Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 3: Bushkill Valley Hill erencer, Pinsonnaultkill 'em By Jay A. Herndon EASION, PA. JUNE 12 ouie Gerencer [r ., of the HarleyDavidson-backed Gerencer team, needed only one fast wheelie run to the top of Bushkill Valley's hill to win his second 800cc Pro Hillclimb this year . Gerencer threw his chain off 25 feet aw ay from the launch pad on his first attempt, but got the job done the second time out. Equally impressive, Paul Pinsonnault used his technical riding skills to fire his Honda into the top spo t in the 540cc class. He used the ideal traction to prove once again that technique will get you there the quickest. The Bushkill Valley club has been around since 1958, and the hill itself has a reputation for being the toughest and fastest on the circuit. It begins with sand and gravel, and is broken by a little kicker at the 75-foot mark. The next obstacle is a jump at 150 feet, followed by another at 275. Jump number three is at 400 feet, and the hill tops out at 500 feet, with the timing lights just 20 feet short of the top . "In the past seven years, it's the best I've seen it," commented Bob Castledine, soon after a morning rain had soaked into the ground. "They put a lot of time and effort into getting this hill into shape toda y. They've got the hills (jumps) lined up so they're safe." The morning rain moved off, leaving the crowd of 3000 with overcast conditions. Humidity was in the 90% range, with temperatures well into the 80s. Gelling the day's event underway, L (Above left) David Watson , 16, powers his Kawasaki up the Bushkill Valley hili. (Above) Lou ie Gerencer Jr. needed Just one cl imb to lock up the win In the 800cc class. (Left) Defending champion Paul Plnsonnault makes his second run up the hili. It was quick enough to win the 540cc division. 44 James Zucco put his Kawasaki onto the hill for the first run in the 540cc class. He logged some air time over the first couple of jumps, on ly to di smount at the 300-foot marker. On his second attempt, Zucco kicked his motorcycle through the lights with a time of 12.2140 seconds not fast enough to elevate him above 12th place . After having a little trouble gelling his BSA into gear, Bruce Sweigert stayed on the narrow groomed path and flew over the top, pushing his front wheel through the lights with a time of 10.7212 . In round two. Sweigert launched out of the left side of the box, putting the nitroburning machine to the top in 10.2740 good for third in the 540cc division. "I wouldn't have had the chance to ride if it wouldn't have been for Mike (Debusk)," said Sweigert. "I hated to see him break his collarbone (at the previous round), but he called me in the middle of the week and said he wanted someone to ride his bike, so I jumped at the offer." Rick Soter attacked the hill, throwing his BSA 30 to 40 feet off of each jump. His first climb prod uced a time of 12.3693, but his second ascent was plagued with timing light problems and was reduced to a practice run. On his third trip up the hill, Soter sailed through the lights with a time of 10.1456, securing him the runner-up spot. Pinsonnault, the National Champion, squirmed his Honda out of the box and quickly found himself with a handful. He drifted while leaving the third jump, both feet coming off the pegs, but continued thro ugh the lights with a respectable 10.4408. Pinsonnault's second cli mb proved more fruitful as he sailed 45 feet off one of the jumps and wheelied through the timing light in 9.8468,giving him another victory. "I wanted to give my wife a n ice birthday gift, so I dedicated this win to her," said Pinsonna ult. "It was fun. I had to fight off a pretty good wheelie the last half of the hill." Charlie Casey led the 8llOcc class with a fishtail off the start. He stra igh tened up but landed out of shape over each of the jum ps. Casey fou gh t off a wheelie and trip ped the beam with a time of 16.3379. His return ended sho rt of the top at the 425-foot mark. Bob Ca stledine, of th e USA Reiser

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