Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.VINTAGE· VDTRA Del Mar Mile Bike Week West . :~ • ond, even though he knew he had more than enough horsepower to pull away. . '1 had more motor because of David Isely," Gifford said. "He knows these bikes better than anyone. When that lapper looked back, he veered right into my line. We tangled, and I almost came off my bike. But it was awesome. A real good time." ·Hateley said that he was surprised to see Fiscel still in the hunt, as the former "On Any Sunday" rider figured he and Gifford were the only ones left in the lead pack. "That guy came from out of nowhere," Hateley said of Fiscel. "He freight-trained us. I couldn't keep it low. I kept getting hot into turn one, and it kept pushing me off. I should've dropped low sooner, but I didn't. But it was fun. The last time 1 rode a mile was in '82 at Indianapolis - on a Harley." By Scott Rousseau Photos by Vickie and Dan Mahony \0 0\ 0\ ...... O~ ~ I-< (]J ..g t) o 30 DEL MAR, CA, ocr. 14 Ithough they were outnumbered in terms of entries by fellow vintage racing dirt track racing association It-: AHRMA, the VDTRA boys put .L ~their best hot shoes forward to claim the Open Pro Twins and 600cc Pro-class races at the VDTRA Vintage Classics IX Dirt Track Series season finale Del Mar Mile on the same race track that the AMA Pros competed on the day before. Open Pro Twins Champion-elect Rick Fiscel was clearly outpowered in the Open Pro Twins feature, but a little luck allowed the Iowan to claim his 11th straight main-event victory of the year. Fiscel piloted his R&D Racing Triumph to the win ahead of Mark Gifford and former National pilot John Hateley in a closely contested battle. South City Cycles/Dennis Poirer's Gifford powered his souped-up, David Iselybuilt Triumph into the lead over HateJey off the start in the eight-lap main event with Fiscel and former National contender Chuck Joyner giving chase. A crash halted the race just a few laps into the show, however, as both Mike Kirby and Walt Fulton Jr. hit the dirt between turnS three and four. Both riders were uninjured. . On the restart, .Hateley got the holeshot and ran up front for the first three circuits before yielding to Gifford on the back straight on lap three. HateJey continued to pressure Gifford, and the two riders quickly put some room between themselves and the third-placed Fiscel. The three front-runners were the only riders left in contention for the win by lap five as Fiscel continued to ride the wheels off his motorcycle in an attempt to catch Gifford and Hateley, who were now battling side by side with Hateley trying to get a run on the outside. Fiscel then got the huge break of the weekend when a lapped rider slowed both Gifford and Hateley on the sixth lap. Fiscel kept the hammer down and threaded his way through the traffic jam, building a big lead. Gifford then quickly disposed of Hateley and really showed the power that he had been hiding as he quickly reeled in Fiscel to make for a tight lead battle. But there was no stopping Fiscel, 600cc Pro main event, finishing second and thus clinching the championship regardless of where Fiscel might have finished. "I didn't win a battle all year, 1?ut I won the war," Fike said. "I had to finish fourth today if my competition won. I finished second and he broke, so I get to keep my number-one plate. I'm real happy, because we've been finishing second and third all year." Former factory Harley-Davidson rider Geo Roeder hopped on Team Obsolete Matchless to finish third ahead of Steve Nichols and Eddie Dixon. Roeder used the same machine to win the Classic 500 /750cc main event. AHRMA riders did gain a measure of revenge at this friendly summit between the two organizations w.hen Eddie Mulder waxed the competition en route to the Masters Pro