Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Harley-Davidson's Scott Parker (11) took fourth in the final and won the Camel Challenge race. Terry Poovey (18) finished fifth in the main. Freddie Spencer/SuperTrapp's Doug Chandler (10) barely edged Ricky Graham (3) and Honda's Bubba Shobert (1) to win the San Jose Mile. AlVA Grand National Championship Dirt Track Series/Camel Pro Series: Rounds 3/2 Cha"dler tops'photo .finish at San Jose Mile By Farren Williams Photos by Mitch Friedman SAN JOSE, CA, MAY 3 Northern California's Doug Chandler rode the wheels off his Freddie Spencer/SuperTrapp Racing Honda to post a recordbreaking, come-from-behind win over Team Honda's Bubba Shobert and two-time National champ Ricky Graham at the $75,000 Honda San Jose Mile, the 6 richest dirt track race ever held in America. Chandler, who had to play catchup for the entire 25-lap final after missing a shift at the start, neVer led the race until he passed both Shobert and Graham going into turn three on the final lap. The trio powered out of turn four, headed for the checkers, and crossed the line in such close quarters that no one present, including any of the 18,000 spectators, bad any idea who had won the race. After viewing a replay from the Cycle News Finish Line Camera, officials awarded the victory to Chandler and called the finish the closest ever in San Jose racing history. It was also the fastest race in San Jose history, despite a rule change for 1987 which mandates the use of intake manifold restrictor plates on the big V-twins. Chandler fini hed the final in 15 minutes, 30.796 seconds (96.69 mph), to break the 25lap record of 15:35.030, set by Jimmy Filice in September, 1983. "That was the toughest race I ever had to run," said Chandler. "I watched them in the turns. They were going through them on the outside and [ was going through on the inside. Halfway through the race I decided I had to change my line and that's when I started picking up time. "I don't think three people ever came across the line that close," said Shobert. "Me and Rick (Graham) tangled bars across the line. Wasn't II that the best race you ever saw? No wonder I'm going bald." "I never crossed the finish line before with a handlebar in my armpit," a smiling Graham said to Shobert. "I just didn't catch the draft good enough," Graham said. "I thought I was in the perfect place - the ideal position - to slingshot them. That's what all my experience told me and I still didn't win." The victory marked Chandler's second consecutive win at San Jose, and his second win in a row on the 1987 dirt track schedule. Chandler not only won the San Jose final here last September, but came into the race hot off a victory at the Ascot Half-Mile in Gardena, California, on April II. The race was one of the most exciting seen at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in recent memory. While Chandler played catch-up for 24 laps, Shoben and Harley-Davidson factory rider Scott Parker traded the lead no less than a reported 53 ti meso Parker, who finished fourth in the final after sl ipping off the groove on lap 18, was the winner of the firstever dirt track Camel Challenge. Parker won 10,000 for topping the five-lap sprint race between the top six qualifiers and took home a total of about 13,000 in combined winnings. Chandler collected about 9,000, including $5180 in first-place money, and contingency awards. Shobert's share oJ the $42,000 mainevent purse came to 3435 and lap money, while Graham collected $2240 for third place. The win vaulted Chandler into the AM A/Grand National Championship Dirt Track Series point lead, and tied him with Rainey in the Camel Pro Series point standings. Chandler leads the dirt track standings 50-36 over Shobert. Parker is third with 32 points. In the Camel standings, Chandler and Rainey are tied at 20-all, and Shoben is tied for second place with Japanese road racer Satoshi Tsjumoto. Shobert and Tsjumoto have 16 points each.. Time Trials Bubba Shobert set fastest time aboard his factory Honda, finishing one lap in 36.840 seconds, ju t over a half-second off Graham's 36.196 track record. Carr captured second-fastest time_ (36.924), Ohio's Steve Morehead, riding a factory Harley borrowed from former National champ Jay Springsteen, was third fastest (37.030) and fourth fastest went to the privateer Pioneer Truck Lines Honda of Alex Jorgensen, (37.506). Filling out the top 10 spots in the 46-rider field were Parker (37.539), Poovey (37.641), Richard Arnaiz (37.785), David Hebb (37.795), Graham (37.801), and Rainey (37.810). The fastest rider from the 30 Juniors who attempted to qualify was Wood-Rotax-mounted Bryan Villella, who clocked in at 38.75. Heats By the end of the first lap of the initial 10-lap Expert heat race, American Honda's Shoben was in the lead and powering away, despite riding with a broken finger on his right hand and a sore right elbow. Both injuries were suffered at the recent Transatlantic Challenge road races in England. Graham, sponsored by Arai, and Chandler settled into a side-by-side battle for second which lasted the full 10 laps. Graham led the fight for most of the race, but Chandler, sponsored by Freddie Spencer/ SuperTrapp/Arai/Hi-Point/Nankai/ERC/Bel-Ray/ND/RK Chain, drafted by Graham at the start/finish line on the final lap to take second. The second heat race belonged to Carr, who nabbed the holeshot on his H-D Motor Co./Lawwill/Shoei/ RS TaichilHap Jones/Hobie Harley-Davidson, and powered away from the pack. Scott Adams settled into second, followed by Oklahoman Ronnie Jones on a Gill Racing Honda in third, Harley-mounted Richard Arnaiz in fourth and road racer Rainey on a Mid-Cities Honda in fifth. Carr held on to win, Jones worked his way into second by the flag and Arnaiz took the final transfer spot. Rainey finished fourth, just out of the transfer positions. Poovey worked his way to the front of the third 10-lap Expert heat and kept his Hollywood Motorcycle Machine/Shoei/Marioneaux Racing/Hap Jones/Portco/T ubaki Honda in the top position for the rest of the race. Ted Boody powered

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