Picto Diary - 27 July 2018 - Great American Hillclimb - 100th Anniversary

Above: Stella's. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018

Very well organized, well managed breakfast place in partnership with Clocktower Best Western Motel, next door.

Above: Stella's bear and Markco. Stellas. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

Best I've seen Markco in ages, though I'm not sure I approve of the ribbon in his hair.

Above: Program. Great American Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018

Billings was our ultimate destination. Our excuse for going was to support friend, world motorcycle adventurer and author, Dr. G in his participation, with his 1936 Indian Sport Scout motorcycle, in the 100th Anniversary "Great American Pro Hill Climb." sponsored by the Billings Motorcycle Club. The event takes place on part of 1500 acres owned by the club, adjacent to the Yellowstone River.

Above: Dr. G with Bishop, Markco, Rodger. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

Rodger, friend of Dr. G., is from Charleston, SC. Rodger was an ardent hill climb rider during his youth in Maryland. — at Billings Hill Climb.

Above: Team Frazier awaits turn. Billings Hill Climb. 27 July 2018.

Team Frazier awaits turn at The One Hundredth Anniversary running of the Billings Motorcycle Hill Climb. Motorcycle, Dr. G's entry, is a 1936 Indian Sport Scout. It's for sale. Asking price $25 K.

There are only a couple of vintage bikes entered. Dr. G's [Dr. Gregory W. Frazier] entry was sent from his six month a year home in Chang Mai, Thailand. For that and other reasons, Dr. G. is a well known figure around the pits. He's a Crow Indian who has a residence nearby on the Crow Indian Reservation... he has a PhD in economics, and he's a world renown motorcycle adventurer and author. He has circumnavigated the globe by motorcycle six times.

Dr. G's run on the mountain won't do as well as the current hill climbing motorcycles. His vintage Indian is low in horse power and torque. Yet, "in the day" they ran like bikes on the Billings hill climb. Where the high horse power, strong torque bikes start today from a stationary start very near the bottom of the hill, back in 1936 the bikes would get a run of two hundred yards or so before making the vertical ascent.

There is no longer a long run available for the vintage bikes, so they have to do the best they can from a standing start near the hill. If none of the vintage contestants make it to the top of the hill, the one which reaches the highest point will be the winner. With few bikes participating, there is a good chance of Dr. G getting some kind of award.

Above: Contemporary hill climb motorcycle. Great American Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

Note the extended OEM swing arm and the specialized, grip rear tire.

Above: Downed bike on Pro hill. Great American Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

After a rider gets over that hump, in the image, above where the downed rider is, he/she has to veer left while not losing momentum and continue to the top of the hill. If the rider stops at any point, the pitch is too steep to get the bike moving again.

During the two hours I watched this particular segment, I guesstimate that only one in ten bikes would make it to the top.

The winner was the bike and rider which made it to the top in the shortest amount of time. There are electronic timer devices at the base and top of the hill to guarantee timing accuracy.

For a novice spectator like me, it seemed, often, that it was more difficult to take a downed bike from the hill than it was to ride it up. There were helpers on the hill to help the rider extract the bike if the rider fell. At the top of the hill where the pitch was steepest, the helpers were tethered to ropes anchored at the top.

Above: Markco chats (chats up?) with contestant. Great American Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

Above: Hill climb contestant. Great American Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

They start 'em early!

This seems to be very much a family oriented sport. Moms and Dads stand proudly by as their three year olds, aided by lots of helpers to prevent a serious accident, mount a motorcycle assault on the hill.

I enjoyed seeing the abundance of families attending and how that contributed to the overall good feeling of the event.

The Billings hill climb was unlike a lot of motorcycle events I have attended. Take Moto GP, the top motorcycle hard track racing event held world wide, with two races in the United States. Several years back, I attended the Moto GP race at Laguna Seca raceway, near Monterey, CA. There, thousands of spectators ride in on their motorcycles. Same with the TT road race on the Isle of Man. When I attended that event, they had specially designed ferries to carry the spectators and their motorcycles from the British mainland to the Isle of Man.

As far as I could tell, Markco and Mwah (sic) were the only motorcycle riding spectators to attend the one hundredth anniversary of the Great American Hill Climb in Billings, Montana.

This was kind of an "insiders" event. Attendees, mostly participants, their friends and families, showed up in pick-ups, fifth wheels, and trailers full of mountain climbing motorcycles. I was somewhat surprised that the so-called main stream motorcycling community had not identified the hill climb as a destination event.

