Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.DIRTTRACK AMA Grand National ChampiOnship Series going to nail him, but that was fun. That's what the fans come to see. I'm really pumped, everything worked good. That's what we came here for, to have Round 6: Lake Odessa, MI (Below) After sitting on the pole, Kevin Varnes struggle all night looking to find a fast line and wound up fifth. (Bottom) Eric Bostrom (20) claimed the 883cc National victory_ Bostrom was followed by Georgie Price IV (71) and Jason Fletcher (65). (Right) Ryan Brown ran away with the Marine TransportlMarshall Distributing 600cc Invitational event. fun." Despite his problems, Varnes came home fifth. '1 couldn't ride the same line 1 ran in the heat race, and 1 was left searching," Vames said. 883 NATIONAL The 883 Sportster National was scheduled to be a 17-rider field. However, two riders were eliminated right off the top. Defending 883 Champion Mike Hacker and Rob Gette were still laid up from their GNC semi crash. On the first start Gary Rogers hooked handlebars with someone and fell at the entrance to turn one. The race was redflagged, but ~ogers barley got off the groove before the pack thundered around again. Rogers made the restart, but Jay Springsteen and Lance Jones were not as fortunate. Springsteen slid down while running second into turn one. Jones, left with nowhere to go, ran over Springsteen's fallen mount. Jones' Rider's HD/ R.K. Stratman-backed Sportster shot high in the air and several snap rolls followed, leaving pieces of motorcycle everywhere. When the 12-lap main did get under way, Eric Bostrom had his Bartel's H-D/Saddlemen ride well out front. New points leader DPC Racing's Georgie Price moved around Robert Miller to hold a stable second. "1 tried real hard to stay with Eric, but 1 really smoked the rear tire," said Price of his distant second. "This is great," Bostrorn said. "1 won a road race a couple of weeks ago, but this is my first dirt track national win. 1 just wish Jay (teammate Springsteen) could have been in there too." Despite heavy pressure from Paul Morgan, Spectro / Moroney' s-backed Jason Fletcher held on for third. "He almost got by," Fletcher said. "1 had to give it '! little more gas to keep him back there." 600 INVITATIONAL Ryan Brown destroyed the field in the Marine Transport / Marshall Distributing 600cc Pro-Am Invitational. While Brown circled the track well ahead of the field on his AFAM/White Bros. Rotax, a seven-rider pack disputed second. "1 just rode as hard as 1 could early," Brown said. "Then 1 peeked back a couple of times and saw 1had a good lead. 1 backed off just a little." Greg Sims came out on top over Robert Knapp and the O'Boyle brothers Doug and Eric. "By the time 1 worked my way up to second, 1was too far back to catch Ryan, he was long gone," Sims said. 0 1-96 Speedway Lake Odessa, MI _ Results: July 6, 1996 (Round 6 of 22) MEAT 1 (10 l~ps; U riders, top 3 tranafe:r): 1. Kevin Varnes (Hon); 2. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 3. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 4. Dan Stanley (H-D); s. Dale Jennernan (H-D); 6. Mike Hacker (H-D); 7. Mike Vames (H-D); 8. Recil Hart (H-D); 9. Pat Buchanan (H-D); 10. Eric Bostrom (H-D); II. Lonnie Kopp (H-D); 12. Randy Shank 11 (H-D); Time: 3 min.