AMA Pro Hillclimb - 2010

Kevin and I went to the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) National Pro Hillclimb in NH this weekend.  I wasn't sure what to expect.


We arrived a couple hours before the racing.  This gave us time to look at some of the motorcycles up close.  Most were pretty slick.  The pro bikes were nitro burning 4 cylinder bikes.

There were 3 classes of bikes Pro Sport, Xtreme, and Unlimited.  In talking with some of the people in the pit area who follow the sport, it sounded like the #4 bike had a 340Hp engine.  Most others were around 300Hp.  Very long bikes to help keep them from flipping.  Also very tall bikes with big suspension so the riders would use crates or platforms to prop themselves up at the line before takeoff.  They were LOUD.

The back tires had paddles or chains for added traction.  Some had big bolts screwed into the paddles.  Whatever works I guess.  Several times Rocks and dirt rained down on us as the bikes went by.

There was side by side racing but mainly individual time racing.  The first one to the finish line wins. 

With big engines and a long swing arm in back comes a lot of weight up front.  They all had very large fuel lines.  We were told they burn 3/4 to 1 gallon of fuel in one run.  To much acceleration and the bike flips backwards, to little and the front end gets buried in the dirt and the rider goes flying.  Tough to steer as some riders were all over the track.

I took pictures of some good takeoffs.  We had a couple guys take a line right next to the fence where we were standing.  They were 7 or 8 feet away when they came screaming by. Noise, rocks, and dirt flying ...

They hit the first small jump which send them over a trench.  They land, hit the gas and up the second hill, on to the third hill, then to the final hill.  They get steeper as they go. 

The final part was extremely steep with soft dirt.  Several riders lost it as their front wheel dug in sending them over the front of the bike.  I have several pics of the crack ups. 

We sat on a picnic table for a while then stood by different fences to take pictures.  Next time we will bring our own chairs, a cooler, more food, more water or soda.

Was very family friendly and lots of fun although I noticed smaller children didn't like the noise from the bikes.  This was fun and we would do it again.

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