Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Lonnie Kopp got the holeshot in semi three onl)! to receive the red flag at the end of lap one. Eric Bostrom, Frank Kaiser and Gary Rogers had tangled in turn one. All but Bostrom would make the restart. Bostrom was banged up and his bike was bent up as he opted to rest up for the next day's Peoria Grand National IT. Jeff Annen made the most of the second opportunity and led McAnally and Mike Varnes into the first corner. The three riders stayed close until the halfway point, when Annen was able to pull his Lopko Racing Wood-Rotax aw.ay. Varnes took second and pressured Annen on lap four, but a slip let McAnally and Rex Fisher get by as Annen motored away. Jose Agui)ar led Russ Yamamoto and Cool beth away in the last semi, but Coolbeth was on a mission. On lap two Cool beth had the lead and just kept extending it on his Pat Moroney-owned Rotax. Yamamoto took second from Aguilar, with Eric Rickman also getting around on the last lap. 600CC NATIONAL When the 25-lap, 16-rider National came to the line for the pick of the starting slots, Vames positioned his Rotax in the number-three spot from the top, right at the bottom of the groove. "I think 1 can get a good drive from there and beat the guys on the inside into turn one and still have good position on the ones to my right too," Vames said. He was right on both counts. As the green light flashed, Varnes blasted to the front. Fay came from Varnes' left into second, while Orr used the outside spot to capture third. Fellow front-row occupants Simonsen, Tresser and Camlin filled out the top six positions. Varnes immediately took a large lead, while the field broke up into tight groups. Tresser was using a high line to work his way up, picking off Simonsen on lap three and Orr on lap five. Fay would take a little longer, but on lap nine Tresser held down second. Positions were being exchanged throughout the field. Carnlin was on the move, taking third from Fay on lap 17. "He was leaving me room on the inside, going into turn three," Camlin said. "So 1 squared it off, got by and blocked him coming off four." Landes, meanwhile, was working his way up from a second-row start, and he got by Fay on lap 21 for his fourth-place finish. "I just had to work harder after 1 got a bad start," Landes said. "1 was really hooking up on the outside, but 1 had to wait for them to string out before 1 could start to pass." With four laps left, the race seemed to be set in its final order. Then Vames overcooked it going into turn three. '1 knew I had a good lead and started to try and be careful," Vames said. '1 lost my rhythm after 1 almost fell. 1 could hear him there." "1 was using the high line and the last lap I got up right behind him in turn two," Tresser said. "But he broke his back tire loose and I hit him. I just couldn't stop." Fay chased Landes home while fellow Washingtonian Dan Stanley led Mike Hacker and Dan Butler to the flag in sixth. Dale Jenneman and Charlie Orr rounded ou t the top 10. fN Peorla Speedway Peoria, illinois Results: August 3, 1996 (Round 2 of 3) REAT 1 (10 Iapt; 11 rid.... top 2 tr.uufu): 1. Kevin Varnes (Rbc); 2. Georgie Price (KTM); 3. Dan Butler (Right) Andy