Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

o 00 (j) ..... Doug Polen (361)took the 750cc Cafe win despite crossing the line second. Bobby Goodwin (white helmet in third) was first ~ut was disqualified. he sat on the starting line straddling a Yamaha 465 monoshocker. After watching Hicks win the class easily ahead of two other motocross pavement burners, Derry Gardner (Yam) and Kevin Horton (Suz), a talk with the winner was in order. When asked how he won against all those other racers, Hicks said, "lowe every· thing to Mrs. Howard's spaghetti." In previous years, Jack had come close to winning this class, but the other bikes got the advantage in the long straight· way where Hicks would run out of gea ring. This year, he'd split the cases and changed some of the top' gearing, enabling him to hit about 120 mph on the straight. Hick's riding techniques included a "controlled rear brake slide and pivot tum in the S between the parking lots." This was a slow but dangerous section with curbs that claimed several riders. Hicks' skinny front rib was howling at him as it drifted with ' a squeal in the last tum before the straightaway. Another motocrosser-dominared class was the 0·200cc GP. The lead changed hands several times during the race. At one point, a watercooled Can-Am blew a water hose and spit it on the track. The slick spot which resulted had the racers reaching for controls they didn't have . Jeff Frazier, riding a Honda CR125 for Team Armpit of San Antonio, led most of the later laps, but Honda of Austin rider Russell Powers claimed the lead with a half lap to go as Frazier's motor began to lose power. The .third party in the MX trio was Mickey Coggins of Austin on a Yamaha. If one were to ride the course, it would go like this : the start-finish is on the ma in straight, otherwise known as Riverside Drive , a four-lane divided boulevard on which the big multis can reach 140 mph. At the end of the straight is a quick left bander that leads to a bumpy little road behind the cow barns. Another left and across some parking lots to a nasty "S" on the cross street that separates the parking lots. The nice part of this section is a bunch of concrete curbs that throw riders high into the sky when they blow it. Surviving the esses, next is a long , fast peg d ragging sweeper that terminates in another hard left around the Auditorium. Which, of course, ' leads back to the Riverside straight and so forth and so on . Classes are divided into three groups , Stock Production, Cafe Racer and Grand Prix . Now don't let the fancy names fool you. Because of the tightness of the course, very unusual bikes do well. For instance, the 500cc GP was blasted away by of all things, a Yamaha YZ465. Does make for very interesting racing. Serious road racers shun the Aqua Festi val event for obvious reasons. There are no Na tional points, no points at all, just fun. And maybe a trophy and a few scabs . The real fun is the sport of spectatoring. Some National point events won't draw enough spectators to fill a '37 GMC school bus. This baby is promoted to the hilt . Thousands upon thousands come dragging in their 84quart beer coolers and marginally-clad lady friends . It's a giant party that is eclipsed only by Mardi Gras on a particularly good year. It's a motorcycle show. Miles of park. ing lots are crammed with every twowheeler known to man. Of course, the respective owners love to stand around and drink their cool ones while cooing over whatever it was that they rode in. Paul "Hogman" Stephenson was disqualified after winning Open Stock. Really , the Aqua Festival Road Race is not all that serious - it's mostly just fun. The riders have a good time as do the sideliners who watch the riders ride. Recommended viewing spot: the Filling Station Bar directly across the street from the esses and the back sweeper. Reasons for recommendation: good looking waitresses , no admission, dynamite eats and a real knockout air conditioning system . • Results 250cc STOCK PROD: 1. era;g Kitterman IC ·A!: 2. Gardner IC-Al 3. Jerald lIoloszae lYaml. : [)erry 41llcc STOCK PROO 1. Robert Harttins lYam!; 2. : Chartes IItotherllYarnI; 3. Mark _lYarnI. 7!iOci: STOCKPROO: 1. Robart Hartclns(Suzl; 2. Paul Staphanson lHonI; 3. Bobby Goodin lOucl. OPEN STOCK PROO: 1. Alan Johnaon lSuzl; 2. Arthur StaiIingICSuzl:3. Jay lxey lYarnI. 41llcc CAFE: 1. Doug Polan lYarnI; 2. WilliamSyfan IC-Al: 3. Robert Eo Waldo lYaml. 750cc CAFE: 1. Doug Polen lYam): 2. Mike McAdamaISuz); 3. OavidBearden. . OPENCAFE: 1. Jet Thorp ISuzl; 2. Neil e-CSuzJ; 3. Jim Willis (Lay), 2OOc:c GP: 1. Russell Powers lHonI; 2. Jell Frazier lHen); 3. MickeyCoggins lYaml. 250cc GP:. 1. Wayne Even (Kaw) ; 2. Randy Hammond lYam) 3. Sam Finger IHorV. ; . 5OOa: GP: 1. Jaclt Hicka lYam); 2. Carry Gardner (YarnI; 3. Kevin Horton lSuzl. OPEN GP: . . Bobby Goo

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