I don't know the attendance. But the pits, including bikes, trailers, pick-ups etc. were spread over several acres. There were at least a thousand people there... maybe more.

Above: Markco in porta potty. Great American Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

"Is it safe to come out now?"

Around 5:00 PM, marble sized hail stymied Billings Great American Hill Climb before Dr. G could take his turn, scheduled for only 20 minutes or so after the thunderstorm struck the event.

Markco ran for cover. Markco spent 45 minutes of intense thunderstorm in a port a potty.

Note 1: Bishop found safety in back seat of Dr. G's van. Dr G was in the front seat. Dr. G and Mwah (sic) had a good discussion on old times together and world motorcycle travel as we watch the hail stones crash down.

Markco and Mwah (sic) have been dogged by these PM thunderstorms since starting out. Riding into Dubois, WY two nights ago, we hydro planed through twenty minutes of intense rain accompanied by lightning.

Last night, riding at 5:00 PM from Red Lodge, MT, to Billings, MT, we dodged a thunderstorm to our north, but were not spared from fairly intense winds from that storm for a ten minute riding period.

Tonight, we weren't on the bikes, and that's a good thing. This storm that hit the waning hours of the first day of the Great American Pro Hill Climb, carried with it marble sized hail.

Marko and Mwah (sic) have ridden in hail storms before. Once, while riding together near Daniel, WY, it started to hail. We stopped behind a group of Harley riders, hunkered down over our bikes, and waited out the storm. Markco and Mwah (sic) were wearing helmets, and protective clothing, but the hail stung when it hit "un armored" parts of or legs and arms.

Most of the Harley riders ahead of us was wearing no armor or helmets. They were frantic in their efforts to seek protection from the hail, covering their heads with their arms and whatever they could find. Protective gear or not, motorcycling and hail don't co exist well.

Billings locals we talk to say the daily spate of intense storms is not normal for this time of year.

Note 2: I'm going to try to get hold of a hilarious video that Markco made with his new Apple 10 phone while inside the porta potty during the hail storm. You can hear the hail hitting the porta potty as Markco provides hilarious commentary and images, a mildly politically incorrect video, during his monologue. Markco says he's going to make his video part of his Netflix adventure series and cannot make it available to me for the time being.

Above: Dr. G at hill climb base, post hail storm. Great American Motorcycle Pro Hill Climb. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018.

Hill climb in the mud?

Dr. G denied of his hill climb run by marble sized hail. 1936 vintage Indian Sport Scout remains on the sidelines. Tomorrow's another day? Will the hill be dry? Will Dr. G. get another chance at the mountain?

Above: Jake's Steakhouse. Billings, MT. 27 July 2018

I've eaten here before. Love it. Worth the detour.

Prime rib and asparagus. Cab... great ambiance.

Addendum:

Are you sure that was not a stuffed bison.

Markco,
Ojai, CA

You mean the one that charged me as I tried to quietly ride by on its left. I had to gun the Duc when I saw the animal turn my way.

Beautiful country
You are fortunate to see it by motorcycle
Apparently Religion freedom is alive &
well in Wyoming.

Montage,
Park City, UT

Bishop (Banker Steve):

The 100th Running of the Billings Hill Climb was made a memorable adventure and success for me and my 1936 Indian Sport Scout due to my Physical Pit Crew (you and Mark in the crew) - pic attached. Back left to right by their Pit Crew Top Secret Cyber Names:
"Tonto," "Porta-Potty Mark," "Banker Steve." Front row left to right: "Umbrella Girl" and "Deadhorse." The physical team was from South Carolina, Kansas City, Ojai, and Park City.

The '36 Indian last ran in 1997 when I blew it up on the high bank at Daytona...ran again for the Hill Climb 20 years later - an Indian Motocycle with a racing heart! If it weren't for you and the Pit Crew I'd not have scored the T-Shirt and a Trophy ;-)

Tonto is working on a YouTube, and I'm financially fishing for a new home for the Indian Sport Scout - I've realized I'm not racing again - and as Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations."

Thanks to both you and Mark being there to help. It was great to see you both and your presence was like Valium or Xanax as my stress meter approached the Red Zone. A great day, great fun and a real adventure.

Dr. Gregory W. Frazier
BOOM BOOM INDIAN RACER #91
Soul Sexual Survivor: The World Motorcycle Adventure Tour and Travel Rally