Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Franklin Ramey III scored the overall win at the SETRA Hillbilly Classic Enduro In Alabama. (Above) Thomas Hawk (2) got the holeshot and the win In the first Vet-elass moto Honda Hills Motorsports Park Linville, Ohio. 25+ NOV: 1. Tony Su11i (Suz); 2. Terry Gastouniotis (Yam); 3. Todd Flaming (Yam); 4. Tom Bell (Suz); 5. Shane Leyden (Suz). 25+ EJ(, 1. Pete Murray (Suz~ 2. Dan Berg (Suz~ 3. Damn Hoer (Suz~4. Troy Kalina (Y~5. Kenny zahrt (Yam~ 30+ BEG, 1. Jon Koehler (Kaw); 2. Rich Schanecker . (Yam~ 3. BiU Arrendale (Hon); 4. Billy McAllister (Suz); 5. Jon Lundberg (Yam). 30+ NOV: I. Tracy Meeks (Kaw); 2. Tom BeU (Suz); 3. Tony Suili (Suz); 4. Shane Leyden (Suz); 5. Shawn Heit (Hon). 30+ INT: 1. Dan Berg (Suz). 30+ EJ(, 1. Mike Baker (Hon~ 2. S<2ve Piattoni (Suz); 3. jeff Clark (Suz~4. Sroll Richeson (Kaw~ 5. Jeff Gianni (Suz~ 35+ NOV: 1. Tom Bell (Hon); 2. Mike Goldsby (Suz); 3. Tommy King (Kaw); 4. Damn Berg (Hon); 5. Bill Melanson (Yam). 35+ INT: 1. Mike Baker (Hon); 2-. Steve Piaftoni (Suz); 3. Jeff Clark (Suz); 4. Jeff Gianni (Suz); 5. Jim Hanson (Hon). 40+ NOV, 1. Joe Root (Kaw); 2. Daniel Smith (Hon); 3. Greg Pagan (Kaw); 4. Roger Dallan (Yam); 5. Steve Fortune (Yam). 40+ tNT: 1. Miek Altenhofel (Hon). 40+ EJ(, I. Ron Turner (Yam); 2. Kenny Zahrt (Yam); 3. Ron Ruff (Suz~ 4. Jim Hanson (Hon~ 5. Randy Minter (Suz). SETRA Championship Enduro Series, Round 16 Ramey • wins Hillbilly Classic By Kenneth King CLANTO ,AL, APR. 20 am KTM's Franklin Ramey III scored his seventh overall win of the season, claiming top honors at the Hillbilly Oassic Enduro. . "I wanted to win today," Ramey said. "I like the technical trails. Steven's (Smith) been riding good so I knew I was going to have to charge all day, and that's what I did." This win widens the gap between Ramey and Team Green rider Steven Smith. The two riders have had a close battle going on all season, and Ramey's win gives him a bit of a cushion going into the final two races, both of which are held in Florida. Smith finished one point shy of Ramey. "I really didn't have any problems," Smith said. "I fell once. All in all I had a good day. I just wasn't fast enough today." ~ Neely Racing's Jason Chancey had his best ride of the season, tying Smith for second overall, but losing on the tie breaker. "I just pushed it all day and really had no problems," Chancey said. "The trail was so tight in places it was hard to pass, but I'm sure everyone had that problem." The Moose-sponsored rider has really charged hard in the later part of the season, posting consistently good scores. This was the fourth year for the Hillbilly Classic Enduro. It was sanctioned by both SETRA and SERA, and once again the Oanton Track and Trail club did a great job. Recent land-use problems forced the club to omit close to 25 miles of trail, and it was questionable whether they would be able to hold the race.. The club decided to run the available 22 miles of trail twice for a total of 44 miles, relative.ly short for an enduro. The trail was one long section of tight, rooty, rocky, slick terrain, Recent rains created quite a few monstrous mud bogs. The terrain 'would make passing quite difficult. The first section was eight miles long and was very technical, with a speed average of 18 mph. Ramey, riding on row 38, scored the fastest time with 3:19. He was followed by Chancey with 4:12 and Smith with 4:14. "I fell' in the first section," Smith said. "The bike never cut off, but I lost a little time." KTM's Allen Gravitt would go through the trail with a 4:18. At the 8-mile mark, the speed was bumped up to 24 mph and riders were given a brief reset. Only the faster guys found themselves with any time to spare. At 14.40 miles, riders entered the next seven miles of woods. The terrain was of the same type, but with brief sections of fire road between trails. Once again, Ramey had the fast time through, posting a 6.05. "I just rode hard and tried to watch my lines at the bogs," Ramey said. Chancey again would be ne.xt with a 7:04, followed by Smith with a 7:12, then Gravitt with a 7:15. At 21.6 miles everyone was given a break, then a reset to 31.7 miles and a restart for the final seven miles before the gas. The trail was faster, but just as technical. All the fast riders made it through, dropping three points. Ramey had a two-point lead on Chancey, Smith and Gravitt at the gas. The whole 22 miles of trail was repeated. The large number of riders widened the trail, making for faster times, but they would wreak havoc on the mud bogs, making them worse. Choosing the correct line was essential. The speed average was once again 18 mph. Smith would blaze through the section with the fast time of 3:14. "I made some adjustments to the bike at the gas," Smith said. "Things seemed to work a little better." Chancey would follow with a 3:36; then Gravitt with a 3:50. Ramey had some problems. "I was in third gear and on the gas when my throttle stuck," Ramey said. "Before I knew it, I hit a tree hard. I thought I broke my wrist at first, but I guess 1 just tweaked it a little. The crash destroyed my computer, twisted my handlebars and busted my radiator." Ramey came through the section with a 4:20. . The speed went up to 24 mph at the 66-mile mark for the next seven miles. Ramey got on the gas and had the fast time at 6:16. Smith was next with 6:45, besting his first time through by 27 seconds. Chancey came in at 6:50 followed by Gravitt at 6:57. At 79.6 miles the club had a reset to 89.7 and the start of the final seven miles. Ramey held a one-point lead, but his damaged radi.ator was leaking fluid. He made the seven miles with a three-point loss. Smith and Chancey would also drop three points in the section. Gravitt would drop four. Ramey finished the day with 25, one point ahead of Smith and Chancey. Gravitt followed with 27 for fourth overall. Ramey, who had just won the SETRA Hare Scrambles championship, also had the Enduro series point lead. With only two races remaining, it will now be tough going for. Smith. IN Hillbilly Classic Clanton, Alabama Results: April 20, 1997 OIA, 1. Franklin Ramey III (KTM). AA: 1. Steven Smith (Knw); 2. Jason Chancey (KTM); 3. Allen Gravitt (KTM). 250 A: 1. Bryan Adams (Kaw); 2. Bryan Goble (Kaw); 3. David Crain (Kaw). 200 A: 1. Tommy Veator (Kaw)i 2. John Borgard (Kaw); 3. Martin Pruett (Kaw). 4-STRK A: 1. Burton Huff (Kaw); 2. Kenny Satterfield (Hon); 3. Geoff Poole (Hon). A INT: 1. Gary Little (Yam); 2. Chris Chisolm (Hon); 3. Jimmy Ward (Yam). . MSTR A: 1. Ron Hale (Suz); 2. Lloyd Widemer (Hon); 3. Joseph Van Seeter> (Yam). OPEN A: l. Mitch McRee (KTM); 2. Andy Barkley (Hon); 3. Lee Carpente, (KTM). SR A: 1. Mike Shank (Hon); 2. Mike Gentry (Yam); 3. Richard Edmonds (l

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