Cyclists take on 225-foot hill

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Engines roared as motorcyclists focused on the 225-foot hill that appeared before them. They waited anxiously for their turn as they watch motorcyclists race up the hill, sometimes making it and sometimes flying off the track into the fence borders.

The Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Hill Climb was Sunday at the club's grounds southeast of New Ulm.

The first hill climb in New Ulm was in 1998, but hill climbs date back to the 1960s.

The Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club was established in 1947 and is affiliated with the American Motorcycle Association (AMA).

"We've had a good spectator turn-out," said Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club President Ron Marquardt. "We think the rain we had may have scared some away, but so far we're very pleased."

This years event brought in 10 more participants than last year, for a total of 210 participants and about 50 more spectators than last year, for an estimated total of 350 spectators, according to Marquardt.

Participants gathered from all over the Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin to attend the race in New Ulm. Riders accumulate points by traveling with the hill climb circuit and the riders with the fastest times add the most points to their "overall total" score for the year.

Each rider for the hill climb has to be a member of the AMA. There are 11 divisions, with age groups ranging from 4-years-old to the senior class. Each rider gets two chances to climb the hill. Marquardt said the record for the hill climb in New Ulm is 4.2 seconds.

Shane Sandmeyer, a 16-year-old from Good Thunder, was on hand to try his luck at the hill. Sandmeyer has been racing for approximately five years. He said when he gets to the starting line he focuses on the jumps that he's going to have to make up the hill.

"I kind of hope that when I hit the jumps I'm going to land smoothly," Sandmeyer said. "My dad used to race flat tracks and used to take me to a bunch of races when I was little. I always enjoyed going."

Sandmeyer took first place last year in his age group in the hill climb state competition for AMA's Minnesota District 23. He hoped to repeat this year, but was concentrating on just beating the score of one of his friends.

Racing veteran Todd Cipola from Ellsworth, Wis., was back as well. Cipola has been racing for 18 years. Racing also runs in Cipola's family. His wife Bobbi has been racing for 25 years and his 3-year-old daughter Loran and his 6-year-old son Logan also participate in hill climbs.

Cipola concentrates on getting into the grooves of the track as he waits for his chance at the hill.

"For me, I just want to get a straight shot into the grooves," Cipola said. "I don't even look at the center of the hill."

Attending racing contests is a vacation for the Cipola family. They've traveled all across the country to watch and participate in races.

"We love going to different places," Cipola said. "By the end of the year we really get burnt out. But we go as a family which the kids enjoy."

"When you're on the line, two things go through your mind," Marquardt said. "First you want to make it to the top of the hill and secondly you want to make it there the fastest."

Marquardt sees the event as a chance for families to spend the day together.

"The people we've talked to really enjoy it," Marquardt said. "Parents can bring their children to the event and see the hill climb, which there aren't too many of in the area anymore."