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AHRMA/The Classic Motor Cycle Dirt Track Series Round 3: Oglethorpe Speedway Park STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATT BENSON SAVANNAH,GA,MAR.8 HRMA's Vintage contingent moved north to Savannah for the final race of their Bike Week tripleheader, and they put on their tallest gearing for the fast, blue-groove Savannah half-mile. The race of the night was the Classic 500/750cc contest, in which Michigan's David Atherton survived a ferocious challenge from Illinois Harley-Davidson rider George Wills. Atherton also took the Seniorclass win. The event's other double winner was Iowa racer Mike Connell, who earned wins in the Classic 250cc and Sportsman 600cc classes. Some 11 1 entries turned out for the third round of AHRMA's national dirt track series, down just over 20 from the two other Bike Week races. Atherton had his BSA Gold Star off the line first in the Classic 500/750cc race, with Wills, Carl Forkey, Craig Breckon and Rusty Lowry in hot pursuit. By the third lap of the eight-lap final, Atherton appeared to be opening up a gap, but the Harley KR rider soon moved up to join him. The pair raced side by side for the next few laps, and Atherton seemed to have just a little advantage in traffic as they began lapping the back end of the 12-rider field. As they raced to the finish line, Atherton held on to the lead by a tiny margin. In the battle for third, Harley KR rider Lowry came up just short against Forkey. In the other two brakeless classes, Triumph-mounted Breckon beat Wills by just two bike lengths in the Dinosaur contest, while Connell controlled the action in the Classic 250cc race from lap two onward. James Tumlin hung on to second spot despite a challenge from Leland Prewitt. The rider-age classes saw Atherton take the Over 50 Senior win in convincing fashion aboard a Norton 750. The battle for second raged all race, with Triumph-mounted Mickey Alzola eventually prevailing over Melvin Brown. In the Over 35 Veteran class, Wyoming's Frank Hardman chased down Lewis Woods for the win, and in the Over 60 Super Senior event, it was Alzola's race. The Californian came from the penalty line to run down Brown and earn the win. The Sportsman 250cc contest featured a pair of battles - one for the lead involving David Wills and Jeff Metzloff, both on Can-Ams, and another further back for third, between Prewitt and Tom Morgan. Despite heavy pressure, Wills never relinquished his lead, while the con· test for third ended up going to Prewitt. Connell's Sportsman 600cc win came after a good battle with Hardman. The Sportsman 750cc class had just four entries - surprising for a track this fast - but the action was fierce behind wire-to-wire leader Lewis Woods. Tumlin came up with the second spot, and despite attempts by Hardman to take it away from him, Walt Beute crossed the line in third. William Berger was leading the '70s Singles class when it was interrupted on lap two by a red flag after two riders fell in turn one. At the restart, he was out front again, and Hardman moved up to make it a battle for the lead that lasted until late in the race, when Berger opened it up. Third belonged to class champ David Wills, who worked his was past Mike Headman and then Mark Hawk. CN Oglethorpe Speedwlly Part Savunab, &eorgia Results: Man:h 8, 2002 [IIound 31 DINO: 1. Craig Breckon; 2. George Wills; 3. Dennis Clark; 4. Bruce Argetsinger; 5. Beno RodL eLSe 250: 1. Mike Connell; 2. James Tumlin; 3. cue .... David Atherton fought off George Wills for the Classic 5001750Cc victory In the most exciting race of the night at round three of the AHRMAI The Classic Motor Cycle Dirt Track Series. Leland Prewitt; 4. Ron l....l!lncaster; 5. Jim Ackley. elSe 500/750: 1. David Atherton; 2. George Wills; 3. Cart Forkey; 4. Rusty Lowry; 5. Bene Radi. SPTSMN 250: 1. David Wills; 2. Jeff Metzloff; 3. Leland Prewitt; 4. Tom Morgan; 5. Will FOnTlCIO. SPTSMN 600: 1. Mike Connell; 2. Frllnk Hllrdman; 3. Tom Morgan; 4. William Berger; 5. Albert McRoberts. SPTSMN. 750: 1. Lewis Woods; 2. James Tumlin; 3. Wllit Beute; 4. Frank Herdman. VET: 1. Frllnk HllIrdma'h; 2. Lewis Woods; 3. AJbert McRoberts; 4. Welt Beute; 5. Billy Kennedy. SR: 1. David Atherton; 2. Mickey Alzola; 3. Melvin Brown; 4. Larry Weiss; 5. Davkt Rhynehart. S/SR: 1. Mickey Alzola; 2. Melvin Brown; 3. AI Golley; 4. Gary Brennllln; 5. Roy Hostetter. '70s SGl: 1. WiIIilllm Berger; 2. Frank Hl!lrdmen; 3. David Wills; 4. Mark Hawk; 5. Mike Hellldman. n ... _ OS • APRIL 3, 2002 67