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/128167
OPEN AGE NOV: I. James Pooler (C·A); 2. Bob Guerin (el); 3. Marc Pape (Hon): 4. Steven Pines (BSA); 5. M;chael Kegg (Hon). OPEN AGE INT: J. Oscar Gaetan (C·A); 2. Steven Isenhour (Hon); 3. Mark Grasso (Hus); 4. Robert Hodges (Hon); 5. Rkhllrd Houke (Hon). OPEN AGE EX: I. Ronllid Bertnmd (Hus); 2. Elmar Kruza (el); 3. Jim Row (el): 4. Tom McCallister (Kaw); 5. Mark Mackay (Hon). 40. NOV: 1. Mark A. Schmidt (Bul): 2. Robin Miller (Yam); 3. Michael Kegg (Hon); 4. Ted Cassel (C·A); 5. Dwight Rundle (Mai). 40. INT A: I. Gene Brown (Hon): 2. Terry McDonnell (Hus); 3. Larry Towning (Yam); 4. Donnie Wilson (Yam); 5. Joseph Kelly (Bul). 40. INT B: 1. Denny Uegerot (el): 2. J.D. Piper (el); 3. Dave Curci (MlIi); 4. Mark Strassner (Bul); 5. John Lombrick (BSA). 40. EX: 1. Tom Bellamy (Yam): 2. Elmllr Kruza (el): 3. Mark Mackey (Hon); 4. Spencer Balentine (pen); 5. Jeffrey Clark (Hon). 50. NOV: I. John Hernandez (Mei); 2. Alfred Hurl (Hus); 3. Charles Goman (Oss); 4. Frllnk Spangler (BSA); 5. Bill Rodi (Moi). 50. tNT: 1. Richard Hevenar (Hus); 2. Nick Boring (Hon): 3. Kim Armstrong (Mai); 4. John Rinkenberg (Hon); 5. Bob Adams (Cl). SO. EX: I. Jimmy Jerles (Mlli); 2. Jim McCulloch (Mai); 3. Alex Krisher (C-A); 4. Hugh Weaver (Bul); 5. Van Aderhold (Mlli). 60. NOV: 1. Teddy lzlnders (Pen); 2. Neal Ellis (Hon); 3. Bill Cobb (Cl); 4. Del Grogg (Hen). 60+ INT; J. Bob Adams (Cl); 2. Uoyd Stahlman (Bul); 3. David Dean (BSA); 4. Curt Kennelly (Pen); 5. Bond Way (Mon). 60. EX: 1. Jeff Smith CBSA): 2. Jerry Rewerts (CCM); 3. John Huegel (Vam); 4. Dave Henry (Cl); 5. Corky Root (Bul). AHRMA Progressive Suspension Historic Cup/Motorcyclelndustry.com Singles, Twins & Thunder Series Rounds 13 & 14: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course STORV AND PHOTOS BV MATT BENSON LEXINGTON, OHIO, JULY 20·21 (Fl, ive some people an entry form ~ and they just can't help themselves. Rick Merhar is such a guy, entering five classes a day at AHRMA's AMA VMD two-round weekend. The northern Ohio twostroke rider's finishing tally included five firsts, a fourth, a ninth and a 14th in the Formula and Battle of the Twins classes. At the oldest end of the AHRMA motorcycle spectrum, Alex McLean rode four classes a day on his Bob McKeever-owned Norton singles, logging five first-place finishes, a fourth and a ninth. Bob Robbins chose the newer Battle of the Twins and Sound of Singles classes to fill up his entry sheet, taking three firsts, and one each of the secondo, third-, fourthand fifth-place plaques. After two years of running one round of its National series spread across a two-day period due to the large number of entries at Mid-Ohio, AHRMA went back to its normal oneround-per-day format. By running a tight program, AHRMA managed to put 450 entries on the track each day. SATURDAY McLean started his winning ways with the weekend's first race, getting the Pre- 1940 victory at the controls of a 1937 Norton 500, over BMW rider Glenn Campbell and Will Hard- ing's Indian hand-shifter. Sharing the track for this race (the only one-wave start was in the 500cc Premier race) was the 200cc GP - won by Paul Shoen on his 1971 BSA 250, over the Yamaha 175 of Carl Anderson - and the tiny Cosmo Cup-class machines won by Bill Doran, on a 70cc Derbi. In the combined Formula 250cc/250cc Grand Prix race, Merhar ran off from the field on his '72 Yamaha 250, while Can-Am rider Dave Fulkerson battled with Jerry Herman to an eventual second-place finish in the division. Likewise, Ducati-mounted Jonathan