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AHRMAISpeed & Sport National Vintage MX Series Round 1 D: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio getic veterans signed autographs, posed for photos and pumped up the crowd for over an hour, to the amusement of riders and spectators alike.CN Mid-Ollie Sports c.r Course lnlegtlln. Dhill IleslIIls: JIIiy 21, 200Z Pomeray, Lackey, Higgins and mare shaw up at Mid-Ohio Motocro•• legend Barry Higgin. (12) cuts around slower traffic on hi. 0 ... 250. Hlggln. was second to Mick Andrews In the Classic 250Cc Expert event. motos pulled to the line for the traditional bungee-cord start. That race featured all Sportsman 125cc entries with three gates - one each for Expert, Intermediate and Novice. Eric Muffley led the Experts in both motos aboard his Honda, with Mark Weaver, on a Suzuki, in second and showing Muffley a wheel at every opportunity. Bultaco-mounted Tim Weaver was in third place at the end of the first moto, but he didn't start the second, which allowed the consistent-riding Richard Hart to snatch third overall. Novice Honda rider Michael Hart carried the torch in both of that class' motos for the win, with more Honda riders, Dan Orient and Mike Hartney, rounding out the podium. Tension moved through the grounds as the Sportsman 250cc Experts took their positions in the starting ditch. All Vintage racers are in it for the fun of it, but it seems there is more at stake with this class, as many of the riders not only have pretty heavy-duty sponsors, but dedicated mechanics as well. Kevin Brown took over the series points lead last month with his win in Berwick, Pennsylvania, but Tom Benolkin was determined to close the gap at Mid-Ohio. Benolkin pulled the holeshot aboard his Honda in moto one, with Penton-mounted Brown, Bultaco-mounted Weaver and Tom Bellamy, aboard his Yamaha, in hot By RON WINGET PHOTOS BY MATT BENSON lEXINGTON, OK, JULY 21 intage motocross enthusiasts from all over the country gathered for round 10 of the 17 -race AHRMA/Speed & Sport National Vintage Motocross Series, held during the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (VMD) extravaganza at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. With support from SMOG (Spanish Motorcycle Owners Group), Spanish motorcycles were showcased as this year's featured bikes, and Jim Pomeroy, the legendary Bultaco factory motocrosser, served as the event's grand marshal. The 400-entry Ijmit was achieved early in the weeks leading up to the Mid-Ohio MX race as news spread about the group of legends planning to participate. In addition to Pomeroy, World Trials Champion Mick Andrews; 500cc MX World Champion Brad Lackey; America's first professional MX racer, Barry Higgins; and former 250cc National MX Champion Sonny DeFeo also participated. These five legends were supplied with Spanish Bultacos, Ossas and Montesas by SMOG for a commemorative "Lap of the Legends" parade during the opening ceremonies. Crowds lined the fences to be part of the moment as these motorcycling legends rode together again, just as they frequently did when today's "vintage" was new. Afterward, Vintage motocross racing began in earnest as the first of 15 V 16 AUGUST 14, 2002' .,. U .,. I e Penton rider Kevin Brown (1J) doubled up, wInning both the Sportsman 250 and 500cc Expert cia...... n _ VW S pursuit. Lap after lap, they raced with little more than a bikelength between them. Brown and Weaver worked their way around Benolkin before the end of the first moto, but, unfortunately, Benolkin's Honda spun a crank bearing in the Over 40 Expert race later in the day and he was unable to race the second Sportsman 250cc moto. Brown, Weaver and Bellamy finished the