• 50.64 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 11 riden, top 3 transfer): I. Rich King (Hon~ 2. Ken Coolbeth (H-D); 3. Georgie Price IV (H-D); 4. Geo Roeder U (H-D~ S. Paul Morgan III (H-D); 6. Greg sUns (H-D); 7. Nate Wait (H-D); 8. Gary Rogen (Hon); 9. Rob Gette (H-D); 10. Paul Bergstrom (Hon~ 11. Rob Knapp (H-D~ Time: 3 min., 51.34 sec. MEAT 3 (10 lapl; 12 riders, top 3 transfer): ). Steve Morehead (H-D); 2. Scott Parker (H-D); 3. Chance 20 Darling (Hon~ 4. Dave Camlin (H-D~ 5. Paul Lynch (HD); 6. Jason Fletcher (H-D~ 7. Brent Armbruster (H-D~ Morgan Ill; S. Johnny Murphree; 6. Robert Miller; 7. J.R Schrjabel; 8. Jess Roeder; 9. Shaun Russell; 10. Cary Rogers; 11. Nate Wait; 12. Paul Bergstrom; 13. Scott BuChan; 14. Jay Springsteen; 15. Lance Jones; 16. Mike Hacker; 17. Rob Gette. Time: 4 min., 49.91 sec. AMA 883 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIJ' SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Alter 4 of 14 rounds): 1. eeor,.;e Price IV (64 points/I win); 2. ate Wait (57); 3. Jess Roeder (S3/1) 4. (TIE) Eric Bostrom (47/1)IJ.R. Schnabel (47); 6. Jason Fletcher (4S~ 7. Mike Hacker (42); 8. Shoun Russell (37). 9. Rob Miller (36); 10. Scott Sturnp (34~ 11. Jay Springsteen (32~ 12. Johnny Murphree (29~ 13. Lonnie Pauley (20); 14, Lance Jones (18); 15. Paul Morgan 111 (15); 16. (TIE) Dale Jenoeman (l4)/Paul Bergstrom (14); 18. Billy Martin (13~ 19. Matt Wait (U~ 20. (TIE) John Wincewicz (10)/Randy Texter (IO)/JUn Rosa (10). 600 INVITATIONAL (12 l.lp5; 12 riders): 1. Ryan Brown (Rlx); 2. Greg Sims (Rlx); 3. Robert Knapp (Rlx~ 4. Doug O'Boyie (Rlx); S. Eric O'Boyle (Rlx); 6. Jason Sentell (Rlx~ 7. Jack Mayer Jr. (W-R~ 8. Paul Kops (WR); 9. Tim Danke (Rlx); 10. Darren O'Boyle (Rlx); II. Brian Hewson (Rtx): 12. Jim Bauerle (Rtx). Time: 4 min, 4955 sec. Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - DuQuoin. Illinois. July 14 Round 8 - Lincoln. Nebraska. August 10 8. Bret Beyer (H-D); 9. Tommy Hayden (H-D); 10. Ian Segedy (H-D); II. Eric O'Boyie (Tri); 12. Robert Tripp III (H-D~ Time: 3 min., 54.01 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 12 riders. top 3 transfer): 1. Will Davis (H-D); 2. Brett Landes (Hon); 3. Joe Kopp (H-D); 4. Dan Butler (H-D); 5. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 6. Danny Koelsch (H-D~ 7. Steve Beattie (H-D); 8. JUn Sumner (HD); 9. Jim McUvena (H-D); 10. Lance Jones (H-D); 11. Keith Jacobsen (H-D); 12. Doug OBoyle (H-D~ Time: 3 min., 55.62 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 11 riders, top 2 iran fed: 1. Paul Morgan Il1 (H-D); 2. Danny Koelsch Jr. (H-D); 3. Paul Lynch (H-D); 4. Mike Vames (H-D); s. Dan Stanley (HD); 6. Robert Knapp (H-D~ 7. Brei Beyer (H-D); 8. Gary Rogers (Hon~ 9. Eric Bootrom (H-D~ 10. Jim Mellvena (H-l)~ 1 L Eric O'Boyle (Tri~ Time: 3 min., 11.89 sec. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 12 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Dale Jenneman (H-D); 2. Jason Fletcher (H-D); 3. Recil Hart (H-D); 4. Geo Roeder 11 (H-D~ 5. J.R. Schnabel (H-D~ 6. Nate Wait (H-D); 7. Tommy Hayden (H-D); 8. Lonnie Kopp (H-D~ 9. Paul Bergstrom (Hon~ 10. JUn Sumner (H-D~ 11. K.eithJacobsen (H-D~ 12. Doug 0'B0y1e (H-D~ Time: 3 min.. 13.80 sec. SEMI 3 (8 l;11ps; 12 riders, top 2 trilrufed: 1. Dan Butler (H-D); 2. Pat Buchanan (H-D); 3. Brent Armbruster (H-D~ 4. Greg Sims (Hon~ 5. Steve Beattie (H-D); 6. Ian Segedy (H-D); 7. Randy Shank 1I (H-D); 8. Robert Tripp 11I (H-D); 9. Rob Gette (H-D); 10. Mike Hacker (H-D~ II. Dave Camlin (H-D~ 12. Lance Jones (H-D). Time: 3 min., 1.2.20 sec. GRAND NATlONAL (25 lapo; 18 riders): 1. Will Davis (H-D); 2. Scott Parker (H-D~ 3. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 4. Rich King (Hon); 5. Kevin Varnes (Hon); 6. Joe Kopp (H-D); 7. Steve Morehead (H-D); 8. D.le Jenneman (H-D); 9. Brett Landes (Hon); 10. Jason Fletcher (H-D); 11. Paul Morgan III (H-D); 12. Ken Coolbeth (H-D); 13. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 14. Pat Buchanan (H-D); 15. Chance Darling (Hon); 16. Danny Koelsch Jr. (H-D); 17. Dan Butler (H-D); 18. Georgie Price IV (H-D). Time: No time due to red flag. AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 6 of 22 rounds): 1. Will Davis (122 points/3 wins); 2. Scott Parker (93/3); 3. Rich King (89~ 4. Joe Kopp (83); 5. Steve MO(ehead (69); 6. Kevin Vames (65); 7. Kevin Atherton (55); 8. Brett Landes (44); 9. Dave Camlin (38); 10. Georgie Price IV (31); ll. Ricky Graham (29); 12. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (24~ 13. (TIE) Ronnie Jones/jay Springsteen (23); 15. (TIE) Bre. Beyer/D'I" Butler (22); 17. Terry Poovey (21); 18. Jason Fletcher (18): 19. (TIE) Paul Morgan ill/Dale Jennernan (17). 883 NATIONAL (12 lap.; 17 riders): 1. Eric Bootrom; 2. Georgie Prier IV; 3. Jason Fletcher; 4. Paul • . can·t put on ,a good race for all these spectators who come out. we shouldn't ~ here. They are going to have to do a better job of. preparing thistr:aCK next year,.". . WID Davis is hav.ing a. spectaCular year. Of the six races nm in '1996. the North Carolinian has . During one of the breaks, longtime AMA Officials Carol and Buzz Meifardt were recogthree winS, two seconds and a fourth. Oavis .has nileMar their 49 Years of marriag'l. Married on built a 29-point.lead over defending Grand July 7, 1947, Carol started working as an AMA Natiomil Champion Scott Parker, 122-97. Rich Officiai in 1959. B~ waited until '1961 . .. King and Joe Kopp are 'staying close with 89 and 83. Steve Morehead holds fifth with 69.. Definitely falling under Murphy's Law, as the - We got those four back.on him that he got last first ONC semi carne to a close. Er1c O'Boyl. week. but I ain't far enough yet. though, - Davis pitched his Triumph away In tum four. Canadian Said. . Jim Mcllvena slid down in an attempt to miss O'BOyIe. While the ambulance was on the race Rich King slipped from a tie for second with track attending the fallen riders, it leaked fluids Scott Parker. but remains optimistic with his onto the racing surface. forcing an even longer Team Saddlemen/Road Rider & Rogers Racing Honda. "It wasn't bac!. though." King said. -We just need to clean up a few odds and ends and hopefully we can get one or two spots. " The night's work was worth $4210 to Will . Davis. Scott Parteer eamed $3125. Kevin Atherton took.in $1970. delay. Not everyone is a -!wingle - fan. Steve Morehead's F&S.Harfey was not a'-Mingle" -That was t.he Ii~ time all year Davis ran a !Wingle and ·Atherton was third. That made twingles first, second, third." Morehead said. - King, Varnes and Kopp they're aU (on) lwingles. It's going. to· happen. I mean nobody likes to watch 600 races. right? They say they don't like the sound, so now they are ruining· the dirt track racing, making them sound like sick sinQles. Riding one of those twingle things. you can about stall them going Into the turns. Then like a single they jus.t take off and accelerate, where ou~ things fall off the cam and everything else. I mean, we're just g'1ing to have to go to one. I guess.. That's all there is to i~. " Missing· from the night's action was T .rry Poov.y. Tragically. longtime friend and. mechanic for Poovey ~·McCNary lost his life in a traffic accident on July 2. McCreary had left last week's race at Uma, Ohio, and headed to Michigan to visit family between races. He was Involved. In a fiery crash with a tanker truck that also clainied the life of the truck driver. The . .USC Racing 'box van and all of Poovey'smotorcycles were a total loss; McCreary had worked . for and with Poovey for many years, except for a couple of years oul to work for Kenny. Tolbert . The 883 National· Points race has a new leader.. Georg;' ·Prlce has pushed his OPC Racing ... ., . and Chris Carr: . .. Sportster to the front: Price has a seven-point Many ridern were unhappy with the race track. lead .over Moroney's H-D's NIiI8 Walt. 64·57. ..... R......r just four. more back at 53:· conditions..with Scott Partear being the most Eric:.~ and' J.R. SchnIIW are tied ·outs·poken. "I'm a professional motorcycle racer, but tonight I couldn't ride like one· at 47.. Defending champion . . . . HackAor Is sitting at ·42 but has missed several races due .because this track was ·not up to It." Parker .. . said: -This ra~e is in iny bll~kyard. but if we· . 10 Injuries.. is

• Cover