Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Doug Chandler (10) and Ricky G,.ham (3) b8ttled throughout their heat ,.ce. G,.ham took fourth in the final, Chandler finished fifth. away with aboutfive laps to go," said Parker. "I was charging so hard, trying to catch Chris. 1guess 1should have worried about second place rather than doing what I did. I lost on both ends. " The engine in Carr's winning Harley was the result of months of off-season research and development by Lawwill. A rule change for 1987, implemented for the first time at Sacramento, requires all Honda RS750 and Harley-Davidson XR750 twins to be fitted with intake manifold restrictor plates. Lawwill spent the off-season learning how to pump more horsepower out of a restricted XR750 engIne. "I just spent $7000 trying to get that thing up to date," said Lawwill. "It was a long winter and a lot of work. I fought against the restrictor rule, but now it's a rule. There's no sense fighting city hall." Lawwill and Axtell did extensive dyno testing on Carr's restricted XR750 to get it ready for Sacramento. The second and third place machines of factory riders Shobert and Parker also were extensively dyno tested, and Shobert track-tested his. restrictor-equipped Honda at San Jose the Wednesday before the race. Two-time National Champion Ricky Graham of California, who finished a respectable, but distant, fourth, chalked up his showing to the new restrictor rule. "It just shows what access to dyno time can do for you," Graham said. "We spent a total of seven dollars on research and development. We bought the restrictors from the AMA and we bolted them in. "They put in the (restrictor rule) to cut down the cost of racing, but now you've got to completely redesign the motorcycle to be competitive " Graham said. Shobert agreed. "The rule's not going to do what they want it to do," he said. "It has no significance on what they're trying to accomplish." Lawwill, the man who seemingly has figured out how to beat AMAmandated restricrors, hinted that the rule might even deteriorate the quality of National dirt track racing. "I think. it's separated the good guys and the slower guys even more, rather than bringing them together," Lawwill said. The restrictor controversy sparked heated discussion between riders and AMA officials during the rider's meeting. Officials told several riders and team managers who voiced opposition to the unpopular rule to take their complaints to the next AMA Dirt Track Advisory Board meeting in San Jose, California, on May 4. "Why go to San Jose when it won't do any good," countered Freddie Spencer/SuperTrap'p Racing Team Manager Jerry Gnffith. 'Everybody voiced their opinion against restrictors (in 1986) and it didn't do any good. They voted them in anyway." Time Trials Carr piloted his H-D Motor Co.! Lawwill/ShoeilRS TaichilHap Jones/Hobie Harley-Davidson into the top qualifying spot with a time of 38.08 seconds (94.6 mph), roughly one second off Wayne Rainey's record lap of 37.143, set in September 1985. Shobert clocked his factory Honda in at 38.18 seconds to take secondfast time, Graham followed with a time of 38.49, and Parker rounded out the heat-race pole sitters with a 38.55 showing. Filling out the top 10 were Terry. Poovey (38.65), Jay Springsteen Scott Parker doused teammate Chris Carr with champagne in the Sacramento Mile winner's circle while Bubb8 Shob8rt looked on. (38.629), ,Alex Jorgensen (38.6~), Rodney Farris (38.72), Tim Mertens (38.98), and Rich Arnaiz (39.01). Since there were only 43 Experts on hand to fill the 48 spots on the starting grid, everyone made the program.. The fast Junior qualifier was Bryan Villella, who clocked in his Ron Wood-sponsored Rotax at 39.6 seconds. Heats . Carr powered away at the beginning of the first qualifying heat, leaving Maryland's Farris and Californian Scott Pearson, in his first race since his mid-1986 suspension for refusing to allow an engine teardown at a non-National event, to argue over second, which they did for the full 10 laps. First Farris would lead on his Ed Fisher/Mike Spon-

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