Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~ ~ o Great Smoky Mountain Dual Sport Tour Kodak·to·Baja Dual Sport Ride " ! A Kodak ~ (to Baja) Moment By BARBARA W,lliAMS Harleywood: Jason Greer kicks up the powder in a turn en route to the overall victory in Bristol, Virginia, site of the eighth round of the Virginia Championship Hare Scrambles Series. sponsored KTM rider Edmondson came back from a fifth-place start to take third place. Motor Imports/Zeke's Cycle Center-backed Kawasaki rider Timmy Craddock had the early lead in the 200cc A class, with a 20-second lead. Meanwhile, Ductmasters/Motorcycles fj More KTM rider Chance Baker was eating Craddock's dust in second. On the third lap, Craddock slid out in a tum and Baker took the opportunity to pass him and take the lead. Baker kept up a fast pace to take the class win. Toward the end of the third lap, a flat rear tire slowed Craddock down, and Cycle Concepts KTM rider Mike Lancaster got around to take second place. Craddock came through the finish in third. KTM rider Randall Ellison took the holeshot in the 250cc A class. Yamaha rider Chuck Hancock had Ellison in his sights for the first three laps, making it a pretty dose race, but during the fourth lap, Ellison checked on out, taking the win at the finish, with Hancock coming in 35 seconds behind him. "I kept on hearing a four-stroke behind me," said Hancock, referring to the third· placed rider, Honda-mounted Adam Delph. "That made me go faster." Jimmy Cycle Sales-backed Yamaha rider Justin Stone was the first off of the line and the leader of the Four-Stroke A class for the entire race. Stone was uncatchable, with a more·than·three-minute lead at the finish. Stone was chased by KTM rider Robert Wagner during the first lap. During the second lap, Wagner overshot one of the twisted downhill turns, letting by Yamaha rider Andrew Williams. Later on in the race, Williams stopped for gas and Wagner made the pass to take second place at the finjsh. Williams came through the scoring tent to take third. In the Vet A class, Valley Kawasaki/Atlas HondajTeam Harleywood·backed Honda rider Tommy Reynolds was last off of the line, but by the time he made it to the second turn, Yamaha rider Montie Orr had stalled his bike, giving Reynolds the space he needed to get by. KTM rider Glen Holcomb let Reynolds by and Honda rider David Baldwin stalled out, so by the end of the first lap, Reynolds took control of first place. He kept a blistering pace and took the class win. Baldwin recovered to take second place, and Orr came in third. The Senior A class was dominated by Answer/Scott/Motor Imports-backed Kawasaki rider Daniel Morrison, who came out of the hole strong and kept a hot pace for the entire race to take the win. Meanwhile, Kawasaki 72 JULY 24, 2002' eye e rider Don Hall was pulling up to third place from a next-to-last-place start. On the third lap, Hall made his move on Cyde Connectionsponsored KTM rider Darryl Campbell on a set of alternate lines. Hall made up time on Morri· son but took the second place, with Campbell taking third. Axo/Alpinestars/Cyde Junction Kawasaki rider Preston Blake continued his winning ways in the Mini A class with another first-inthe-woods/first-to- the-finish-style win. Kawasaki rider Steven Carter took the win in the Mini B dass and Suzuki rider Rusty Epperson took the Mini C win. Harleywood Bristol. Virginia Results: June 23. 2002 (Round 8) O/A: Jason Greer (Yam). M: 1. Doby Leonard (Suz); 2. Stephen Edmondson (KTM); 3. Ty Shipley (Yam); 4. Chad Parker (KTM): 5. George Greer (Han). 