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/126975
After being momentarily stuck in first gear, Dave Schultz scored a come-from-behind win over Phil Tannery. Californian Phil Tannery scored a shock win over top qualifier Terry Vance in first round action. Terry Vance was number one qualifier with a 8.142 second,-162.30 mph run. NHRA Budweiser Summernationals Schultz swiftest at Englishtown Drags By John Dunlap ENGLI HTOWN, N],] LV 12 Lightning flashed, the skies grew Offilno~sly dark, rain was ready to fall, and Dave Schultz was stuck in first gear. Being stuck in first gear is bad enough for any pro bike 16 racer in a National Hot Rod A sociation (NHRA) National event; but being stuck in first gear in the final of the HRA's Budweiser ummernationals is a Shakespearean tragedy in the making.. chultz may not have been think- ing about Shakespeare, or tragedies, when he found him elf t mporarily unable to get out of [irst gear against Suzuki-mounted Phil Tannery in the , ummernationals, but he was able LO keep his cool. Instead of panicking, the Ft. Meyers, Florida, pilot of the Kawasaki inja backed 0[[ the throttle at the 2oo-foot mark and ea ed into second gear. By that time Tannery, [rom Hemet, California, had caught and passed Schultz. Tannery, a shocking first-round winner over LOp qualifier T TTy . Vance appeared ready LO claim the championship. "We were more or 1es in a dead heat," said chultz. "But I de ided Lo just concelllrate and play it cool. Besides, my bike had be n running fairly well the whole event. I think I caugh t him at the back end and won by haH a bike. Phil ran a great race, but I really wanted this one. I've been hot lately and have been moving in on Terry (Vance) in the HRA points." The re ult was a run of 8.29 seconds at 156.67 mph by Schultz for the victory, his first NHRA National event triumph and econd- traight strong performance. In the second Pro Stock Bike HRA event, the Cajun Nationals, chultz was ru n ner- u p to Rick tetson. Put IOgether chultz's win at Engli htown and runner-up fini hat Baton Rouge, though, and you have a horse race [or the top spot in the HRA's Pro lOck point chase. Vance was, however, able to quali[y in the number one position [or the • ummernationals, but his tartling fir t-round los to Tannery had the defending HRA champ shaking his head. "I wa a little late when I le[t the starting line against Phil," aid Van e. "But that wasn't so much the problem. I just didn't have the power I expected to have. At the finish line I looked over and saw Phil had the race. It's disappointing, but what can you do? That's racing. A lot o[ times I've gotten by the first round with a lillie luck, But not thi time." Vance lost the first-round match with Tannery with an elapsed time o[ 8.26 seconds at 1.58.95 mph to Tannery's 8,25/1.59.09. The time o[ Vance's was a great deal Q[f llis quali[ying mark o[ 8.142/162,30, but that run was Vance's first o[ qualifying. and sub equem runs all [ell orr the pace. Vance knew why. "We maul' a bunch o[ changes after that first qualifying run thinking we could come up with omething better," Vance concluded. "As it was we started backing up and chasing our tail. We were completely barned' by the fir t round of elimination . Of course, we didn't think we wou lu 10 e a 10th o[ a second' to Tannery and we didn't think l;1e would pick up a 10th of a se ood. Now things are going to be tough because Schultz anu Stetson are running 0 well. Tannery was not content to sit on his fir t-round upset of Vance, edging Randy Mason in the econd round that was a close as the Vance duel. Tannery ran a 8.31/157.70 to Mason's 8.30/158.67. Then Tann0l)' had to take another heart-pounder, edgi ng the TOwd favorite, Pima John Ma[aro, in the semi-finals with a 8.25/158.53 while Mafaro, who qualified third, managed a 8.23/ 159.94. Giant killer Tannery was not able 10 maintain his magic against Schultz, giving it a good shot. till, the Summernational will prove to be an emotional boost to the ~I ifornian and proves that qualifying in the number nine position doesn't always have to be a disaster (number nine in HRA events always meets number one in the first round o[ elimination ). A [or chultz, the weekend was a total delight, in spite o[ the first gear problem that al 0 cropped up in a second-round match against Mike Keyte. In that ca e, as in the [inals, chultz' power was ju t too solid and hi Kawasaki thundered pa t Keyte on the upper end to the tune of 8.24/158.92, while Keyte came home with a run 0[8.27/159.01. 'Til figure out why things are wrong with first gear oon enough," said Schultz. "What 1 am most pleas d about is that I have been able to ke p my cool when things aren't necessarily going well or I might have reason to be too excited. For example, I saw Vance lose ahead o[ me before my first-round match with (Bob) Carpenter. Still, I had to just say to my elf, 'Hey, you haven't won anything, yet. Ju t because Terry has lost doesn't mean it i automatic that