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A family from Lower Michigan made the 12 Hour trip to South Range worthwhile! The Father and Son’s Professional Motorcycle Hillclimb team from Morley, Michigan, didn’t find Whealkate Bluff as challenging as previous Hillclimbers did.
Chris Blain brought a trailer of Bikes and Bike Parts for his 2 Son’s to take home close to $1000 for 5 hours of thrills and fun at the Wildlife Refuge Cabins – Pat’s Motorsports Motorcycle Hillclimb. This was the 6th year that the Mid America Snow & Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS) Racing Circuit brought the Motorcycle Hillclimb back to South Range. This was an event that drew thousands of fans in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Hillclimbers from all over competed in the Pat’s Motorsports – Wildlife Refuge Cabins Hillclimb in South Range. Here is Caleb Blain from Morley, Michigan, who swept the Havela Finishes Jesse Perry Memorial Class, the M & M Powersports Pro Mod King of the Hill, and broke a MASTERS Motorcycle Hill Record by setting a time of 10.14 seconds.
Caleb Blain not only won the M & M Powersports Pro Mod King of the Hill, but also won the feature Hillclimb of the day, the Havela Finishes Jesse Perry Memorial 450 Class. “I had not run this bike all year until this Hillclimb,” commented Caleb. “Plus I enjoy competing against my younger brother!” Caleb also set a MASTERS Motorcycle Hillclimb Record time of 10.14 seconds. He did this during the Pro Open Mod Qualifying 2nd run of the day.
Crystal Falls Shane Bandola captured the Timberline Sports Pro Stock King of the Hill. Bandola also took his Stock Bike to the Finals in the Jesse Perry Memorial Pro Mod 450 Class.
Repeating as the Timberline Sports Pro Stock King of the Hill was Crystal Fall’s Shane Bandola. Bandola used his ‘Pure Stock’ Motorcycle to make it over the top of the Hill in an amazing 13.62 seconds. “Usually taking a 4th in any class is not something to write about, that is unless it is Shane (Bandola) not only competing in the Jesse Perry Memorial Class, which is for Pro Modified Bikes, but qualifying for the Final…in a totally stock Bike,” exclaimed MASTERS Official, Joe Provost.
Bandola held off 14 year old Kyran Blain and Marquette’s Alex Carter to win the Pro Stock King of the Hill for the 2nd time. “I enjoy this Hillclimb. I’ll be back. I knew it was going to be a challenge in the Jesse Perry Memorial, but I was confident I could make the cut,” explained the talented Moto Cross Racer.
Kyran Blain took a second place to his older brother in Pro Mod King of the Hill, a second place to Bandola in Pro Stock King of the Hill, a second place in the Jesse Perry Memorial Class, and another 2nd Place in the Diamond House International Junior King of the Hill.
Braedyn Kirtland of Mass City turned in one of the fastest runs in the MASTERS Junior II Class, 12.87 seconds. Kirtland went on to win the Diamond House International Junior II King of the Hill.
It was Mass City’s Braedyn Kirtland that won the Junior King of the Hill with the fastest time ever set by a Junior II Racer under the sanctioning of the MASTERS. The soft spoken son of the MASTER’s previous # 1 Motorcycle Hillclimber, and MASTERS Hall of Fame’s Mike Kirtland, ran an amazing 12.71 second run.
Lake Linden’s Jamie Moilanen repeated as the 906 & Company Queen of the Hill. She took her Forcia Racing Motorcycle up 123 yards.
Lake Linden’s Jamie Moilanen set the high mark and won the 906 & Company Queen of the Hill. Moilanen is pictured with Leif Forcia and the Forcia Racing Bike.
While this year’s Hillclimb was a change from the past where very few made it over ‘the Wall’ at the top of Whealkate, a majority of the competitors set a time. “The Riders are getting better. They know how to set the Bikes up, plus they stayed in the groove,” commented last year’s Jesse Perry Memorial Winner, Brad Havela of Ishpeming.
Austin Rivard from Marquette County won the Moyle Construction Crash of the Day. An award the Pat’s Motorsports – Wildlife Refuge Cabins Hillclimbers do NOT want to win!
