“The Party on the Hill” Goes to Two Days!
“The Party on the Hill” Goes to Two Days!
The Devil’s Staircase AMA Pro Hillclimbs expands into the Hillclimb Weekend!
For 2018, the Dayton Motorcycle Club has announced some exciting new changes for the Devil’s Staircase AMA Pro Hillclimbs that they host in Oregonia every year. The most dramatic being that they are expanding the event to two days – kicking off on Saturday, October 13th with dirt drags, grudge racing, and various motorcycle games. It’s an old school style field meet with live music to cap the day. All are welcome to join in the fun or come on out and simply cheer on those competing. No experience is needed and there is an endless supply of folks that can share their opinions and give a hand as needed.
It’s a perfect compliment to the AMA PRO Hillclimb Races held on Sunday, October 14th. This will be the 69th running of the hillclimbs at Oregonia, making it one of the longest running motorcycle events in the country. It’s the culmination of the AMA PRO RACING series and generally determines the series Champions every year.
For those coming out for Saturday, the DMC is offering overnight camping in their area across the street. It’s primitive, but there’s plenty of space along the river and woods within walking distance from all the festivities. It’s a beautiful area and allows you to inexpensively camp right at the event and start your day – at the Hillclimbs! At night there will be live entertainment provided by Off-R-Rockers from Cincinnati.
There are expanded options for vendors and exhibitor displays as well, and shops / dealerships are invited to come out and display vehicles as well. On Saturday, there will be a special discounted swap meet area with spots for as little as $20! For more information and to reserve space, email BikeShowInfo@gmail.com
VIP HILLCLIMB PASSES
A limited number of VIP tickets will be available for sale in advance of the weekend. These passes will allow access to various VIP areas, including a Lounge Area by the Bike Show and a special VIP viewing area on the hillside – as well as other special perks! To purchase these or for more information, go online to ThunderRoadsOhio.com
The VIP Passes are also included in the VIP Packages for Sponsors of the event. If you’d like information on how you or your company can become a sponsor of this historic motorcycle event – email Info.IronCowboy@gmail.com
5th Annual DEVIL’S STAIRCASE BIKE SHOW
Once again, Thunder Roads Ohio will be hosting a ride-in bike show as part of the Devil’s Staircase festivities. This show has proven to be an extremely popular one, with local and nationally established custom builders exhibiting some of their work alongside garage builds, incredible vintage bikes, and dialed in “stock bikes” that are better than factory! Finalists will be featured in Thunder Roads Ohio and the BEST OF SHOW will receive an invitation to the Series Finale being held as part of the Championship Show in Sandusky as part of Ohio Bike Week, as well as the chance to win $5,000 cash and a custom Champion’s Ring valued at over $3,500! Placards and trophies are awarded at the event, based upon participant voting and weighted judges scoring.
Cost is $20 per bike, $10 for each additional class / bike. You can register in advance through ThunderRoadsOhio.com for only $15. There are over a dozen classes as part of the TRO Championship Series, including American V-Twin, Metric, Vintage (Pre 80), Custom Paint, Off-Road, Touring, and Radical. All entries are automatically entered in the BEST OF SHOW Challenge.
Yes, we did say “Off-Road” there. We are looking to showcase Enduro / Dual Sport / or straight up off-road beasts. This class is somewhat open to interpretation – but we welcome anything that’s meant to hit the trails, mud, or dirt track – rather than pavement. New this year – are special MILITARY TRIBUTE and PATRIOTIC / US THEMED BIKE CLASSES. These and the Custom Paint category are specialty classes which can also be added as a second class for a motorcycle being shown.
THOSE REGISTERING IN ADVANCE ONLINE (at ThunderRoadsOhio.com) WILL RECEIVE A FREE T-SHIRT THE DAY OF THE EVENT.
