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/128218
AHRMA Diamond Don's Riverport Steamboat Classic Weekend By MARK THOMPSON PHOTOS BY FRANC ENE DEPREZ JEFFERSON, IX, MAY 9·\\ th the exception of Mid·Ohio's Vintage Weekend in July, AHRMA hasn't had a prestigious western venue for several years· ever since the loss of the Steamboat Springs, Colorado, event that drew hundreds of racers and fans to the Rocky Mountains. Well, here's a likely replacement, and oddly enough, Steamboats are in the picture again. Jefferson, Texas, about 120 miles east of Dallas, was built on a tradition of steamboat com· merce in this East Texas river town. The steamboats are long gone, of course, but the small town continues on as a prime tourist destination because of the wealth of bed and breakfasts located in restored antebellum homes, good restaurants of both casual and cloth-napkin variety, antique stores and a fully functioning train from the turn of the century. There's a lot to do, whether you're there to race or watch. Don Rainey and his partner Francene DePrez decided that Jefferson was a perfect place for AHRMA to visit and turned his 200+ acres of land alongside the restored Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway (which he operates) into a playground for vintage bikes. A wide, f1ilt, grassy pit area bordered the start line, and the sweeping first turn was surrounded by W 64 JUNE 11, 2003· cue • Sunday'. Over-40 Expert class comes off the line with Ron Pomeroy (357J and Brad LackeJ (35C) leading the way. They were seldom much further apart than this, even rIVe laps later. Rick Humphreys (eV) finished third overall. cool woods, providing the perfect playground for the approximate 350 entrants. Unfortunately, heavy rains on Thursday created some boggy spots, including the birth of what would soon become known as the Mobile First-Turn Mudpile that caused the first turn to be changed three times over the course of the weekend, as it kept oozing its way toward fresh portions of the track. With three full days of fun ahead, vintage fans from all around the USA made the trip to East Texas to see what Don and Francene had in store for us. Brad Lackey kicked things off on Friday morning with a riding school, showing the participants the faster lines around the track. That afternoon, approximately 75 riders lined up for the Cross Country race, III n eVIl'S which helped to clear some of the mud off the best lines in the woods sections but left some riders covered in sticky, brown goo. Friday's at-thetrack fun was followed by a free barbecue feast at the old train depot, with many of the guests arriving by means of the antique steam engine. A live band kept you on your feet dancing - which Jim Pomeroy did a lot of. Saturday was bright, sunny, humid and hot, as riders unloaded their Post Vintage bikes (made between 1975 and 1984) for round five of the National series. The go-fast crowd was then replaced by the go-slow bunch for the National Trials round, which didn't finish until dark. Finally, on Sunday, with a bit of cooler weather providing some welcome relief, was the Vintage National. Plus, the food vendors had some exotic offerings such as shrimp gumbo, meat pies and my favorite, "gator on a stick," which is exactly what it says. There was also a sports massage group in attendance, offering some relief to sore muscles at a buck a minute, Brad Lackey was one of many who let the masseurs work out some racing-caused kinks, Racing was the main attraction, of course, and Saturday's Post Vintage National welcomed over 175 entries. First in the gate was one of the weekend's biggest classes, the Over-50 Experts and Intermediates. Jim McCulloch made the long drive from Illinois worthwhile, pulling off a set of holeshot·to-checkers wins in the Expert ranks, with New Mexico's Wes Willis and Texan Bob Lucus collecting the place and show positions. In the Intermediates, Tom Vallandingham from Missouri added together 2·1 moto scores on his RM to beat out Colorado's Patrick Holmes' 1-3 tally. Oklahoma's Larry Shope collected third, making it two Penton/KTMs behind the winning Suzuki. In the Over-40 classes, Dennis Spence from Visalia, California, put his '82 Maico in front in both motos, while Van Hice from Pueblo, Colorado, had his Maico solidly in second both times. Dave Thompson brought in the first non-German bike with a solid third on his YZ. The Over40 Intermediates had Texan Bob Mitchell riding his '79 RM to 3-1 scores, ahead of Ohio's Mark Mitchell and his Husky. John Munich tallied 4-2 scores on his storming '82 Honda CR250 for third. Then came the Historic 500 and 250 Experts and Intermediates to the line, ensuring some fast action. Texan Jan Novero, who seemed to be riding every possible class on a variety of bikes, swept both motos of the 500cc Expert portion on his '74 Penton, with Ron Pomeroy collecting a pair of hard-fought seconds on his Woody's GP Bultaco 370 - some great racingl Dan Johns made the long haul down from Minnesota worthwhile, with a pair of thirds on his canary yellow AJS. In the intermediate class, Oklahoma's Ronnie Snyder was perfect on his Bultaco, with Joseph Kelly and Jim Miller (both from Maryland) chasing him home. All three were on Bultacos. Ricky Humphreys went 2-1 on his Husky to collect the History 250 Expert cash, with Georgia's Bill Alexander beating out Illinois' Patrick O'Connor for second. The final race on Saturday had the Gran Prix 500 Experts and Intermediates putting on a show, with consistency more important than one-moto heroics. Joe Busby from Fort Worth, Texas, was a consistent second both times out on his Maico to beat out moto winners Jay Novero and Van