Tresser (91) battled with former 600cc National Champion Mickey Fay (13) before going on to finish a strong second. (Below) Charlie Orr (87), Dave Camlin (27) and Dan Stanley (60) mixed It up In the main event. Camlln would go on to finish third. Kevin Olliges (Rtx); 11. Scott Scherb (Rtx). Time: 2 min., 41.79 sec. HEAT 6 (10 laps; 10 riders, top 2 transfer): I. Charlie Orr (Rtx); 2. Paul Morgan m (Rtx); 3. Mike Vames (AT.K); 4. Vic McAnally (W·R); 5. Jamie Aguilar (W·R); 6. Paul Lynch (Rtx); 7. Jeff Annen (W-R); 8. Rex Fisher (W·R); 9. Don Holeman (Rtx); 10. Steve Gill (W-R). Time: 2 min., 41.40 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 13 rid~, winner transfers): 1. Dan Buller (Rtx); 2. Brei Beyer (Rtx); 3. Dave Hebb (Rtx~ 4. Steve Mayfield (W·R); 5. J.R. Schnabel (Rtx); 6. Johnny Murphree (Rtx); 7. John Hlebo III (Rtx); 8. Shaun Russell (Rtx); 9. John ickem In (Rtx); 10. Josh Butler (Rtx~ 11. Ryan Brown (Rtx); 12 Joe Duvall (Rtx); 13. Recil Hart (Rtx~ Time: 2 min., 8.58 sec. • SEMI 2 (8 laps; 14 riden, winner transfers): 1. Dan Stanley (Rtx); 2. Steve Morehead (RLx); 3. Rich King (Rtx); 4. Tommy Hayden (Rtx); 5. Ken Yoder Jr. (Rtx); 6. Don Wilson (Rtx~ 7. Brian Thoma. (Rtx); 8. Steve Hall (Rtx); 9. Lonnie Pauley (Rtx); ij). Steve Smith Jr. (Rtx); 11. Tony Rulli (W·R); 12. Chri. LinJc5 (Rtx); 13. Jerry Southworth (Hon); 14. Vern Browne (Rtx~ Time: No Time Due t~ Red Rag. SEMI 3 (8 laps; 13 rid..., winner tr....f...): 1. Jeff Annen (W-R); 2. Vic McAnally (W-R~ 3. Rex Fisher (W. R~ 4. Willie McCoy (A TK); 5. Ian Segedy (Rtx~ 6. Mike Varnes (A TK); 7: Gary Rogers (Rtx); 8. Brian Kromroy (Suz~ 9. Reed Bertolino (W·R~ 10. Kevin Olliges (Rtx); 11. Frank Kaiser (W-R~ 12. Lonnie Kopp (W-R); 13. Eric Bostrom (W-R). Time: 2 min., 10.17 sec. SEMI 4 (8 laps; 13 riders, winner transfers): 1. Ken Coolbeth (Rtx); 2. Russ Yamamoto (W-R); 3. Eric Rickman (Rtx); 4. Jamie AgUilar (W·R); 5. Paul Lynch (Rtx); 6. Wade Camhn (Rtx); 7. Troy Thanes (H·D); 8. Jim Sumner (Rtx); 9. Steve Gill (W·R~ 10. Randy Shanlc D (Rtx); 11. Don Holeman (Rtx); 12. Billy Martin (Rtx); 13. Scott Scherb (Rtx~ Time: 2 min., 8.94 sec. 600 NATIONAL (25 laps; 16 riders): 1. Kevin Varnes (Rtx); 2. Andy Tresser (W·R); 3. Dave CamJin (Rtx); 4. Brett Landes (Rtx); 5. Mickey Fay (Rtx); 6. Dan Stanley (Rtx); 7. Mike Hacker (KTM); 8. Dan Butler (Rtx~ 9. Dale Jenneman (Rtx~ 10. Charlie Orr (Rtx); 11. Tim Mertens (ATK); 12. Paul Morgan TIl (Rtx); 13. J.P. Simonsen (Hon); 14. J ff Annen (W-R); 15. Georgie Price (KiM); 16. Ken Coolbeth (Rtx). Time: 6 min., 30.45 sec. AMA 600cc NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 2 of 3 rounds); 1. Brett Landes (27 points); 2 Dave Camlin (26); 3. (TIE) Steve Morehead (I win)/Kevin Varnes(l win)/Georgie Price/Charlie Orr (23); 7. Andy Tre.ser (19); 8. Ricky Graham (16); 9. Rich King (15); 10. Mickey Fay (14); 11. (TIE) Dan Stanley/Roger Durkee (13~ 13. Mike Hacker (12); 14. (TIE) Dan Buller/Kevin Atherton (II); 16. Dale Jenneman (10); 17. Terry Poovey (9); 18. (TIE) Tim Mertens/Willie McCoy (8); 20. (TIE) Paul Morgan UIlJay Springsteen (7). Final Round: Round 3 . Castle Rock, WA, September 8 (Above) Varnes (center) Is all smiles on the podium efter collecting the