Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Pikes Peak International Hillclimb 'Ihe Pinnacle 0 Success Gary Trachy was all alone in the 750cc Pro lead at the 13,OOO-foot mark of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado Springs, Colorado. STORY AND PHOTOS BY RUPERT BERRINGTON COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, JUNE 28 t takes only two to make a race, and that's what we had as the sidecars battled their way up the 156-corner, part-paved, part-gravel course to the summit of the 14,115-foot mountain known as Pikes Peak. Named after Zebulon Pike, who said in 1806 that the mountain was unclimbable, it is appropriate that motorcycles race here every year. Sidehack partners Scott Whitney and Pat Holmes traded the lead all the way to the top with Scott's dad, Ralph Whitney, and nephew Craig Whitney. Scott made a last pass, and Ralph was unable to respond before the finish line. Passenger Holmes celebrated his 52nd birthday at the summit after hanging on to the winning Harley V-Rod-powered machine. Holmes explained that they lost first gear a mile into their run, and the clutch went at the picnic grounds midway up the mountain. According to Ralph, Scott's driving experience won the day, in a run taking 14 minutes and 58.48 seconds to complete. Chuck Lee stormed to victory in the Motion Pro 250cc Pro class on a I KX500. Mark Woodward had a career-best finish of 14:03.20 on a Rocky Mountain Kawasaki-sponsored KX500. Next up the mountain, the 750cc Pros, sponsored by Maxima Oil Products, were led by last year's 250cc winner, Gary Trachy from Orange, California, on a CRF Honda. "Man, that difference in power [between the 250cc and 540cc] is something!" Trachy enthused after taking the win with a time of 12:47.81. "You've got to ride smoother. You can't just come out of a cortators at the 13,OOO-foot Devil's Playground, but then Durelle repassed Tracy near Bottomless Pit - a corner that you do not want to go off, for obvious reasons! Durelle held on to the lead for his seventh win on Pikes Peak on his Apex Sports/General Engineering/Pistol Racing/Arai/ Arrow Exhaust/Continental Tires/Topar Racing-sponsored Honda CRF450R and smashed his own record of a year ago by almost four seconds. In fact, both riders went under the old 500cc record. Durelle, of nearby Fountain, Colorado, finished with a time of 12:36.63. "You'd have total traction, then you'd hit a loose spot and lose your front end and rear end and be lucky enough to save it," said Durelle. Runner-up Tracy, from Long Beach, California, and also on a Honda CRF450R, finished with a time of 12:39.57. Third place went to former winner Greg Chicoine of Jefferson, South Dakota, who finished with a time of 13:08.80 on a Kawasaki ner full throttle; you've got to ease into it." Anders Jansson from Furuvik, Sweden, was the only foreign rider to make the podium, with a secondplace finish of 12:59.52 on his Honda CR500. Third place, only four seconds back, went to 2002 winner Don Wilson, riding a Rotax. Finally, no Race To The Clouds would be complete without an appearance by the ever-colorful National number 12, Eddie Mulder, in the Vintage Twins class. The A&A Maxxis Tires-backed Mulder was never headed during qualifying or on race day, winning with a time of 14:24.53 on a Triumph 750cc twin with a blown clutch. For most, just finishing on top of Pikes Peak was a victory. For a lucky few, a trophy was waiting at the awards banquet. As the riders were greeted by the fans who gather to see the cars, trucks and bikes navigate the narrow mountain road, they felt like winners to have personally competed in another Pikes Peak Interna- Ridgeway Motorsports-sponsored Honda CR250. Lee, now a six-time winner, finished in 13: 18.904 to take the checkered flag 10 seconds in front of Apex Sports-sponsored Jeff Grace, on a Kawasaki KX250, followed closely by Nathan Conley, on a Suzuki RM250. A great battle between Greg Tracy and Davey Durelle raged all the way up the mountain in the Barnett Clutch 500cc Pro class. Tracy passed Durelle in front of thousands of spec- 58 JULY 23.2003· cue I e (Above) In the battle for the top spot in the 500cc Pro class, Davey Durelle (58) loses the lead at Devil's Playground, but he would repass Greg Tracy (555) a mile later at Bottomless Pit. (Right) Chuck Lee passes in front of thousands of spectators and lots of snow near the top of Pikes Peak on his way to the 250cc title. n e vv s tional Hillclimb. eN Pikes Peak Calo..da Springs. Cala..da Results: June 28. 2003 250 PRO: I. Chuck Lee (Hon): 2. Jeff Gr.ce (K.w): 3. N.th.n Conley (So2); 4. Scot Lee (K.w); 5. Mark Miller (Yam). 500 PRO: 1. Davey DureJle (Han); 2. Greg Tracy (Han); 3. Greg Chicoine (Kaw); 4. Mark Woodward (Kaw); 5. Teague Sawyer (Hen). 750 PRO: I. G.ry Tr.chy (Hon); 2. Anders Jansson (Han); ). Don Wilson (Rot); 4. Darryl Lujan (Hon); 5. Kenny Perk;n, (Hbg). SOeR: I. Scott Whitney/Patrick Holmes (H-D); 2. Ralph Whitney/Craig Whitney (H·D). VINT TW: I. Eddie Mulder (Tri); 2. Dennis Peterson (Yam); 3. Michael Pellrlm~n (Tri); 4. Robert Gerberic (Hen); 5. Sidney Dickson (Tri).