Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126657
Q(') 00 0') (Above) Miclulel Minnig hed e good dey et the Bleck Hills reces. (Below) Rendy Triplett did not. Black HIlls ClassIc racing Minnig -fakes Regional Expert crown, Fay wows crowd By Richerd Creed STURGIS, SD, AUG. 10-14 One of the ironies of the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally and Races is that the rally part of the event, which is almost totally unorganized save for the AMA-sanctioned tours of the northern and southern hills, runs merrily along making money hand over fist while the race programs go begging. The 18 problem is annoying, to say the least, to the members of the sponsoring groups, the Jackpine Gypsies and the Black Hills Classic. They were especially annoyed after last year's petitioners, seeking a ban on the weeklong cycle event, threw their eHons into the same class as the trouble makers down at city park. But maybe, just maybe, things are going to take a turn for the better. This year, several vendors, realizing that the racing pan of the event gives the entire rally its only real ligiti· macy, decided to donate some part of their earnings to the race purse for next year. Sundance Leathers donated a set of custom chaps for the race sponsors to ra££le oH in a fund raiser for next year's purse, and the local Presbyterian Women, who annually serve thousands of cyclists breakfast in the church basement, came forward with a check for $500 to sweeten the kilty. The big problem is simple though. Big purses and bags of points altract top riders which in turn draw topdrawer crowds, but to generate the big purse you have to have a big crowd or a well-heeled backer first. Catch 22. The Sturgis event, despite its long tenure, remains primanly an event organized by enthusiastic, but amateur promoters. What it needs is someone with clout to handle the promotional end of things. Not that the local lads haven't tried. John Hughes, president of the Black Hills Classic, has tried to interest several outside sponsors, Skoal and Budweiser to name two, in the race programs, but the sad state of the national economy has not helped promotional activities. Two other factors hamper the races. Distance for openers. Sturgis is a long way from just about any other flat track activity. To get here and race takes bucks, and the bucks - bucks in quantity that is - simply aren't here. But a lot of racers enjoy the Sturgis event and return each year. Especially in the formative racing years, Sturgis sees a lot of rising tal· ent. In the Novice and Junior races Sturgis has the hot shoes, but by the ti me most of the fast ones earn their Expert plate they ate sponsored and heavily committed to a national points chase. So goodbye to Sturgis. Still, the locals dream of hosting a National or a similar big-time event someday, but the large amount of upfront money on any kind of national promotion makes the possibility reo mote at best. It's too bad. The race programs at Sturgis deserve a better shot. The cl ubs sponsoring the races have the manpower and the enthusi· asm. The shon track is dynamite for surface, lots of sticky and little dust most of the time. It's even springy to the step. The half mile is one of the oldest continuously active racing facilities in the nation. The fairgrounds track has known just about every type of wheeled, hoofed and footed competition and also served as the city airpon and horse stables. The final thing that holds the racing part of the rally back is that the premier events, the Saturday after· noon half mile, the Saturday night short track and the Sunday Regional half mile all occur while most people are thinking of leaving town or have already left. Too bad. They missed a heck of a show this year. What they missed was Mickey Fay sliding sideways on Saturday night straight into the winner's circle again. Fay does in the Saturday night shon track crowd every time he comes to Sturgis and posts some very impressive placings on the half mile aboard a Honda 500 single. A lot of Sturgis race fans would give just about any· thing to see Fay aboard a V·twin on the half mile. Unstoppable is the only word thatromes to mind. Maybe next year. Dan Bennett will have to wait until next year for his win on the half mile_ Bennett gained a lot of fan support at Sturgis with his ability, but things just didn't work out. Chris Carr and Roger Thompson gave an indication o£ what next year's Junior main may look like with their handlebar-to-handlebar bash in the Novice clash. Thompson took Sat· urday, Carr capped Sunday's main. The Juniors, this year, provided the best action race for race with the Sunday Regional battle between Kris Armentrout and Joel Green being the best. But Robert Land and the aforementioned Bennett displayed plenty of talent. For western South Dakota race fans the best race of the week was Sunday's Expert main. Although won by Michael Minnig aboard a Harley XR (what else), two well-known names filled out the place and show slots. Jay Beach of Rapid City, South Dakota, and David Durelle of Zimmerman, Minnesota, are no strangers to the Sturgis tracks and with Todd Gieske of Billings, Montana, form a trio of homegrown hOlshoes that the region can be proud of. • Results _out SUNDAV, HAlF MIl£ NOV: I. Chrio CC-AI; 2. Duane Duvall CHon); e- 3. Ched Felicio CKawI. JR: I. Ittio (H-DI; 2_ Joel Gr....; 3. Lome W _ (H-D,. EX: I. M _ Minnis (H·DI; 2. .wr IlNc:h (H·D); 3. Devid 0 ..... (H·D1. SATURDAV. HAlF MILE NOV: I. " - " ~ CItaw); 2. Chrio CO" (C-AI; 3. _ _.. (Y....). JR: I. - . l..8nd (Hont 2. Krio Armantrout (Han'; 3. lorry Eorhort (H·DI. EX: I. M _ I Minnig (H-DI; 2. DlIvid Duretle (Han'; 3. Brod Hum (H-DI. JUNIOR/EXPERT SHORT TRACK I. Mic:Uy Foy (Hon); 2. Todd Ginick (Vom); 3. Charles Orr (Honl. FRIDAY. NOVICE SHORT TRACK I. Chris CO" (C-A); 2. Roger Thompson (Kowl; 3. Jeff Diolz (Hon). HILL CLIMB 1. David Smith (Yam); 2. Terry Vanemeeteeren (Suz); 3. Konny Smith (Vom). 125: I. Earl WOllner (Kow); 2. John Curtis (Suz); 3. Chod KoopoNl (Yom). 250: I. Steve Bolilt (Hon); 2. Woyne Vonemee,eeron IKow); 3. Willy Reefer (Hon). 350: 1. Wayne Vanemeeteeren (Hon); 2. Dan Oldren (Hon); 3. Kevin Ehnn (Yam). 500: 1. Dan Essink (Yam); 2. Patrick Farns (Tri); 3. Kevin Ehnes(Hon). 750: I. Trocy Homonberg (H·D); 2. Gordon Miller (Hon); 3. Williom Curtis (JIIW). OPEN: ,. Pat Farris (Tri); 2. Steve Bein (Hon); 3. Dan Esne (Yam).