Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

case someone fell. If it was at least halfway, and they ended up calling the race, I just wanted to be in the top three, top four at least." He did much better than that. Emerging from a six-rider pack exiting the final corner, McDermitt had the power to speed to his first- ever Sportster win, this one by a scant 0.234 of a second after 12 tours of the "Magic Mile." "I held it on," McDermitt said of his last-lap strategy. "I shut off a little early going into turn three, and I pinned it back wide open going through the middle of the apex and rode my brake through it, and ended up easing up on my brakes. "I was where I wanted to be. I thought Bryan Smith was going to be behind me, following my draft coming out of turn four and down the straightaway. I dropped down the straightaway about halfway and thought there'd be a little bit more. I was lucky to be able to come out on top." The Michigan rider's first win came at the expense of defending champion Smith, and Moroney's H-D/ Michael's H-D's Jared Mees, who'd already clinched the 2002 title and maintained a near-perfect podium record for the year. The top three had made a slight break with two laps to go, then the pack tightened up so there were six riding as one, two trios side by side across the stripe at the white flag. McDermitt led Smith the final three laps, with Mees taking third on the final lap. "The last couple of laps, everything was so different," Jim Wagner/Doc's H-D's Smith said. "A bunch of different guys going for it. It got a little hectic a couple of times. Kind of spooked me a little bit getting bumped and guys kind of running into each other. "I had to be second coming off turn four to win, and I thought I had it set up perfect, and Josh [Toungett], number 18, kind of stuffed me going into three, and I ended up third coming off of three, and I knew I was done right then. I ended up second, which is all right, after not riding one all [summer], I was hoping to win one last time with number one. At least I got to run the number one one last time." It was Smith's fourth Sportster race of the year, He ran three at the start of the year, finishing second, then winning, before getting hurt in the third one. Mees took advantage of the lastlap excitement to move from sixth to third on the final lap. "The lap before [the final lapll was going into one and I was perfect and then down the straightaway they were all ready to draft and I wasn't close enough to draft them down the back stretch," he began, "so J knew, 1 came in real wide, got a real good run and as soon as I got out four 1 had these guys all tucked in and thought I was where I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I was actually going to cut back in and follow them, but that would require pressing on the brakes and I would lose all my drive on BRIEFLY••• Chris Carr said that he'd signed a contract to renew his sponsorship package with Quality Checked Certified Pre·Owned Ford for 2003, but was waiting on a final answer. 'I've signed an agreement with them for next year, but they haven't counter-signed because of insurance issues on vehicles. We're proceeding as if we had a deal.' Carr said that 2002 was his second year with the team and the deal for 2003 is a 'little better.' something on the order of 20 percent. according to someone with knowledge of the pact. .I,R, Schnabel is one of several GNC regulars making the trek to San Diego for the Formula USA season finale at Del Mar. Schnabel knew he was going, he just wasn't sure what he'd be riding. 'We're running second in Formula USA points [to Terry Poovey,] and I'd like to see what we can do to make the best of that. I'm doing both. [the Saturday short track and the Sunday mile] and riding both classes In the mile.' Chris Carr is also going. He'll be testing the Vor 454 on both the short track and the mile, and will also have his Kenny Tolbert-tuned Harleys for the mile. Du Quoin-mile winner Mike Hacker was one of many who lamented the lack of a crowd at the' Magic Mile.' 'I love thiS place, and I wish the fans would come and see it because it's really an awesome place to watch Springfield and this place'- he said. 