Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

-. ........, . '" f~'." ." race, but you learn to work around that. Another key is racing at Ascot is like my ice racing practice - run it into the turns as hard as you can, slam on the brakes, turn it and gas it. The track has also been shaping up to suit my riding style lately. To win you've got to run into the turns the hardest, but you've also got to muscle your way around the turn without running high and allowing someone to get underneath. I have trouble remembering how I really do it until I get out on the track and then it seems to come back instantly. You can get thrills at Ascot you can't getat any other track. Springfield Mile The first Springfield National in 1982, when the event was almost rained out, was great. The track was perfect because it was tacky when we finally raced and you could go wide open. Since then it's been a rough groove which has still provided the spectators with prelly good races. Drafting plays a small role at Spring' field because there are so many hnes coming off turn twO you can't set up the rider ahead of you for a clean pass. You have to plan your passing going into the turns rather than com· ing off. Turn three is easierto get into harder because it slopes up a bit on the outside 0 you can hold the gas on longer. Pas ing in turn one depends on the guys you're racing because it's a tighter turn and that means some riders are apt to get off the gas sooner which aJJows you to get past quickly and back onto the groove. Strategy on the final lap depends on where the rider you're racing with appears to have his strengths. Being in the lead off turn four is probably the best bet. You have to take into account whether or not he's been beating you to the line consistently off turn four or if you've been in a very challenging position. If you can't draft him until you're at or past the start/finish line then you'll want to have the lead off turn four and take your chances. If you ·draft him and can't beat him to the line you're going to get second. You might want to let him beat you and take second rather than try drafting because you might end up third or fourth if the guys behind you get a good drive and a strong draft. Louisville Half Mile Louisville was a great track last year. However, a few years ago it wasn't and most of my friends, family and some of my fans quit going because it was a groove track with follow· the-leader racing and no passing unless you wanted to really take a chance. The key to last year's super track conditions was they watered it, and kept the surface loose by drag· ging a spike before each heat race. You could ride in the cushion or you could stay low and find a groove. I was running low on the pole in turns . oneltwo while Jay (Springsteen) was up high in the cushion. In turns three/ four we were both running high and diving low to come off turn four. It's rea II y hard to get a track where there is a balance like that. What it does is make a good show for the fans. I had a good ride there because you don't usually catch Jay (Springsteen) when he's got a lead. He had a good bit by the time I got out of traHic, but I caught up to him, so I felt good. Harrington Half Mile Harrington is a different track in the daytime. At last year's race we had cush ion to ride on for the entire practice session. Then it grooved up. Turn three is a key spot on the track because if you run it in hard you'll find the front end has a tendency to begin to push just as you get to the center of the area where you want to begin your turn. It's tough to make your turn, keep your speed up and stay on the groove. Once the groove gets down good, usually after the heat races, then you can go prelly fast. If you've gOt a fast bike and can get a drive off turn two, you can pass going into three. Even when it'S follow-the-leader you can work your way through traffic if you can get in to and off the corners. You can pass - until you get to someone who is riding as good as you are and then you wait for him to make a mistake. Santa Fe TT I'll definitely leave the XR at the factory for Santa Fe because I've been struggling with the bike on that track every year to get off the corner exiting the infield portion and down to the next turn before four or five 500cc riders pass me. Parts of. the track are fun to ride on the Harley and if everyone rode a Harley it would be n~at, but the layout and track conditions usually favor the smaller, lighter bikes. . One of the keys is that you don't want to get into a wreck in the first tight turn entering the infield. You have to make sure when you get there you pull the clutch in because there's bound to be a lot of .bumping and handlebar banging going on. One wrong move and you could be so far back in the pack you'd be out of contention or, worse, you'd get run over and your race would end there. Lima Half Mile I raced the track about six years ago and it should be a pretty good track. Most of my friends are jazzed about having a race there because it's close to Michigan and they don't have to drive seven or eight hours each way. St. Louis Short Track That's another new one. We'll just have to wait until we get there. It's supposed to be inside Busch Stadium so it will have to bea man-made track which can be either good or bad. Hagerstown Half Mile The track is