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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126794
r-::---.~z o Ul Z :I: o .., Q. i2 Ul > III Ul ~ ~ - :I: 00 Q. 0') (Above) Terry Vance (far lane) red-lighted. as Mark Sauro (near) took the win. (Below) John Mafaro made it to the semis. Iy-unsuitable run-off areas. Vance was top qualifier in the first go-around, posting 8.524 sec. and 152.54 mph on tbe first of many transmission-troubled runs. Four other riders made complete passes in the first session, including 1981 GSIIOO Suzuki-mounted Lee Hayes of Santa Fe, California, turning a 8.594 sec. and 135.13 mph, followed by Gary Pena aboard a superclean 1982 Kawasaki GPzllOO thathe nonnally campaigns in the Pro Comp class in AMA DRAGBIKEl racing, turning a 9.023 sec. and 147.29 mph. The IOOO'£oot times recorded ranged from 7.020 sec. and 147.54 mph posted by Vance to 7.795 sec. and 136.36 mph turned in by Davis. • In the final qualifying round Vance bettered his times, coaxing his 1395cc Kawasaki to an 8.479 sec. and 154.10 mph, which was good for low E.T. and Top Speed of the meet. Hayes stayed in the number two spot, with the same E.Too but betlerin~ his speed to 149.75 mph. Moving mto third qualifying position was Mal£aro, who piloted his 1260cc Suzuki to a competitive 8.661 sec. and 151.00 mph. Fourth qualifier was Sauro, who kept his first pass speed but lowered his E.T. to 8.702 sec. First round 1984 IHRA Winston World Finals Ex-·employee Sauro upsets 'Vance By Skip Johnson POMONA, CA, ocr. 18-21 Rookie Mark Sauro upset newly-crowned 1984 NMRA Pro Stock Champion Terry Vance in front ofan estimated 60,000 spectators attending the 1984 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Winston World Finals at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. Sauro made consistency pay while 10 working his way throu~b thepredominantly-Californian, eight-rider field in the final 1984 NMRA event. Saddle Brook, New Jersey-based "Pizza" John Marfaro was the sole east-eoast competitor to make the trek to the west coast following the recent IDBA World Final in Gulfport, Mississippi. Mafaro had a couple of reasons for making the trip; hecould move up to fourth place in the point standings from his already-secured fifth place, and to race, period. Mariaro is a racer, pure and simple, and said, "Racers need exposure. I went to Brainerd this year to make it a three-bike field. Other east coast riders did not come here because the tide is sewn up and t'" I · • it is expensive to come this far. My major sponsor, WebCam, is out here and Byron (Hines) did some work on my motor... besides, I like to race'" Malaro spent alot of time in California on the Vance Be Hines dyno tracking down a bizarre engine ailment that turned out to be a small stone lodged in a piston ring land, allowing one cylinder to leak compression (and power), but which did not show up' in regular compression testing. Qualifying There were two motorcycle qualisessions on Saturday only. At the first session officials also recorded elapsed times and speed at the 1000foot mark for the first time. gathering data to support (or refute) the possibility of shortening the traditional I!20-fOOl strip to increase rider safety a,nd allo.w use of ~s.:1f' S'!q-en~- • fyin~ ~ • tJI. In the first round, top-qualifier Vance outgated Anderson with a 0.470-second reaction time compared to a 0.640. That was good enough to send Anderson packing and move Vance into the semi-final round with Vance turning 8.69 sec. and 150.25 mph to a close-but-losing 8.72 sec. and 148.51 mph. The second pairing included Mafaro and Davis. Mafaro put in the best run of the first round at 8.60 sec. and 153.58 mph event though his bike's rear tire spun badly at mid track. Davis said, "The bike was pulling 10 the right all day yesterdayand we had that solved, but I bogged real bad coming orr the line... It was my fault." Next up was number-two qualifier Hayes and veteran drag racer Pena. Pena owns and operates "The Shop" in Santa Ana. "The bike has run all season," said Pena, "over a hundred passes, and it is losing its steam. Last night we found a 6% leak in the number three cylinder. I'm going to make Hayes red light just like in Vegas... I made him leave in the staging lights in Vegas." Hayes apparently had learned his lesson, however, and even with severe tire spin tha~ pulled him hard to the right - within