Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~~~~~~~~_W_A_N_~_oo_~C_h~~~~~~~~~~~3HaLCUMB Williams, Pinsonnault on top at Bushkill Valley By Timothy Hall FREEMANSBURG, PA, JUNE 14 he Bushkill Valley M.C. had their hill ready to challenge even the most experienced hillclimbers, and the event proved to' be a tough and unforgiving one. Experience paid off for Wade Williams, who walked away with first place in the 800cc class, and for veteran Paul Pinsonnault, who took first 'place in the 540cc class, and set fastest time of the day, a rare occurrence at a hill where the bigger bikes usually dominate. In addition, Pinsonnault ended defending class champ Tim Frazier's National win streak at 12. Even with top running equipment, riders were finding themselves hard pressed to balance aggressiveness with respect for the multiple jumps as they made their way to the top. The hill has four jumps, called breakers, in it. The first is at the start, with most riders backing off the throttle right away to quickly come back down and accelerate for the second. At approximately 200,280 and 400 feet, the hill has major jumps, and turns progessively steeper after each one. Most riders made it past the first two jumps, but the third and fourth were different. After the third, the course steepens to about 55 degrees and skill plus momentum were all that carried the riaers through to the last jump. The last 100 feet is at a severe angle, with the timing lights set at the midway point between this final jump and the peak. The course runs 600 feet with better than 400 feet elevation. The 540cc class riders opened the show with Ted Wilkins' Rotaxpowered bike finding its way to the top. Wilkins, who finished third overall here last year, had a sluggish time of 13.18 seconds. Despite the slow time, it remained fastest for eight more runs. Then Pinsonnault brought his single-cylinder Honda to the line and (urned a 12.7. Pinsonna\llt is an aggressive, talented sportsman from Ludlow, Massachusetts. He had a disappointing run the week before at York, and pushed himself to the limit on the Bushkill Valley hill, but it was Frazier who set the time to beat. The Ohio rider popped over the second jump, pulling his handlebars hard to the side, straightening when he connected again, clearing the third breaker, jumping number four with enough speed to land him two-thirds of the way to the peak. Frazier was impressive as he combined sheer riding muscle with 'ability to clock a stunning 10.84. Of the 17 entrants in the 540cc class, only five put it over the top in round one. New York's Steve Dresser was among the group who failed to top the. bill. He got tOO much air on the third jump, and couldn't recover. "I think I was too serious," Dresser said. "I lost both feet off the foot pegs when I came over the first jump, and I just never had it straight from there. And over the second jump, the bike just dove into the hill." Anc\ rookie Aaron Brown, who surprised the veterans with a top five finish at the opening round in Goshen, Indiana, lost control about 75 feet below the timing lights. T Honda-mounted Alan Hoskins turned in a solid 12.66, but as the first round concluded, Frazier was comfortably ahead by a substantial margin. The 800cc class competitors had a distinct advantage over the 540cc class riders. First, they all got to watch the smaller class attack the hill, and more importantly, the hill was developing ruts in it. They form tracks that, in theory, will help keep the bikes straighter and in more control than a fresh hill. But Bushkill was dry, and the dirt was so soft and loose that many of the 800s lost momentum. The bikes, despite being equipped with chains or paddle tires, fishtailed all over the hill, digging the ruts even deeper. Bobby Castledine was the first to the line, but had to use his IO-minute pit time because his Harley was malfunctioning. He made room for 1991 National Champion Lou Gerencer Jr., who is competing with an injured ankle, one he broke just prior to the start of the season. Gerencer punched up the hill, making good time until he lost control at the 3OO-foot mark. He made his way down to the middle return trail, declining a second attempt in round two. Gerencer was followed by' Wade Williams, who had finished second the week before at White Rose, and the Canadian rider was able to log an 11.31 after getting off to a rough start. His brother, Greg, had problems with his Honda and rode his father's bike in round one. But the bike was adjusted for father John, not Greg, and the trip proved this as Greg couldn't keep the pure nitro-burning bike under foot, and crashed at 235 feet. Charlie Casey, the winner at Goshen, attacked the hill next, establishing the best time for round one, a 10.77, on his nitro-burning Yamaha twin. Harry Schreiber followed Casey, but he lost control after the second jump. The best run after Casey's was executed by the unpredictable Steve Krauter. He is known for his aggressiveness, and it has, at times, caused him to lose control of the bike and not reach the peak. But rider and Harley were in sync, as Krauter clocked a quick 11.20 second best at the end of round one. Jeff Yoder, who swept the series in 1988 and again in '89, put in a respectable 11.80, good enough in round one but not sufficient to carry him for the event. As the 540cc class started round two, the hill had become noticeably faster, courtesy of the 800cc bikes smoothing .and packing it. Wilkins shaved his time by nearly a second, enough to place him fourth for the day, and also fourth overall in the series point standings. Pinsonnault illustrated just how fast the 540s can travel, as he executed a seamless vault to the top. Bike and rider worked in tandem to assault the hill and do the unexpected, slicing over a half-second off of Frazier's first round time of 10.84 with a winning 10.20. "I went up the same line that I did on the first run, and the hill was a little more kn9Cked out on the jump Canadian Wade Williams was the king of the hill in the-8OOcc c\ass. that messed me up on my first run," Pinsonnault said. "So I managed to hit it and stay straighter on my second." Frazier came to the line, and for the first time in months was asked to better his time in order to continue his 12event winning streak. But ~in number 13 wouldn't happen. Frazier's nitropowered BSA, so reliable and consistent up to this point, 'popped' as he attempted to start, and a stunned crowd watched as he was forced to scratch and to settle for second place. Dresser turned on the heat with a quick 11.33 on his second ascent, enough to take third for the day. Pinsonnault's win helped him re-enter the points battle in third place behind Frazier and Dresser. The 800cc class came back for round two, lopping off time because the paths were now well established, and because of the serious competitive nature of the riders. Almost the entire field had improved times the second time around, with Wade Williams (10.66), Gabriel (10.69) and Schreiber (10.93) all down into the 10-second range. Despite these performances, no one was able to beat the run that Pinsonnault turned in to win the 540cc class. But Wade Williams and Randy Gabriel both eclipsed Casey's first round time to take the first two positions with Casey finishing third. . Of Defending champ 'Tim Frazier was the runner-up in the 540cc divisiolL Results 800: I. Wade Williams (Han); 2. Randy Gabriel (H·D); 3. Charlie Casey (Yam); 4. Harry Schreiba (HoD); 5. Rabat Castledine (HoD); 6. Steve Krauter (HoD); 7. Jel[ Yoder (HoD); 8. Tom Reiser (HoD); 9. Lou Gerencer Sr. (HoD); 10. Mark Swen (BSA); II. Greg Williams (Han); David Overhuizer (Kaw); U. Thomas Chatterton (HoD); 14. Rodney Smith (BSA); IS. Ramsey (Han). 540: I. Paul Pinsonnault (Han); 2. Tim Frazier (BSA); 3. SteVe Dresser (SUI); 4. Ted Wilkins (Rtx); 5. Alan Hoskins (Hon); 6. R~ McNeeley (Yam): 7. Ernie Pellin (Hon); 8. D. Pmsonnault (Hon); 9. Michael Pulver (Kaw); 10. Aaron Brown (Hon); 11. Paul Garrety (Kaw); 12. David Duncan (Han); 13. J. Pinsonnault; 14. John Hislop (BSA); IS. Ralph Kreeger (Tri).

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