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/128148
AHRMA/The Classic Motor Cycle Dirt Track Series Round 2: Spring Garden Ranch (Left) Hariey-Davidson rider George Wills (20) and BSA pilot David Atherton (15X) do battle In the Classic 5001750cc contest at the second round of the AHRMAlThe Classic Motor Cycle Dirt Track Series. (Below) Honda-mounted Mike Connell placed first in the Sportsman 600cc division in De Leon Springs, Florida. t was every dirt tracker's dream: a gorgeous horse-training-and-racing facility that had never before hosted a motorcycle race. Under the guidance of legendary dirt tracker Ronnie Rail, the half-mile oval was prepared to perfection. Thanks to overcast skies, it took very little watering during the afternoon program to keep the clay, sand and limestone track in great racing shape: The event attracted 138 vintage entries, and each of the 10 classes featured ultratight racing, with hardly a yellow flag (and no red flags) waved all day. Midwest riders George Wills and Mike Connell were the day's double winners. Wills' wins came under Harley-Davidson power in the brakeless Dinosaur and Classic 500/750cc classes, while Connell's came in the two classes in which he holds the number-one plate - Classic 250cc and Sportsman 500cc. The Dinosaurs led off the finals, and this one featured a back-andforth battle between class champion Wills and his frequent rival Craig Breckon, on a Triumph. Wills eventually opened up a little breathing room over Breckon, with Dennis Clark a solid third on his hand-shift Harley. Next up was Classic 250cc, and Connell kept his Harley Sprint out front from flag to flag. Mark Hawk, on another Sprint, spent much of the race a fairly lonely second - until the battle between Ossa-mounted James Tumlin and Bultaco rider John Bova drew them up to Hawk. The HarleyDavidson rider hung on to the number-two spot over Tumlin and Bova, but it was close all the way. Barry Baker got his Bultaco around Kenny Thomas's Honda for fifth. The Sportsman 250cc contest was a three-rider battle for the win, with Jeff Metzloff keeping his Can-Am barely ahead of Bultaco-mounted Tim Swain and class champ David Wills, on another of the fast CanAms. One of the day's best races was the Classic 500/750cc. David Atherton got the holeshot on his BSA Gold Star, chased by Honda 450 rider Jim Oliver and number-one plate holder Breckon, on a Triumph 500. George Wills and his Harley KR were making up ground quickly, however, moving into a close battle with Oliver and Breckon. The small advantage Atherton had built early on evaporated as the next three riders argued over second place, and Wills soon vaulted into the lead and out of the grasp of his pursuers. That left Atherton working hard to hang on to second, under pressure from third-place finisher Oliver and Breckon in fourth. In the Veteran race, Pennsylvanian Lewis Woods and Wyoming racer Frank Hardman ran one-two from start to finish. In a Yamaha contest, Barney Waldron fought his way clear of Walt Beute to earn third. Fifth was a battle of the Browns, with Melvin earning the spot over Fran. The Sportsman 500cc final saw Harman rocket into the lead, chased by Bill Snyder and Connell - all on Hondas. On the third of six laps, <;:onnell moved past Snyder and then around Hardman. The Wyoming racer was reluctant to give up the spot, and it wasn't until the final lap that Connell got a little breathing room. Snyder and Albert McRoberts spent the latter half of the race disputing third, with Snyder holding the spot when the checkered flag flew. Jack Warren controlled the Over 50 Super Senior class, while California's Mickey Alzola spent the race finding a way around Melvin Brown for second. The top three were all aboard Triumphs. Hardman led '70s Singles the whole way, but the top six were all 66 n STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATT BENSON DE LEON SPRINGS, FL, MAR. 2 APRIL 3, 2002' cue • • _ ... 55 within a bobble of taking over any other rider's spot. At the end, the runner-up was Hawk, with Andrew Heise claiming third, Billy Berger in fourth and class champion David Wills fifth, over Guy Warner. It was wild and wooly among the 50-and-older Seniors. Yamahamounted Roger Johnson took over the lead from Snyder and Merlyn Wertz on lap two, and it looked as though he might creep away for the win. However, Wertz tightened things up by the halfway point and moved into the lead a lap later. Meanwhile, a three-way dispute over third was raging, involving Melvin Brown, Snyder and Alzola. Eventually, Alzola distanced himself from that group to earn third. Up front, Wertz and Johnson spent the last lap running side by side, with Wertz crossing the line first. The battle for fourth was decided in Snyder's favor, over Brown. Last up was the Sportsman 750cc contest, and it was a back-and-forth affair between the Triumphs of Fran Brown and Woods. This one wasn't decided until the checkered flag, and the win went to Brown, over Woods. Holding down third throughout was Hardman, while behind him, Waldron took a close fourth over Darrell Bryant, all three on Yamahas. The friendly folks at Spring Garden Ranch also hosted the AHRMA 2001 dirt track awards banquet that same evening at their restaurant overlooking the facility's mile and half-mile ovals. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day of racing. I:N Sprin, lianIe. I18ncll De Lnn Springs, Anrida Results: Mardi 2, 2DD2 (Round 2J DINO: I. George Wills (H-D); 2. Craig Breckon (Tn): 3. Dennis Clerk (H-D); 4. Bruce Argetsinger (Enf): 5. Beno Rod; (Enf). CLSC 250: I. Mike Connell (H·D): 2. Mork Howk (H·D); 3. Jom.. Tumlin (Oss): 4. John Bovo (BYI); 5. Borry Boker (Bul). CLSC 500/750: I. George Wills (H·D); 2. Dovid Atherton (BSA); 3. Jim Oliver (Hon); 4. Craig Breckon (Tri): 5. Corl Forkey (Tri). SPTSMN 250: I. Jeff Meuloff (C·A): 2. Tim Swain (Bul); 3. David Wills (C-A); 4. William Forman (C·A); 5. Peter Knick (H·D). SPTSMN 600: 1. MJke Connell (Han): 2. Fronk Hardman (Hon); 3. Bill Snyder (Hon); 4. Albert McRoberts (Han); 5. Bill Berger (Han). SPTSMN 750: 1. Fran Brown (Tri); 2. Lewis Woods (Tri); 3. Frank Hardman (Yam); 4. Barney Waldron (Yam); 5. Darrell Bryant (Yam). VET: 1. Lewis Woods (Tri); 2. Frank Hardman (Yam); 3. Barney Waldron (Yam); 4. Walt Beute (Yam); 5. Melvin Brown (Tri). SR: 1. Merlyn Wertz (Tri); 2. Roger Johnson (Yom): 3. Mickey Alzolo (Tri); 4. Bill Snyder (Yom); 5. Melvin Brown (Tn). S/SR: 1. Jock Worren (Tri); 2. Mickey Alzolo (Trl); 3. Melvin Brown (Tri); 4. Duwayne Montgomery (Yom); 5. Bill Burr (BSA). '70s SGL: 1. Frank Hardman (Hon); 2. Mark Howk (Yom); 3. Andrew Heise (Yom); 4. Billy Berger (Han); 5. Dovld Will. (Yom).