a foot of the centerline - he still managed a very-competitive 8.69 sec. and 152.02 mph to Pena's losing 8.97 sec. and 147.29 mph. The final pairing in the first round matched Sauro with Reed. Sauro's main sponsor and bike owner is Rick Gem of Advanced Machine, who competed in last year's race on an east-eoastcuslOmer's bike. Cero said, "The bike is working greatl We are using 1000 cases with an 1100 Katana crank, and that increased the stroke from 66.4mm to 68mm, which helped increase the engine capacity to 126Occ. We are also using an 1100 transmission and crank. Sauro is a technicalIy-excellent rider. Terry (Vance) said earlier that we were the guys that should win this race." Reed, who does most of his own mechanical work, along with Lester White, said, "We are running a lowcompression motor now. Next week we get a new head and 1260cc.. We just want to soTlthings oultoday. We definitely will have problems with those guys." Sauro put in his best run so (ar with an 8.62 sec. and 150.00 mph pass, while Reed rushed shifting into third •and the bike came back out of .. II .. 1. gear. Semi-finals The first race was important for Mafaro. He had the lane choice because of his quicker first-round win and chose the left lane where traction still seemed best. His competition was Vance, whose shifting troubles were getting worse. The two left the line closer than any other pair in the event, with Vance slightly edging Mafaro's reaction time, 0.560 10 0.570 seconds, respectively. Mafaro rushed second gear and it popped out. Vance shifted manually 10 fourth and then used the air shifter button 10 go to fifth, and it did not stay in gear, allowing the mOlOr to rev past the redJineto 15,500 rpm. Vartees' winning time was 8.54 sec. and 149.50 mph. After the run Malam said, "I have never had trans trou ble before. I guess I just rushed things." The next race matched newcomer Sauro with the more-experienced Hayes. Sauro cut a real good light, 0.470 seconds, and that gave him a slight edge on Hayes, who again seemed JO have traction and handing problems - the bike again veered sharply to the right, getting very close to the guard rail. When the dust settled (after Hayes kicked up the dirt at the edge of the track) Sa uro was the winner, turning an 8.64 sec. and 150.00 mph 10 Hayes' 8.72 sec. and 149.75 mph. Final Glen Gero, Rick's brother and business partner, said "Our bike always E.T.s well and goes traight, and that hdps keep us consistent." Rick added, "We made two changes for the last run. We got rid of the two-week-old race gas we took back east and advanced the timing. That gave us more grunt orr the line and added two miles per hour. Lane choice is going to be very critical in the final." Vance was not as concerned about the lane choice. As a mailer of fact, Vance asked Sauro which lane he wanted, even though it was his choice first. Sauro jumped at the chance to run in the left lane where all his wins had come so far. Vance showed guarded optimism, saying "I think we might have bent some valves on that last run. 1£ I can cut a good light and if I can shift it and make it through the lights I'll be okay. Besides, Vance Be Hines will still win if Mark gets me - we build his motor." Sauro was nervous and shaking a little while he kept relatively quiet between rounds, getting ready for the biggest race of his career. Both riders staged quicked and carefully. Then . the unexpected happened. Vance, in an errOTl 10 get the advantage he needed orr the line, cut the light too dose and rea-lighted, handing the run and the event to Sauro. Sauro did not see the red light and in the excitement of Vance leaving early, also pulled off the line sooner than he expected and cut the best light of the day, 0.417 seconds, with 0.400 being considered perfect. Sauro's winning time was his best of the day, 8.61 sec. and 150.50 mph. Vances' red light was not the end of his troubles, as his bike came out of second gear, overrevved again and started spewing white death smoke. Sauro could not have been happier. While waiting in line for his time in the winner's circle, he was hounded by autograph-seeking fans. He said, "I signed one autograph in Atco -that.has been it! This is greatl This is my second NMRA eVent, first NMRA win and first National win. I could not have done it without Rick and Glen of Advanced Machine and Vance Be Hines - they helped me a lot". • ', 1 • .I.. • .