200 A: 1. Chance Baker (KTM): 2. Mike Lancaster (KTM): 3. Timmy Craddock (Kalil): 4. R.J. Ferguson (Kalil). 250 A: J. Randall Ellison (KTM): 2. Chuck Hancock (Yom); 3. Adam Delph (Hon). 4·STRK A: 1. Justin Stone (Yam); 2. Robert Wagner (KTM): 3. Andrelll Williams (Yam); 4. Tommy Tomlinson (Yam): 5. Jackie MIller. VET A: 1. Tommy Reynolds (Han): 2. David Baldlllin (Han): 3. MonUe Orr (Yam); 4. Glenn Holcomb (KTM); 5. Rick Huffman (Han). SR A: I. Danny Morrison (Kow); 2. Don Hall (Kalil): 3. Dorrell Campbell (KTM): 4. Mike Mcintire (Kaw). 200 B: I. Taylor Faddis (Han): 2. Brandon Nero (KTM): 3. Josh Gray (Han); 4. Tim Bongard (Yam); 5. Jeffrey Parker (Hon). 250 B: I. Jason Balonls (Han): 2. Matthew Arnold (Hus): 3. Cole Grindstaff (KTM); 4. Andy Arnold (KTM): 5. Jllmes Miller (Kllw). 4·STRK B: l. Scott Cllpewell (Yam); 2. Chester Whllley (Yllm); 3. Jeff Groover (Hon); 4. Shannon Willis (Yam); 5. Oadle K~n (Yam). VET B: I. Steve Mason (Yam): 2. Shawn Graham (Han): 3. Dennis Gibas (KTM); 4. Robert Galyon (KTM): 5. Michael Lewis (Han). SR B: 1. Pat Arnold (Yam); 2. Larry Adams (Hus); 3. Jernes Hutson; 4. Allen Wilkinson (KTM): 5. MarshellLyall (KTM). 200 C: 1. Harvey Kidd (Han): 2. lee Mitchell (Kaw); 3. Ross Wingfield (Kalil); 4. Dlllllson Comer (Yllrn); 5. Kenneth Kldd (Hon). 250 C: J. Charles Lewis (Han): 2. Scott Nichols (Suz): 3. DUlltin Mabry (Kaw): 4. Scott Romanoski (Hon): 5. Chris Riffey (KTM). VET C: 1. Darryl Delton (KTM); 2. Richerd Flippen (KTM); 3. Jim Dusky (Kaw): 4. Paul Gusler (KTM); 5. Bred Bolling (KTM). M.lNI A: I. Preston Bloke (Kaw): 2. Chad Woods (Kaw): 3. Chad Lyell (Kaw): 4. Ryan Robbins (Hon); 5. Pierce Blake (Kaw). MINt B: 1. Steven Carter (Kalil); 2. J.C. Reynolds (Kaw): 3. Mark Robare (Hon): 4. Michael Napier; 5. Matthew Ellis. MINI C: 1. Rusty Epperson (Suz): 2. Robert DeZero (Kalil); 3. Aaron Diamond (Suzl: 4. Charlie Shlnett (Kaw); 5. Michael StelngoJd (Yam). MSTR: 1. Robert COK (KTM): 2. Bob White (KTM): 3. Bob Wick (Suz): 4. Donnie Lewis (KTM). WMN: J. Leigh Belcher (Suz): 2. Jenny Blake (Kalil); 3. Heather Greer (Kllw); 4. Lori Dusky (Han): 5. Elissa Morton (Suzl. JR MINI 1: 1. Brandon Bolling (KIIIII); 2. Corey Gearhart (Hon): 3. Hunter Murphy (Kaw):4. Chance Davis: 5. Scou Chamberlain (Hon). JR MINI 2: 1. Jacob Pillow (Kalil): 2. Bradley Greer (Kaw): 3. Brandon Taylor (KTM); 4. Tyler Robertson (Kalil); 5. Christopher Epperson (Kaw). P/W I: J. Gunnar Robertson (KTM); 2. ChetMartineau (KTM); 3. Austin Galyon (KTM): 4. Taylor Nero (KTM): 5. Robert Cain (KTM). P/W 2: I. Carter Campbell (Hus); 2. Kevin Taylor (KTM): 3. Hyl· ton Dalton (KTM):4. Daniel Gibas; 5. Sean Benhart. n e _ S KODAK, TN, JUNE 21 Want a change of pace from the frenzy of racing? Go riding in the mountains with a group of friends. "Oh, sure - there's no place to ride in Tennessee," I hear you say. True enough. About the only way you'll get to enjoy nature via knobbies is to know someone who has access. That's where Pro-Action Suspension's Steve Utz and Merck detail man Greg Gibson come in. These two friends organized the inaugural Great Smoky Mountain Dual Sport Tour, held on the Saturday of Honda Hoot Week outside Knoxville, and sponsored by Honda Riders Club of America, Mountain Adventures Honda, Pepsi, Torco Oil, Bluff Mountain Adventures, Parts Unlimited, Mota Planet, Pro-Action Suspension, (MS, Pirelli, Maxxis, Michelin. Kenda, Boyesen, FMF, Thor, Fox, Pro Circuit, LA Sleeve, Moose, Devol, Scott, LP, DP, Fueltankwash.com, and No Fear. With help