Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA Nationa Hillclimb Series Round 10: Goshen Iron Horseman National STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID L. PATTON JR. MIDDLEBURY, IN, SEPT. 15 C7 he Goshen Iron Horsemen MotorJ cycle Club runs two National HiIIclimb events each season, and the shortest hill on the circuit has established itself as the toughest hill to consistently win on. The battle for the 2002 AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series, sponsored by Pace American Trailers, has boiled down to Dave Watson trying to outrun challengers Walter "Tiger" Strank Jr. (800cc class) and Phil Libhart (540cc class). Strank had reeled off three straight 'wins to cut into Watson's lead in the 800cc class, but he wasn't predicting a fourth win in Middlebury. "I'd like to win this and get four in a row, but we are in Templeton, Indiana, so it makes it kind of tough," Strank said in reference to the domination that Bobby Templeton has had at Middlebury. Even though Templeton has had an up-and-down season, his win at Middlebury in May ran his winning streak at the hiIJ to a recordsetting four in a row. "This hill has been good to us. Our bike really works well here," Templeton said prior to racing. "We put on the same setup we always use, and I have an early number, so we'll see what we can do." 540cc The Iron Horsemen hill is 170 feet high, with the timer set at 150 feet. The hill is dominated by the Double a blind, uphill jump that carries the riders halfway up the hill. The early lead in the 540cc class went to Rodney Williams, who dropped the hammer on his BSA Twin. Hot Rod snapped the throttle shut just as he crested the double to minimize airtime, and the result was a perfect landing. He rushed up the hill, but he misjudged the finish line and shut off a little short of the timers for a run of 3.592. That put 540 and 800cc points leader Watson on the line. "The hill looks good today," Watson said. "I like riding here now, though I didn't in the past, so hopefully we'll have a good day." Watson fired the Cycle Accessories and More/Spectro/Troy Lee Designs-backed Honda CBR off the right side of the hill and, though he over-jumped and landed hard, still kept it pinned to take the lead after a 3.375. "The bike jumped straight and it ran great." Watson said. Mike Livingston has had his bestcareer finishes at Middlebury, and he clicked off a smooth, fast 3.568 to crack the top five prior to Strank wheeling his Dr. Bob Racing(B&B Sales and Service-backed Yamaha R-6 into the pit. Strank's first ride at Middlebury on the four-cylinder was just about per- 54 OCTOBER 2, 2002' cue • fect, as he rocketed off the line and over the double on the way to a 3.435-second time. "I don't know what I could have done to go faster. The bike ran excellent," Strank said Jack Mason ran a 3.570 for the last 3.5-second run of the round. The hill wasn't any easier for the second go-around, as the field chased Watson's 3.375. Williams chose the left side of the hill, and his chain tire really hooked up off the start as he flew the Mike's Welding/ Kawasaki of Michigan-backed BSA over the double and ran hard through the timers to climb to third with a time of 3.454 seconds. "I've always liked this hill, and my bike handles great on the hard landings here," Williams said. "I just lost a little time in the air, but I almost caught them." Strank couldn't hit his lines on his second run and would settle for second. Livingston, meanwhile, ran a 3.550 to hold off rookie Jack Mason for fourth - just behind Williams. The win went to Watson, his second in the 540cc class in 2002. "Finally - it seemed like forever since I won in the 540cc class," Wat• ne""s son said. "The bike was perfect, and I had a good day. I hope the 800cc time holds up for the win in that class." BOOcc The battle in the 800cc class got off to an early start as defending 800cc National Champion Strank pulled a low number and tried to set the pace. Strank lined the Dr. Bob Racing/Donnie Lingle Travel Controlsponsored Yamaha RI on the left side of the hill, and he blasted off the line up to the double. He mistimed the double a little and cased it, but he held on for a pass of 3.514 seconds. "I didn't want to overshoot it, so I backed off too early and came up a hair short," Strank said. "I have a game plan for the next round, so we'll see what happens." Templeton started the Bob and Donna Erskine/Townsend Specialties Harley on the right side, but he couldn't put together a clean pass. "I overshot the jump and got a little crooked," Templeton said. "The hole is hard, and it's hard to get traction off the line and it screwed my timing up a little. We're not done yet though - we'll be back." Jeff Thomas has held the 800cc number-two plate the last two seasons, and he had to borrow a BSA from Mark Swem for round 10, and he really gave it a ride. Thomas was perfect on the launch on the slippery starting line and then nailed the double. He held the twin on well past the timers for the lead with a 3.417 -second run. After Libhart ran a 3.554 on the Indianapolis Southside/Diamond Chain/Russ VanderVeen-backed Harley-Davidson, Watson pulled in for the last ride of the round. "I started on the left side, hoping it wouldn't send me too high and it worked out well. I kind of chickened out near the top though and shut off a fraction early so I could have gone faster," Watson said. Watson's 3.343 jumped him into the lead. Jack Mason ran a 3.822 to start the final round, and then Strank rolled in. He lined up on the far left side and he was hooked up right off the gate. He jumped low and flat and barely cleared the double, then he hammered up to the lights. The crowd told the story as Strank's 3.321 flashed on the scoreboard - .021 of a second ahead of Watson. "I still came up a little short over the jump, but the rpms stayed up on it and it took off like a bat out of hell," Strank said. "It would be great to get four in a row and to knock Bobby [Templeton] off this hill. Man, I hope it holds up. Phil and Dave will

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