That didn’t mean the fans were not treated to the coveted Moyle Construction ‘Crash of the Day,’ which was won by Alex Rivard of Gwinn. All those that won in the Keweenaw Motorsports Pro Stock Division made it over the top. In the previous 5 years only 3 Stock Hillclimbers in all the runs made it over the top.
“Due to the Courtesy and commitment to helping the community of South Range, the landowner gave his permission to continue the MASTERS – Pat’s Motorsports – Wildlife Refuge Cabins Motorcycle Hillclimb. We will run this the 3rd Saturday in July,” explained Provost. “Right now we will turn our (MASTERS) attention to the Snowmobile Hillclimbs at Whealkate the 1st and 4th Weekend in February.”
Last winter every single MASTERS Hillclimb and Terra-X events were cancelled, due to lack of Snow.
Wildlife Refuge Cabins – Pat’s Motorsports Motorcycle Hillclimb 2024
July 20, 2024 Whealkate Bluff, South Range, MI
Havela Finishes Jesse Perry Memorial 450 Mod Feature: 1) Caleb Blain, Honda, Morley, 10.60l 2) Kyron Blain, Honda, Morley, 10.92; 3) Braedyn Kirtland, Yamaha, Mass City, 11.93; 4) Shane Bandola, Honda, Crystal Falls, 13.72; 5) Chris Blain, Honda, Morley, 17.16.
Timberline Sports Stock King of Hill: 1) Shane Bandola, Honda, Crystal Falls, 13.62; 2) Kyran Blain, Honda, Morley, 15.96; 3) Alex Carter, Husqvarna, Neganee, 199 yards.
M & M Powersports Mod King of Hill: 2) Caleb Blain, KTM, Morley, 10.19; 2) Caleb Blain, 10.73 ; 3) Kyran Blain, Honda, Morley, 10.78.
Diamond House International Junior II King of Hill: 1) Braedyn Kirtland, Yamaha, Mass City, 12.71; 2) Kyran Blain, Honda, Morley, MI., 12.72; 3) Gabe Kirtland, Yamaha, Mass City, (High Mark) HM.
906 & Company Queen of Hill: 1) Jamie Moilanen, Forcia Racing Special, Lake Linden, 123 Yards.
Diamond House International FASTEST Time of Day: Caleb Blain, KTM, Morley, 2nd Run in Open Mod Qualifying, 10.14 (Hill Record).
Keweenaw Motorsports Pro Stock Division Qualifying (Top 2/Class Qualified)
Carpet Specialists Pro Stock I: 1) Kyran Blain, 15.01 (2nd Run); 2) Jack Goldsworthy, Honda, Ishpeming, 16.22 (1st Run).
Willies Tire Center Pro Stock II: 1) Carter, 14.16 (1st Run); 2) Braedyn Kirtland, 183 yards (1st Run).
Pat’s Motorsports Pro Stock Open: 1) Bandola, 13:04 (1st Run); 2) Braedyn Kirtland, 16.33 (2nd Run).
Moyle Construction Pro Mod Division Qualifying (Top 2/Class Qualified)
Wildlife Refuge Cabins Pro Mod I: 1) Brad Havela, Kawasaki, Ishpeming, 14.41 (2nd Run); 2) Mike Kirtland, Yamaha, Mass City, 14.91 (2nd Run).
Rockin Eagle Pro Mod II: 1) Mike Kirtland, Yamaha, Mass City, 13.75 (2nd Run); 2) Brad Havela, Kawasaki, 13.82 (2nd Run).
Eagle Country Pro Mod III: 1) Caleb Blain, 10.59 (2nd Run); 2) Kyran Blain 12.44 (1st Run).
Q-107 Pro Open Mod: 1) Caleb Blain, 10.14 (2nd Run); 2) Kyran Blain, 10.55 (1st Run).
Eagle Radio Junior Division Qualifying (Top 2 Qualified)
Marquette Rockin Eagle Junior II: 1) Braedyn Kirtland,Yamaha,12.87 (2nd Run); 2) Kyran Blain, Honda, Morley, 13.70 (2nd Run).
