Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Formula USA/Wrenchead .com N a ti o n al Dirt T rac k Series Round 4 : B lack Hills Spe edway k eep passing you, and th at is the worst feeli ng in the world for a racer. Schnabel was also miffed , as h e ha d shown tons more sp eed in his (H ·D ) ; 13 . Bre nt A rmb ru ste r ( H-D ) ; 14 . J aim e Aguila r (Rtx) ; 15. Mich ell e DiSalvo (H-D ); 16 . Rex Fisher (Rtx); 17. Bryan Smith (ATK); 18. Cory Roth (H-D). Time : 4 mins., 34 .376 sees . NATIONAL (25 laps; 18 rider s): 1. Ric h King (H·D); 2. Mike Hacker (H-D); 3. Terry Poovey (Hon); hea t race , wh ich saw him transfer 4 . Chris Carr (H-D); 5. Geo Roeder II (H-D) ; 6. Kenny straig ht through to th e fe a t u re . The Coolbeth (H-D); 7 . Johnny Murphree (H-D); 8. Dan m a in event was a differ ent story, wi th (H-D); II. JR Schnabel (WR); 12. Willie McCoy (H- t h e o u tcome n o t being what h e had Stanley (Rtx) ; 9. Will Davis (AT K); to. Bryan Bige low 0 ); 13. Mich ael Varnes (Rtx ); 14. Gary Roger s (H-D); 15 . J ason Tye r (H-D) ; 16. Greg Tys or (Rtx) : 17. J oe Kopp (H-D); 18 . Jay Springs teen (H-D). h oped for. " D e fi n i t e l y not," S chnabel said . " T h e t r a c k d ried out, a nd Murphree g o t b y B i g el ow , but I couldn't seem to f ind a way by him . It's definitely n o t w h ere we wanted t o be. We've g o t t o get i t going on the 750 becau s e 1 1 th doesn' t c ut it. We 've been r u n n in g 15 t h, so I g uess this i s Time: 9 mins .. 39 .957 sees. FORMULA USA/WRENCHEAD.COM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS to (After 4 of ro und s) : I. Mi k e Hac k er (25 4 ); 2. Rich King (248/ 3 w ins); 3. Chris Carr (230 ); 4 . J R Sc h na be l (204 ); 5 . J ay Sp ring steen (202) ; 6 . Joe Kopp (200); 7 . Will Davis ( 198/1 ); 8. (TIE) Dan St anley / Geo Roeder II (.1 92 ); 10 (TIE) Gary Rogers/ Kenny Coolbeth (190) ; 12 (TIE) Willie McCoy /M ichael Varnes ( 188); 14. J ohnn y Murph ree (160); 15. Dale Jenneman (136); 16. (TIE) Terry Poovey /c lason Tyer ( 132) ; 18 . Steve Beatt ie ( 116 ); 19. Paul Lynch (112);20. Shaun Russell (102). ' progress , but it is n 't w h ere we want to b e. I h a d more t h a n 1 1 th in m e tonigh t. " Upcoming Rounds Round 5 - Fort Worth , Texas, August 26 Round 6 - Portland , Oregon, September 9 (Top) C h ris Carr (1) got a look at Kenny Coolbeth's (3 1) lin e lat e in the race a nd used it against the yo u ng ster before moving o n to f inish f o u rth. Coolbeth was s ixth. (Right) Bad deals: Jay Springsteen (g) and Joe Kopp (4 3 ) both saw their chan ces for v ictory g o sour early. Sp ringer sheared a swingann bolt and barely escaped crashing on lap seven. Kopp wasn't as lucky lowsiding in turn one a few l a ps later. B e h ind th e amat eur r i vals w a s anothe r f eud , t h i s o ne a fam ily feud , as F&S H a r l e y -D a v id s on ' s Willie M cCo y b a r e ly h e ld off h is b roth er -in l a w , White ' s H arle y-D avidson' s M ike Varn es , to f inish 12 t h . The t w o h a ve m ana g e d to fi n d each other qu i te a bit o n t he t r a c k t his season , fo rci ng Varnes ' w ife D enis e t o bite her na il s down t o t h e first knuck le as her hus b and and her brother don't cu t each o t he r much slack on the track . M c C o y came ou t on top of this one. Ro g e r s Lak e Rac ing /Custo m Chro m e ' s Gary Rogers wound up a lonely 14th just behi nd the Varnes a nd McCoy duel , but well ahead of 15 th -p la ced J a s on T ye r a n d 16 t h p laced Greg T ysor , t he latter be ing th e l a st f in i sh er t o com p le te the full d istance . HEAT 1 (8 laps ; 15 riders, top 4 transfer) : 1. Will Davis (ATK); 2. Joe Kopp (H-D); 3. Dan Stanley (Rtx ); 4. Jo hnny Murphree (H· D) ; 5. Kevin Varn es (H-D); 6. Willie McCoy (H-D); 7 . Paul Lynch (H-D); 8. Ma rc Gifford (Rtx) : 9 . Michae l Varn es (Rtx) ; 10. Chris Boone ( H-D); 11. Brent Armbruster (H· D); 12. Tim Eades (H· D); 13. Beau Brown (Rtx) ; 14. Kurt Hawk (Rtx); 15. Mike Hinds (ATK). lime: 3 mins.. 5.709 sees. HEAT 2 (8 laps: 16 ri der s, top 4 tr ansf er): 1. Mik e Hack er (H-D) ; 2. