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/128371
< • AHRMA ProgrEssive Suspension Historic Cup Series HRMA racers found some significant changes on arrival at Daytona International Speedway. The expansion of the infield section of the track and elimination of the west banking was generally - but not universally - praised for making Daytona more of a "riders'" track. The reconfigured, highly segmented pit area didn't win praises from anybody, with the AHRMA contingent jammed elbow to ear into one end of the pits that wasn't accessible to spectators. Allowing enthusiasts to get up close and personal with the gorgeous vintage machinery and racing legends has always been a big draw at Daytona. But some things never seem to change, including the old racing machines (the point of Vintage racing) and some of the sport's fastest men. Perennial AHRMA Champion David Roper just keeps going and going, winning four events in two days and getting the runner-up spot in two other events. Legendary riders like Gary Nixon, Doug Polen and Jay Springsteen continue to thrill, and even the Spec class featuring the new retro-styled Triumph Thruxton 900 looked right, sounded good and provided racing worth the price of admission. A complete round of AHRMA's National Championship Series took place on each of the two Classics Days at Daytona, draWing more than 325 entries per day. A DAY ONE The 12-race program kicked off with the combined 200 Grand Prix/Pre-1940 event. There was no drama among the little bikes, with Honda-mounted Dennis Poneleit taking an easy victory over the Yamaha of Bob Hayes'. In Pre-1940, however, it was a back-and-forth contest between the 1939 Harley-Davidson WLDR of Art Farley and class champ Norbert Nickel on a '39 BMW 500. At the checkers, the Michigan rider just held off Nickel, while Scott Olofson worked his Indian Sport Scout up to third. The anticipated 500 Premier matchup between Roper and Pat Mooney ended as it has in recent years at Daytona, with Mooney's Petty Manx overpowering Roper's Norton Manx in the red-flagshortened event. Greg Nichols finished a distant third on another Manx. 34 "That's six in a row for us now," the Sorrento, Florida, racer said of his 500 Premier win. "I honestly thought I'd have a much harder time of it." Starting on the second wave of the same race was the Triumph Thruxton Cup Challenge, won by Ted Cobb, who finished ahead of Tim Joyce and William Stranahan in spirited racing. Race three combined three of AHRMA's modern classes - Battle of Twins Formula I and Formula 3, along with Super Mono and this one was twice interrupted by red flags. The second incident saw Andrew Cowell drop his Moto Guzzi in the International Horseshoe, only to have the machine catch fire before it stopped sliding and go up in flames. Cleanup from the scarylooking incident delayed racing by more than half an hour and caused the rest of the day's events to be shortened. When the action did resume, the best racing was the battle for the Battle of Twins F-3 lead between John Staska and Matt Winnacker. After trading the lead, Staska and his Kawasaki finally took control and earned the win. In Super Mono, Fred Eiker's Rotax-powered Honda couldn't be caught, while in BOT F-I, Ducatimounted Robbie Nigt was credited with the win over Italian Dario Marchetti and Japan's Yoshio Kasai. Marco Martinez actually crossed the finish line first in F-I but was disqualified for an illegal engine. Race four saw the 250cc GP machines off ahead of the Class C pack. Class champion Paul Germain got the jump on the 250 field with his '68 Yamaha, but the Aermacchi-mounted Roper blew by on the back straight during lap one. Nothing changed up front for the remainder of the MARCH 30, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS race, but the battle for third was decided on the last lap, going to Chuck Davis' Harley over Ducati rider Jonathan White. In Class C, Greg Nichols went flag to flag on a '49 BSA, while in the class' Handshift division, Indian-mounted Keith Campbell had a great race with Farley, with Campbell blowing by the Harley in a draftpass to win by half a bikelength. Roper was back out immediately for 350 GP on pedigreed machine - the last Sprint raced by the Harley-Davidson factory and ridden by Cal Rayborn. The result was much like the preceding race, with Roper winning big against class champion Bruce Yoximer on a '68 AJS. In Formula 125, Louisiana fast guy Shannon Silva got around defending champ Greg Steinbeck for the win, with both riders on '77 Honda MT I 25s. Dave Bourbeau earned the Vintage Superbike Middleweight win on his '79 Suzuki. Race six featured a pair of lead races, at least for a while. In Classic 60s it was between Canadian David King and California's Gordon Menzie, both on Manx Nortons. The win went to King over