'It's a neat facility, it's clean. It's a hell of a race to watch.' The race, like Springfield, is promoted by the IMDA, the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association, a group which gets high marks for preparation and promotion. The track was fiawless, the racing clean and on time, the groove wide and smooth, There wasn't a single crash all day. Following the race, everyone was invited to a feast in the nearby expo hall with Harley-Davidson picking up the tab, Cozlar H-D/Country Motors/National Cycle's .Iohnny Murphree thinks that this year is the building block he needs to compete for the title next year. 'I ended up second on the year,' Murphree said. 'I let myself down. We were running real strong all year and ended up with a few inconsistent finishes and let Chris [Carr] clinch the championship real early. I think we'll have something for them next year. That will be my second year with Mike Wheeler, my new mechaniC. He's just the best guy ever for me. I think we're ready to go to the front.' Kawasaki's Tommy Hayden, on hand to watch brother Nicky at Du QUOin, will be racing the Saturday short track at Del Mar, along with both of his brothers. Tommy Hayden confirmed that he'd re-upped with Kawasaki for the 2003 season, competing in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport class. Roger Lee Hayden was a no-show at Du Quoin, spending the weekend Instructing at an American Supercamp in Vancouver. Washington. Kenny Coolbeth improved one spot on hiS 200 1 season finish to a career-best third, six points out of second place in the season standings, 'I'm happy with the whole year," the Connecticut rider said. 'I wish it was the middle of the next season. We'll go all winter and train and work harder. We've pretty much got the same deal for next year, We just need to make a few things better. It's not final. but pretty much, We're almost positive. Corbin, Samson, Jones Powersports, they've been backing us for three years, they're just awesome people,' Pennsylvanian Kevin Varnes finished the year a career-best fourth, one spot behind Coolbeth. 'We got a top-10 finish, and Brian Bigelow, he didn't make the main event. and he was right in front of me in points, so it bumped me up to fourth place in points - my best finish," Varnes said. 'I them, So I just tried to drag-race them and get on the podium, and I haven't missed the podium all this year, and I wanted that podium bad," Mees made changes to his Sportster after finishing second to Toungett in his heat. "The first couple of laps, I thought I could outride them and motor by them, but you can't," he said. "I had to really settle in, It seems like you've got to calm down. That's what I did, I just sat there and calmed down and acted like I was rolling on the throttle. It felt like I was going so slow out there when I calmed down, and I was picking them guys off, It was a lot of fun." Josh Toungett, who led the first four laps and two others, went from third to fourth on the final lap, just in front of Marioneaux-Nallin Racing's Merle Scherb and Coziahr H-D/ Kiesow Racing/Memphis Shade's James Hart. Mees ends the season as the class champion with 232 points, 53 more than Hart, who took over second in the final race, moving Scott Scherb to third. eN made every main event thiS year· never did that before. Actually, the first time I've been in the top lOin four years. [The year! 1998 was the last time.' Varnes said that Memphis Shades, Parts Unlimited, Drag Special· ties, and Ford Motor Company were on board for 2003. .lay Springsteen remains the most popular rider on the GNC tour. the line of fans seeking his autograph snaking through the PitS well after the races ended. At the age of 47. Springsteen has been on the dirt track trail for an amazing 28 years, and, though he's contemplated slowing down, it isn't imminent 'A lot of people ask. 'When are you going to quit Springer1 When you going to retire?' It's like 'Why?" he says. 