62 Minutes on a Harley: D82 Tilt’n Tuesday’s Long Ride to Victory

With a crisp 44°F breeze under a crystal-clear Wisconsin sky, 64 players rolled into District 82 Pinball on March 18th for another round of Tilt’n Tuesday. If the weather outside said winter’s not quite done yet, the action inside said otherwise—flippers were firing, jackpots were flowing, and competition ran warmer than a Bally backbox lightbulb.

Tournament director Erik Thoren once again orchestrated four intense rounds of head-to-head battle, with players taking on two games per round. In just over three hours, the field faced 112 machines pulled from decades of pinball design—from chimes-and-drops classics to fast-as-lightning moderns. This wasn’t just a tournament—it was a whirlwind tour through pinball history.

The Buzz from 800 O’Keefe Road

District 82 isn’t just a pinball venue—it’s a full-on shrine to silverball obsession. Tucked into De Pere like a multi-ball jackpot hiding behind a skill shot, this place boasts over 100 games spanning the golden age of Bally, the quirky Data East era, Williams’ 90s renaissance, and Stern’s modern innovations. With a reputation for spotless maintenance and razor-tight tilts, District 82 is where flipper dreams are forged—and sometimes shattered.

Saddle Up: Harley Davidson Goes the Distance

Round 4 brought a marathon of a match on Harley Davidson (Bally, 1991), which clocked in at 62 full minutes of roar-and-grind gameplay. This title was one of Bally’s final pins before Midway absorbed the brand entirely under the Williams umbrella. It leans hard into the Harley fantasy with a shaker motor that makes the whole machine rumble like a revved engine—and with its three-ball multiball and speed-sensitive scoring, it rewards players who can live on the edge without tilting off the road.

Drew Geigel, who’s no stranger to long-haul gameplay, took the win—his top-10 state ranking showed in his steady control. Patrick VanDenEng pushed hard for second, while Kassidy Milanowski’s multiball control kept her in the top three. Jordan Cappaert rounded out the group, showing tenacity on a machine that punishes hesitation and rewards guts.

Machines That Turned Heads (and Tilt Bobs)

With 112 games in the rotation, narrowing down the standouts is like picking your favorite drop target—impossible, but let’s try:

• Aerosmith (Stern, 2017): Designed by John Borg and featuring Jack Danger’s early artwork, this one mixes high-speed loops with a toybox ball lock that physically tosses locked balls into the air. It’s like the band’s live shows—flashy, loud, and a little unpredictable.
• Future Spa (Bally, 1979): A truly strange gem from the late ’70s. It was Bally’s first game with in-line drop targets and one of the earliest to feature voice synth—though it sounded more like a robot in a yoga class. The artwork is… let’s just say “of its time,” blending sci-fi weirdness with, uh, tight spandex. Still plays smooth.
• Foo Fighters (Pro) (Stern, 2023): A love letter to both music and pinball. With layout design by Jack Danger and code that leans into a space-invading sci-fi storyline, this game has quickly become a modern favorite. Flow is the name of the game here—if you’re not chaining combos, you’re just warming up.
• Jurassic Park (Data East, 1993): Released right after the film’s release, this was Data East’s biggest title at the time. The game features a moving T. rex that eats the ball—yep, mechanical jaws and all. It helped define ’90s pin gimmickry in the best way.
• The Mandalorian (Pro) (Stern, 2021): A newer machine with tight upper flipper shots and some of the best video integration Stern’s ever done. The upper playfield is tough to master, but players who can combo their way to Razor Crest multiball reap the points.
• Monopoly (Stern, 2001): One of Stern’s early “comeback” era games designed by Pat Lawlor. It introduced unique boardwalk-style ramps and a cool spinner that mimics rolling dice. Sure, it’s based on the most rage-inducing board game ever, but the pin is surprisingly strategic and layered.
• Lost World (Bally, 1978): One of the first solid-state games to feature multi-ball and speech. The artwork, complete with centaurs and dragons, is legendary, and its simple-but-deadly rule set still holds up—especially when bonus collect gets spicy.
• Johnny Mnemonic (Williams, 1995): Yes, it’s based on a pre-Matrix Keanu movie that time forgot, but this game’s cyberpunk insanity is unforgettable. The magnetic glove, used to grab and move balls across the playfield, remains one of pinball’s most unique toys.
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Williams, 1993): Moody, brutal, and full of stackable multiballs. The “Mist Multiball” uses a magnet to drag a ball across the playfield while you try to knock it loose—pure evil in the best way. One of Steve Ritchie’s most atmospheric designs.

Each of these machines offers its own challenge, and the mix of eras and design styles is a big part of what makes District 82 such a compelling battleground.

Your Top 4 Flippers of the Night

Let’s hear it for the top scorers who rose above the chaos:

1. Eric Strangeway (Oshkosh, WI) – No stranger to competition, Eric’s consistency and high-event experience paid off. He handled modern Sterns and classic Ballys with equal poise.
2. Danny Bronny – Played smart, avoided tilt traps, and brought in a well-earned second place finish.
3. Erik Thoren (De Pere, WI) – Ran the event and still walked away with bronze. That’s stamina.
4. Timothy Enders – Solid performance across eras, showing deep knowledge of both rule sets and ball control.

Wisconsin’s Finest: Top 10 IFPA State Rankings

Final Thoughts Before the Next Multiball

With a field full of talent, a venue built for competition, and a Harley game longer than most action movies, the March 18th edition of Tilt’n Tuesday was one to remember. Huge thanks to Erik Thoren for organizing yet another stellar event, and congrats to Eric Strangeway for taking the win in a stacked field.

Want to join in or relive the action? Check out upcoming events and full results at District 82’s event page. Until next time—keep flipping, keep flowing, and watch out for that outlane.