trophy and $2000 first-place money. He is joined by Tresser (right) and Camlin (left). (Rtx) 4. Dave Hebb (Rtx~ 5. Steve Morehead (Rtx~ 6. Brian Thomas (Rtx); 7. Recil Hart (Rtx~ 8. Shaun Russell (Rtx); 9. Vem Browne (Rtx); 10. Chris Unks (Rtx); 11. John Hlebe (Rtx). Time: 2 Min., 38.63 HC. MEAT 2 (10 l~ps; 11 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Andy Tresser (W-R); 2. COlle Jenneman (Rtx); 3. Don Wilson (Rtx); 4. Bret Beyer (Rtx); 5. Steve Mayfield (W.ll); 6. Tommy Hayden (Rtx); 7. Ken Yoder (Rtx); 8. Joe Duvall (Rtx); 9. Ryan Brown (Rtx~ 10. Jerry Southworth (Rtx); 11. Tony Rulli (W·R). Time: 2 min., 38.62 HC. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 11 rid~, top 2 transfer): 1. Dave Camlin (Rtx); 2. Brett Landes (Rtx); 4. Rich King (Rtx); s. Johnny Murphree (Rtx); 6. J.R. Schnabel (Rtx); 7. Steve HaJl (Rtx); 8. Dan Stanley (Rtx); 9. Josh Butler (Rtx); 10. John Nickens III (Rtx); 11. Steve Smith Jr. (Rtx). Time: 2 min., 40.16 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 11 riden, top 2 transfer): 1. J.P. Simonsen (Hon); 2. Tim Mertens (ATK); 3. Billy Martin (Rtx); 4. Lonnie Kopp (W-R); 5. Willie McCoy (A TK); 6. Eric Rickman (Rtx); 7. Jim Sumner (Rtx); 8. Brian Kromroy (Suz); 9. Reed Bertolino (W·R); 10. Randy Shank D (Rtx~ 11. Frank Kaiser (W·R). Time: 2 min., 41.72 sec. HEAT 5 (to laps; 11 ridrrs, top 2 transfer): 1. Mickey Fay (Rtx); 2. Mike Hacker (KTM); 3. Ken Coolbeth (Rt:x); 4. Russ Yamamoto (W-R); 5. Eric Bostrom (W·R); 6. Ian Segedy (Rtx); 7. Wade Camlin (Rtx); 8. Troy Thanes (H-D); 9. Gary Rog... (Rtx); 10. Briefl •••• Grayboy Promotions brought the AMA 600cc Natio.nal ChaJT1Pionship Series to the high·banked Peoria Speedway for the first time as a part of the city of Peoria's Grand National Weekend. However. the smooth quarter·mile crowned the Amateur National Champions from 1988 through 1991. and many of the alumni retumed to do battle as pros. The most successful of those amateur riders tonight was KTM's Mike Hacker with a sev· enth-place finish. Of all the past amateur champions at the .race. Hacker had never ~cored an Amateur win there. "I led the 125 race one year all the way to the last lap and la'st turn. . th'en some guy. passed me." H~c~er' said. -I got second.. " ' . Other former amateur stars P~ul Morgan Iii and Georgie Price ·IV. circulated near the' rear. while a broken co'i1 wire sidelined Ken Coolbeth lour lap$ into the Natio.nal. Kevin Varnes '!las' able t.o pocket $2000 plus $50 for winning the fastest qualifying heat. Second place was worth $1000 for An"'y T reliser while Dave Camlin went home with $600. Team Undo's Brett Landes came away with the points lead in the abbreviated oOOcc National Sen.es. !,andes holds a one-point lead over Dave Camlin. 27·26. Four riders. Kevin .Varnes. Stelle Morehead. Char· lie Orr and ~_rgie Price IV. are tied just four points back. The _rias title is definitely up for g ....bs as most rlders in the top 10 will be in' Syracuse. New York. for the Grand National mile . on the same weekend .that the final round of the AMA 600cc National ChampionShip series is. held at the Castle Rock. Washington. n in . September. . .. Si>

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