second moto, and the overall, in that order. VMD East saw one of the bigger Women's-class turnouts of the season. With surprising determination and skill, Tammy Ritzheimer-Mount went 2-1 for the overall in Women's Novice. (Her husband, Wayne, of course credits the new Amal he installed on her BSA.) Montesa rider Ann Barrow came back from a midpack showing in the first moto to ta ke second overall, and consistent Donna Blackburn, aboard a Yamaha, pulled down third place overall. At the end of the day, an exciting postrace awards presentation, which was coordinated by AHRMA off-road director David Boydstun, showcased a quartet of legends comprised of Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Barry Higgins and Mick Andrews. Oblivious to the heat and humidity, these ener- PREM LIW NOV: I. Neal Siegel (H-D). PREM LIW INT: I. Dan Beher (BSA): 2. Jerry Sibley (Eso). PREM LIW EX: I. David Boydstun (Cot); 2. Brian O'Connor (Due). PREM. 500 NOV: 1. Tammy Ritzheimer-Mount (BSA). PREM 500 INT: I. Steven Kuykendall (BSA); 2. Jim Roble (Ric·Tri); 3. Wayne Mount (BSA). PREM 500 EX: I. Claude McElvain (BSA); 2. Corky Root (BSA). PREM TW INT: 1. Dan Beher (Due). PREM TW EX: I. Beno Rodi (Nor). ClSC 125 NOV: I. lawrence Greer (Ric); 2. Steve Smith (Hod); 3. Alvin Whan (Hod). ClSe 125 INT: I. Larry Townlng (Hus); 2. Marty Wyant (Hon); 3. James Giddings (Pen); 4. David Lamberth (Hon); 5. Dan Towning (Hus). CLSC 125 EX: I. Andy Blackbum (Cl). Clse 250 NOV: I. William Lucas (AJS); 2. Jim Trickett (Bul); 3. Chlules Gomen (Oss); 4. James Upscomb (AJS). ClSC 250 INT: I. Terry Gates (Oss); 2. lynn Williams (Cl); 3. Richard Anderson (Hus); 4. Jerry Sibley (Cl). CLSC 250 EX: 1. Mick Andrews (Oss); 2. Barry Higgins (Oss). Clse 500 NOV: I. Michael Cholar (AJS); 2. Michael Donner (Hus): 3. James Upscomb (AJS). CLSC 500 INT: I. John Lambrick (BSA); 2. Ron Winget (BSA); 3. Craig Campbell (Tri); 4. David Dean (BSA); 5. Don Kelley (Ric-BSA). elSe 500 EX: I. Jay Stuiso (BSA): 2. James SmIth (BSA); 3. Brien O'Connor (Due). SPTSMN 125 NOV: I. Michael Hart (Hon); 2. Den Orient (Hon); 3. Mike Hartney (Hon); 4. Johnnie Gilmore (Bul); 5. Clint Puillam (Kaw). SPTSMN 125 INT: I. Patrick Miller (Hon); 2. John Rickenberg (Hon); 3. David Carman (Hon); 4. Nick Boring (Hen); 5. Robert Green (SUl). SPTSMN 125 EX: 1. Eric Muffley (Hon): 2. Mark Weever (Suz); 3. Richerd Hart (Hon); 4. Jay Kinder (Hon); 5. Bill Nazelred (Hon). SPTSMN 250 NOV A: I. Nick Daigle (C·A); 2. Jim Gilbert (C-A); 3. Gary Lingbeck (Kaw); 4. Thomas Murray (Hon); 5. Anthony Breeden (CZ). SPTSMN 250 NOV B: I. Heinz Raidel (Pen); 2. Greg Troyen (Pen); 3. Ted Cessel (C-A); 4. James Pooler (C·A); 5. Eugene Vllnlancker (Oss). SPTSMN 250 INT A: I. Steven Isenhour (Hen); 2. Oscar Gaetan (C-A); 3. Kirk Allen (Hus): 4. Mark Maynard (BuI); 5. Gene Brown (Hon). SPTSMN 250 INT B: 1. Wesley Miller (Oss); 2. Ben Wanke (Suz); 3. Alex Krisher (C-A); 4. Chris Belkofer (Hon); 5. Kevin Kline (Hon). SPTSMN 250 EX: 1. Kevin Brown (Pen); 2. Timothy Weaver (Bul); 3. Tom Bellemy (Yam); 4. Roger Davis (Hon); 5. Joe Beher (Hus). SPTSMN 500 NOV: 1. Theron Warren (Mal); 2. Devld Curci (Mel); 3. DwIght Rundle (Mlli); 4. Steven Pines (BSA); 5. Michael Cholar (Cl). SPTSMN 500 INT: 1. Denny Uegerot (Cl); 2. Ben Wanke (Suz); 3. Dllvid Greer (Yam); 4. Mllrk Strassner (BuI); 5. Jim McCambridge (Mai). SPTSMN 500 EX: 1. Kevin Brown (Pen); 2. Jim Row (Cl); 3. Jimmy Jerles (Mai); 4. Tom H. Boyd (Kaw); 5. E1mar Kruza (Cl). SPTSMN TW EX: I. Mick Andrews (Tri). WMN NOV: 1. Temmy Ritzheimer-Mount (BSA); 2. Ann Barrow (Mon); 3. Donne Blackburn (Yam); 4. Amy Douvlos (SUl); 5. Amanda Griggs (Cl). WMN tNT: 1. Monicll McCready (Yam); 2. Seshll Rinaldo (DKW). WMN EX: 1. Peggy Cozart (Hon).