Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

SETRAlMSR Enduro Series, Round 10 WEDGEFlELD, SC, JAN. 31 ranklin Ramey III took the win at the Sumter Enduro, round nine of the SETRA Enduro Series. Ramey dropped 11 points to score the win - one less than KTM riders Allen Gravitt and Jason Chancey, who finished second and third when the cards were tallied. "This was a good, tough race," said Ramey. '1 was determined to win today. I had a few problems with flats, but I had fun," The course threw some tough terrain at the riders, from deep sand whoops to supertight pines. The typical South Carolina enduro covered 63 actual ground miles, divided into six points-taking sections: three before the gas and three after. It was held in the Manchester State Forest, just outside Wedgefield, and rains threatened the area aU day. Cloudy, overca t skies kept the temperatures down in the upper 40s for most of the day. The first section took riders straight into the woods from the start. It was 9 miles long and went from tight to fairly open trail. Ramey took charge early and posted the fast time with a one-point loss. Gravitt and Chancey dropped two points. Team Green's Ashley Brewer and Husaberg's Mjchael Grizzle dropped three. "As usual, Franklin (Ramey) beat me in the first section again," said Gravitt. "I should have had a one," "Franklin just outrode me in the first section," said Chancey. "1 rode good, didn't have any problems. Franklin just rode better," It was Ramey's first ride on his new bike, and he was pushing it. A reset followed, and then there was a 6-mile section before the auxiliary gas stop. The trail was mostly new, and tight enough to claim two points from the AA riders. After another reset, it was on to the check-in at 36 miles. It was the longest section of the day, which consisted of 16 miles of trail littered with sand whoops. The trail zigzagged in and around a creek with orne hilly, rocky terrain and ended up in a fast, open area. Ramey has had hi hare of bad luck this year, and this race would be no exception: He got a rear flat a short way into the section. "I noticed the flat after about five miles or so and just tried to ride as best as I could with it," said Ramey. "It was pretty squirrelly. The rim locks didn't seem to be working." Gravitt cranked it up a notch and posted the fa t time with a four. '1 knew I had to gain some time on Franklin," said Gravitt. "1 just picked things up. I like the longer sections," Ramey, Chancey and Brewer all dropped five. points, and Grizzle scored a six. "1 got lazy in that long section," said Chancey. "I should have done better. I just didn't push it hard enough," From there, it was on to the gas stop. Ramey and his pit crew managed to get his tire changed with time to spare. The check-in was at 67 route miles and started out as a timekeeping section. It was open and fast with a lot of whoops, but short at only 7 miles. Ramey burned the check-out by two minutes, Grizzle by one, and Gravitt and Chancey zeroed and Kawasaki rider Steven Smith matched scores, but Morrison got mith on the tie breaker. KTM-mounted Kim Watson took the overall B honors with a score of 21. He dominated the B cla es all day. For the overall in the C class, Scott Mount was in a league of his ow'n with a 21. Scott rode a KTM and, with cores matching the top B-class riders, he will not stay a C rider long. _ SETRA Enduro series Wedgefield, South Carolina Results: January 31, 1999 (Round 10) OIA:. Franklin Ramey. AA: 1. Allen Gravitt; 2. Jason Chancey; 3. Ashley Brewer. OPEN A: 1. Joey Rowland; 2. Steve Hard man; 3. Neil Sharphorn; 4. Steve Henson. 250 A: 1. Daniel Morrison; 2. Steven mith; 3. Stephen Edmonson; 4. Don Saxley. 