deceiving. You look at it and it appears to be bitchin' with those banked turns that. make you think you can blast around it. It's exactly the opposite. You need a setup which will squirt you off the turns since your corner speeds are so slow because the turns are very tight. The track changed completel y from practice to the National last year. It went from a high line to running right down on the rail. There were sPOts where your bike wanted to get sideways and then you'd hit a wet spot and straighten up so quick you thought you were gelling spit off. You could pass almost anywhere on the track, but the trick was finding a smooth spot with enough traction so you didn't get bounced up on the tank. Otherwise, you passed anywhere the rider in front of you made a mis· take or got out of shape. DuQuoin Mile DuQuoin is a track where there is les drafting than a track like Indy, Syracuse or San Jose. The majority of drafting is done on the back straight because everyone runs right on the outside near the rail while on the front straight there are more lines and more room to move around. The track is really neat when the surface is wet enough to allow the rider to run up top. When it's like that, you can really get the gas on. When the track dries out and it's a groove, it'S like having each corner connected by a straight rather than ju t big, sweep· ing turns. That sets it apart from most tracks. I think you should always go for the lead and get out frontat DuQuoin. Somebody will usually catch up and then you playa drafting game from there. When you're feeling another rider out while ballling for the lead you're going for it full tilt and you don't hold back. How your tires wear depends on the track, if it's wet then there's a chance to blister the rear tire because you're running it so hard. When the track is a groove it's slick and there's a chance you'll burn off the tread by spinning the rear tire coming off the turns. Cicero Mile At Cicero the straightaways are probably a lillIe longer than other mi Ie tracks, but the corners are so tight that the end result in speed and gearing is about the same as the others. Your corner speed is slow, so the key is to gear to get off the corners fast - and rebuild the engine next week. We had some problems last year in that the AMA and the man running the water truck didn't seem to communicate. By the time the track got into shape we had run 0[[ half of the specta LOrs )II i th a two·hour dela y. However, the track was good for racing by the time the National rolled around. It probably won't work if they ever try LO prepare the track as a cushion. The best solution, and I don't say this very often, would be LO make it a groove from the start and get rid of the dust. If they do that, we'll put on a good show for the specta tors. Peoria TT The Peoria TT is an event where prepara tion through the year shows up. The reason I like it is because it's so demanding and you can tell who's been doing their homework and who's been working out. You have to head for the jump so fast that sometimes you wonder if you're going LO make it because the track is rough, the bike is doing aJJ sorts of strange things and you're holding on for dear life. I think last year's ationaJ was one of the best we've had there. There were four guys going for it-Jay, myself, Ricky and Bubba-and it was a good show. There's great satisfaction in winning Peoria because it's a racer's track. You earn respect for a win there. In addition, the club goes all out for the event. They put a lot of money into the facility in the past few years to improve itand we appreciate it. My strategy at Peoria is to get into the lead and put some distance on the field to make them think you're going so good they should give up. It doesn't always work and then you have to race everyone for the lead. It's sti II a 750 track as far as I can see, but Bubba Shobert (on a 500cc bike) put in one heck of a ride to third last year and he wasn't that far off the pace. Indianapolis Mile I don't mind racing back-to-back Nationals atlndy. For some riders it's a nightmare because they only have one bike while others take two bikes and always want LO ride their best horse. I basically make do with one bike. After the night race is over, Brent pulls the top end and rebuilds it for the next afternoon. Something like that works out alright'because I've got lots of help. The race track is really nice although the spectators in the main grandstand have a hard time seeing the front straight becau e they're actually too clo e to the track. All the corners are just perfect for drafting and to keep the riders bunched up. A rider can get into the corners really hard so the fans can see passing going on. Coming off, there's basically one line so it's the perfect set up for drafting down the straight. The bottom line is pass, pass and pass some more. I always favor the night event because it seems more exciting. If track conditions are right you can run a high line up in the cushion in the first or second heat and that's lots oUun. In the day event there's rubber on the track and it's a groove so you just ride as hard as you can. I guess I just like racing there. As far as drafting goes there might be an edge to the backstretch because the wind doesn't bother you as much 19

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