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The Pat’s Motorsports – Wildlife Refuge Cabins Motorcycle Hillclimb at Whealkate Bluff in South Range will be this Saturday, July 20th . Once again Ontonagon County’s Mike Kirtland will be defending his M & M Powersports Pro Modified King of the Hill Crown. Kirtland’s son, Gabe, will look to defend the Timberline Sports Junior King of the Hill.
Since the Mid America Snow and Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS) brought the popular Hillclimb back, Copper County Hillclimbers have won numerous classes. It was Rockland’s Brian Pence that took the Moyle Construction Pro Stock King of the Hill. Pence joins Mike Kirtland in winning multiple classes and being two of the very few riders to actually make it over the top of the steep Whealkate Bluff.
“It is always less than 5 runs up the hill each year where the Hillclimbers actually set a time,” commented Kristy Junak, MASTERS Official. “Sometimes a rider will get all the way to the top, but the ‘Wall’ at the top prevents them from getting through the timing chute. This Hill is very challenging, which creates excitement for both the riders and the fans.”
In addition to the ‘Wall’ at the top, the hill becomes rough as the day progresses. “That’s what makes this Hillclimb fun,” exclaimed (Mike) Kirtland. Kirtland is the #1 Motorcycle Hillclimber in the MASTERS and has taken King of the Hill honors for 4 straight years. One would have to go back to the 1st Motorcycle Hillclimb that the MASTERS sanctioned to find someone else that has taken the Pro Mod King of the Hill. That was Houghton’s Mike Chopp.
What eluded Kirtland last year was the coveted Jesse Perry Memorial 450 Class. That was won by Ishpeming’s Brad Havela of Chain Gang Racing. Havela’s biggest challenge came from his brother, Gage and Kirtland. Taking a 3rd last year was Colin Kemppninen. Kemppninen captured the Keweenaw Motorsports Crash of the Day last year. He thrilled the fans with this crash in this class. This is the Hillclimb’s ‘Cash’ and featured class. Jesse Perry lost his life right after the 2022 Hillclimb in a non- motorcycle tragedy.
Iron River’s Shane Bandola was unable to compete last year, however this past Pro Stock King of the Hill look’s to return this year. The Copper Country’s Forcia Racing had the Queen of the Hill, Jamie Moilanen, and the longest running MASTERS Racing Circuit competitor, Leif Forcia that looks to return. Leif Forcia started racing with the MASTERS since the Circuit began in the Mid-1990’s.
The Chain Gang Racing team focuses on this Hillclimb each summer. “We will give Mike (Kirtland) a run for the King of the Hill this Saturday. Mark my words,” commented Brad Havela. In addition to bringing a very competitive team, Chain Gang Racing joins with the Kirtland family in helping with Timing and Distance Officials.
Registration runs on Friday Afternoon from 3 to 8 pm (ET), with final registration being Saturday Morning from 8 to 10:00 am (ET). Competition to start at 11:00 am, with the fan gates opening at 10:00 am. Fan entrance is $10.00, Parking is $5.00.
“It’s difficult to tell the future, but due to health reason’s this may be the final year of the Motorcycle Hillclimb. The MASTERS will focus on Snowmobile/Snow Bike Hillclimbs, along with Terra-X Snowmobile Racing,” concluded Sandy Schulz. “A lot will come down to fan and racer attendance, and as I said, the health of my husband.” The MASTERS hopes that fans and racers will make it to this Saturday’s Pat’s Motorsports-Wildlife Refuge Cabins Motorcycle Hillclimb, a presentation of Diamond House International, Moyle Construction, and Eagle Radio.
The MASTERS hopes that fans and racers will make it to this Saturday’s Pat’s Motorsports-Wildlife Refuge Cabins Motorcycle Hillclimb, a presentation of Diamond House International, Moyle Construction, and Eagle Radio.
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The winter of 2023-24 will go down as the winter that never happened. The snow and temperature numbers of this winter that is a good reason to buy the Winter Numbers list compiled by the Gazette.
