Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

quickly out of the box and kicked his bike up the hill. He logged a time of 3.8668 on his first climb, and elected to try and im p ro ve it. Wilk ins le ft s trai ght as an ar ro w on h is sec ond attempt, landing square and bettering his tim e with a 3.5312 run: not as fast as Pinsonnault but good enough for second. "You've got to hold it on until the li g h ts; th a t' s the tric k - that and a smooth jump," sa id Wilkins. Mike DeBusk fired his nitro-fueled BSA over the jumps, crossing up as he landed with the throttle on . He mainta ined h is momentu m and th rew a rooster tail through the lig hts, stopp ing th em at 3.5436. The lig hts were s topped, but DeBu sk was n ' t, as he topped the hill and plunged over the cr est. He inju red his le ft arm in the fall , preventing him from riding a second time . Luckily, his fateful ride was fast enough to earn him third place. "You've just got to keep your head together," sa id DeBu sk. "(You w ant to) get out of the hole straight and be on the power when you hit the ground - and be ho pefu l yo u won ' t crash at the top of the hill like I did tod ay." When the remainder of the class had comp leted their second runs, Pinsonnault's single run was stilI good enough for the win. "I didn't think I would do as well as I've do ne today," 'said Pinsonnault. " I just set the bike up like I did last fall when I won here. After watching a few guys, I knew I would be all right. " Dan Watson had the honors of getting the 800cc class off to a start. Watson put his motorcycl e onto the hi ll cautiously, sp ringing off the first jump and motoring over th e second . He blasted to the top w ith a time of 5.1815, and a crash at the 85-foot mark on his second run didn't allow him to improve his time . Greg Williams put his four-eylinder n itr o- brea th e r far right in th e bo x befor e la un ching. He landed beyon d the seco nd jump and cleared his engine as he hammered his motorcycle over the top with a 3.6086. Returning i n ro un d two , Wi llia ms launch ed quickly and smoothly, clearing the jumps without effort as he kicked out a rooster tail and climbed through the lights, bettering his first climb with a 3.4080. That tim e proved to be the third-fastest. "Th e gu ys on the Harleys seem to dominate her e, and for me to go home in the top three, I figure that's a real good da y's work ," s ai d Canada 's Williams. "I am happy about that; it's put me in a real good position for the rest of the races. " Representing the USA Team, Rand y Gabriel exited the launch pad aboard h is nitro-fed Harley, fast a nd with finesse. He used his low-flying air time to gain time on the ground, making use of all the traction he could muster. His slingshot ride could not have been smoother, as he landed on both wheels pa st the second jump and fled through th e lights to secure second place with his only climb of the da y. " (My ) strategy for today was to sta y in the top six and to continue to do that for th e next few races," said Gabrie l. "We'll do all right. I mig ht have to slow down to do that, but I . think we can stay in the top six." The surprise of the day was new. comer Mike Dent, of Charleston , West Virginia. Dent brought his amateu r hillclimbing skills to Goshen, and displayed an excellent ride aboard h is nitro-burning Harley-Davidson. Dent ,J ta r te d ,le f t in the box a n d exited smoo thly, spe nding a minimal amount of time airborne. He landed and throttled wi thou t h es ita tion, goosing his thunderous Ha rley to the timing lights and settin g a time of 3.4380. Although Den t was second at the en d of round one, he returned for the second round to beat out Ra nd y Gabriel by only three thou sandths of a second, with a time of 3.3945. Dent had taken the victory in his firs t race as a Pro! "I just wanted to make su re I sailed the jump and landed straight, and the rest was (of) no concern," said a smiling Dent afterwards. "I'm thankful for be ing hooked up with th e Gerencer team and (for) being put on a mach ine (tha t's) capable of winning." D (Above) Glen Petty broke his frame when land ing from a j ump on his first attempt. Workers had to carry his bike off the hili. (Left) Alan Hoskins airs out his Honda on his way to fo urth place in the 540cc divis ion . The Iron Horsem en Hillis known for being short but exc iting. (Below) Mike Dent (left) and Paul Plnsonnau lt celebrate afte r win ning the ir classes In the season opener. Iron Horsemen Hill Gos hen , Ind iana Results: May 15, 1994 (Ro und 1 of 12) 540: 1. Paul Pinsonnault (Hon); 2. Ted Wilkins (Rtx); 3. Mike De Busk (BSA); 4. Alan Hoskins (Hon); 5. Paul Lowe (Kaw) ; 6. Steve Patrick (Yam); 7. Mike Pulver (Ho n); 8. Richard Soter CBSA); 9. Larry Witmer (Ho n); 10. Jaso n Petty (!Caw); II. John Hislop (BSA); 12. Ralph Kreeger (Tri) ; 13. Randall Dillom (Hon); 14. Doug Klont (T rO; 15. Steve Dresser (5uz); 16. Paul Garrety (Ho n); 17. Jack Yeck (Due); 18. Scott Everett (Tri); 19. Bob Hawk (BSA); 20. William Hislop (Hon). 800, 1. Mike Den t (H- D); 2. Randy Gabriel (H -D); 3. Greg Willia ms (Ho n); 4. Lou Cerencer Jr. (H-D) ; 5. Tim Frazier ( BSA); 6. Bo b Cast ledine (H-D); 7. Wa llace Fowl er (5uz) ; 8. Tom Reise r (H ·O); 9. Don Boggs (Ho n); 10. Dan Watson; II. Jack J. Yeck (Tri); 12. Rich ar d Geo rge (H- O); 13. Glen Petty (Tri); 14. Gary Mill er (H- D); 15. Danny Ha lco m b (T ri); 16. Ha rry Sch reiber (H- D). AMA NATI ONAL CHAMPIONSHI P H IL LCLI M B SERIES POINT ST ANDINCS 540 : 1. Paul P ins o n nault '(15/ 1 win); 2. Ted Wilkin s (14); 3. Mike De Busk (13); 4. Ala n Hosk ins (12); 5. Pa ul Lowe (11); 6. Ste ve Pa tr ick (10); 7. Mike Pu lver (9); 8. Rick Sot er (8); 9. Larry Witmer (7); 10. Jason Petty (6). 800, 1. Mike Dent (I S/ I ); 2. Randy C ab riel (14); 3. Greg Williams (13); 4. Lou Gere ncer (12); 5. Tim Frazier (11); 6. Bob Castledine (10); 7. Wallace Fow ler (9); 8. To m Reiser (8); 9 . Don Bog gs (7); 10. Da n Wa tson (6). Upcoming Rounds: Rnd 2 • Jefferson, Pennsylvania, June 5 Rnd 3 - Freemansburg, Pennsylvania, June 12 25

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