victory by over a straightaway on his black Triumph. Mulder soundly defeated Gerald Jessup, who was mounted aboard the Jan Milburn Harley-Davidson XR750, and Big Twin editor Paul Dean, who piloted Bill Milburn's backup Triumph 750 to a third-place finish. ''I'm getting too old to ride this many classes," Mulder joked - he was riding two. "But 1 think this (vintage mile) stuff (Above) VDTRA Open Pro Twins Champion Rick Fiscel pulled off an upset win at the final round of the series, winning the Open Pro Twins main event at the Del Mar Mlle. (Right) Flscel capitalized when (I lapped rider pulled In front of Mark Gibson (24) and John Hateley (53) late in the race. Gibson finished second, Hateley third. (Below) Former Grand National contender Gao Roeder rode a Team Obsolete Matchless to the feature victory In the Classic 5DOn5OCc class. Roeder also finished third In the 600cc Pro main event. . is fine. It makes for kind of a long day, but with the TT and short tracks and this, we really get a lot of riding in. I enjoyed myself. I will come back, and ride one class'." Horton grabbed the Dinosaur-class victory by nearly three-quarters of a lap on his Speed & Sport-built Triumph over VDTRA Dinosaur-class .champion Jessup, taking the lion's share of Tony Dodge's $500 main-event purse. Three Indian-mounted riders occupied the remainder of the top five as Eric Vaughn, Steve Hensley and Eddie Dodge finished third through fifth in that order. CN Del Mar Fairgrounds Del Mar, California Results: Oc,ober 14, 1996 (Round 24 of 24) who now had the turns figured out enough to hold off Gifford at the flag by 10 lengths, which belied the closeness of - the race. Hateley came through in third ahead of Joyner and AHRMA hot shoe Tom Horton. "I really was probably only a thirdplace rider today, but 1 got a break," Fiscel said. "I lucked into that one. 1 was catching them, but it never looked like I would get with them. I was dragging the brake pretty heavy, but once I got the wheels in line I could really get a good drive' off the comers." Gifford said he was pleased with sec- Prior to the start of the 600cc Pro class the hot topic was wheth.er or not Rick Fiscel would be able to wrestle the series championship away from defending champion John Fike. All Fike needed to do to keep the number-one plate was finish fourth in the event that Fiscel won the main event. The matter was quickly resolved when Fiscel blew his Yamaha up in the heat race, all but handing Fike the title. But the Kansas rider showed that he had more than enough for Fiscel anyway as he chased fellow VDTRA rider Jim Strome to the checkered flag in 'the DlNO: 1. Tom Horton (Tn); 2, Gerald Jessup (Tn); 3. Eric Vaughn (Ind); 4. Steve Hensley (lnd); 5. Eddie Dodge (lnd). 250 AM: 1. Brian Coakley (But); 2. Steve Gorby (Hon); 3. Julian Arthur (H-D); 4. Chuck Oaydon (Bul). 250 PRO: 1. Don Frauenbe.rger (Yam); 2. John Lundgren (Yam); 3. Bill Snyder (Bul); 4. Jim McMurren (H-D); 5. Cary Davis (Yam). CLSSC 500/750: 1. Gee Roeder (Mat); 2. Cary Davis (BSA); 3. Tom Rorton (Tri); 4. Neil Keen (BSA); 5. Charlie Southgate (BSA). 600 AM: ]. Adam Sabedra (Yam); 2. Bob Cobb (Yam); 3. Dave Johnson (Yam); 4. Jim Rust (Yam); 5. Rick Brewer (BSA). . 600 PRO, 1. Jim Strome (Yam); 2. John Fike (BSA); 3. Geo Roeder (Mat); 4. Steve Nichols (Yam); 5. Eddie Dixon (Yam). . OPEN TW AM: 1. Brian Coakley (Yam); 2. Ward McKee (Yam); 3. Steve Hensley (BSA); 4. Del).nis Pinheiro (Yam); S. Bill Berard (BSA). MSTR AM, 1. Fred Schritt (Tri); 2. Bud Riddle (Tri). MSTR PRO, 1. Eddie Mulder (Tri); 2. Gerald Jessup (H-D); 3. Paul Dean (Tri); 4. Lee Parker (H-D); S. Bill Burr (H-D). OPEN PRO TW: 1. Rick Fiscel (Tri); 2. Mark Gibson (Tri); 3. John Hateley (Tn); 4. Chuck Joyner (Tri); 5. Tom Horton (Yam),

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