Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127831
VINTAGE VDTRA VINTAGE CLASSICS X DIRT TRACK SERIES the Honda dealer who was aboard one of his fleet of Bultaco Astros. From there Richtmeyer set sail and went into cruise mode on about the fifth of the eight-lap main and went on to nail the win while behind him Justin Young battled from last to second. Snyder struggled in the middle laps, dropping to fourth behind Keith Bryant, but a late-race charge by Snyder allowed him to pip Bryant at the line as the two riders crossed the stripe together. Perhaps Richtmeyer's most impressive ride of the weekend came in the Classic 500-750cc race as he powerslid 'his brakeless, hardtailed Triumph around on the groove while fending off a valiant charge by Royal Adderson on a beautiful Royal Enfield. Adderson then had problems with the machine, allowing Richtmeyer to once again cruise to the line well ahead of another intense battle that had shaped up between Harley-Davidson riders Leo Anthony and Gary Hite. Anthony managed to make a pass on Hite that stuck two laps from the end for the runner-up spot on the podium. The most competitive race of the evening had to be the 14-rider Classic 250cc feature. The brakeless 250cc Harley Sprints, Bultacos et al put on an incredible show that looked more like a Grand National mile than a vintage showcase. The top 10 riders ran right By Scott Rousseau Photos by Dan Mahony BARBERVILLE, FL, MAR. 4-5 he friendly rivalry between vintage dirt track racing bodies AHRMA and VDTRA got another shot in the arm during Camel Motorcycle Week when well-known AHRMA eastern hotshoe George Richtmeyer showed up at VoIusia County Speedway and dominated the scene during the opening rounds of the VDTRA Vintage Classics X national dirt track tour. Whether or not the Delanson, New York-based Richtmeyer was the fastest rider to show up at the ultra-quick, banked-clay half-mile may be the subject of speculation for now as a muchanticipated showdown between Richtmeyer and last year's dominating VDTRA Open Pro Twins ational Champion Rick Fiscel never materialized after Fiscel's Triumph succumbed to mechanical difficulties in the very first practice session of round one. A dejected Fiscel loaded up and headed for home after the first night of racing, leaving Richtmeyer free reign over the field on both nights. Richtmeyer cut loose, scoring three convincing class wins and the Dash for Cash victory in round one and then returning the next evening to bag. two more features. TUESDAY Richtmeyer started off the night in fine fashion as he rocketed his Shell Thuett-built Yamaha to his heat race win for a direct transfer to the la-lap Open Pro Twins main event and then backed it up with a wire-to-wire victory in the (Above) King of the ring: New Yorker George Rlchtmeyer (10) went on a rampage during the first two rounds of the VDTRA Vintage Classics XNational Dirt Track series, winning five classes and one Dash for Cash over two days of competition. (Right) Heartbreak kid: VDTRA Pro Twins Champion Rick Fiscel never got the chance to race Richtmeyer. The Iowan's Triumph expired in Tuesday's practice. Fiscel won the 600cc Pro main and then headed home. dash for cash over Triumph-mounted Skip Wertz and Mark Gibson, who flashed across the line in a close 2-3 finish ahead of John Plumb and Mike Ragan. The Masters Pro feature got the string of 11 main events off to a rather unpleasant start as Gerald Jessup crashed hard while making a pass attempt on John Fike at the entrance of turn three. The 62-year-old Texan's Harley caught Fike's rear wheel, sending him to the ground in a violent highside while Fike went off the groove and fought his machine back under control. Jessup was transported to Halifax Medical Center where he was treated for a broken collarbone and cuts on his hand. He was released early Wednesday morning. When the race resumed, Wertz jumped out front and stayed there for the dura tion to claim the win ahead of Fike and Snyder. Richtmeyer engineered the first of his three main-event wins in the 250cc Pro class as he shot his Montesa from third to first in a brilliant broadslide of tum two, getting by Keith Bryant and VDTRA 250cc Pro champ Bill Snyder, together nose to tail and often as many as three-wide on the spacious groove for the entire eight laps. When the checkered flag came out, however, the win went to Harley-mounted Mike Connell, who had somehow managed to lead the frantic charge from start to finish. He was followed by Joseph Gately and Tom Howes. Fiscel did gain a small measure of respect as he landed the holeshot and ran away with the 600cc Pro class main, leaving class champion John Fike, Jim Strome and Bill Snyder far in his wake.

