Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

NETRA Enduro Series, Round 1 By Joe McLaughlin Photos by Mike Bernier WFSrSTAFFORD, cr, FEB. 21 nseasonably mild weather forced the Connecticut Ramblers to post- . pone the 1999 Snow Run from its original Valentine's Day date to the following weekend, and Cycle Gear KTMmounted Hans Neff didn't seem to mind the delay; after all, it gave his injured knee another week to heal. And it seemed to help. In his first ride since suffering a season-ending injury last year, Neff battled Pete Tanner and came out on top by just 25 seconds to grab the first NETRA Enduro Series win-of the year. In freezing and snowy conditions, the ride began with a 3.5-mile road section that led to the first check into the "railroad" section. The trails up to that point were very hard, very frozen and very slick. It didn't take long for riders to realize that a disciplined throttle hand was the key to staying upright. The first section consisted of a nice variety of tight and fast trail sections with a .few large, iced-over puddles to keep the adrenaline flowing. Neff, Tanner, Jason Cayer, Rick Claxton, eil Dennett and Dave Kelley set the pace, dropping only one point each in the roughly 4-mile section. Several twos and threes were dropped by the rest of the A anq B riders, while fives were typical Crider scores. The next section was extremely short - roughly one mile - but it was still enough to take emergency points from everyone. Neff sneaked in under the wire, besting the field with a 0:59 score, while Honda-mounted Mike Nash (1:15), Tanner (1:20), Raffi Peterson (1:20) and James Kelly 0:25) scrambled in behind Neff. A long reset allowed for plenty of rest before a very enjoyable 9-mile section that took only a point from most of the faster riders, while others dropped two or three points. After just over 26 miles, Neff had a one-point cushion over Tanner, Cayer and Claxton at the gas stop. The first half consisted of rather easy trails, but the slick conditions kept the riders' senses alert. Provided one kept the rubber side down more often than not, the 28-minute reset was more than enough to gas up;warm up and get back out to the known control on one's original minute. Another short, swift section was enough to get the body back up to operating temperature but not enough to take points from the top riders. Neff, Tanner, Claxton and Cayer ai: posted zeroes on their way into th", rocky "Black and Blue" section. A minute reset and a road crossing led to the day's longest and roughest section. A nice variety of rocks, roots and other technical trails, combined with a little bit of mud, was enough to take a handful of points from everyone. The rising temperatures began to break through the freezing mark, but not enough to thaw everything out. The trail conditions were rather deceptive, with a little bit of loose dirt sitting on top of a frozen core. Again, Neff set the pace with a 3:30, followed by Tanner's 3:34. Husabergmounted Jim Burns and longtime Husky rider Kemp Stewart were the U only riders who came close, with 4:17 and 4:30, respectively. A bit of tar gave some time to recover from the pounding, and a short blast over a power-line section added more fun. A couple of rock-strewn hills provided great vantage points for the pectators but weren't too much trouble for the riders to navigate. This 3-mile section was not enough to take points from most A and B riders, while the Criders got nabbed for a point or two. Breezing in to the next section ga ve the initial impression that one was just riding a quick, untimed connector. Riders who weren't paying attention might pick up an extra point on the 2-mile trail. The last section of timed trail proved to be a bit grueling, but a quick glance at a route sheet before heading in told the riders there was only one mile of trail before the end. It's a good thing it was only a I).tile, because it was by far the toughest mile of the day. Neff, Tarmer and Stewart managed to get through on time, but the rest of the pack got caught for one or more minutes. After roughly 60 ground miles, Neff managed to come in less than half a minute altead of Tarmer, but his 0:59 at the first emergency clteck gave him the full-point margin of victory, with a score of six. In only his second ride since his knee .. (Above) Hans Neff scorec! the overall win at the opening round of the NETRA Enduro Series in Connecticut. (Left) Frank Frey carded a victory in the C Light class. In the B class, Austin Jalbert cruised into the High Point position with a 14point score, while Kawasaki four-stroke rider Jamie Bennet set tlte pace in the C class with a 3D-point score. CI/I Snow Run Enduro West Stafford, Connecticut Results:. February 21, 1999 (Round1) 01 A H·PT, Hans Neff (KTM). A H·n, Jim Burns (Hbg). B H-PT, Austiri Jalbert (Hon). C H-PT, Jamie Bennet (]-Ion). AA.: 1. Pete Tanner (KTM); 2. Kemp Stewart (}ius); 3. Rick Oax'on (Yam). A BNTM, 1. eil Dennett (KTM); 2. Mike Pens'ere (Yam); 3. Steve Antoniou (KTM). A uW' 1. RafH Peterson (CRE); 2. Mike Nash (Hon). A H/W: 1. Bill Drummey (Hon); 2. Bill Sironen (KTM); 3. Matt Bingham (KTM). A VET, 1. Geoff Wurlitzer (}Ion); 2. Rich Seymour (Hon); 3. Ron Stavens (KTM). A s~ 1. Jim Price (Yam); 2. Duncan Broatch fKTM); 3. Rnger Rodrigues (KTM). B BNTM: 1. Dan Collins (KTM); 2. Anthony Fabiano (KTM); 3. Cory Borovicka (KTM). B L/W: 1. Ryan Brown (Suz); 2. Scot Hoginsk.i (]-Inn); 3. Jim Cnpeland (KTM). B HIW, 1. Pete Vanryswood (KTM); 2. Paul Silansky (}Ius); 3. Scott Harrington (KTM). 8 4-STRK: 1. Eric DeGray (Kaw); 2. Jim Creen (l(aw); 3. Ken Semerjian (Hus). B VET: 1. Larry Silvia (Kaw); 2. Gerard Grundm:mn (Hus); 3. Tom eanesi (KTM). B SR, 1. Jeff Grant O

• Cover