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AHRMA Historic Cup Series, Rounds 16/17 (Left) Dave Rosno took first place in Formula 500 racing at the final two rounds of AHRMA's 1996 Historic Cup Series In Talladega, Alabama. (Below) Les White (1 R) and Pete Johnson took first and second in BEARS action at round 16 of the Historic Cup Series. , Cullman, Alabama's Bill St. John took the checkers first in four modern-bike events. St. John rode his Ducati 916s to convincing wins in BOT Open and BOT F-1 races on both days. St. John's season efforts were good enough to take the Open title, while Saturday's runner-up, Les White, retained his F-1 championship. White also took the 1996 BEARS class title by defeating Moto Guzzi rider Pete Johnson in a fantastic battle Saturday. White took the early lead and tried to get away, but Johnson had other plans. White's Ducati would pull harder off the turns, while Johnson would close up entering the corners. The chase went right to the wire with White using a couple of lapped riders to his advantage on the last lap. The two leaders approached the lappers going into the last set of turns, spoiling any chance Johnson might have had to squeeze by for the win. Pennsylvania's Johnson won Sunday's race, but the title would head back to Illinois with White. By John Blackstock Photos by Euro Tech TALLADEGA, AL, ocr, 5-6 utch Sprain came to the final rounds of the AHRMA Historic Cup Series at the Talladega Gran Prix Raceway with a comfortable lead in the 200cc GP class, but he wouldn't win without a fight from Virginia's Larry Kirby. Kirby looked determined as he nailed the holeshot and led the, parade for the first half of Saturday's race. Chuck Davis was allover Kirby, even getting alongside at the ends of the straights only to have Kirby hold it on deep into every corner to regain the lead. Davis finally put his little Honda four-stroke out front for good with a strong run past Kirby down the long back straight on lap five. Kirby held on for second with Sprain riding to a smart third-place finish. Sprain needed only to start Sunday's race to capture the title. Ironically, Kirby won the race and Sprain broke, but the title was Sprain's. Formula 500 points leader Rick Newman came into the weekend just over 200 points ahead of Wisconsin charger Dave Rosno. With first place worth 1,000 points each day, the title was up for grabs. . Saturday's race began with Newman, Rosno and 1995 class champion Richard Merhar up front. Rosno led with Merhar matching his every move for the first six laps. Newman began to lose touch with the leaders but still ran a comfortable third. The closest race of the day ended on lap seven when Merhar suffered a mechanical malfunction heading onto the back straight, handing Rosoo an uncontested win. Newman inherited second but lost a valu~le 165 points to Rosno. Newman put up a valiant fight in the last race of the season, but this would be Rosno's weekend. Newman got the holeshot and led for the first lap and a Talladega Gran Prix Raceway Talladega, Alabama Results: October 5-6, 1996 (Rounds 16117 of 17) B Saturday half, but Rosno was absolutely riding the wheels off his screaming Honda 400 four. On lap two, Rosno held it on just a little longer at the end of the long back straight and drove past Newman into the "Singleton Sweeper." For all practical purposes, the race and championship were decided. Newman held on for second, but Rosno owned the title. Rosno returned to take double wins and the Formula Vintage championship as well. D&D Cycle's Tim Joyce enjoyed a very successful racing weekend by thrashing the competition in both days of Sportsman 500 action. Joyce rode his Triumph 500 to runaway wins over Ralph Auer's