Last
years Pro Mod King of the Hill, Matt "Tinger" Tingstad
of Bessemer, Michigan will be defending his title again this year.
Tingstad competed at the World Championship's in Jackson last year.
Tinger was the first Pro Mod King of the Hill to win on a 500cc
Snowmobile. "Tinger," a Professional "Freestyle"
rider will be on the Excon Freeride Arctic Cat.
Coming from the home of the Polaris Factory in Roseau, Minnesota
will be another driver that qualified through Copper Peak to compete
at the World Championship's. This is Nick Gustafson. Gustafson will
be on the Polaris Assault RMK. Gustafson will be competing in Pro
Stock 800, Pro Open Stock, Pro Mod 800 and Pro Open Mod.
Advancing to the 2008 King of the Hill competition was DePere, Wisconsin's
Matt Cook. Cook returns on an Arctic Cat. One of the most exciting
drivers to watch every year is Yamaha Driver, Jason Sullivan. Sullivan
comes from Negaunee, Michigan.
Also selected to compete are past hillclimbers, Lane Stank of Menomonee,
Mi; Lance Forcia, Jr. of L'Anse, Mi; Joe Van Kalker of Levering,
Mi; Chuck Robiadek of Cheboygan, Mi; and Mike Stanczak of Ironwood,
Mi.
Representing the State of Illinois will be Chris Theilson. In addition
to Gustafson, Minnesota will be represented by Chuck Effenberger
of New Ulm. Wisconsin driver competing in addition to Cook is 1st
Time Copper Peak competitor Jason Kleinschmidt of Merrill.
The Upper Peninsula will once again have a strong contingent of
competitors. This includes Jeff Anderson of Bessemer; Josh Pearce
and Nick Bracco of Calumet; Dylan Harju, Craig Davis and Jacob Noviscone
of Ironwood; Adam Johnson of Chassell; Josh Coleman of L'Anse; and
Cole Harju of Wakefield.
The most competitive class will be Pro Stock 700, where 14 drivers
will compete. The winner of each class advances to the Pro Stock
or Pro Mod King of the Hill Competition. The Pro Stock King of the
Hill and the Pro Mod King of the Hill each wins $1000 and qualifies
for the World Championship Hillclimb in Jackson, Wyoming. This year
the Jackson, Wyoming Sno Devils has offered an invite to the Pro
Stock and Pro Mod King of the Hill runner-up.
Each
driver runs two different courses around 3 gates located on the
steep bluff of Copper Peak. The 2nd Gate is located on what is
called 'The Wall,' which is the steepest part of the hill. 'The
Wall' has a pitch of 41 degree's.
"This is where most of the drivers have problems," stated
event organizer and President of the MASTERS Circuit, Skip Schulz.
"With the Bessemer area already recording over 7 feet of
snow this year, we're expecting a majority of the class winners
to be decided by the highest mark on the hill," stated Schulz.
Competition will begin at 9:00 am Central Time, with the King
of the Hill "Shootout" scheduled for around 3:00 pm
CST. Gates will open at 7:00 am CST, with the Reserved VIP Parking
at the bottom of the hill being on a first come basis. Copper
Peak Ski Flying Inc also provides Regular Parking. Those that
take the Regular Parking should bring a lawn chair to watch the
competition from the base of the hill.
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