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 3. Geo Roeder II ( H- D) ; 4 . Terry Poovey (H on) ; 5 . Gery Ro gers (H- D) ; 6. Ja y Spri ng steen (H -D ); 7. Shau n Russell (H-D); 8. Rex Fisher (Rtx) ; 9. Kenny Noyes (Hus); 10. Ja ime Aguilar (Rtx ); 11. Michelle DiSalvo ( H·D ); 12 . E ric k Rickman ( Hon ); 13 . B rand o n Ca rtw ri g ht ( Rtx) ; 14 . Rya n Ande rson (WR ) ; 15 . Shaun Lark in (Rtx ): 16. Lee Parker (H-D). lime: 3 m ins.• 6.82 2 sees. Heat 3: (8 lap s; 16 rid ers , t op 4 t ransfer): 1. Rich King (H-D); 2. Bryan Bigelow (H-D); 3. Chris Carr (H-D); 4 . JR Schnabel (WR); 5. Jason Tyer (HD); 6. Bryan Smith (ATK) ; 7. Dale Jenneman (ATK) ; 8. Steve Liberty (H-D); 9. Greg Tysor (Rtx); 10. Don Wilson (Rtx); 11. Cory Roth (H-D); 12. Eli Price (Rtx) ; 13. Tom Troudt (Rtx): 14. Brand on Hancock (WR); 15. Richard Marr(Rtx); 16. JerryMarrs (Rtx). Time: 3 min s., 7.2 17 sees. SEMI 1: (8 lap s; 18 rider s, t op 2 t rans fer) : 1. Jay Spring steen ( H· D) ; 2 . Willie Mc Coy (H ·D ) ; 3 . Shaun Russell (H· D); 4. Dale J enneman (ATK ): 5. Kevin Varnes (H· D): 6. Michae l Varnes (Rtx) : 7. Chris Boone (H-D); 8. Cory Roth (H-D); 9. Steve Liberty (H-D); 10. Jaime Aguilar (Rtx); 11. Eli Pri e (Rtx); c 12. Mich elle DiSalvo (H· D) ; 13. Beau Brown (Rtx) ; 14. Tom T rou dt (Rtx ) ; 15. Mi ke Hind s (A T K) ; 16 . Ry an An derson (WR ): 17 . Ric ha rd Mar r {Rtx } : 18. Jerry Marrs (Rtx }. Ti me: 3 min s.• 21. 778 sees. SEMI 2: (8 laps; 17 riders , top 2 tra nsfer): 1. Gary Rogers (H- D); 2 . Greg Ty sor (Rtx ); 3 . Jas on Ty er ( H· D) ; 4. Do n Wilson (Rtx ); 5 . Br y an Sm ith (ATK); 6. Paul Lync (H-D); 7. Rex Fisher (Rtx); 8. h Ma Gifford (Rtx); 9. Tim Eades (H-D); 10. Kenn rc y No y es (H u s ) ; 1 1. B rent A rm br uster ( H· D ) ; 12 . Brandon Cartwrig ht (Rt x) : 13. Erick Rickma n (Hon) ; 14. Ku rt Hawk (Rtx): 15. Brandon Hancock (WR); 16. Shaun Lark in (Rtx ); 17. Lee Parker (H-D). Time : 3 rnins.• 10.569 sees. Le Q (8 laps ; 18 ride rs, top 2 t ransf er): 1. J ason Ty er (H· D) ; 2. Michae l Varnes (Rtx): 3. Shaun Russell (H-D); 4. Paul Lynch (H-D); 5. Dale Jenneman (ATK); 6. Time Eades (H-D); 7. Kenn Noyes (Hus); y 8. Don Wil son (Rtx ); 9 . Mar c Gifford (Rtx); 10. Eli Priee (Rtx): 1 1. Chris Boone (H -D ); 12. Steve Libert y A UGUST 23 , 2000 ' Heat three was th e slowest, but it was all Rich K i n g , as th e fa ctory Harl ey r id er smoothly pu lle d away and was no t thr eat ened by Bry an Big elow and Chri s Carr, who fin ished second and third 'seve ral lengt hs beh ind King. The best race on the trac k was for the fin al tra nsfe r position. J .R_ Schnabel finally stuffed his way past Jason Ty er, forc ing th e Texan into the semis. Springsteen and Willie McCoy busted out of the first semi to score secon d- row starting posi tions for t he m a in event, while Gary Rogers and Greg Tysor ran 1-2 in the second semi, with Jason Tyer onc e agai n missing the transfer by one spot. Tyer fina lly managed to deliver in the Last Chance Qualifier, leadi ng Mike Vam es to the check ered flag to set the National field. '" keep m issing it by one spot," Tyer said. "Then I have to com e through th e LCQ to get a spot on th e third row . Someday I'd lik e to start off the second row, just to see what that would be like ." eN Black Hills Speedway Rapid City, South Dakota Results: August 9, 2000 (Round 4 of 101 20 W ill Davis came to Rap i d City j us t to m ak e sure th at his co nfidence was not mispla ced and th at he really was