from Fred Hardwick, owner of Mountain Adventures Honda, the GSMDST hosted more than 50 riders from all over the East Coast. from Florida to New England. For a mere $50, one could ride private trails on Bluff Mountain, score great prizes, ride with off-road champion Scott Summers, and have a chance to win a Honda XR50 pit bike or a Chris Haynes Baja Tour (each one valued at almost $2000). How cool is that?! Summers was available the whole day to explain the benefits of belonging to the Honda Riders Club of America. One of the greatest off-road racers ever (with 19 National titles, three international gold medals, and almost 100 wins, including three at the Blackwater 100), Summers is one of the friendliest and most informative guys you'll ever meet. Beginning at Mountain Adventures Honda, the riders enjoyed 42 miles of winding mountain roads on the way to lunch at Walden Lodge. A vacation cabin complex tucked away in a valiey, Walden Lodge also hosts Bluff Mountain ATV Tours. "Ninety percent of our riders are beginners," said Curt, a guide from Michigan. "Even if they're hesitant at first, by the time we get back, they have big smiles. We have fun." While the burgers were grilling at the Sponsor Banner PaVilion, the riders got better acquainted with Summers and his girlfriend, Diana Davis. After his retirement last September, Summers wondered how badly he'd miss raCing. "To be honest, it was a relief," he smiled. "There's not nearly as much pressure to be the best now. Honda has been good to me throughout my racing career, and now I'm glad to be able to give back to them, apart from racing." Summers is as busy as ever. He is now a spokesman for HRCA; slated as GNCC Series commentator for ESPN; and is active in the family business, Summers Racing Components. Time came to remount and hit the trail up Bluff Mountain. With Miss Davis along for the ride, Summers didn't seem to be slowed much. "Even with two on his bike, it wasn't easy to keep up," laughed Wayne, one of the Florida team. "They even went on the Expert parts of the trail." "Didn't you hear me screaming?" teased Diana. Litz, John Strange from SETRA, and the crew had laid out two sections of trails - red arrows marked the Beginner route, blue ones pointed out Expert sections. Green arrows showed the "easy way out" - just in case a bike quit or was too "street" for the trail. Everyone made the eight miles of trail to the top (even the big Kawasaki 650s - finally) and enjoyed a breathtaking view. It was easy to find Knoxvilie, Marysvilie, Alcoa and the airport. According to Curt, on a clear day, you can see Kentucky, 125 miles distant. "There's plenty of wildlife up here, too," commented Curt. "We see deer, bear, hawks, bald eagles, rattlesnakes - even wild boar." Refreshed by the rest and some cold bottled water, the riders made their ways down the mountain by a 6-mile trail, finding pavement for the final 25 miles back to Mountain Adventures Honda. After all had checked in, Greg and Lisa Gibson's son, Eric, drew the winning names to good-natured applause, even from those who really, really wanted to win. Bill Girard of West Palm Beach, Florida, took home the brandnew Honda XR50. Jack Roberts of Blountville, Tennessee, was the winner of the Chris Haynes Baja Tour. Summers, who has ridden the Baja 1000 and knows the countryside, Kodak.to·Baja Dual Sport Ride: Greg Gibson (in baseball cap) checks in Randy Surber at the end of the first-ever Great Smoky Mountain Dual Sport Tour.

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