1964 Class A Hill Climbing - 1-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1964 Class A Hill Climbing - 1-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
Class a hill climbers are a special
breed of cat. The small union of
devoted “slant-slammers” go their quiet
way, riding a dozen Sundays through the
season at odd-named hamlets like: Penin-
sula (Akron. Ohio), Paw-Paw (near
Cumberland. West Virginia); Oregonia
(Dayton. Ohio), mounted on special
alcohol-burning machines that are in some
cases older than their riders.
Large crowds flock to watch Class A
climbers. “Spectator sport,” growl those
who prefer flat-track, scrambles or en-
duros. but the continued support of the
hillclimb fans is what keeps the old-
fashioned sport alive. And now, with
sportsman hillclimbers wanting cash in-
stead of cups, the ranks of the profes-
sionals are growing steadily. Fortunately
the newcomers are bringing in some mod-
ern machinery, hotter and handier in most
respects than the old Indians and Harleys
that have been handed down in the father-
to-son business of professional climbing.
The 310-foot slant at Muskegon, Michi-
gan. is Mecca to the hillclimbing fraternity.
A sand hill, graced by some forgotten
publicity man as “Mount Garfield”, it is
practically the life-work of a fine, old
retired Harley-Davidson dealer, Dan Ray-
mond. who has nurtured his baby for al-
most 40 years. He sees that the sands
remain inviolate except for the one Na-
tional which almost always goes to the
Muskegon Motorcycle Club.
This year Muskegon got coverage by
NBC’s Sports Special, and it was a clever
bit of engineering getting the truckloads
of huge cameras and special equipment
up the hill for the half-hour show. Bud
Palmer, basketball ace turned TV an-
nouncer. arrived two days before the
meet and worked hard in the summer
heat to acquaint himself with the facts
of the hillclimbing business.
This year's National started with a
bang! Joe Hemmis zoomed his Triumph up
the grade with a 7.57 second dash. The
meet then dragged on while the other 16
experts tried to beat his time. Finally,
Kenny Hatton, a Canadian welder on a
650cc BSA, beat Joe by 1/100th of a
second on his third and last attempt.
Joe had to come out of worried retirement
to lower Hatton’s mark. On his second
swipe at Mount Garfield. Joe looped at
the 200 foot mark. Back to the pits and
a quick patching to a twisted fender
and he was ready for his' third and last
try.
The crowd was quiet as Joe’s dad
warmed up the nitro-burning Triumph
bomb, and Kenny Hatton had his fingers
crossed on the sidelines. Joe rubbed a
handful of dirt, glared at the hill, and
took off like a jet — straight as an arrow
— hitting the top tape and looping to a
stop!
“We have a new national Champion,
7.45 seconds", shouted announcer Crim
Strickler, and the show ended with tre-
mendous applause and much blowing of
• car horns. •
Joe Hemmis shakes the camera as he blasts off for the record. Amateurs can ride up
to 30" overheads or 45" flatheads. Experts are limited to 45" OHV or 74" sidevalve.
Old bike, young rider. Parts of Gordie Mitzel’s old Indian '74 are older than he is!
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