2005 Big Nasty Hillclimb Proves Nasty (Again!)

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The highly anticipated, 3rd annual, Big Nasty Motorcycle Hillclimb brought an interesting mix of people and machines to Southern Idaho on August 20-21. It also lived up to its name; as only a total of eight riders climbed the biggest, nastiest 460-foot hill over the entire weekend. Dubbed "The Big Nasty," the event was held on a scary steep, (62 degree) hill in an area known as the White Cliffs, three miles north of New Plymouth, Idaho, near Big Willow Creek. Nearly 400 competitors from nine states and Canada, climbed two different hills over the weekend, a 250 foot hill used for trophy riders and pro qualifying and a 460 foot monster which was attacked by the pro and semi-pro riders each day. The Big Nasty is coming on fast and attendance more than doubled from last year, hitting an estimated 12,000-plus spectators for the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday's pros competed for almost $18,000 in cash and for the second year in a row proved that the hill was worthy of its name and could take its place with other famous Western hillclimbs such as the world-famous, "Great American Hillclimb" held in Billings, Montana, and Utah's legendary "Widowmaker." Big Nasty promoters offered something for everyone including a food row, vendor area, kids inflatable play area (The Little Nasty) lawnmower drag racing, street bike poker run and a classy, National Anthem and flag presentation ceremony, courtesy of the Mountain Home Air Force Base Honor Guard. There was even a dirt course set aside for people to “test drive” a Rekluse Automatic Clutch on a series of dirt bikes, and a fund-raising booth for local hero, David Kamo, as he prepares to take on the world at the International 6-Day Enduro. Overnight spectator camping (and leashed dogs) were actually encouraged, which lend a kind of “Woodstock” feel to the weekend.

Saturday featured several big winners, but none of the over-40 year-old pros or 250cc motored semi-pros even came close to topping the big hill. Kelly Smith from Klamath Falls, Oregon made the high mark on the hill on Saturday at 336.5 feet to win the over-40, 0-700 pro class, with Canada’s legendary Kenny “Mad Dog” Long right behind winning the over-40, open pro class at 335.9 feet, but it was clear that it would take a lot more horsepower and speed to get over the top than Smith’s 500 Honda, or even Long’s shrieking 800 Rotax possessed.

While the older pros and semi-pros were throwing themselves at the big hill on Saturday, trophy riders attacked the smaller 250-foot hill. Although short by Western hill standards, it proved to be deceptively tough and only 11 trophy riders fought their way over the top all day, (and those were mostly the older riders in the altered class who were allowed to use highly-modified machines). Of the true, stock motorcycles, none topped the hill, although the high mark was set by Nampa, Idaho’s Nate Aggen who almost got his stock 450 Honda over, finally digging a hole at 206 feet to win the 32-rider field 251-650cc, stock 4-stroke class. By late afternoon on Saturday, the trophy riders moved aside and pro qualifying began on the 250-foot hill. Paul Stoffers from Oakdale, California, rocketed his 1228cc Kawasaki over the top in 5.257 seconds to set the fast time and easily qualify for Sunday’s big show.

Sunday’s show consisted of two classes, the 251-700cc main and the 701cc-open main. The smaller bikes hit the hill first and all seemed to get to the same 340-foot mark and dig a hole or flip over and tumble back down the cliff face. Fortunately, the soft dirt at the bottom of the cliff, and the "catchers" men armed with metal grappling hooks, prevented any serious injuries. Just as it appeared that the hill might remain unclimbed again in 2005, Utah legend Travis Whitlock flew his 550 KTM over in 13.756 seconds. Before the crowd even had time to recover from that, Dave Watson, who drove out to Idaho all the way from Ludlow, MA, exploded over the top in an incredible 12.432 seconds. That was it, however; no other bikes in the class scaled the hill although Dusty Beer almost did. Additional summits would have to wait for the open bikes.

At this point, only one class remained, the Open Exhibition, featuring machines with unlimited motors and up to 220-horsepower. However, the hill was getting really torn up and the bigger (and heavier) machines didn’t fare any better than their smaller displacement cousins. Only Dusty Beer (12.077 seconds) and Harold Waddell (14.416 seconds) took their bikes over the top, and as the hill continued to deteriorate and the lateness of the day settled in, it was decided to score the open class off of one run, a move that most of the riders cheerfully agreed with.

The weekend ended with the King of the Hill Shootout, giving the top five Open bikes one more shot at the hill. Montana’s legendary Dusty Beer never looked back as he pinned his big Kawasaki and stunned the crowd with by far the fastest run of the weekend, a blazing 10.488 second rip that not even Travis Whitlock, Harold Waddell or the Smith Boys could respond to, although to their credit, all but Whitlock did succeed in finally getting over the top.

The organizers wish to extend a hearty "helmets off" to the sponsors, including Miller Light, Monster Energy Drink, Hanigan Chevrolet, Les Schwab Tires, The Double Diamond, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, Boise Motorcycle Salvage, Performance Sports Honda, Ontario Tool and Rental, Fruitland Outdoor Power Products, Grizzly Sports, Moto Tech, The Boise Weekly, Ekard Excavation, Michael’s Idaho Powersports, United Oil, Gail’s Custom Cycles, EZ Mart, Rekluse, Bodily RV, Fly Racing, Channel 6 Television, and Mirage Trailers. A big thank you is also in order for the landowner, Tom Pence, and Rory Clinton of Shore-Line Pest Control, who fought the vicious, Payette County mosquitoes to a standstill for four days at the site. The event could not have happened either without the support of both the New Plymouth City and Payette County officials. For more information call Ron Dillon at (208) 573-4255.