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(Topllt wes business .. usuel for Bo O'Brochte .. he popped the Tenninel Ven Una Keweukl out of the chute with thr. . runs et 7.92. 7.76 end 7.74
respectively to win the speraely contested Top Fuel cIua. lAbovel WI. .co- sponsored Geoff Matera. elao Kewueki-mounted, burned his wey to the top
of the Pro Comp EHminetor event.
O'Brochta, Keyte rule IDBA Spring. Nationals
By Tom
Pitts
GULFPORT MS APR. 11-12
,
,
The 5th Annual International Drag Bike
~
•
•
Association Spnng Nationals entertaIned a
•
•
near capacIty crowd at Gulfport International
D ragway as B 0 G 'B roc h ta an d M·ke K eyte
1
locked up wins in Top fuel and
.
24
Pro Stock, respectively.
The Top Fuel entry was very
small. IDBA director Tony Lee
said. "Some racers ~ust didn't ge~ their
equIpment ready m time, Economic
reasons are a big factor. A bad year in
the win/loss or DNF column can put
you right out of business."
Top Fuel Champion aiid 1981 Number One plate holder Bo O'Brochta
said: ".It costs. at least $300 a pass.and
that s If nothmg breaks on the blke-that doesn't include travel expenses,:
meals, salaries. tools. equipment, etc.
O'Brochta gained a big early lead in
points and bucks as he qualified
number I, and won the class. The
Terminal Van Lines inverted 1000
Kawasaki ripped off three runs-- 7.92.
7.76 and a 7. 74 sec~nds in the final.
Top Fueler Chns Hand and the
Red Neclt Exp~ ,debuted a new
1000 Kawasaki. Chris smoked a tire in
the fmal against O'Brochta for the
loss, but seemed very pleased about hill
new bike. The Hand-Hickman
spo~~ fueler said, "Better parts
avallablllty and overall performance
of. th~ Kawasaki," were reasons for
sWltchmg. Top Fuel also offered a new
talent in Dennis Sargent who also had
a new Kawasaki 1000.
Pro Stock Eliminator saw a new ET
and mph record set by two diffettnt
racers plus new talent, and several new
bikes including a t~o-stroke Pro
Stocker. Another surpnse was the noshow of class champ Terry Vance. Bob
Carpenter chose not to attend also.
The field was of good size with