With the cancellation of this weekend’s Wildlife Refuge Cabins – Pat’s Motorsports Mid America Championship Hillclimb in South Range, the MASTERS will go back to those that qualified last winter to go to the World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb. The World Championships take place in Jackson, Wyoming, at Snow King Mountain.
Whealkate | Tyler Robinson
This includes MTU Alumnus Jordan Stank, and his Father, Layne. Jordan is from the Milwaukee area, while Layne is from Menomonee, Michigan. Joining the Stank’s will be the Father-Daughter combination from South Central Wisconsin, Jesse and Kenzie Pokyszk.
The talented teen-ager, Kenzie, actually qualified through the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association. She started competing at Hillclimbs through the MASTERS. “We just love racing and want to see the series (MASTERS) grow. We are planning to be involved for years to come,” explained Jesse Pokyszk. “You guys (MASTERS) do a great job of putting everything together.”
Also representing the MASTERS at the World Championship will be Luke Maher of Hastings, Minnesota. Last year Maher qualified through the MASTERS and another Circuit.
Hubbell’s Jimmy Marietta, Jr., along with Ontonagon’s Dave Dishaw, qualified but decided not to go. Steven Voelker of Laurium qualified and was very competitive in the Junior Class last year. He also will not be making the long trek to Wyoming. As with Minnesota’s Destiny Welch, who recently had a baby.
WINTERNATIONALS 2022 Jimmy and Jemma Winners Circle
The only two MASTERS Hillclimbers that have ever advanced to the Championship Round at the World Championship is Jordan Stank, and the Pat’s Motorsports Tyler Robinson. Robinson will be focusing on his family this year.
“My Dad and I agreed with all the others in having to cancel the Hillclimb in South Range this weekend. As Neil (Marietta) said, it simply is not safe for the racers, officials, and fans. Plus, we don’t want to damage our FXR/Diamond House International Racing, Cozzy’s Polaris sleds before the WC (World Championship),” commented Jordan Stank.
The lack of snow this winter has taken its toll on numerous businesses. Along with Neil Marietta’s suggestion to cancel the Hillclimb and all of the final events for the MASTERS this winter, he stated, “This winter has really hurt EVERYONE in the Keweenaw. I heard it has had an economic impact into the Millions of Dollars.”
MASTERS Hall of Fame member and major sponsor for years, Kip McIntyre of Pat’s Motorsports echoed Marietta’s comments. “This Winter has been tough on us and a lot of people!”
The MASTERS has cancelled the March 2nd Bobcat of Greenland – North Country Snowmobile Club Terra-X/V5 Enduro. That was to take place in Ontonagon. Club President, Mike Olsen stated, “We would not be able to have enough snow to make the jumps and the track. Besides, I decided to get some work driving a Sno-Cat in Alaska.
If you are looking for good snow, you may have to join Olsen and go to Alaska.
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The popular Snowmobile and Snow Bike Hillclimb that was scheduled for this coming Weekend is another casualty to the low snow winter the area has been under. Not only does the hill already showing signs of ‘dirt,’ the forecast is not conducive to a major snow storm.
One of the Pat’s Motorsports Professional Snowmobile Hillclimbers Tyler Robinson will now focus on the Feb 24th-25th Snowmobile Hillclimbs in South Range, with the cancellation of the Feb 3-4th Hillclimb, that was cancelled due to lack of snow.
“After talking to 2 of our past King of the Hill Professional Hillclimbers, Jimmy Marietta and Jordan Stank, the MASTERS had no choice but to cancel this weekend’s Pat’s Motorsports-Wildlife Refuge Cabins Hillclimb,” commented Sandy Schulz of the MASTERS. “When you have 2 of the most ‘hard-core, die-hard Hillclimbers, say they prefer not to compete without snow, we had no choice.
The MASTERS, which stands for Mid America Snow & Terrain Expert Racers, first concern is racer, officials, and fan safety. With little to no snow, it would be difficult for the hillclimbers to control their sleds around the gates. “We would have had to run straight up the hill, and turn the hillclimb into a drag race. Other snowmobile race circuits may do drag races up a hill and call them ‘hillclimbs,’ the MASTERS will not do that,” explained Jordan Stank.
