It is with a heavy heart that I report to you that long-time Midwest hillclimber Kevin Tilson and his sister-in-law, Debra Stafford, have died as a result of a car crash.  Kevin, his wife Vicki and her sister Debra were in the car at the time - only Vicki survived, and at the time I heard the report was in the hospital.  The obituaries can be found at Omaha.com.  The local paper's article on the crash can be found here.

    Kevin raced hillclimbs for decades on his Triumphs out of Plattsmouth, NE, and was a founding member of the notorious Plum Crazy racing team - who would parade around at hillclimbs wearing giant purple afro wigs and painted all of their bikes purple.  He was a great rider and competitor, and a good friend to many of us - some of his family (like J.J. Tilson, and nephew Ernie Beckwith) also compete.

    Vicki was flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, at first in critical condition but was reported as being in Fair condition the following Monday.  I'm not sure if she's still in the hospital or not, but if you'd like to send a card or something to the home here's the address:

Vicki Tilson
1104 Ave. D
Plattsmouth, NE 68048

    Debra was laid to rest at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Plattsmouth, NE; Kevin at Lewiston Cemetery, Murray, NE.

    I will post any additional information as I get it.  I'm sure I speak for all of us in saying that Kevin will be dearly missed at the races, and my sincerest sympathies to both families for their loss.