ready to rid e again after suffering a tem por al skull fracture little more than five week s ago . He need not have worri ed. Despite checking in 19th fastest during the timed quali fyi ng sessions, th e Fasthog.com rider's best was yet to come as he rocketed off the line right behind Joe Kopp in the opening heat race , with Coziah r H-D teammates Kevin Varnes and Johnny Mu rphree also in the hunt for the win. Davis shadowed Kopp for most of the race', driving high in turn three and ro ll ing down track to cut underneath Kopp up the front straig ht. Kopp managed to hold Davis off for mos t of the eight-lap race, but Davis finally pulled off the pass, winning the drag race to the checkered flag and earn ing th e pole position on perhaps one of the slower motorcycles in the field. " I just c hased the m o i sture a nd ro ll ed around the top of the bank so tha t I co uld get a good drive off the bank and get a roll down the straightaway," Davis said. '" had Kopp by a bike length at least at the line. I'm jus t hav ing a good tim e, and the longer I go, th e less I think about crashing " not tha t I ain 't fully healed . I just wa nt to .kee p rolling so that I can get it out of m y m ind." Kopp wa s second, w it h D an Sta nley putting h is Rotax to good use by passing Murphree for third, although both transferred directly to the main event. . Heat two featured a similar battle between to old pals. Kenny Coolbeth and Mike Hack er , th e latter apparently ha ving gone to sch ool o n D av is' line as he made it work against Coo lbeth to score another last -lap -thril ler. Geo Roeder II held off Terry Poov ey for third place, with both riders going through t o t he m ain event. Normal transferee J ay Spri ngsteen was stuck back in the pa ck in thi s one, and thu s would be forc ed to transfer through a semi. c ue I e BRIEFL Y••• Having a rear wheel go bad in the main evenl wasn't as big of a deal to Geo Roeder II as having a wh eel go missing after the main event was ove r. Roeder's crew had brought up a spare wheel jusl in case. and when the l eam returned to retrieve it after the start of the race. it was gone. · We took it up there, and when we tumed around it was gone. so hopefully it will tum up." Roeder said. For the record. Roeder thinks that maybe another team's crew inadvertently g ~bbed the wheel by mistake. Foul play is not suspected yet. That's the breaks: Jay Springsteen was lucky 10 avoid a crash when his sw ingarm bolt snapped while he w as dicing in the main even t. Fortun ately, Springer got it under control. " I was just going into tum one when I felt it snap. then it started fish-flopping on me down the back straightaway." Springsteen said. "I thought maybe the swingarm broke or I had a fiat tire. then we found out what it was. We haven't drilled it out or nothing. It's the same stuff that we 've used for yea rs . but maybe we need to start mag- nafiuxing it and keeping a better eye on it. I was struggling all nighl long anyway. We had changed a bunch of stuff." Joe Kopp w as disappoin ted ove r his crash in turn s one and tw o early in Ihe race, The Corbin rider was battling inside the top 10 when he wenI down. " It was my own fault." Kopp said. "I just came in there a little bit hot and low sided . I was just too sideways and the rear end came aro und. I had a good roll going for a few laps before that. " Kopp had also set the fastest single-lap in the timed qualifying sessions. al 23.185 seconds. Speaking of Joe K opp. during the rider's meeting the Washington rider was pretly vocal against Form ula USA and Rich King in particular with regard to the appeal hearing in which King's protest was upheld and the Indy Mil e poi nt s we re reinstated . "The point s don 't matter much to me because I'm still in fifth place