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WERA Southeast Region, Round 1
Eisenacher.
rocks
By Aaron Mintz
TALLADEGA, AL, FEB. 15
n deference to the opening of the 1998
WERA season, the El Nino effect
didn't prevail in Talladega, Alabama.
Marietta Motorsports Racing's Billy
Eisenacher went two for three at the sea'son opener, taking both the 600cc and
750cc Superstock classes. However, local
track master Chris Caylor halted Eisenacher's sweep by denying him the 600
Superbike victory.
Lee Acree has come to terms with !tis
totally tricked-out Honda RS250, and he
dominated the Formula Two race. Fellow North Carolinian Mark Marrow'
won lhe C1ubman race on his Yamaha
RD350 and it looks like he will dominate
the Vintage classes this season.
The 600cc Superstock race started
with Eisenacher and Caylor pulling the
holeshot, leaving the entire field as the
two engaged in what was to become a
heated battle. Caylor took the early lead
on his Michelin-backed Kawasaki, but
Eisenacher stuck like glue to Caylor on
his Marietta Motorsports Yamaha.
While leading, Caylor dropped the lap
times down into the 58s, but this was
not enough to shake Eisenacher..However, in the closing laps, Caylor missed a
shift entering turn one and was forced
to demonstrate his dirt tracking ability.
"The shift-shaft arm broke during the
race and I was missing shifts," Caylor
said. "1 got back on and prayed that the
clutch would hold together to the finish."
As Caylor was getting back on the
track, Eisenacher blew by to take first
place.
Eyewitness to the dogfight between
Eisenacher and Caylor was Brian Gibbs,
00
who could not make up ground on the
0\
0\
two. Gibbs went on to finish an unconrl
U). tested third. Rockey Gravley got into a
tug of war with Scott Brown as the two
N
went back and forth. In the end, Gravley
...s:: proved stronger and took fourth ahead
u
l-<
of Brown.
ce
The 750cc Supers tack race started
with Billy Eisenacher launching away
from the field to take first place. Eisenacher never surrendered any ground
I
:E
36
(Above. left) Chris
Caylor (85) was the
only rider to beat
Elsenacher (75)
when he won the
600c:c Superstock
class.
(Above) Jon Boniff
(575) used good
starts to win the
125cc Pro class.
with a 1-1 at the
opening round of
the carolina Uhra
MX Series, held at
Camp Coker MX In
South Carolina.
(Left) Josh Summey
won the 80cc (1415) and Schoolboy
classes In Society
Hili, South Carolina.
and took the victory with a four-second
lead over Brian Gibbs.
Gibbs held his own, keeping Ray
Hickman a distant third throughout the
race. Impressive riding from rookie
William MerkIas landed him in fourth
place when the checkered flag fell. Fifth
place went to Wade Buffington, who
earlier had taken first in the 1l00cc
Superstock race.
In the 600cc Superbike race, Caylor
wanted to even the score with Eisenacher and set out on a mission. Caylor
didn't miss any shifts and held Eisenacher off to take first place.
'1 didn't Ita ve time to fix the shifter
before the last race," Caylor said. '1 just
put more force on the shifter to ensure
that it engaged every time. I think it was
the determination in my heart which
helped me win this afternoon."
{~
Talladega Gran Prix Rac_ay
Talladega, Alabama
Resuhs: February 15, 1998 (Round 1)
o S/B,K EX: 1. Allan Burnham (Yam); 2. Mark
Morrow (Yam); 3. Craig Sic.k1er (Yam); 4. Mark Garrett
(Due); 5. Stewart. Roberts (Hon).
A S/STK EX: 1. Wade Buffington (Suz); 2. William
MerkJas (Suz); 3. Ray Hjckman (Suz); 4. Chris Steele
(Suz); 5. William ~ague (Hon).
HIW TW NOV, 1. Cary Lurie (Suz); 2. Edward J.
Vigluicci (Due); 3. Mark Polf (Hon); 4. Mike Harris
(Hon).
HIW TW EX: 1. Mark Garrett (Due); 2. Stewart
Roberts (Hon); 3. Rick Butler (Yam).
C PROD NOV: 1. Scott Waddington (Hon); 2. Brian
J. HoneycU't (Hon); 3. Fredrick Farzangan (Hon); 4.
Derrick Patterson (Yam); 5. Scott Gardner (Kaw),
C S/STK EX: 1. Billy Eisenacher (Yam); 2. Chris
Caylor (Kaw); 3. Brian Gibbs (Suz); 4. Rockey Gravley
(Raw); S. Scott Brown (Suz).
CLBMN NOV: 1. jason Trimarchi (Yam); 2. S.
Shane Frank (Raw); 3. Zack Jones (Kaw); 4. Chris Wall
(Yam); S. William Self (Hon).
CLBMN EX: 1. Mark Morrow (Yam); 2. Jamie Miller
(Yam); 3. Rick Butler (Yam); 4. Mark Garrett (Cag).
~ 125 GP 'EXlNOV: 1. Stewart Aitken..cade (Hon); 2.
Shane Shirley (Hon); 3. Chuck DiGregorio (Hon); 4.
Mike Mashewski (Hon); 5. Patrick Chandler (Hon).
B S/STK EX: 1. Billy Eisenacher (Suz); 2. Brian
Gibbs (Suz); 3. Ray Hkkman (Suz); 4. William Merklas
(Suz); S. Wade Buffington (Suz).
B PROD NOV: 1. Brian Honeycutt (Hon); 2.
Fredrick Farzangan (Hon); 3. Gerald Hughes (Hon) 4.
Scott Gardner (Kaw); S. Scott Waddington (Hon).
F·2 NOV, 1. Mike Mashewslci (Hon); 2. Jep Palmer
(Yam); 3. Steve Baxter (Hon); 4. jim Conley (Yam); 5.
Scott Spence (Due).
F-2 EX: 1. Lee Acree {Hon}; 2. David BoosaJes
(Hon); 3. Keating Shelly (Yam); 4. Stewart Aitken-Cade
(Hon); 5. AUan Burnham (Yam).
C S/BK NOV: 1. Todd Alligood (Hon); 2. fred
Farzangan (Hon); 3. A.J. Cates (Suz); 4. Tim Brewer
(Hon); S. Chuck Rucker (Hon).
C S/BK EX: 1. Chris Caylor (Kaw); 2. Billy
Eisena.cher (Yam); 3. Scott Brown (Suz); 4, Rockey
Gravley CKa'w); 5. Mike OeBraoonl (Kaw).
F-l NOV, 1. A.J. Cates (Suz); 2. Todd AlUgood
(Hon); 3. Michael McGhee (Suz); 4. Rick Carlisle (Suz);
5. Brian Kiddy (Kaw).
F-l EX: 1. Lee Acree (Hon); 2. David Boosales
(Hon); 3, Ray Hickman (Suz); 4. Bill Zearley o

