Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Hillclimb Series:Round 8 HILLCLIMB ~ ~ Multi -time 540cc Cham pion Tim Frazier fle w to se venth place in the 800cc class. Leon Everett b rakes the tape at the end of his run. An estimated 2500 spectators watched the action. Lou Ge rencer Jr. needed jus t one try to turn in the winning time in th e 800cc d ivis ion. Pinsonnault, Gerencer Jr. gas it at Goshen By Jay Herndon GOSHEN, IN ,SEPT. 19 aul Pinsonnault and homestate hero Lou Gerencer Jr. thundered up the Goshen Iron Horsemen M.C:s hill, taking wins in the 540 and 800cc classes, respectively. The Red Team's Gerencer Jr. threw a high rooster tail from his nitroburning Harley-Davidson, putting on a show as he flew from jump to jump, while Pinsonnault put on a similar show on his nitro/alcohol-fired Honda. The ISO-foot hill, known for its dangerous landing area on top, was treated with over 400 loads of clay to make it safer. "We're trying to improve conditions and make things easier for the riders," said club president Larry Wenger. "The club members who worked on the hilI and got the grounds ready today really deserve the credit. We just want the riders to be able to put on a good show and not worry about getting hurt:' The day started cool and breezy as the estimated 2500 spectators started entering the club grounds, and the riders took to inspecting the conditions. "The hill looks real good," said Randy Gabriel, of the USA Team. "Looks like its gonna be fast because it's a little wet and I think we're gonna ge t super traction. They've done a lot of improvements to the hill and I think the club should be commended for that; it made it a lo t safer:' . Scott Everett, who enjoyed a one-point lead in the 540cc division, drew honors to start the event, and lined up his Triumph for the first run. Everett launched hard off the first jump at the 30-foot mark, and landed well past the 9O-foot marker, only for his rear tire to drift left towards the out-of-bounds line. He rocketed through the lights and delighted the spectators as he launched over the crest of the hill. Zeke Wenger, the event referee, took a close look at Everett's tire marks and ruled that he had hit the chalk line and ridden out of bounds at the 125-foot mark. Everett's return in the seco nd round produced a quick run that was P straight and had a goo d landing. He accelerated hard up the hill to stop the clock with a 3.6372-second time, good enough for an eventual third place. "Tha t second run, I couldn't have gone any faster," said Everett. "The motorcycle ran great. I did hang in the air too much, that's what got me:' Alan Hoskins, aboard his back-up Honda, started his day with a quick dismount as his bike hooked up too well and looped out before the first jump. Hoskins was better in his second run, sailing over the top with a time of 3.6161. That put him in second place in the class. "The first round, I thought we'd need the traction, so I cleaned the hole out real good and things just got out of control and I had to let go of it. The second run we filled the hole all the way back in. I did the best I could - held her open, had a good, clean run, stayed in bounds and came out second:' As the 540cc class con tin u ed their assaults, Pinsonnault rolled into the box for his tum at the hill. Pinsonnault, second in the points battle as he started his climb, quickly 'changed that statistic with his single climb of the day . That run was straight and smooth, and took just 35152 seconds to complete. "I think the secret today was line selection," said Pinsonnault, who took over the points lead with the class win. "I was watching where everyone else was going at the beginning of the day. I picked out a special line and kept it secret, and it worked great. I picked far left, and everyone else was pretty much in the middle. I picked that line my very first pro hill climb. It worked then; it's still there and it worked." The first run of the 800cc competition was turned in by Richard George, aboard a Harley-Davidson. George started with a conservative climb as he rolled over the first jump and cracked the throttle open to stop the clock with a 5.6017. George returned in the second round to shave off a little more time, but his 5.1835 was not quick enough to elevate him above the 11th position. Gerencer Jr. rolled his bike into the box left of center. The rider from Elkhart, Indiana, had no problems performing in front of his home crowd, and the run was over nearly as soon as he hit the throttle. Pinsonnault's air time was smooth and straight, and he landed in the center and thundered on up with a blistering 3.3858second run, bringing the crowd to a roar. "One run!" said the ' HarleyDavid son / Gerencer Harley-Davidson /Jeff Yoder/Hog Wash /Bump Stickssponsored Gerencer Jr. "I came out of the hole real good, cleared the jump and had a straight run at the lights. It didn't take very long - the top of that hill came up fast." The Red Team's strength continued to show, as Harry Schreiber's first cIimb was fast with a little kick to the right as he flew through the timing lights with a time of 3.7144 seconds, putting him in fourth place. Schreiber's return proved even more effective, as he fired straight up the hill and flew over the top with a 3.3980, just hundredths behind his teammate, Gerencer Jr. "Basically, the same thing happened to me that happened to Little Louie (Gerencer [r.)," said Schreiber. "Just that Little LOuiewas faster. It was .39 to .38,so we're real happy with the team fin ish. Lou just flew a little farther than I did." The sound of Harleys continued to fill the air as veteran Tom Reiser put his USA Team nitro Harley-Davidson on the hill with a 3.4387-second time. His first time was a fast ride that Reiser imp roved on by two hundredths on his second ru n, putting him in third place at the conclusion of the day. Reiser still leads the points battle in the 800cc class. "It was a good day for us , but the strategy on the first hilI was (for me to) calm down and ride it just the way I wanted," said Reiser. "My wife suggested that if we could go a little harder at the bottom and jump out a little further, I'd be quicker. We gal more air and the impact was much harder:' m Resu lts - 540: 1. Paul Pinsonnau lt (Hon); 2. Alan Hoskins (Hon); 3. Scott Everett (Tn); 4. Ted Wilkins (Rb); 5. Michael Debusk (DSA); 6. Paul lowe (Kaw); 7. Michael Pulver (Kaw ); 8. Ralph Kreeger (Tn); 9. Steven Patrick (Yam); 10. Randy Dillon (Hoo); 11. Leon Everett (Tri); 12. Dou g Klont (Tri); 13. Paul Garre ty (Kaw); 14. William His lop (Hon); IS. John Hislop (IlSA). IIO(k I . Lou Gerencer Jr. (H-D); 2. Harry Schreiber (HD); 3. Tom Reiser (H-D); 4. Rodney Williams (H-D); 5. Greg Williams (Hon); 6. Gary Miller (H-D); 7. Tim Frazier (DSA); 8. Wallace Fowler (Suz); 9. Donald Boggs (Hon) ; 10. Richard George (H·D ); 11. Charlie Casey (Yam); 12. Randy Gabriel (H·D); 13. Glendal Petty Jr. (Tri); 14. Mark Swern (DSA ~ . AMA NATIONAL C'SHIP H ILLCLIMB SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Aftn' 8 of to rounds): 540: I. Paul Pinsonnalt (90/3 wins); 2. Scott Everett (89/2); 3. Ted Wilkens (81/3); 4. Alan Hoskins (72); 5. Paul Lowe (62). 800: 1. Tom Reiser (82/4 wins ); 2. Harry Schreiber (BO/ I); 3. Lou Gerencer Jr. (78/ 2); 4. Tun Frazier (77/1); 5. Greg Williams (72). 21

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