Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ROFF·ROAD Acerbis Adventure Nevada Rally e Dan Ashcraft melted his rear fender while trying to catch Olivier on the next-to-last day. Australian Jon Hederics slows as he approaches civilization at the end of a special test. 20 were working it had some trouble and didn't get there on time," explained Acerbis' Bill Berreth at the heated riders' meeting that.night. "The first three or four riders were going around in circles looking for the check, and they lost a bunch of time. We feel that the only choice that's fair for everyone is to throw out the test." Many riders protested the move, and started up a petition requesting organizers to reverse the decision. "That's bull," was KTM rider Daryl Folks' response to the organ izers' choice. "There was a course marker just past where the check was supposed to be, so they couldn't have thought they were lost. They shouldn't hurt everyone else just to help three guys." "Whatever they want to do is fine," Ashcraft sa id. "Sure, I'd like to see it count because I did really good there, but I'll go along with whatever they decide." Two riders who missed out on the arguments were Lewis and KTMmounted Bryan Folks, both of whom were wrenching on their bikes as the others discussed their options. Lewis was installing a third motor in his big thumper, while Folks spent the entire night pirating parts from his backup bike in order to repair a leaking crank seal. "I had to stay there with my mechanic, because 1 knew if 1 left, he'd give up and quit," said Folks . "I finall y went and took a shower and put on my gear, and he finished my bike just in time for me to take it to the line." Riders returned to Ely on the fourth day, taking a different route. Ashcraft's troubles kept up as he crashed in the first of two special tests. Trolli continued to shine, posting the fastest combined time in the two tests. Morris was impressive, advancing an other spot to second, while Ashcraft slipp ed to third. Olivier moved up a spot to fourth and Californian Charles Halcomb sat in fifth place despite stopping to help Kinigadner after a day-three crash. A dark cloud was cast over the rally late in the second test when Australian GeOffEldridge, 43, crashed into an automobile and was killed . The event medical team was on the scene immediately, and though resuscitation attempts were made, all efforts were futile. Eldridge, the publisher of Australasian Dirt Bike magazine, was transported by helicopter to the medical center in Ely , where he was pronounced dead by the deputy coroner. A 24-hour break had already been planned for the following day, day five. During the break, state and local authorities invesigated the accident and determined it to be just that - an accident. At an emotional riders' meeting that night, organizers announced that the event would continue. "We d iscussed our different options, a nd d ecided that Geoff would have wanted us to keep riding," said Berroth. "The rest of this Nevada Rally and each one we hold from now on will be dedicated to his memory." In honor of Eldridge, his publication's st ickers were applied to all the bikes, .and race personnel donned green and yellow ribbons. On da y six, the longest of the rally, competitors were timed in two special tests as they headed southwest to Tonopah. Several changes in the top positions took place, the most dramatic of which occurred when Trolli got lost in the first test and turned in an extremely poor score. The slip-up cost th e Italian dearly, dropping him to fourth overall behind Olivier, Ashcraft and Halcomb. Morris' hopes for a top fin ish went down the drain when his crank seized in a special test. Noleen Racing-sponsored Angelo Cavandoli, who was having the cylinder and piston of his YZ250 replaced every day, moved into fifth overall and assumed the 250cc class lead. Kinigadner had injured his 'thigh in a crash the day before, but he still managed to post the sixth-fastest combined time for the day. "The leg's not so bad, but I get a high fever yesterday and I think I take too much medicine." Less than four minutes in arrears of Olivier, Ashcraft stood a good chance at overtaking the leader on the final day, but he was agai n thwarted when his ign ition quit on him in the day's single special test. "It wasn't running right in the morning, and then it sputtered and died two miles past the first pit," said Ashcraft. "I was carrying an extra ignition, but the strap on my fanny pack broke a few miles earlier and it fell off. I think I could have done it, judging from the terrain, but you never know." "This morning my plan was just to stay ahead of Dan, and to stay with him if he passed me," Olivier said. "At gas two the organizers told me he broke down, and 1 backed off." The actual competition ended in the town of Pahrump, and Lewis had to be towed across the line when his third and final motor expired less than half a mile from the finish. Finishers were escorted the fmal 60 miles into Las Vegas, where they roared into the Excalibur's jousting arena for the dramatic closing ceremonies. . "I would have loved to have had Dan's bike," said Olivier, who has twice won the Tunisia Rally and is a seventime ISDE medalist. "Mine was stock, and he had factory support. 1 thought the organizers did a good job, especially considering it was the first rally here, but I was expecting it to be more difficult. I'll be back next year, but I hope they make it tighter; otherwise it's too dangerous. Also, there shouldn't be any course markings at all, so everyone has to know how to read the road book. The last two days were perfect." "I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out," said the KTM/Pro Sport / Bieffe / Dunlop / Moone Racing/Pro Taper/Sprocket Specialistsbacked Halcomb. "lcrashed and got lost a few times, but I was pretty consistent and it paid off." Halcomb capitalized on Ashcraft's woes to nab second overall, and was the top rider in the +30 division. Third overall was 250cc class winner Cavandoli, while Daryl Folks put his 550cc KTM atop the Open division in fourth overall. Italian Fabio Fasola, mounted on a 620cc KTM four-stroke, made a final-day surge to secure fifth overall in the final resul ts, Venezuelan Alfredo Herrera topped the +40 class. Preston Gerber bested 67-yearold former Olympic gymnast Jesse Goldberg to win the +50 category, while American Anna Cody finished an impressive 20th overall to ace the Women's class, defeating German rally specialist Jutta Kleinschmidt. "I really had a good time," Californian . Cody said. "[utta was a great competitor and we got along great. I'd like to go over .to Europe and try some rallies there." After shrugging off an injured wrist and climbing as high as eighth overall, KTM's Scot Harden saw his ride end prematurely on the final day. "My mot or broke on the last day," lamented Harden. "This is the most disappointed 1can ever remember being. 1 rode all that distance with a broken wrist and a bum shoulder, and worked my way up through the pack, just to have this happen." Kinigadner was another rider to drop out on the final day, when his wild antics finally got the better of him. The Austrian was in sixth overall going into day six, bu t he crashed, suffering a broken collarbone. More fortunate was Gary Hilton, a South African who had decided to ride the event just days before the start. Hilton purchased an ancient Honda XL600 in California and rode it to Nevada, then completed the rally despite the fact that his airbox fell off and he had to fashion a replacement from aluminum cans and stickers . "I'll be back next year, and I'll finish on the same bike," vowed Hilton. CN Results O/A: 1. A lain Olivier (Kaw) France; 2. Ch arles Halcomb (KTM) USA; 3. Angelo Cavandoli (Yam) Italy ; 4. Daryl Folks (J

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