White dominated the 250cc GP field, as a contest for second between Chris Kelleher and Buff Harsh went to Kelleher when Harsh ran into problems. Win number two for McLean came in the Class C race, as he got his Norton around Carleton Palmer's Vincent and went on to open up a huge lead for the win in the Class C Footshift division. Harding, on his Indian, meanwhile, was top Class CHandshifter. Things were a bit closer in Sportsman 350cc contest, where the Honda-mounted Harsh was chased for a time by defending class champ Steve Brown, eventually finishing in that order. Next up, Paul Vitale and Eric Gulbransen - both riding Ducatis, with Vitale on a 748 and his rival on a 996 - got into the first of their several scraps. Never more than two or three bikelengths apart all race in the BOT what AHRMA race officials continually warn racers not to do - attempt to pass in the Keyhole turn. Merhar bumped into leader Glen Christianson, tucked the front end and crashed - unhurt. Christianson was hunted next by Brett Blacketer, who eventually took over the lead and got the win. Brown took the Production Singles win on his MuZ, and Mark Hatten doubled up in Super Mono Two, this time ahead of Chuck Campbell. Merhar came back out in the next race and distanced the Formula 250 field, while Fulkerson again bested Jerry Herman for second. The 250cc GP race was an all-Ducati affair, with Jonathan White clearing out on a close race for second that saw Francis Ganance finish ahead of Paul Germain. For race five, Merhar made his third appearance of the day, earning the Formula 125 win over Christianson, while BMW 750-mounted Walt Sweatt led all challengers in Historic Production. Vitale led from start to finish in BOT Formula One on his Ducati 748, as Gulbransen worked his way around AI Charles, but he never really got within striking distance of the leader. In BOT Formula Three, it was an excellent battle for the lead between Bob Robbins and Derek Keyes, with Robbins getting the win after Keyes got held up in traffic on the last lap. In race eight, H-D rider Tim Joyce eked out a close win over Dave Fulk- Formula One class, class champ Vitale hung on to take the win, over Gulbransen. Moto Guzli-mounted Fulkerson took control of the Formula 750 race on lap two and was never challenged. Behind him, Tim Joyce, on a Harley XR750, and Charles Cole, on another Guzzi, had a good battle, with second going to Joyce. Gulbransen and Vitale - both on Ducati 996s now - fought it out again in Sound of Thunder, this time with Gulbransen getting the victory. Winnacker got the win over Robbins in the BOT Formula 2 portion of the race, while David Podolsky rode his Aprilia 125 to the Sound of Singles Two-Stroke win. The day ended with the combined Formula Vintage/Super Mono race. Fulkerson cruised his Guzzi to the Formula Vintage win, ahead of Chuck Quenzler's Yamaha 400, as AI Charles earned the Super Mono win with a Ducati Super Mono over T. Bruce Brown's MuZ Skorpion. , SUNDAY Sunday morning's racing started off in much the same way as it had begun on Saturday, with McLean earning the Pre- 1940 win - this time ahead of Carleton Palmer's 1937 HRD 500 - BSA-mounted Shoen getting the 200cc GP victory, and Bill Doran taking his Derbi to the Cosmo Cup win. In BOT Two-Stroke action, Merhar was charging to the lead when he did (Left) Rick Mertlar, here getting ready for the Fonnula 500cc race, collected five firsts on the weekend. (Right) Alex McLean, here aboard his Norton, took home five first-place plaques as well. cue I e n e _ s 'AUGUST 14, 2002 17