Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

EVENTS .. Edited by.KeIth Bilsh Eric Wood (5) begins to pull away from the Middleweight Superblke pack en route to one of his four victories during round five of the Loudon Road Race Series. Jeffrey Curtis (86), Jim Lester (38) and SCott Greenwood (22) give chase. Loudon Road Race Series: Round 5of 11 The Wood & Alexander. show • · again By John Flory BRIDGEHAMPTON. NY. jUtY&-7 fter faltering at the previous round, the Eric Wood/Richard Alexander juggernaut was back on course this weekend at Bridgehampton Race Circuit. Between them the duo won seven of this weekend's 18 Expert races, capping their weekend with a runaway 1-2 finish in Unlimited GP. Wood won all four races he entered, and Alexander won three of four, missing a perfect record only by finishing second to Wood in Unlimited GP. Alexander missed Unlimited Superbike, a race he normally enters, because he had to leave early on Sunday to make a flight to Texas for a Monday test session on Moto-Liberty's SuperTeams bikes. Wood's and Alexander's season goal of winning eight LRRS championships is now a distinct po~sibility. They either lead or are very close to leading the points standings in eight classeS: Unlimited Supersport, Superb ike, and GP; Heavyweight Superb ike and Supersport; Middleweight 'Supersport and Superbike; and Solo GTO. But there are indications that their opposition may put up more resistance in the second half of the season. Charles Small, previously one of the fastest - and wildest - Heavyweight Supersport racers at Bridgehampton, has matured and is coming to grips with the New England Performance ZX7 superbike. He dropped his lap times to 1:41s, nearly a second under his previous best, and nearly caught Wood in Heavyweight Superbike. He A 38 also won Unlimited Superbike comfort. ably and took .third in Unlimited GP. Alexander's toughest competition in the Unlimited and Heavyweight SuperSPO!t classes is likely to come from Brett Metzger and Eric Gulbran~en, who were battling each other so hard in the latter race that they let him get away. The biggest threat to Wood's domination of the Middleweight classes appears to be the steadily improving Jeffrey Curtis, who placed second to Wood in SupeIsport and Superbike and won GP and Solo GTU. Curtis had a look at passing Wood in Middleweight Superbike when Wood's clutch actuator broke early on. It took Wood several laps to figure out how to ride without a clutch. Once he did, he pulled away and won the race. Once again the Lightweight classes provided a variety of winners. As expected, Freddy Maruca won Lightweight GP going away despite the muffling necessary to make his Yamaha TZ250, the only two-stroke in the race, meet the strict local noise limits. Patrick Lenahan chased hard on his stroked Yamaha FZR400 but steadily lost ground. That got Lenahan up to speed for Lightweight Superbike, and he simply ran away from Brett Guyer, who in turn built a comfortable lead over the battle for third between Shawn McCormick, Michael Campbell, Jimmy Fassino, Martin Limpert and Michael Vaughan. Vaughan's turn to win came in Lightweight Supersport. His new relaxed attitude toward racing seems to be paying dividends: He quickly dispatched the field and disappeared, as Guyer, Campbell, McCormick and Fassino just could not match his pace. In Lightweight Supertwins, David Podolsky overcame an atrocious second-gear start due to a shifter malfunction to move up from sixth to third by lap three. He was right behind Tom Fournier, but Dan Frisbie had a seemingly bulletproof 4.3-second lead at this point. Suddenly Frisbie was blackflagged from the race Jor a noise violatiOll- Podolsky passed