Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·HILLCLlMB· . AMA Natiooal Championship Hillclimb Series Round 9: White Rose MC riding well," he said, "but anything can happen." 800CC (Left) After a season of domination, Lou Gerencer closes the door on his 800cc class rivals with a decisive win. It is Gerencer's third title. (Below) Ted Wilkins rides to his first 540Cc class win of the season. By David L. Patton Jr. \0 0\ 0\ ,..-l \O~ ,..-l l-< Cl) .g ..... o U 44· JEFFERSON, PA, SEPT. 29 ou Gerencer wrapped up his third 800cc National Championship in convincing fashion at Round 10 of the 1996 AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series. And although Gerencer had already clinched the title after his main rival, Mickey Dent, failed, to beat his first-round time, he rode again anyway. Gerencer took the win with his scorching second ride to score his fifth regular-season win of the season and cap off a dominating year. Jimmy Dingee was the !?an Gerencer knocked off the top of the day's leaderboard, though Dingee would hang on to second in front of Steve Dresser. In the 540cc class, Ted Wilkins picked up his first win of 1996 after a season of disappointment, putting together two good rides on his Rotax. Second in points, David Watson needed a strong finish to keep his title hopes alive and he came through in the clutch, landing the runner-up spot. Though he was two tenths off the leaders' pace, Indiana's Mike Pulver put together the ride he needed to capture third in front of three-time and defending 540cc National Champion Paul Pinsonnault, who with his fourth-place finish stayed on track for an amazing fourth straight 540cc title. With at least a ninth-place finish at the series finale at Oregonia, 6hio, Pinsonnault will wrap up the number-one plate, even if Watson takes the victory. . 540cc Jack MacCauley was the first rider to attempt the 300-foot hill, but he wasn't able to deal with the rough lower section. For one of the few times this season, Pinsonnault drew an early number and the KAP Honda rider set the initial I pace with a 7.337-second run. Watson ran a 7.339 on his first attempt and he would have to really pick it up or Pinsonnault would add substantially to his points lead. Pennsylvania's Michael DeBusk rode his nitro-burning BSA to a time of 7.091 seconds, the second-best time of round one. Wilkins did a great job of keeping his Rotax low over the first jump, then screamed up the hill for the first run into the sixes. And although Wilkins' 6.828 was fast, round-tWo times quickly surpassed it and he would have to ride again. The championship contenders changed gearing, rear tires and suspension to suit hill conditions and it showed in the results. Pinsonnault scored first with a 6.811, taking the lead early in the roun . Kevin Zucco from Agawam, Massachusetts, had his best ride of the season, taking a smooth line up the hill for a 6.883, good for sixth overall. Watson had to come up with a big ride to keep himself in contention for the season title - and he did. "After the first round, I was a long way back in the field," Watson said. "We needed to run a chain.on the rear tire." Watson's changes helped him score a time of 6.557 and he took over the lead. "We changed lines and put the chain on," Watson added, "and it helped a lot." Ralph Kresger put together a 7.058second run to take seventh overall, continuing his late-season surge into the top 10. Mike Pulver had had an awful start to his day and was hoping for something better. "I was on the line when there was a problem with the timing lights," Pulver explained. "Harold White (AMA referee) had me shut my bike off, then 1 got a little anxious and didn't go through my starting numbers before 1 took off." Pulver didn't turn his petcock all the way back on and his first run ended 40 feet past the starting line. Pulver's second ride, however, was a different story. "1 had to guess on my The BOOcc Championship was on the line at White Rose. Harley-Davidson Racing Pro Hillclirnb riders Gerencer and Dent were first and second in the series and Dent needed help from the other riders if he wanted to come out of Jefferson with a chance at the title. Gerencer needed an eighth-place finish to clinch the championship - even if Dent won the last two rounds - and Gerencer was ready to wrap it up. Randy Gabriel, coming off a hard fall in Indiana the previous round, opened up the 800cc action with a controlled 7.320-second run. Gerencer came to the line next and he blasted off hard. He fought to keep his bike straight and the front wheel on the ground, but he never backed off. Gerencer's 6.317 was the' third-fastest time of the day. Jason Petty was the next 800cc rider to put together asix-second run, picking up a 6.809 on his Triumph. Dent charged up the hm with abandon and although he had to ease up near the halfway mark when he nearly flipped, he held it together for a 6.722second run. Rodney Smith was the next rider to drop below seven seconds, b..t gearing, so I used the same setup I used here this spring," Pulver said. "Everything came together and worked really well." Pulver's 6.756-second run propelled the Indianapolis rider into third place. After DeBusk failed to improve his time, Wilkins came to the line. "I knew my first run wouldn1 hold up," Wilkins said. "My bike kind of bogged off the line and didn't clean out on the run." Wilkins had everything going on his second run as his variable-transmission Rotax twin flew up the hill. Despite catching too much air over the first jump, Wilkins still edged Watson for the win with a time of 6.536 seconds. Richard Soter III took his BSA up the hill in a time of 6.841 seconds to round out the top five. Wilkins' first win of the year couldn't overshadow the battle for the numberone plate, and after the racing was done, Pinsonnoult and David Watson had similar comments about the season. ''I'm not really thinking about the championship today," Pinsonnoult saia, "but I'm in good shape." Watson still has Championship hopes but he needs a little luck. "Paul's his 6.796 would only get him ninth overall by the end of the day. Glendal Petty Jr. ran a 7.101 on his XR750 Harley-Davidson, then Charleston, West Virginia's Jimmy Dingee rolled into the starting pit. Dingee is still recovering from the broken femur he suffered at round one of the series back in May, but he is getting faster every ride. He rode through a wheelie at the 180:foot mark to post a 6.80B-second run. Last year's National Champion, Steve Dresser, was the last rider of the first round and he had to pull out of the pit when a engine problem surfaced as they fired up the bike. Dresser's Pro USA Hi11c1imb teammates pitched in and solved the problem and he made it back to the line in time to take his ride. Still, th.e delay hurt his concentration. "I got a little hot over the first breaker," Dresser said. "1 can't believe I got into the six-second bracket on that run." Despite his problems, Dresser's 6.996 wasn't far off the pace. Gabriel took advantage of the improving hill conditions, riding to a time of 6.537 for sixth overall. His teammate, Bob Castledine, also picked up a

• Cover