Fargo Street Hillclimb

March 26, 2006

by Dan Wyman

 

With a large turnout and nice weather, the Fargo Street hillclimb was a great success this year.

 

L.A.’s steepest street proved to be no match for some very fit riders. L.A. Wheelmen member Dave Wyman set a personal record of 35 climbs, one more than last year’s record of 34, set by Sean Bartilet. Francis Ignacio upped the new record by 5 to 40 climbs and Steve Gilmore did a fantastic job of his own with 41 climbs. If all that wasn’t enough, Doug Kubler (age 61) made an unbelievable effort to set a record that will be very hard to break of 50 climbs!!! In all, 64 riders completed the climb at least one time (including yours truly) out of 85 riders, a remarkable success rate.

 

Included among the others to ride up Fargo Street this year were David Kahan and Diana Yao, each with 5 climbs. Diana’s friend Cindy Marnoch also climbed the hill. Echo Park resident Sam Chin made the climbing look easy again this year. Tony Zaldua another local resident, also ascended Fargo Street. Mountain bike champion Doris Matyasovich proved that she’s just as good on the road as she is on dirt. The youngest finisher was Josh Gilmore,age 8.

 

Two roller-bladers skated their way up the hill this year, David Rindlaub and Jonathan Seutter.

 

Riders hailed from many hometowns in addition to Los Angeles, of course, including London and Jersey, and several U.S. states, among them Washington, Colorado, Ohio and Massachusetts. 

 

A number of clubs were represented as usual. The honor of “Best Club Name” goes to the “Old Fat Guys Underground Wheeldogs,” represented by John Coldiron.

 

Ivan Pang always joins in the fun and this year, he returned with his tandem and his Paramount track bike. Ivan likes to create custom low gears. This year, he had a 9” fixed gear on the Paramount! As you can imagine, Ivan had no trouble climbing the hill with that bike, but it took a long time to do it.

 

Ben Bertiger, a Fargo Street veteran at age 12, claimed another patch this year proving that he can ride the hill with the best of them.

 

Many thanks to Wheelmen President Kermit Ganier, who worked tirelessly at the top of the hill to record the successful climbs, and Rob Dickinson, who registered riders at the bottom.

 

Thanks also to the Red Bull girls who were on hand again this year, passing out samples of their energy drink.

 

See you on the hill in ‘07!

 

Statistics from Kermit Ganier:

 

Youngest successful climber:- Josh Gilmore - 8 years old

Oldest successful climber: Doris Matyasovitch - 62 years old

 

New Record Holder - Doug Kubler - 61 years old - 50 climbs

 

Steve Gilmore - 41 Climbs

Frances Ignacio - 40 Climbs

Dave Wyman - 35 Climbs

Gerald Gabriano - 27 Climbs

 

Two roller bladers climbed the hill:

David Rindlaub

Jonathan Seutter

 

There was a race up the hill that finished in a tie between Sam Chin and his friend Tony Zaldua

 

64 riders completed the climb at least one time

 

7 riders with 5 to 9 climbs

1 rider.. with 10 to 19 climbs

1 rider   with 20 to 29 climbs

1 rider   with 30 to 39 climbs

3 riders with 40 or more climbs

 

                 Complete list of successful climbers

 

Rider #:	First Name:	Last Name:	Number of Climbs:
4	Jeff	Albert	2
64	Mauro	Arteaga	2
6	Mathew	Arzt	1
72	Sean	Bartilet	5
69	Zack	Beatty	1
24	Ben	Bertiger	2
73	Matt	Carpenter	7
48	Sam	Chin	13
74	Ray	Choy	1
51	Joe	cleveland	2
63	John	Coldiron	2
38	Warren	Crain	8
49	Alex	Decordoba	1
23	Pete	Dobrotin	1
36	Tim	Enloe	1
77	Stephen	Fitzgerold	2
84	Tim	Furguson	1
32	Gerald	Gabrano	27
82	Stan	Gale	1
34	Jush	Gilmore	1
35	Steve	Gilmore	41
56	Jeoffrey	Gonzolez	2
21	David	Heath	1
80	Ron	Hirshman	1
29	George	Holstein	4
45	Richard	Hom	1
76	John	Howell	2
20	Francis	Ignacio	40
41	Brian	Jehue	1
17	David	Kahan	5
18	James	Kawalski	2
8	Samir	Kawash	2
42	John	Khao	1
68	Mark	Kiecker	4
3	Doug	Kubler	50
10	John	Lam	5
39	Stephen	Lichten	1
60	Jack	Lindquist	3
46	Don	Liu	1
27	Cindy	Marnoch	2
47	Doris	Matyasovich	1
12	John	McCullough	1
53	Daka	Morikita	1
58	Andy	Nimmer	1
26	Steve	Osullovan	3
16	Ivan	Pang	6
75	Luigi	Petrigh	2
14	David	Rindlaub	1
22	Gary	Scheidler	2
11	Jonathan	Seutter	1
7	Anthony	Steele	3
19	Bill	Stone	1
50	Mike	Stoner	1
31	Robert	Stoner	2
99	Jeff	Thrasher	1
67	James	Wilson	3
81	Noah	Witlin	1
28	Bill	Wolkoff	1
2	Dan	Wyman	1
1	Dave	Wyman	35
37	Dianna	Yao	5
55	Tony	Zacdua	2
57	No Helmet		1
62	No Helmet		1