200 A: l. Jason Greer; 2. Martin Pruett; 3. Jason Moody; 4. Ricky Dennis. VET A: 1. Doug Deaton; 2. Robert Pearson; 3. David White; 4. Jeff Burchfield. SR A: 1. Terry Hughes; 2. Mitch McRee; 3. R.J. Faddis. S/SR A: 1. Robert Neeley; 2. John Kirby; 3. Mike Shank. MSTR A: 1. Jimmy Lynch; 2. Bruce Triplett; 3. Joseph Van Seeters. 4-STRJ( A; 1. Jeff Hams; 2. Mike Martin; 3. Geoff Poole. OPEN 8: 1. Eddie Royals; 2. Chris Doran; 3. Brent Beverly; 4. Steve Marker. 2SO 8: 1. Kim Watson; 2. Donnie Brewer; 3. Scott Byrd; 4. Ivan Haynes. 200 8: 1. Jay Lagroon; 2. Wilson Cagle; 3. Steve Lewis; 4. Mark Hawk.. VET B: 1. Adam Cagle; 2. Chuck Honeycuft 3. J.T. Cordy; 4. Ricky Jeffords. SR B: 1. John Harris; 2. John Strange; 3. Richard Sox; 4. Frank Schoenbeck. SlSR B; I. Barry Lee; 2. Richard Shipn.,.; 3. Bobby Moore. MSTR 8: 1. Ron Miller; 2. Steve tircwalt; 3. Bill Watkins; 4. Mike Thompson. 4-STRK 8: 1. Phillip Sims; 2. Mike Decherd; 3. Paul McColl; 4. Jeff Solinger. it. The club checked the mileage on the check-out placement and found it to be wrong. Luckily for Ramey and Grizzle, the check was thrown out before any protests were made. Section five was another fast trail that required good timekeeping skills. The trail was full of stumps due to recent thinning by the forestry service. All the AA riders cleaned the section, but Ramey had more problems. "1 got another flat," said Ramey. "1 got on the gas hard and the tire spun on the rim. It caused me to take a trip off the trail and 1 smashed up my pipe pretty good. Terry Cunningham, the Gas Gas team manager, gave me his whole rear wheel at the reset. It ended his rid e, but I couldn't have gone on without it. We did some checking, and the rims on the new bike are wider than on my previous one. We had rim locks in the wheel that were,too narrow; they weren't working at all. When I would get on the gas hard, the tire would spin on the rim and eventually rip out the valve stem," The final section of the day was close to 12 miles long. It started in a very technical are~ with plenty of roots and rocks, then blended into tighter terrain. The tight stuff was almost a mile and a hali long, with a tie-breaker check at the end. All the AA riders dropped three points. Chancey had the fast time with a 3:03. KTM rider Doug Masencup was on the gas to match Chancey with a 3:03. Gravitt finished the section with a 3:05. Ramey did a 3:15, and Brewer a 3:24. "That last section was tight - some of (Above) Franklin Ramey III overcame two flat tires and a burned check to claim the overall at the Sumter Enduro in Wedgefield, South Carolina. (Right) Trailing Ramey in series points, Jason Chancey finish third at round lOaf the SETRA Enduro series. the tightest stuff I've ridden in a while," said Gravitt. "1 had some trouble passing- in spots, and 1 think that cost me some time." Chancey had a few problems himself. "I fell hard right at the start of the trail," said Chancey. "1 just got all crossed up and high-sided. Robbie Neeley was on my row, and he caught me. 1 got going again but couldn't make that time back up." The win widens the points spread between Ramey and Chancey. The top A rider for the day was Daniel Morrison Jr., riding in the 250cc class. Morrison OPEN C; 1. Ladd Sanders; 2. Gene Zobel; 3. Scott Fraser; 4. Daryl Gaskins. . 250 C: 1. Tim Myers; 2. Chad eerry; 3. Chris Venters; 4. Glen Chase. 200 C: 1. Scott Mount; 2. Dusty Tindell; 3. Jeremy Harbin; 4. Jason Ward. 125 C: 1, Zvi McManus; 2. Daniel Kastel; 3 ..Paul Thistle; 4. Mathew Roberts. VET C: 1. Greg TindeJl; 2. Mel Smith; 3. George Tolson; 4, Michael Bakker. SR C: 1. Steven Lewis; 2. Pat.rick LinviUe; 3. Tim North; 4, s',m Mento. S/SR C: 1. Benny Hamby; 2. Stuart Br

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