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/127565
_ e~M~M~~_~_'~_h_~_2 e Stephen Mathews (81) battled hard with Dave Roper (1) in the 5OOa: Premier class. Mathews earned the win aboard a 1960 Matchless, then backed it up with a win in the Oassic '60s. Todd Henning collected wins in four different races and finished second in another. Mathews, Henning share Daytona glory By Donn Maeda Photos by Kinney Jones 32 DAYIONA BEAG{, FL, MAR 1 intage motorcycle enthusiasts from across the nation flocked to Daytona International Speedway to test not only themselves, but their V machines as well against the famous 3.56 mile race track that is the focal point of the facility that is widely known as the "World Center of Racing." Though the action at the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Associationpromoted event may have been a bit slower than that of the world famous Daytona 200, the action proved to be no less exciting as hundreds of riders, totaling over 600 entries, battled for their share of the Daytona glory. Coming away as the day's big winners were Stephen Mathews of Atlanta, Georgia, and Todd Henning of Provincetown, Massachusetts. After a tremendous battle with perennial favorite David Roper of Hicksville, New York, Mathews came away the victor in the highly-touted 500 Premier class aboard his 1960 Matchless G50. Mathews added to his win list aboard a similar motorcycle, notching the win in the Classic 60s class as well. "All day, I felt better and better with each lap," said Mathews. "I can't believe some of the breaks I got. I got a great start in the 500 Premier race. That was the key." Henning was a busy man, as he piloted a wide variety of machines in seven different classes throughout the day. Henning won the Formula 250, 350 Sportsman, 500 Sportsman and Formula 500 classes, and added a runner-up finish in the 750 Sportsman class, as well as a third in the Formula Vintage class to his list of accomplishments. "I would finish one race, then immediately have to jump on another bike for the next race: said Henning. "It was a wild day, that's for sure" In the eight-lap 500 Premier race, Mathews assumed the lead within the first few turns, despite starting the race on the fourth row. "Holes just kept opening up at the start: said the personable Mathews. "l just zipped through the middle and got into the lead." Chasing Mathews through the horseshoe were Craig McLean, Don Vesco and Dave Pither. Roper, aboard a Team Obsolete 1968 Benelli 350, was mired at the start and began the first lap in seventh, but began a tear through the field that would carry him to the rear fender of Mathews by lap four. Along with Pither, Mathews and Roper easily outdistanced the rest of the field, while fast-starters McClean and Vesco dropped off the pace with mechanical woes. On the sixth lap, Roper slipstreamed past Mathews on the banking and assumed the lead, but his luck would soon run out. As they exited the hairpin horseshoe tum, Roper grabbed too much throttle and was promptly spit off. "I was right behind him," said Mathews. "Luckily, I was on the extreme inside and I missed him and his bike. I looked down and I saw the "Benelli" on his fairing spinning around and around." With that, the race was Mathews', as he easily fended off the charges of Pither for the remainder of the race and rode to victory. Noel Clegg finished a distant third, well ahead of Bob Jackson and Kurt Liebmann. In the Classic 60s race, Mathews rode to an easy win aboard another Matchless GSO ahead of 1960 HarleyDavidson 750-mounted Rusty Lowry and 1962 BSA GS pilot Bobby Winters. "I think I had some motor on everyone else," said Mathews. Henning began his streak of wins in the Formula 250 race, which was started in a second wave behind the Class C race. After starting fast aboard his 1972 Yamaha TD3, Henning easily shook off his competitors and began to slice through the Class C field, which was being led by Roper aboard a 1951 Velocette KTT. Henning easily passed the entire Class C field, including Roper. Also blitzing through the entire Class C field was 1969 Yamaha 248 rider Yoshi Kosaka, who began to reel in Henning in the latter stages of the race. It was not