Thunder Roads Ohio is looking to organize some SHOP CHALLENGES. If you own or are involved in a motorcycle shop and would like to join us as part of the hillclimb races and bike show – let us know. You can showcase your work and join in the fun! Email us for more information. ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com
Annual Devil’s Staircase Schedule
69th Annual Devil’s Staircase “The World Famous Party on the Hill!”
Hillclimb Weekend – Saturday 10/13 – Sunday 10/14
AMA PRO Hillclimb Races – Sunday 10/14/2018
1086 Corwin Rd, Oregonia OH 45054
Saturday 10/13/2018
- Gate Opens Noon
- Vendor / Swap Meet Set-Up 9am
- Field Meet Starts 1pm
- Live Music to Follow
Sunday 10/14/2018
- Gate Opens 9am for Racers and Crews
- Bike Show Registration Starts 11am
- Hillclimb Racing Starts 1pm
- Harley Raffle Drawing to Follow Awards Ceremony
WEEKEND PASS:
$20 – includes Saturday and Sunday Admission
Overnight Camping (primitive) Saturday
Saturday Field Meet / Motorcycle Games / Live Music
Sunday AMA PRO HILLCLIMB RACES / Harley Raffle (included)
$25 ADVANCE PRE-SALE DISCOUNT!
Available ONLINE and at select locations.
ThunderRoadsOhio.com / DaytonMC.com
DAY PASSES – No CAMPING
$15 Saturday Only (Field Meet and Live Music)
$20 Sunday Only (Hillclimb Races and Harley Raffle)
What’s a Dirt Drag?
A Dirt Drag or Field Meet, as some call them, are a drag race on a dirt track. There is some type of fencing or barrier between spectators and racers, but the racing can be seen up close and experienced with the engine sounds, the smell of fuel and very often a cloud of dust. All of that might turn you off a bit, but I assure you that it adds to the excitement of seeing the racers roar down the track.
The dirt track is set up in two lanes for two racers at a time. There is a finish line for the end of the track and ample distance for the racers to stop at the end. The thing that makes it a bit more formal than just street drag racing is that they usually have a start light or triple tree. The lights flash the countdown for the start of the race from yellow to green to signal the start of each heat. Spectators are able follow along as competitors set their start position, watch the countdown and see them fly down the track.
There are usually some cheers and applause from the audience when racers make a fast run. There are false starts, stall outs at the start or even flips. Occasionally, racers do wreck and get injured. It adds to the excitement when the racers take off and the front wheel pulls off the ground. Many racing motorcycles have wheelie bars on the back of the bike to keep them from flipping and throwing the driver.
The racers are divided into different classes based on age, size of the motorcycle or atv, engine size or even tire type or size. There are racers of all ages, from children to adult. Some racers appear to be very experienced and to know how to race. Even some of the very young child racers seem to have experience while others need prompting from their parent to get down the track. This makes their part of the racing entertaining, enjoyable and a little comical. The racers are lined up by classes and race two at a time in elimination races. The racing continues, until they are down to the final two of the class. The start of each class is announced. Then an announcement is heard, this is the “winner run”, “trophy run”, “final run of the class” and people eagerly watch from start to finish to see which racer is the winner.
There is usually one, sometimes two jackpot races. The Jackpot usually brings out a large number of racers, most with some experience and fast motorcycles. These are very exciting, fast heats. The jackpot races can be very exciting. As you watch the races, you will be able to feel and experience the excitement as the winner of each heat moves on to the next race then to final elimination race.
Most dirt drags also have some comedy relief added in with the Wiener Race, or Water Bucket race. These are fun challenge partner races that anyone can join in. For these races, a rider and passenger work together to win. During the wiener race, the passenger takes a bite of the hotdog from the back of the bike while the rider goes slow or stops and wait for them to take a bite before they can finish the race. The Water Bucket Race involves the rider balancing a water bucket on a board over their head as the motorcycles race down the track. As you can imagine, there ends up being more than a few wet people. These race participants could be some one you know or even yourself.
If you have never seen motorcycle drags, you should really check them out and experience it for yourself.
