Team Arctic Hillclimbers Win Nine Classes at RMSHA Opener

Team Arctic hillclimb racers started the 2012 season with a bang, winning nine of 18 classes and two King titles at the Bear Lake Hillclimb in Montpelier, Idaho.

It was the potent combination of the new ProClimb HCR and an experienced crew of racers that dominated the big-engine classes. Kyle Tapio delivered a career-performance by winning 800 Improved, 800 Mod and Open Mod, then topped it off with the Improved King title. Hot on his heels, brother Nels won the 700 Mod final and had enough mojo to overtake Kyle to win the Mod King title.

Arctic Cat racer and M-sled engineer Todd Tupper showed he’s still the man to beat in the Masters classes, winning both Stock and Improved finals aboard his 2012 M800 HCR in the ProClimb chassis.

Other class winners aboard Arctic Cat M machines include Rob Kincaid in 600 Improved; Amy Zollinger in Women’s Improved; and Derek Merritt in RMSHA Stock.

“With the start of a new season and the all-new ProClimb chassis, there were questions about what to expect from the team,” says Al Shimpa, Team Arctic hillclimb coordinator. “Winning nine classes and two King titles was a powerful and impressive answer. We have a tremendous team of racers, and our snowmobiles are only going to get better as we get more race experience.”