Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·DIBT TRACK:· AMA Gi'ancI ~ChampionShlp Set:les.. Round 8: Du Quoin State Fairgrounds o @WU OWooo@ @@a @o By Scott Rousseau Photos by Bert Shepard and Flat Trak FOt08 DU QUOIN, IL, JutY2 bout all that was clear at the finish of the "Magic Mile" at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds was that defending event champion Davey Camlin had been able to recapture the magic and score a dramatic repeat victory before an estimated 7000 fans. But what was most undear was exactly who had laid claim to the place and show positions, as no less than four riders - Scott Parker, Steve Morehead, Kevin Atherton and Chris Carr crossed the finish line right with Camlin. The events after the finish only served to compound a terrible day on the mile which was marred by the death of Rodney Farris, 32, of Winchester, Virginia. The popular Winchester HarleyDavidson-backed veteran privateer suffered a horrific crash on lap 18 of the 25-lap Grand National main event while running in the lead draft when he appeared to hit a rut in between turns three aJ:\d four on the otherwise smooth, wide and ultra-fast racing surface. Witnesses said that Farris' Harley-Davidson XR750 clipped the hay bales, and he was sent head first into the guardrail before bouncing back into the racing line where he was subsequently struck in the head and neck by Washington rider Joe Kopp. Paramedics stationed in turn four were on the scene immediately, and Far- CD ~ e ~ 0\ ...... N~ ...... >... -_::l 4 tis was rushed from the track and airlifted to the trauma center at University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, with multiple serious injuries including massive head injuries. Farris remained on life support through the night, but the equipment was removed the next morning, and Farris was pronounced dead at 11:57 a.m. on July 3. Unaware of Farris' condition, Camlin reveled in his repeat victory, which appeared to be as sweet as the first, perhaps sweeter considering that the Wiebler's Hariey-Davidson/Brenny's/ Bell/H.0.G./1ndian M/C Supply/ Quick Roofing/Eaken Racing/Bootleggers-sponsored journeyman racer, in his first race back from injuries suffered at the Peoria 600cc National IT on June 11, appeared to be out of the hunt four laps from the checkered flag. But a late-race hitching with Steve Morehead propelled both riders past third-placed Rich King and right up to the rear wheels of leader Scott Parker and second-placed Kevin Atherton. From there, Camlin retook control of his own destiny, coming off the last comer third in a five-rider pack before pulling clear of Atherton, Parker, Morehead and Carr for t\:Ie victory. So close was the finish and so stunning the victory that Camlin himself wasn't even sure how or if he'd managed to pull it off. . "1 don't know, 1really don't," Camlin said. "I'll tell you, when 1 got hurt at Peoria, 1 really asked myself whether 1 wanted to keep going. It hit me two weeks ago that 1 really wanted this. This win means as much or more than the first one did." Finishing second was, well, Steve Morehead. At least that's who the AMA officials awarded the position to. But there would be no champagne shower or victory circle interview for the KK Supply /F&S Harley-Davidson/Shepherd/Dragoo/Bell/Wilson/Motion Pro/Pro Plates/Storr-supported veteran, as his position on the rostrum was taken up by Atherton, to whom scorekeepers at the finish line awarded second place in the mad dash to the finish (see box). Like Camlin, The Findlay Flyer's bid for a top-three finish appeared to be in the tank by lap 21, but the gritty Morehead put on a charge that saw him pass King and Carr to link up with Camlin. Once the two riders leapfrogged their way into contention, Morehead and Camlin divorced, and the Ohioan appeared to be right where he wanted to be coming off the last corner. When officials told Morehead that he had crossed the line in fourth place behind Parker, Morehead was in disbelief. "There ain't no way Parker beat me," Morehead said. "How can he beat me when he locked handlebars with me when he was trying to pass mer' But while Morehead was displeased with the call, he was pleased by his per- . formance. "What a battle, huh?" Morehead said. "We didn't look too good earlier, but we jusi worked on it all day long, and it came around in the main event." mu Reigning Grand National Champion Parker finished third, was awarded third, and after all the post-race controversy, remained third to retain the series points lead by 18 points over the resurgent Morehead, 95-77. But the five-time champ may have had more reason to be disappointed than anyone as he had pulled out a semi-eomfortable lead and appeared to have the victory all but wrapped up when the Farris accident halted the race. On the restart, Parker again sped to the front with Atherton in tow. The former factory Harley-Davidson teammates intended to keep the battle for the win aU to themselves, and it was Parker who led the battalion off the final turn, but then came Camlin. When it was over, the Harley-Davidson, Inc. /Bell/H.O.G. /Yeti/D's/Reed Randle Ford/AFAM-sponsored Parker was said to have finished a hair's width behind Atherton, but he too would later be embroiled in the finish-line controversy. '1 thought we had everyone covered, but 1 screwed up on the last lap," Parker said. "1 don't know if it was stupidity or brain fade. I just took'n made a mistake. When we got to the start/finish line, they were coming from all directions." And as far as the directions from which they all came, Parker's factory teammate Carr joined the final-lap fracas from the furthest south, threading his way into the dogfight after an out-ofcharacter 10th-place start. But the Scrappy 28-year-old Californian, who continues to divide his time between his

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