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/126948
Harley-Davidson-mounted Sal Hoffman topped the Expert field at Great American Indoor TT. held at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Harley-mounted Bobby McDonnell leads Honda rider Tony Alves during the Junior main event. The order was reversed at the finish. Hoffman leads Pro-Am rider Darrel Davis (9601 during the "Dash for cash." Davis won the trophy dash. pocketing more than $900. Hoffman wins Cow Palace TT By Bill Spencer Photos by Troy Scott SAN FRANCISCO. CA, FEB. 6 Sal Hoffman rode like he owned the Cow Palace at the annual Great American Motorcycle Shows/Budweiser Indoor TT Championships. "It's like a dream come true," said Hoffman as he thanked Ken's Seafood Resta uran t Fresco 'II d · Ch oppe~s.. H 1- P' om~, Be . an Larry Lilhe for getung hIm to 18 the winner's circle in front of nearly' 3000 fans. Hoffman lives just minutes away from the Cow Palace. It was a night for lots of newness as the·show portion had '87 versions of what to ride on the street while the tir:ty race track portrayed new n~mbers with old faces and new faces with old numbers. With only 42 riders signed in, practice didn't take long. Damartsponsored Rob Damron topped qualiIying with a 21.19 second lap, while Terry Poovey £lew in from Texas and rode a Terry Knight Honda to a 21.38 clocking. Duane Gerrard kept the Northwest boys in close at a 21.55. while Rich Arnaiz set fourth fastest time after waving off what would have been fifth fastest at 21.56. Hoffman was fifth fastest with a 21.66 timing. Steve Aseltine was fastest of the Juniors in qualifying with a 21.41 lap, but he got upside down in his semi and had to retire early. Expert heats saw Hoffman win by a wide margin in the first go, while Arnaiz won easily in the second. Aaron Hill, ridin~ as National num· ber 17, had a good go with 'Poovey and then caught Mark Key but Key held true to the line for the win in the third heat. A special part about Mike Kidd;s promotions has been his famous "dash for casb," a pseudo trophy dash, except it's for as much money as he can promote out of the grandstands. Now Kidd is a pretty good promoter and within four minutes of stating that all heat winners would be in a four-lap race for $50 and "whatever you-all want to help with," he had 400 people ready to contribute from anickle right up to Rich Carlson's $100 bill. The take stopped at $910 as it was taking too long to interview everyone who wanted to pitch in. The first dash for cash start was stuff city down the back straight and the red flag was displayed quickly to the leader, Pro-Am rider Darrel Davis, and the field. The second Tony Gomes-activated green light also saw Davis off first only to be red flagged again. The third start was not a charm except lor Davis. Hoffman haa a line thaf didn it work ana Davis rooe good solid lines and looked great over the smaJl jump. Davis went on to win and was definitely happy over the amount of money he had so quickly earned. . Andy Tressor led the field off the line at the start of the Pro-Am main but was being pressured by Davis, who was riding the ex-Barry Pelkey Rotax. Tressor got wide and allowed Davis by and then had Kris Kiser make the same move on him and was dropped to third. Davis won over Kiser anq Tressor. 'Tony Alves hooked up with Bobby McDonnell at the start of the JunIor main but Alves cleared the deck early and went on to a big win despite some huffing and puffing. Tony hadn't ridden anything real serious in some eight years, butdidn't-Iook as though he had missed a race during his winning ride. McDannel held on for second with Ricky Henson taking third and Randy Fisher coming through the pack for fourth. . Amaiz, riding without a National number after concentrating on road racing last year, led off the line at the start of the IS-lap Expert main, but he bailed offand couldn't get restarted. Hoffman rode cool lines on his way to the win and he was loudly cheered all the way by a very partisan crowd. Hin, the Camel Pro Rookie of the Year, who was sporting Jimmy Filice's old National number 17, took second on the Team Happy Traib Harley-Davidson, with Poovey taking third after working his way up from the rear of the pack. • Results EX: 1. Sal Hoffman (H·D); 2. Aaron Hill (H·D); 3. Tarry Poo.•ay (Hon); 4. Dan MeDonnel (H·D); 5. Rob Damron (H·DI; 8. Duane Gerrard (Yam); 7. Chad Felieio (H·D); 8. Randy Roose (Honl; 9. Larry S,aflll8 (W·R); 10. Rich Arnei. (Rtx). . JR: 1. Tony Alves (Hon); 2. 80bby MeDonnell(HD); 3. Ricky Henaon (Rtx); 4. Randy Fisher (Yem); 5. Bobby McDowell fHon~ 8. Gonion Rudy (H·Dt; 7. Donny Harrell (Hon); 8. P.J. Werne fHon); 9. BAI Hannam (Hon); 10. Ki1'Farley (W-R). p.A: 1. Darell Da.ia(Rtx); 2. Kria Kiaer (Hon); 3. Andy Tr......r (Yam); 4. Brad Spencer (Yam); 5. Pat Vacchieri (Yam); 8. Mike McDonald fHont 7. Troy Rose (Honl; B. Troy Yeo (Hon); 9. Steve Raymond fe-A); 10. Joe Carrera (Suz).