Breaking News
Local News

A climb for local riders

Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club Host regional hill climb

By Amy Zents 6 min read

NEW ULM -- Riders from across the region gathered at the Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club grounds on Sunday for the annual AMA District 23 Hill Climb.

The historic local club, active since 1947, brought together families, life members and young competitors to navigate the club’s steep hillside track.

While the club hosted the AMA Amateur National Hill Climb earlier in August -- drawing competitors from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Sunday’s event focused on Midwest talent from Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

“We had our national hill climb here earlier this year,” said club organizer Randy Kraus, who has been involved with the Flying Dutchmen since 2006. “This event is our yearly District 23 climb. The nationals brought people from all over the country, but this one is about our regional community.”

Kraus said the Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club has over 120 active members and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022.

On-site emergency personnel, including local fire department members and ambulance crews, were stationed at the foot of the hill, alongside hill crews positioned along the incline to catch riders who lost traction.

The competition included divisions ranging from young children to riders in their 40s and 50s. Brian Hornick, a club life member since 1994, said his own family members participated.

“The youngest I saw today was seven years old,” Hornick said. “My two grandkids are seven and nine, and they both went up the hill today. My seven-year-old granddaughter made it almost to the second jump before losing traction. The hill crew is there to catch the riders if they stop.”

Hornick said return trails down the back of the ridge allow riders and utility vehicles safe passage back to the staging pits. Local families also attended to support young racers, including Shy Sellner of New Ulm.

“Our son has been doing it since he was three,” Sellner said.

Rider Jared Gitter, 36, who lives a quarter-mile from the grounds, finished second in the 600 CC and 2 Stroke classes and placed fourth in the Adult King of the Hill run.

“I grew up coming here and watching. My dad got me into it when I was 10 years old,” Gitter said. “Now I’ve got a seven year old and a nine year old who are learning it with me.”

To manage the volume of runs across engine and age divisions, the club used electronic sensors and computerized tracking inside the score tower and clubhouse.

Tony Effenberger, a club member since 2009, oversaw registration and scoring.

“We have a sign-up form, and participants choose the classes they want to run in based on age or engine size,” Effenberger said. “We determine a running order, starting out with the younger kids on smaller bikes and working our way up into the larger, faster machines.”

Competitors received two runs up the hill, with their best single time determining their final placement. Electronic eye sensors at the start line and peak automatically triggered an overhead digital clock.

“Lights at the bottom and top track the run,” Hornick said. “When they start, they break the light beam, and when they cross the crest, it breaks the top light.”

The day’s top performers qualified for the “King of the Hill” runoffs. Fourteen-year-old Justella “Stella” Ryan of Red Wing took first place in the Women’s Division on a 125cc bike with an 8.371-second run.

“I started climbing when I was nine,” Ryan said. “My friends in Red Wing got me into it.”

Ryan recently placed eighth in the Women’s Division at the National event, earning an invitation to compete in the Devil’s Staircase pro race in Ohio in October.

The Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club will host flat track racing on Sept. 19-20, with live music at the hilltop stage on Saturday night.

OFFICIAL RESULTS -- District 23 Hill Climb (Aug. 30, 2026)

Fastest Time of the Day: Charlie Engnes #365 (Beldenville, WI) -- 4.637 seconds in his King of the Hill Run

YOUTH KING OF THE HILL – Top 5

Eastin Marking #52 (Cannon Falls, MN) -- 7.349s (Super Mini)

Easton Mack #112 (New Ulm, MN) -- 7.470s (Super Mini)

Bennett Braulick #720 (Sleepy Eye, MN) -- 7.852s (Mini Jr)

Vinchenzo Etchen #1N (Ellsworth, WI) -- 8.695s (Super Mini)

Cooper Sandmeyer #375 (Mapleton, MN) -- 9.449s (65 CC)

ADULT KING OF THE HILL – Top 8

Charlie Engnes #365 (Beldenville, WI) -- 4.637s (OPEN)

Jason Laven #27 (Good Thunder, MN) -- 4.773s (2-Stroke)

AJ Engnes #838 (Beldenville, WI) -- 4.995s (2-Stroke)

Jared Gitter #14 (New Ulm, MN) -- 5.197s (2-Stroke)

Hunter Kirchner #381 (Trego, WI) -- 5.369s (450 CC)

Atley Jelinek #513 (Hawley, MN) -- 5.410s (250 CC)

Brady Kirchner #183 (Trego, WI) -- 5.598s (2-Stroke)

Jason Northrop #525 (Litchfield, MN) -- 7.396s (Master)