either way. but I just don't think this [appeal hearing1 was fair because it [stopping the Indy racel was something that the riders agreed upon at the racetrack at Indy. If the points were going to be given. then I would have definitely chosen to keep racing because I had come from like 18th place in nine laps. I just think that it should have been a rider's agreement. but this was all done behind our back and nobody found out about it until it was decided. Uke Chris Carr and I were talking, if Rich can protest that decision three or four weeks after Indy. then there is no reason that I shouldn't be able to protest il right now. It seems like the people that decided it heard Rich's idea of what happened. and Bob Moran's, bul Rich probably told them thai he was talking for the riders. bul I haven't fo und one rider yet wh o is on Rich's side." n e vv s In response to Kopp's comments. King replied. " I don't care," King said. "I did what I thought was right. There's only a couple guys that are upset, and thai's because they didn't have the night that they Ihought they should have. So Joe Kopp decides to take a cheap shot at me and a cheap shot at Harley-Davidson. which I thought was totally uncalled for, so I'll argue my point to them too.' B ryan B ig elow had a betl er idea of the score as far as the Formula USA vs. AMA competition is going this season. Rapid Cily marked the Michigander' s f irst ride wi t h t he o rga nization , a nd he ad mi tt e d t ha t he was impressed . " I just wanted to w ait a few races before co ming out to check this PACE deal out. but I thought it went pretly well." Bigelow said. "I'd heard some bad things about some of their tracks at other rounds. but I thought this one was good. I think that it' s pretty much a draw between the two organizations right now. The AMA has had better tracks. but PACE is really taking care of the riders. Bob Moran has bent over backwards to make sure that we we re taken care of and that all of our ques tions were answered. They are both good organizations." Jason Tye r is putting quite a few of his rather limited supply of eggs into one basket for the upcoming Peoria n . The Texan has elected to pool $2000 together in order to lease a 600 from the Harley-Davidson of Sacramento team. Tyer will not be rlding one of Chris Carr's current machines. but rather the 1997 Peoria winner that was ridden by Joe Kopp. Incidentally. the bike is also the same one which Kopp endured his infamous creek crash in 1996. "1 know that it' s a good bike. - Tyer said. "We had 10 do it because I'm sort of like the B rider on Karl Klement' s team (KK Racingl, and he didn't have a bike ready for me. Our goal is rent this bike and make the main on it and hopefully not crash it because I have to fix anything that breaks on it. " When the subject was mentioned to H-D of Sacramento crew chief Kenny Tolbert. the Texan joked. "Yeah. that' s the bike that Joe crashed in the creek. I think that that frame was replaced. Okay. so it was straightened. It's definitely straight. Aw. hell. I can't remember." n n. one guy who plans to make the trip is none And speaking of the Peoria other than the former Mr. Retirement. Terry Poovey. "You're damn right I'm going." Poovey said. "I don't know what it is. but I'm 42 years old and all I can think about is racing. I go to sleep at night and think about racing. and I wake up just so that I can think about it some more. " Contrast this to the past two seasons. when Poovey was pretly much down on the scene and running an extremely limited schedule. Just the same. his rededication is apparent. " I've been Iraining like crazy and riding as much as I can." Poovey said. "1 figure if Springer' s gonna keep doing it then so am I."

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