Fournier two laps later and went on to win easily. (N Results UIL S/SPRT EX. 1. Richard Alexander Ir. (Suz); 2. Eric Gulbransen (Suz); 3. Charles Miller (Suz); 4. Seth Hahn (Suz); 5. Rafael Jimenez (Hon). UIL S/SPRT]R; 1. Adam Mihulka (Hon). IIIW S/SPRT EX 1. Richard Alexander Ir. (Suz); 2. Brett Metzger (Suz); 3, Eric Gulbransen (Suz); 4. DIaries Miller (Suz); 5. Seth Hahn (Suz). HIW S/SPRT JR: 1. Cesar Loaiza (Hon); 2. Pat Denise (Due); 3. Rafael Gaton (Kaw); 4. lohn HummeU (Hon); 5. David Massey (Hon). IIIW S/SPRT AM. 1.Iohn Pugliese (Hon); 2. Dennis Sandrock (Kaw); 3. Michael Wiechowski (Due); 4 . Richard Klosinski (Suz); S. Lue loly (Suz). MIW S/SPRT EX, 1. Eric Wood (Kaw); 2. Jeffrey Curtis (Kaw); 3. Charles Chouinard (Kaw); 4. Scott Greenwood (Hon); 4. Pierce Wrabel (Hon); 5. Michael Calderon (Hon). MIW 5/SPRT JR. L Glen Goldman (Hon); 2. Eoin Smith (Hon); 3. Brent Campbell (Hon); 4. Rafael Gaton (Kaw); 5. Gil Schweitzer (Hon). MIW S/SPRT AM: 1. Halvor Foss (Hon); 2. Julio Zoeiro (Hon); 3. James Lansing (Hon); 4. Edouard Sandoz (Hon); 5. Brian Demma (Hon). UW S/5PRT EX. L Michael Vaughan (Yam); 2. • Michael Campbell (Yam);o3. Brett Cuyer (Yam); 4. MIW GP EX. J. Jeffrey Curtis (Kaw); 2. Jim Lester (Han); 3. Scott Greenwood (Han); 4. Charles Chouinard (Kaw); 5. Rick Maron (Kaw). MIW GP JR.: 1. Clen Goldman (Han); 2. Eion Smith (Han); 3. David Massey (Han); 4. Christopher Young (Hon); 5. Enzo Assainte (Hon). MIW GP AM. 1. James Lansing (Hon); 2. Rossano Baldassarra (Han); 3. Eduardo Sandoz (Han); 4. Brian Demma (Han); 5. James Giacovelli (Hon). UW GP EX: 1. Freddy Maruca (Yam); 2. Patrick Lenahan (Yam); 3. Brett Guyer (Yam); 4. Martin Limpert (Yam); 5. Shawn McCormick (Yam~ . L/W GP JR. 1. lohn Gang (Yam); 2. Charles Nogueras 0 (Yam). L/W GP AM: 1. Matthew Palumbo (Yam); 2. Anthony.Pagliaroli (Yam); 3. John Marino (Yam); 4. Philip Coplin (Hon); 5. Charles Sandoz (Suz). SPTSMN EX. 1. Mark Smith (W-R); 2. Michael Curry (Kaw); 3. JohnDahl (Kaw); 4.leff Wood (Kaw); 5. Thomas Foumier (Kaw). SPTSMN JR= 1. John Kabacinski (Kaw). SPTSMN AM: 1. John M~rino (Yam); 2. Kenny Cordova (Han); 3. Emilio Benros (Han); 4. Robert Benoif (Suz); 5. Debert Kurmanon (Kaw). MIW PROD TW EX. 1. leff Wood (Kaw); 2. Bob Perkins (Kaw); 3. Dnniel Frisbie (Knw); 4. Buzz PovaU (Kaw); 5. M;chael Curry (Kaw). MIW PROD TW JR. J. Dominick O,irieo (Kaw); 2. Ed Nelson (Kaw); 3. Lawrence Trepel (Kaw). M/W PROD TW AM: 1. Chris Arbor (Kaw); 2. . Robert Benoit (Suz); 3. Debert Kurmanon (Kaw); 4. T.]. . Hin (Kaw); 5. Thomas Welch (Kaw). U/L SGL EX. 1. Mark Smith (W-R); 2. Robert Gordon (Yam); 3. Nathan Sanel (Yam). UIL SGL JR. 1. Stephen Johnson (Hon~ H/W SITW EX: 1. Sean Sweeney (Due); 2. Ben Denise (Due); 3. Paul Giandinoto (Due); 4. Thomas Fournier (Due). IIIW StrW JR. 1. Pat Denise (Due); 2. Fred Stucky (Due); 3. Matthew SUvn (Due); 4. a,ris Reinhardt (Han). HIW srrw AM: 1. Michael Wicchowski (Due); 2. Eric Randolph (Due); 3. Stephen Weiss (Due); 4. Michael Delage (Due); 5. Ted Markut (Hon). lJW srrw EX: 1. David P'odolsky (Due); 2. Thomas Fo'urnier (Due); 3. John Aksel (Due); 4. Timothy Kisieleski (Due); 5. Kenneth Wickline (Kaw). uw srrw JR: 1. John Kabacinski (Kaw); 2. Russ Dancho (Duc); 3. Brian Gregory (Han); 4. Dominick Chirico (Kaw); 5. Chris Reinhardt (Hon). LIW SITW AM: 1. Nicholas Rockwell (Hon); 2. Leonar.d Cass (Kaw); 3. Sean Bates (Suz). SOLO GTO EX. 1. Richard Alexander Ir. (Suz); 2. Seth Hahn (Suz); 3. Ben Denise (Due); 4. Paul G;andlnoto (Due); 5.100 Ribeiro (Kaw~ SOLO GTO JR. 1. Fred Stueky (Due); 2. Pat Deni.. (Due). SOLO GTO AM: 1. Julio Zoeiro (Hon); 2. Robert Donovan (Yam); 3. Michael Wieehowski (Due); 4. Christopher Godfrey (5uz); 5. Stephen Weiss (Due). SOLO GTU EX. 1. leffrey Curtis (Kaw); 2. lim Lester (Hon); 3. Charles Chouinard (Kaw); 4. Rick Maron (Kaw); 5. Peter Kates (Kaw). SOLO GTU JR. 1. Brent Campbell (Hon); 2. Eoin Smith (Hon); 3. Enzo Assainte (Han); 4. Tony DiMartino (Hon); 5. John Hummell (Hon). SOLO GTU AM: 1. Halvor Foss (Hon); 2. Rossano Baldassarra (Hon); 3. Simon Wilson (Yam); 4. James Lansing (Hon~ 5. Leon StathopoulOS (Hon). Shawn McCormick (Yam); 5. Dan Gagliarde Jr. (Yam). L/W S/SPRT JR. 1. lohn Gang (Yam); 2. Steve Lischin (Yam); 3. Rodney Helsens (Yam); 4. Charles Nogueras II (Yam); 5. Brian Gregory (Hon). UW S/5PRT AM. L Matthew Palumbo (Yam); 2. Albert St. Dnge (Kaw); 3. Charles Sandoz (Suz); 4. Maurizio Zamboli (Hon); 5. DouglaS Highan (Hon). HIW PROD AM: 1. John Repke (Hon); 2. Kevin Johns (Suz); 3. Liz Wernett (Suz). MIW PROD AM. 1. lohn Pugliese (Hon); 2. lohn Repke (Hon); 3. David Schweitzer (Hon); 4. Uz Weme« (Hon); 5. David Rodriguez (Hon). LIW PROD AM. 1. Chris Arbor (Kaw); 2. Chad Gasiorek (Hon); 3. Robert Benoit (Suz); 4. Thomas Welch (Kaw); 5. Agostino Dell'Oso (Hon). UIL SlBK EX. 1. Charles Small Jr. (Kaw); 2. Robert KesseU (Kaw); 3. Rick Maron (Kaw); 4. Rafael Jimenez (Hon). U/t S/BK JR: 1. Cesar Loaiza (Hon); 2. Gil Schweitzer (Hon); 3. John Williams (Kaw). IIIW SIBK EX 1. Eric Wood (Kaw); 2. Charles Small Ir. (Kaw); 3. Sean Sweeney (Due); 4. Ben Denise (Due); 5. Stephen Sohl [Kaw). IIIW SlBK jR, 1. Pat Denise (Due). HIW S/BK AM: 1. Halvor Foss (Hoo); 2. Richard Klosinski (5u%); 3. Mike Haile (Kaw); 4. Dennis Sandrock (Kaw); 5. Christopher Godfrey (Suz). . MIW SIBK EX. 1. Eric Wood (Kaw); 2. Jeffrey Curtis (Kaw); 3. Jim Lester (Hon); 4. Scott Greenwood. (Han); 5, Chris Cummings (Kaw). MIW S/BK JRo 1. Glen Goldman (Hon); 2. Brent Campbell (Hon); 3. Christopher Young (Hon); 4. Enzo Assainte (Hon); 5. Chris Rockwell (Hon). M1W S/BK AM: 1. Julio Zoeiro (Hon); 2. James Lansing (Hon); 3. Gerhard Lenz (Hon); 4. Edouard Sandoz (Hon); 5. Brian Demma (Hon). UW SfBK EX: 1. Patrick Lenahan (Yam); 2. Brett Guyer (Yam); 3. Martin Limper:t (Yam); 4. Shawn McCormick (Yam); 5. Michael CarnpbeU (Yam). IJW SIBK JRo 1. lohn Gang (yam); 2. Steve Lisch'n (Yam); 3. Rodney Helsens (Yam); 4. Brian Gregory (Hon); 5. Charles Nogueras n (Yam~ L!W S/BK AM: 1. Douglas Highan (Hon); 2. Charles Sandoz (Suz); 3. Craig DeRosa (Yam); 4. Kevin Link (Yam); 5.lason Bender (Yam). U/L CP EX: 1. Eric Wood (Kaw); 2. Richard Alexander (Suz); 3. Charles Small Jr. (Kaw); 4. Charles Miller (Suz); 5. Robert Kessell (Kaw). UjL CP JR: 1. Cesar Loaiza (Han); 2. Benjamin Krygier (Han); 3. Tony DiMartino (Han); 4. Cil Schweitzer (Han); 5. Adam Mihulka (Han). 1996 Chevrolet Pikes Peak International HC Durelle to the top Photos by Buche COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, )ULY4 avey Durelle and Chuck Lee were the men of the hour on.top of Pikes Peak for the 74th running of the "Race to the Clouds." On his fifth attempt in as many years and after finishing second three times, Open Proclass winner Durelle finally got it right on the Grand Prix-style groomed gravel road that climbs the final 5000 feet to the famous 14,1l0-foot summit. In the 250cc Pro class, Lee not only took the win, but broke his own class record by shaving over 13 seconds off his 1993 time to record a 13-minute, 5_91-second run to the top. Durelle's win on his Donahu.e Harley-Davidson-sponsored WoodRotax was short of the record but 17 seconds ahead of three-time winner Brian Anderson on another Wood-Rotax: Durelle's machine was obviouslY' set up well for the rarefied air as his 94 mph through the long straight at Halfway Picnic Grounds was the fastest of all the two-wheelers. Uphill and 10,900 feet D

• Cover