Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

NMRA (Continued from page 13) squeezed by Rick Stetson by one onehundredth of a second before facing Gary Wallers in the semi. After Watters broke a coil wire during his burnout, he could only hope for Carpenter to red light, which never happened Joe Folgore, who qualified third at 8.66/159.72 on hisSuzuki,could have pulled 0[£ an upset over Vance in the .-4 semi. He nailed the holeshOI, but his .-4 luck vanished further down the strip and heonly managed a 9.70/106 pass LO end his day. [n the final showdown it was Vance's lightning 8.47 over Carpenter's 8.66. Vance LOld the crowd earlier, "We're not racing for the championship; after nine or 10 times people know we can win. It would bea beuer promotional tool for us if someone else won using our parts." "M y problem is the first two feet off the line. I'll give it some deep thought on the be-dch tomorrow," said loser Carperiter. I n Pro Comp, Bell ucci demo I ished the field after exhausting his supply of slicks in qualifying. His first three allempLS were in the 12-second range before he uncorked a 8.38/154.63 on his Kawasaki for the number one position. From then on there was no stopping rum, although Jim McClure ripped a thundering qualifying pass of 172.91/8.62 fonhe second qualifying spot.· In the first round, Bellucci blew Rich Neace away with a 8.21/159run and easily handled Steve MoliLOr in the semi. McClure ran alone in his semi when Sonny Michalowski couldn't rebuild rus Harley-Davidson in time after breaking some pistons in a first round win over Jim Doyle. The final was set between Bellu ci's Kawasaki and McClure's Harley. Bellucci unleashed a 8.20/160 run to the losing 8.87/170 of McClure. Larry McBride escaped injury in his unexpected loss to John Sands' Honda in Top Fuel. McBride was almost blown 0[£ his Kawasaki when his motor exploded under him just before the timing lights in the final. Sands took the upset with a 8.11/164 to McBride's losing 8.41/108 run. George Bryce was top Funny Bike qualifier with a 7.92/171.42 on his Suzuki. He found himself in the final after a first round gift from Eraldo Ferracci and a bye in the semi in which he docked a 7.71/172.24. When Jim Bernard recorded a 7.71/ 170.45 to put Bob Malloy's Kawasaki away in the other semi, the final was set between the two Suzukis. As the final turned out, it was so dose neither knew who won when they went through the lights. It was Bryce leaping for joy when the slips showed a 7.70/180.18 blast to Bernard's 7.72/172.24 effon. Bryce was ecstatic. "I've never even run in the (seven) 70s in a ational before." Bernard said, "I haven't had a run that dose in years, I think I shifted into third too early." In Junior Pro, Joe Yeager was the only qualilier to run in the nines, aboard Ray Worth's Vance & Hines Suzuki. Yeager's 9.93/129 trip took care of Glenn Richardson's 10.46/124 run in the semi for a spot in thefinal. Frank Giordano said he came unprepared, but (inally got rus Kawasaki to come around. ALter he handed Bruce Dickson his walking papers with a 9.99/128 first round pass, he had a bye run in the semi for his trip to the final. Yeager ran flawlessly all day and wasn't about to seule for second. He smoked Giordano in the final, dock0- ing a 9.80/ l33, while Giordano could • •. 0-" ontyO maiiage'a" UI.1IJftr. " 0 " 0 • • • • 2 Mike Johnson 1131 and Jeff Morrow stayed this close for 10 laps at Portland International Raceway. despite seeing Jeff Campbell and Peter Simonson crash hard during a moments-earlier practice run. Word, Barkman, Sullivan, John Wincewicz and Brad Hurst led the opening lap. Positions stayed the same until Hurst nabbed Sullivan to move to rrurd. Barkman passed Word earl y and Word dropped back somewhat which let Barkman sail into his uncontested lead and make the order of Barkman, Word, Hurst, Wincewiczand Sullivan at the half. Riders soon spread out with the exception of a Duane Gerrard/Larry Legarra/Don Wilson ballle erupting behind the top five. Hurst's greatest efforts wouldn't be enough to pull his 750 into the hunt as Barkman and Word hitlappers late in the main and put considerable ground on Hurst. Barkman went easily on the way to his first win of the season to beat Word, Hurst, Wincewicz and Sullivan. Gerrard got the nod for sixth ahead of Triumph-mounted Californian Legarra. Barkman trees Sidewinders TT competition By Clay Light CLACKAMAS, OR, JUNE 22 Charlie Barkman maneuvered his KTM around a slick, choppy track to win the Expert main at Sidewinders TT. Barkman's Lillie/York Hon/Highland Hon/ Gary's Silver Star Tavern 560 beat Frank Word Ill's Adam Cycle Supply/Simpson Triumph 750. Terry Wahl (Chris Wahl Jr.lSimp on CoAl LOpped the Junior main event over Chris Fitzhugh (Seallle Hon). Randy Roose (BBRP/Olson Auto Body Hon) topped the exciting Novice main, beating Marty Zirbel. The Novice main - and the entire evening - was plagued by massive pile-ups on the rougher-than-ever track. Two inches of rain fell the day before but the nearly 800 heat dried it out. A tricky drainage ditch at the crest of the TT's hill caused havoc for many riders and Jack "Bugsy" Booth (H-D) was the first to hit one of the choppy ruts and lose control as Roose led. The incident caused the red flags to come out. The restart had early leaders Roose and Zirbel zoom into an unsurmountable lead while Pat McBride (Hon), James Dunken (Hon) and Californian Billy Taylor (Yam) followed. Taylor, on one of two 250s in the main, sellled inLO third after getting around Dunken and McBride. There was no way Taylor would catch Zirbel, who got around Roose for a lap. Roose returned the favor with a full-throllle downhill pass to snag the lead and get his second AMA Pro win of the season. Zirbel, Taylor, McBride, Garth Mulkey (Yam) and Dunken followed. Polesitter Fitzhugh grabbed the lead at the start of the 12-lap Junior main event with Wahl gunning for the lead out of turn one followed by Frank Crane Jr., Bob Moran (H-D), and Tim Stults (Suz). Fitzhugh and Wahl disappeared from sight of the third-placed rider, which was Crane until he hit a nasty rut, bailep off and moved Moran and Dan McDonnell (Hon) up a notch. McDonnell soon got by Moran's 750, which was the only Harley in the program. Wahl surprised Fitzhugh with a pass in the same place the tricky Washingtonian ovenook Fitzhugh to win the trophy dash. Wahl was never challenged after that point and rode on for his first Junior win. Word looked quite confident but like many Experts, sat pondering the course with dismay. Word and Barkttfan ilH:ldetl" (0 rria:

• Cover