CLASS WINNERS

Micro Mini: 1. Cooper Sandmeyer #375 (Mapleton, MN) 10.020s; 2. Haven Haugen #713 (Zumbrota, MN) 10.033s; 3. Beau Marking #261 (Lake City, MN) 10.116s

65 CC: 1. Lincoln Haugen #714 (Zumbrota, MN) 8.663s; 2. Cooper Sandmeyer #375 (Mapleton, MN) 9.474s; 3. Bennett Braulick #720 (Sleepy Eye, MN) 9.512s

Mini Jr: 1. Lincoln Haugen #714 (Zumbrota, MN) 8.035s; 2. Bennett Braulick #720 (Sleepy Eye, MN) 8.172s; 3. Everett Gitter #34 (New Ulm, MN) 9.340s

Mini Sr: 1. Jax Klos #999 (Bay City, WI) 7.919s; 2. Vinchenzo Etchen #1N (Ellsworth, WI) 8.193s; 3. Artie Dietz #14 (Madelia, MN) 8.888s

Super Mini: 1. Vinchenzo Etchen #1N (Ellsworth, WI) 7.122s; 2. Easton Mack #112 (New Ulm, MN) 7.446s; 3. Jax Klos #999 (Bay City, WI) 7.502s

125 CC: 1. Anthony Etchen #5 (Ellsworth, WI) 6.764s; 2. Cameron Sears #155 (Ellsworth, WI) 7.437s; 3. Grayson Larson #275 (Mapleton, MN) 7.496s

200 CC: 1. Hunter Kirchner #381 (Trego, WI) 6.016s; 2. Easton Mack #112 (New Ulm, MN) 6.024s; 3. Avery Aguillon #110 (Mankato, MN) 6.260s

250 CC: 1. Atley Jelinek #513 (Hawley, MN) 5.363s; 2. Carson Curtis #20 (Red Wing, MN) 5.530s; 3. Gavin Sabin #18 (Mankato, MN) 5.621s

Women’s: 1. Stella Ryan #227 (Red Wing, MN) 8.371s; 2. Madison Welch #333 (Hager City, WI) 9.747s; 3. Charlette Dosdall #900 (Hager City, WI) 9.983s

400 Stock: 1. Anthony Etchen #5 (Ellsworth, WI) 7.026s; 2. Cole Haugen #42 (Cannon Falls, MN) 7.590s; 3. Tyson Haas #535 (Lodi, WI) 8.060s

401+ CC: 1. Teagan Jelinek #712 (Hawley, MN) 7.060s

450 CC: 1. Hunter Kirchner #381 (Trego, WI) 5.332s; 2. Atley Jelinek #4 (Hawley, MN) 5.561s; 3. Charlie Engnes #365 (Beldenville, WI) 5.608s

600 CC: 1. Charlie Engnes #365 (Beldenville, WI) 5.244s; 2. Jared Gitter #14 (New Ulm, MN) 5.371s; 3. Logan Peterson #16 (Ellsworth, WI) 5.622s

750 CC: 1. Victor Wachena #72 (Osceola, WI) 11.245s

Open: 1. Charlie Engnes #365 (Beldenville, WI) 4.787s; 2. AJ Engnes #49 (Beldenville, WI) 5.226s; 3. Logan Peterson #16 (Ellsworth, WI) 5.398s

Master: 1. Jason Northrop #525 (Litchfield, MN) 5.522s; 2. Mike Wood #21 (Bay City, WI) 6.113s; 3. Brad Cain #178 (Woodbury, MN) 6.412s

Vet: 1. Arnold Jelinek #712 (Hawley, MN) 6.172s; 2. Mike Wood #21 (Bay City, WI) 6.275s; 3. Brad Cain #178 (Woodbury, MN) 6.351s

Vintage: 1. Brad Cain #178 (Woodbury, MN) 7.450s; 2. Michael Goodell #57 (Nicollet, MN) 8.657s; 3. Victor Wachena #72 (Osceola, WI) 10.132s

2 Stroke: 1. AJ Engnes #838 (Beldenville, WI) 4.992s; 2. Jared Gitter #14 (New Ulm, MN) 5.053s; 3. Jason Laven #27 (Good Thunder, MN) 5.085s

4 Stroke: 1. Charlie Engnes #365 (Beldenville, WI) 4.791s; 2. Logan Peterson #16 (Ellsworth, WI) 5.348s; 3. Atley Jelinek #513 (Hawley, MN) 5.418s

ATV 451+: 1. Austin Welch #750 (Hager City, WI) -- 61′ / 185′ (Note: ATV 450 had no entries)

Starting at /week.