BMW and the smaller 350cc Hondas of Tim Stancil and Harold Page Jr. Auer ended the season with the class championship, as well as the Pre'40 and Gass C titles. Joyce gave Sportsman 750 champion Larry Kirby a run for his money Satur- day in that class. Joyce's charge was slowed by a loose crankcase-breather hose that oiled down his rear tire. Barber Vintage Motorsports' Stephen Mathews racked up six wins, the most of any competitor on the weekend. The smooth and fast Georgian's victories included the Classic '60s and Premier 500 on both days and the modern 50S F-1 and SOS F-2 events Sunday. Mathews rode a Matchless G50 for every event. GMA All-American Racing's Rusty Lowry added a nice trophy to his collection by capturing the coveted 500cc Premier National Championship. Lowry clinched the title with a conservative third-place ride Saturday. With the pressure now removed, the Maryland veteran put his KR750 Harley-Davidson out front for the first two laps of Sunday's race. Mathews eventually took the win on the more nimble G50, but Lowry took the title. PRE- '40: 1. Carleton Palmer IJ (Vin); 2. Doc Batsleer (lnd); 3. AI Knapp (H-D); 4. Ralph Auer (BMW). CLASS C: 1. Bob Barker (Gor); 2. Carleton Palmer II (Vin); 3. Al Knapp (H-D); 4. Lonnie Harmon (Tri, eLSe '60: 1. Stephen Mathews (Mat); 2. Cliff Murray (BSA); 3. Lonnie Harmon (Tn). SOO PREM: 1. Stephen Mathews (Mat); 2. Larry Poons (See); 3. Rusty Lowry (H-D). 200 GP: 1. Chuck Davis (Hon); 2. Larry Kirby (Yam); 3. Butch Sprain (Han); 4. Michael Gontesky (Due); 5. Russ McCaiUster (Han). 250 GP: 1. Jay Richardson (Due); 2. Kemp Archibald (Due); 3. Larry Poons (Duc); 4. Dan Boone (Due); 5. Michael Gontesky (Due). 350 GP: 1. Jay Richardson (Due); 2. ]o'hnny Demoisey (Tri); 3. David Rhynehart (Hon); 4. Stuart Carter (Due); 5. Tom Keister (Due). F~250: 1. ]ohn Louck; 2. ]ohn Turner (Yam); 3. Stephen Sealey (Yam); 4.. Joe Lanza (Suz); 5. ]erry KinzJ (Suz), F-500: 1. Dave Rosno (Hon); 2. Rick Newman (Yam); 3. Gregg Bonelli (Suz); 4. Joe Lanza (Yam); 5. Mark Sturtevant (Yam). F~7S0: 1. Will Harding (M·G); 2. Robert Goodpaster (Nor); 3. Daniel Jacobs (Tn); 4. Elmer Massey (Yam). F-VINT: 1. Dave Rosoo (Hon); 2. ]ames Comstock (Nor); 3.' Ed Britt (Nol); 4. Sakis Vasildpoulos (Hon); S. John Ellis (Yam). SPTSMN 350: 1. Timothy Stancill (Hon); 2. Kirk Cossairt (Hon); 3. Harold Page Jr. (Han); 4. Donnie Warf (Duc); 5. Steve Staser (Hon). SPTSMN 500: 1. Tim ]oyce (Tn); 2. Ralph Auer (BMW); 3. Harold Page Jr. (Hon); 4. Timothy Stancill (Hon); 5. Andrew Cowell (Tri). SPTSMN 750: 1. Larry Kirby (Yam); 2. Tim Joyce (Tri); 3. David Temple (Yam); 4. James Comstock (Nor); 5. Andrew CoweU (Tri). SOS 2-STRK, 1. Joe Fredrikson (Hon); 2. Roy Perry (Hon). 50S F·3: 1. Erich Bley (NWS); 2. Stuart Ca'rter (Due); 3. Donnie Warf (Due); 4. Michael Gontesky (Yam). SOS F-2, 1. Mark Hatten (Hon); 2. Chuck Campbell (Yam); 3. Gordon Hamilton (Yam); 4. Steven Enter (Hon); 5. Mickey Meyers (Hon), SOS F-l: 1. Craig Wright (Rtx); 2. Stuart Carter (MZ); 3. Mark Cummings (Due); 4. Rkhard Updike (Hon). BOT 2-STRK: 1. Richard Merhar (Yam); 2. Blaine Bahm (Yam); 3. Brett Remesik (Yam); 4. Bernard Hensler (Yam); 5. Rick Newman (Yam). BOT F~3: 1. Will Harding (M-G); 2. Stuart Ca.rter (Due); 3. Steve Housley (Kaw); 4. Guenther Weickert (Due); 5. Joe TempUn (Suz). BOT F-2: 1. Pete Johnson (M-G); 2. George Fitt Jr. (Hon); 3. Sam Moses (Due); 4. Will Harding (M-G); 5. Bob Endress (M-G). BOT F-l: 1. Bill St. John (Due); 2. Les White (Due); 3. Pete Johnson (M-G); 4. James Lickwar: (Due); 5. David Hne (M.c). BOT OPEN' 1. Bill St. John (Due); 2. James Kusar (Due); 3. James Lickwar (Due); 4. Pele Johnson (M-G); 5. Guenther Weickert (Bim). BEARS,!. Les White (Due); 2. Pete Johnson (M-G);