Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Opposite page) Team Harley· Davidson's SCott Parker (1) and Chris Carr (4) were never much closer than this as they stormed to a 1-2 finish at the season· ending Del Mar Mile. (Right) Kevin Atherton was In contention for the win untillle suffered this grinding crash on lap 14. his place in the single-file lineup. Camlin's crew called for a two-minute hold in order to make repairs, and they did solve the problem. But when the AMA ordered Camlin to the rear of the field, it only served to fire up the diminutive Illinois rider all the more. On the restart, Camlin charged to the outside line and stayed there for the remaining 11 laps, blowing by the majority field in only four laps to pull in well behind Carr. Camlin stayed on the attack even on the final lap, and he was clearly satisfied with his own performance as he stood up on his motorcycle and pumped his fists at the cheering crowd on the cool-off lap. "What a way to finish the year," an elated Carnlin said. "I do that £rom time to time - get fired up like that. Red flag are scary, but that one really gave me a breather." Garvis Honda's Rich King finished fourth, but more importantly, the veteran Iowan retained second place in the series, a position that was in doubt at the beginning of the day when the team suffered mechanical ills in practice. The team made repairs and King went on to take his place in the main via a semi. Once in the show, King displayed the same consistency and dogged determination that he has all year as he flogged his George Garvis-tuned RS750'while battling Davis and Kopp in one of the dosest races on the track. King ran no lower than sixth after the red flag before he pulled away from Davis on the final lap and secured his 11 th top-five finish of the year, clinching the series runnerup spot over Carr, 226-220. "We just came in here wanting to do the same thing that we've done all year," King said. "I know that Chris is capable of winning any motorcycle race that he enters, and 1 wanted to make sure that I did well enough that it didn't matter what he did." Fifth place - and fourth in the yearend standings - went to Will Davis. The scrappy North Carolinian started the race third, running his Dennis Town-prepared Honda practically everywhere on the race track in search of an advantage, But as the laps wore on, Davis fell victim to nothing more than a tight race, as he diced it up with Kopp and King. Davis was able to hold off King on lap 23 and 24, but he came up just short of doing the deed on the final lap. AIterward, Davis praised the preparation of the race track. "It was a lot better than it was last year," Davis said. "It was a lot of fun. 1 was in third for a while, but I just couldn't get away from them other guys. On the restart, 1 thought that 1 could tag onto Parker and Carr and pull away with them, b:'t 1didn't." HEATS Davis and Poovey. opened up the show with a tight battle in the opening heat race. The two Honda riders pulled clear of F&S Harley-Davidson's Steve Morehead as he fought with an ill motor and then drafted each other until Davis took a clear lead on lap six. The veteran Texan then drew close to Davis and put him away on the back straight during the eighth lap to score the fastest heat win of the day. "1 had to figure it out," Poovey said. "1 didn't think that l'd catch him for a while, but that Johnny Goad Honda works good. ow I just gotta do that 25 more times." Heat two was the Parker and Carr show. Simply put, the factory rivals blasted into the two transfer spots early in the heat and then set about pacing each other to the checkered flag. Parker then ran it in deep on the last lap to pull away from Carr for the win. "We were just haYin' fun out there," Parker said. "We've done that so many times before, and it always meant something (in terms of the championship). It was nice to just go out, have fun, and not feel any pressure." Heat three was the barnbumer of the day as I.M. Leathers' Chris Evans, Loral Lake Racing's Ronnie Jones and Win· chester H-D/Eddie Adkins Racing's Ken Coolbeth Jr. engaged in a three-man war for the two. transfer spots. Evans led early and appeared to be set for an early entry to the main, but Jones and Coolbeth hooked up and ran him down from behind with Jones taking the win and Coolbeth the final transfer. Atherton flattened the competition by nearly a straightaway in the final heat of the day, leaving Kopp and Camlin to fight for the other ticket to the main event, which went to Camlin. Atherton's performance on his Tom Cummings-tuned XR was stout, giving a hint of possible things to come. "We raced for a little while out there," Atherton said. "Then I tried a few different lines. I guess I found one that worked better, and I got away from them a little bit." SEMIS Morehead appeared to still be fighting motor troubles as he took to the track in the fir t semi and scored a win over King and USC Racing hotshoe Kevin Varnes. Despite his troubles, Morehead was able to lock up the win by.passing both King and Varnes on the entrance to turn one and then cutting across them into the dirt for a great drive to gain an advantage. Semi two went to Bartels' HarleyDavidson's Jay Springsteen as the former three-time champion overcame an excellent start by Team Undo's Brett Landes and the hounding of Eaken Racing/LA Racing's Larry Pegram to score the win. Chance Darling was in the hunt for most of the race also, but Springsteen, Pegram and Landes crossed the finish line in single file for the main event berths. It was Kopp's tum to shine in the last semi as the Washington IT specialist led the final semi from wire to wire. Roeder H-D's Ceo Roeder IT and Evans earned the last two spots in the main event. GRAND NATIONAL Parker got a good start a did Davis with the two dropping to the bottom of the race track on the opening lap while Atherton pulled off a less-than-stellar gate but flew into contention on the back straightaway. AIter catchjng the lead duo, Atherton drove it deep into turns three and four to emerge with the lead on the second lap. From there, it was clear that Atherton and Parker would be the riders to beat as they qwckly pulled out several lengths on the field. As the race unfolded, Athe.rton appeared to be able to beat Parker on the bottom in three and four, but Parker would draft past him at the line on the front straight. In the meantime, Carr and Poovey ran in thrrd and fourth place, respective- If) 0\ 0\ ,...., Lt) C"l l-< (1) E u o 11

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