needless to say, the event has climbers and their followers excited to be competing on their home turf.

“People wanted to open it up again,” said Dean Gerdes of the Valley Springs Motorcycle Club - a new club that was formed to bring back the hillclimb.

Hillclimbers from across the Midwest came to test their skills and luck riding modified motorcycles up the steep hill including North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota.

“It’s a family fun sport,” says Gerdes. “Everyone rides from the mom and dad to the children. There are several local families involved like the Petersons, DeGrosses, O’Neils, Paiders and Cipalas to name a few. The Cipala family has had three generations climb on this hill."

Hillclimbers get two runs per class of bike. Their placing is based on fastest time or farthest distance.

“The adrenaline rush you get from climbing is incredible,” O’Neil said. “And watching your kids compete in the same sport, same event just adds to it.”

The event takes place on County Road EE just outside of Bay City and plans are to host the competition annually.

Motorcycle Hillclimb Results 9/4/11

Micro Mini 1. Bodee O’Neil; 2. Cody Paider, 3. Kaden Funk

65cc: 1. Bodee O’Neil, 2. Braiden Henry, 3. Colton Landwer

Mini Jr:. 1. Casey Paider, 2. Luke Cipala, 3. Colton Exner

Mini Sr:. 1. Jason Laven, 2. Taylor O’Neil, 3. Nathan Prebe

125cc: 1. Nathan Prebe, 2. Jessica Prebe, 3. Logan Peterson

200cc: 1. Dylan Nichols, 2. Reed Lexvold, 3. Jeff Jack

250cc: 1. Carson Curtis, 2. Logan Cipala, 3. Steve Cain

450cc: 1. Jacob Prebe, 2. Zachary DeGross, 3. Bach, Jason

600cc: 1. Marcus Winch, 2. Logan Cipala, 3. Zachary DeGross

750cc: 1. Nick Bronnenberg, 2. Kirk Mueller, 3. Corey Danberry,

Open: 1. Jared Gitter, 2. Curtis Sullivan, 3. Lloyd Haas

4-stroke: 1. Aaron Prebe, 2. Jason Bach, 3. Jared Gitter

Senior: 1. Eric Wheelwright, 2. Lloyd Haas, 3. Mike Wood

Super Senior: 1. Tim Cain, 2. Mark Wood. 3. Brian Kinney

ATV: 1. William Shaw, 2. Rick Prebe, 3. Steve Atherton

Women: 1. Casey Wood, 2. Jessica Prebe, 3. Gabrielle Prebe

400cc Stock: 1. Mitchell Koester, 2. Jacob Prebe, 3. Logan Cipala

Open Stock: 1. Zachary DeGross, 2. Lemar Hines, 3. Paul Hackbarth

Tags: bay city, sports, proam, travel