'I've got all these good people [Bartel's H·D/Corbin/PJ 1 Oils/Rock Springs] behind me right now and I'm still having fun at it. The hardest part is all the traveling, The racing is easy and I've been riding them so much that I can go out and I can come in and I can tell my mechanic what to do to the motorcycle to make it better. A lot of these guys that are coming up they just tum it wide open and they don't know how to make the bike work better for them. I've just got a lot of seat time on them. This is close to 30 years of racing for me. I guess it's like factory workers, when they have 30 years they can retire. I'm going to run pretty much all of them [in 2003], but I'm just going to be more selective on my races to go to. We've been going to these tracks that's been shit for 20 years or longer, I'm going to stay home, and I'm going to go fishing or something. I'll be back next year as strong as ever and then the year after that I'll run Du QUOin and Springfield and just a few of the races and kind of work my way out of it· try to. But it's hard to. Racing's in my blood. Scotty Parker, he qUit racing motorcycles; now he races cars. He's traveling 50, 80, 100 miles, but he's still staying right by home and he's just having fun at it because he's got racing in his blood. You can't just set home and do nothing, Racers are always on the go, on the go, all the time. It's like my wife asked, 'When are you going to slow down?' I got to keep moving, keep moving.' With Rich King injured, Harley-Davidson decided to give a few young riders the chance to ride the Bill Werner-tuned factory bikes. .I.R. Schnabel and Harley-Davidson Sportster Performace champion Bryan Smith were the lucky winners. each getting a pair of XR750s for Du QUOin. 'It's like a dream come true,' Smith said. 'The thing works so good. This is ideal. I always wanted to ride for these guys, Even if it's only for one weekend. It's cool. The bike works so good. It's Just fun to be on something competitive that works and you can go and when you want to tum, and when you want to go, ittums and goes. It just works. Before. I always struggled on the miles because my bike was slow, but it's good now. It handles quite a bit different. to the good side of course, The power is real useable. My bike is either on or off the gas. This bike, you can roll it on, you can feel it working. Just a lot of little thongs that all add up. I tried two different bikes, and mainly the only thing I've been changing is the wheels, getting a new tire on it.' Schnabel had ndden the factory Harleys before, racing King's Buell Blast at the Springfield Short Track and one of King's XR's at the Formula USA Sacramento Mile. which he nearly won, This was his second try on the big bike. 'It handles good, the powerband is good,' Schnabel said. 'It's what you'd expect from the bikes. Chassis-wise, it's hard to say how it's different from mine. It's a little different set-up, I haven't found my niche yet. It's a C&J chassis, the same one I run. Engine-wise, it's quite a bit different. The whole powerband is moved around from what I'm used to. It's real continuous. The motor is smooth.' As impressed as he was by the motorcycie, Schnabel was more impressed with Werner. 'Bill's been here so many times he knows what he needs to do to make us competitive, Schnabel said." George Roeder, a fixture at dirt tracks who tunes for his son, Jess Roeder, missed Du Quoin to attend the funeral of his brother Charlie. "My dad couldn't be with us," Geo Roeder II said after winning the third semi. 'My uncle died on Thursday. I hope he's staying with us for 25 more laps." Robert Buffington (Suz); 9. Scott Deubler (Yam); 10. Ou Quoin Stats Feirgrounds Ou Quoin, illinois Bryan Bigelow (H-D). Time: 4 min., 51.344 sec. GRAND NATIONAL (25 laps; 18 riders): I. Mike Hacker (H·O); 2. Kevin Atherton (H·D); 3. Shaun Russell (H-D); 4. Johnny Murphr.., (H-D): 5. Chris Carr (H-D); 6. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D): 7. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 8. Joe Kopp (H·D); 9. Kevin Varnes (H-D): 10. Jake Johnson (H-D); 11. Bry.llln Smith (H-D); 12. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 13, Nicky Hll:yden (Hon): 14. Peul lynch (H·D); 15. Terry Poovey (Han): 16. Geo Roeder 11 (H-D); 17, Tim Eades (H-D); 18. Jess Roeder (H-D). Results: Septsmber 28, 2002 [Round 20 of 2DJ HEAT I (10 laps; 11 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 2. Nicky Hayden (Hon); 3. Jay Springsl..,n (H-D); 4. Chris Carr (H-D); 5. TIm Eades (H-D); 6. Jess Roeder (H-D); 7. John Nickens III (HD); 8. Cory McDermitt (H-D); g. Robert Buffington (Suz); 10. Shane Fox (Suz); 11. Brian Thomas (H-D). Time: 5 min., 58.531 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 11 riders, top 3 transfer): I. Shoun Russell (H-D); 2. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 3. Jeke Johnson (H·D); 4. Steve Beellie (H-D); 5. Juon Tyer (H-D); 6. Chris Evans (H-D); 7. Deen Knodel (H-D); 8. Scott Scherb (H-D); 9, Jeff Lendrum (H-O); 10. Lee Perker (H-D); 11. Gary Rogers (H-D), Tune: 5 min.• 59.911 sec. HEAT 3 (to laps; 11 riders. lop 3 lransfer); I. Bryan Smith (H-D); 2. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 3. J.R. Schnabel (H-D): 4. Gee Roeder II (H-D); 5. Paul Lynch (H-D); 6. Terry Poovey (Hon); 7. Chris Hart (H-D); 8. Dan Stanley (Apr); 9. Scott Stump (Suz); 10. Chris Boone (H-D); 11. Garth Bastian (H-D). TIme: 6 min., 2.363 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps: 10 riders, top 3 transfer); I. Mike Hacker (H-D); 2. Joe Kopp (H-D); 3. Kevin Varnes (H·D); 4. Bryan Bigelow (H·D); 5. Willie McCoy (H-D); 6, Greg Teague (H-D); 7. A.J. Eslick UZ); 8. Aaron Creamer (HoD); 9. John Reun Wood Hon); 10. Scott Deubler (Yam). me: 6 min., 1.307 sec. SEMI 1 (B laps; 11 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Chris Carr (H-D); 2. Terry Poovey (Han); 3. Willie McCoy (H-D); 4, Jeson Tyer (H-D\; S. John Nickens 1II (H-D); 6. Aaron Creamer (H-D ; 7. Scott Scherb (H-D); 8, Scott Stump (SU1); 9. Shane Fox (Suz); 10. Cary Rogers (H-D); 11. Garth Bostian (H-D). TIme: 4 min.. 52.976 sec. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 10 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Peul Lynch (H-D); 2. Tim Eades (H-D); 3. Steve Beattie (H-D); 4, Greg Teague (H-D); 5, Dan Knodel H-D); 6. Cory McDermitt (H-D); 7. Dan Stanley Apr); 8, John Raun Wood (Han); 9, Lee Parker (H); 10, Brian Thomas (H-D). Time: 4 min., 50.944 sec. SEMI 3 (8 laps; 11 riders, top 2 transfer): l. Gee Roeder II (H-D); 2. Jess Roeder (H-D); 3, A,J. Eslick (Suz); 4. Chris Hort (H-D); 5. Chris Evans (HD); 6. Jeff Landrum (H-D); 7. Chris Boone (H-D); 8. Tune: 14 min., 49.741 sec. Margin of victory: 0.178 sec. AMA PROGRESSIVE INSCJRANCE CJ,S, FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Alter 20 of 20 rounds); I. Chris Carr (303/3 Wins); 2. Johnny Murphr.., (236/1 win); 3. Kenny Coolbeth. (230/1 win); 4. Kevin Varnes (217/1 win); 5, Bryan Bigelow (213/1 win); 6. Joe Kopp (178); 7. (TIE) Jake Johnson (163/1 win)/Jay Springsteen (163); 9. (TIE) Shaun Russell 1.54)/Kevin Atherton (154/1 win); 11. Nicky Hayden 15014); 12. J.R. Schnabel (130): 13. Gee Roed... 11 120); 14. Rich King (117/2 wins); IS. Terry Poovey 110); 16. Paul Lynch (100); 17. Steve Beattie (94); 18, Chris Hart (79/1 win); 19, Shawn Clark (76); 20, WilUe McCoy (67), HARl£Y-DAVIDSON SPOR'TSTER PBlfORMANCE MAIN (12 laps; 17 riders): 1. Cory McDermitt; 2. Bryan Smith; 3. Jared Mees; 4. Josh Youngett; 5. Merle Scherg; 6. James Hart; 7. Brian Thomas; B. John Faulkner; 9. Stephane Welch; 10. Oainel Kauffman; 11. Scott Beckley; 12. Scott Deubler; 13. Scott Stump; 14. Michael Meyer; 15. Gerry Booher; 16. Shane Fox; 17. Bret Sowders. Time: 7 min.• 32.537 sec. Margin of victory: 0.234 sec. HARLEY -DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMAl'lCE SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 13 of 13 rounds): 1. Jared Mees (232/5 wins); 2. JlImes Hart (169); 3, Scott Scherb (161); 4. A. J. Eslick (142/2 wins); 5. Brian Thomas (141); 6. John Faulkner (131); 7. Josh Toungett (ItB); B. Jess Roeder (111/2 wins); 9. Merle Scherb (96); 10. Rusty Rogers (94/1 win); 11. Yuhlko Hirao (Bl); 12. Robert Lewis Jr. (71); 13, Bryan Smllh (65/1 win); 14. Cory McDermitt (64/1 win); 15. (TIEl Shlme Fox/Dean Knodel (59); 17. Brian Kromroy SO); 18. Stephanie Welch (49); Ig. Jacob Johnson (45/1 Win); 20. Mark Witham (36). 1 ~ g I: U I: I • n _ _ S • OCTOBER 9, 2002 25

• Cover