Stank is one of only 2 MASTERS Racers that have advanced to the Finals at the World Championship Hillclimb in Jackson, Wyoming. “My father (Layne), Mike (Fraki), Wyatt (McIntyre) and others worked hard this past summer to widen the hill. This will give us more room to make a very challenging course. That is what we will now focus on for the February 24th and 25th Hillclimb,” Stank states.
Marietta was also concerned about racers doing a lot of damage to their sleds on Whealkate Bluff with little snow. “One has to remember, not everyone has a lot of money to repair a sled that may not make the hill and end up rolling on dirt. Once that happens to many riders, you can rest assured they will not be coming back to compete on February 24th.”
The February 24th and 25th MASTERS Hillclimb will be the Pat’s Motorsports – Wildlife Refuge Cabins Mid America Championships. It will be at that Hillclimb that the MASTERS will qualify riders for the World Championship. “I’m confident that by the end of February South Range will get dumped on with snow. They better get dumped on!” Marietta has won more money through the MASTERS than anyone else in the 30+ years the staff and/or Circuit has been running Snowmobile Hillclimbs.
Ontonagon’s Addison Dishaw was looking to retain her Kids King of the Hill title at the Feb 3-4 Hillclimb/Terra-X in South Range, however that MASTERS event was cancelled. She will be competing at the North Country Snowmobile Club Terra-X in Ontonagon, on Feb 17th.
The MASTERS originally had a Terra-X & V5 Enduro scheduled for January 13th in Ontonagon. That race has been rescheduled for Feb 17th. That is the North Country Snowmobile Club race behind their Clubhouse. The club will also host a Terra-X & V5 Enduro on March 2nd.
“I live outside of Milwaukee, and I know a lot of fans that come from all over to the Hillclimbs. This includes a lot of racers from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Having my Dad and I being with the MASTERS for over a Decade, we have seen how the MASTERS brings a lot of people and dollars to an area. Just too bad what this winters has done to the Copper Country’s economy,” concludes Stank.
Stank is a Michigan Tech Mechanical Engineer alumnus. Marietta works for MTU’s Snow Research Department. “We have had cancellations from major Corporations that need snow to do their testing and research! Plus my Dad (Neil) has seen the loss of business at his Keweenaw Motorsports business.”
At the time of this story, the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club was forced to stop grooming on many of their trails this is not the only club that has had to stop grooming in the Copper Country. Many fans and racers that go to the Hllclimb also go snowmobiling. “They wouldn’t be able to go riding on groomed trails, like usual,” concluded Larry Madgewick, MASTERS Official.
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Wyatt McIntyre flying on Jump Terra X
It was the MASTERS that started a whole new form of racing, called Terra-X. As with all NEW forms of Snowmobile Racing, Terra-X is evolving. The changes for the 2024 Terra-X series is going to make a great new form of racing MORE FUN for the RACER and MORE EXCITING for the Fans.
We will continue to have each driver run by themselves against the clock. It is the time trials that will determine where the racer will be ‘seeded.’ The fastest time will be ‘seeded #1’ and will run a best of 3, 3 lap race, against the lowest ‘seed.’
The racers will run in a bracket style tournament, right up to the Feature 5 lap race in each class.
We will have Trophy/Award Classes for Trail Riders, and we will have Cash Payout Classes in Pro Stock 650, Pro Stock Open, Pro Mod 650 and the FEATURE CLASS, TOP DOG (Pro Mod Open).
Wyatt Nathan Larry Trish V-5 Enduro top 3 2023
We will even have a Beat your Buddy where friends can sign up to race against each other! However, due to Insurance Rules, ALL Snowmobiles must have an operating Tether, and the Racers are required to have Helmet, Eye Protection, and Upper Body Protection.
What actually is Terra-X? Think of it as what NASCAR calls a ‘Roval.’ The ¾- to 1 mile course has jumps, moguls, right and left hand turns, and a sweeping turn that runs into a ‘straight stretch.’ In other words we combine Snow Cross with Cross Country with an old fashioned Snow Oval…all into one course.
It truly is a BLAST. It is A LOT OF FUN. Only 2 sleds on the course at a time. Give it a try, and see for yourself!
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