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/146670
]}~#/ ~ "" _" o::'~7" Morgan paid for his impetuous speed as he fell entering the high-speed arc of the carousel and the machine reportedly rolled to the tire wall. It lost a front wheel, body parts, lights and bars; Morgan lost skin from his elbow and the team lost 48 minutes in the pits and any prayer they had for the overall. This year's event also marked the inaugural Don & Jeanne Bartram Memorial Award which was presented to a team or individual for his/her/ their outstanding sportsmanship during this year's event. A $300 cash award, donated by private parties, was presented at the trophy presentation to Northern Boys Racing for its help of machinery, manpower or advice to no less than four teams at the race. Nominations and judging were made by WERA officials. Also this year's event was a small highlight of recognition for WERA and its cornerworkers. Heschimura rider Ron McGill's sponsor Dailey donated nearly 2500 bottles of 1st Ade fruit drink. This race marked the lowest number of entries - 23 - in years and is perhaps directly attributable to a poor economy. The race also featured a red flag. WERA officials estimated the red flag was thrown at 19:35:50 of the race and that the race was not restarted until 23:00:13. This flag was a direct result of C&M Racing spewing the internals of its Yamaha FZRlOOO motor on the entire racing line from the ultra high-speed carousel through the single-line kink section. These two areas are easily the fastest of the track. WERA and track officials tried for hours to pressure wash and sweep the residue clean. According to Steve Heiser of C&M, the machine popped out of fifth gear and drove either, or both, a piston or rod through the case. Luckily no one was injured except the track and rider Darryl Allen's nerves. As expected Team Suzuki with support from Valvoline, Dunlop, Kerker, Arai, Tsubaki, SBS and Fox pulled out to an early lead with Hall starting the event by turning sprint lap speeds in the I: 12 range for the first hour. Fritz Kling of Northgate Honda/ Kamware/ Biddle Engi/Pro-Actionsupported Heschimura Racing and rider Fritz Kling and C&M Racing's Craig Graver dogged him until Heschimura started its tire wear problems and C&M moved into second place at hour's end. From there Team Suzuki was never really headed for the entire race and stayed with its major strategy of running Graves and Patterson during the daylight hours when there was little out of the ordinary to affect the racing plan. Graves was making his first racing appearance at Nelson and said bluntly the track needs work, he didn't have a hard time going fast, and he was just exploring where to go. Patterson has made several 24-hour events here - in 1989-90 with Raw Racing - and appears to be heading for a major role in the team's upcoming plans. He did extremely well despite being bumped by a slower rider, and not losing his composure despite running out of fuel on the front straight and having to push the bike back to the pits - the wrong way which resulted in a fine for the team. At night, the team ran Hall, Cooley, and Martin, all with extensive night experience. DAK Racing, supported by Shoei, Wiseco, D-D, RK, SBS and Kenko, has learned greatly from its last few years of racing experience a:nd came into this z ,,~: d " "' ~jP~,. 0 ' f.~'/ .. ~/« -.,: /"l #~ ~ '/ >:~v ,Z'7 ...,.... ,,:.' - -... --." ~ ~.'P" 0';4;, h ~....- 'i< While Team Suzuki (1) led the way, Team VA Breeze Racing (66) charged hard and finished sixth overall and third in class. race superbly prepared on what could be generously called well-broken in machinery. Rod Kirian took a several-year-old Suzuki GSXRlloo and added a new chain (last year he broke one and almost lost the race), spent fresh money on heads, top end, bearings, valve job, transmission, and a new set of upside down forks with a trick quick release. "The team has worked hard on preparation to make machines last at the speeds these guys run," said Kirian. But he also said he wouldn't change as much so close to the race. He said it took all of practice on Friday and half of Saturday's to get the forks where the team liked them. DAK has redu~d pit time of riders, gas, both wheels changed from four minutes to 1:09 this year. Like other teams, Kirian was considering the whole race and not worried about the early hot laps and preferred to run the final hours as required to ensure a top finish. DAK moved from seventh in hour one to the top five by hour three and remained there for the entire race. The only miscue the team had was when Jim Kusar lost a contact lens just past the 18 and one-half hour mark. He had to pit unexpectedly and Steve Heilman was forced to re-suit and go back out until Kusar was ready. Kusar was overheard saying, as he frantically searched for his glasses, ·that he was legally blind without them. Team Pearls, supported by Pearls, Vanson, Shoei and Sport Cycle, is bringing a continuing, fresh look to the series and the Mediumweight Production class. The team DNF at Grattan Raceway at the last round and for this round it had to install another stock motor Friday morning and sort it out for the race. Manager Peter Jones said the team only had two minor problems. One being a lost clutch lever pivot bolt which Jim Roth had to ride without for 20 minutes, and the second a broken fuel line. Rider Tim Taylor signaled for fuel roughly one-half hour into his ride, and pitted and fueled up again. One lap later he was signalling his rear was slipping and pitted again; then crew members noticed fuel was coming out from somewhere. The main line had split from the frequent pulling of the tank and the team lost five minutes and one position in the fifth hour. The team substantially benefitted from two things; the rain and its riders. Because of its ability to run DOT tires, Pearls was able to make up roughly two laps per hour in the rain with Saylor, Maier and Roth averaging 1:32:36 laps while the majority of the Pit stops nearly three minu~ quicker than last year rewarded DAK Racing with third. teams were content with mid to high 40s. After the race Jones said it (victory) would feel more wonderful if he had slept. He, too, alluded that preparation was the key for the machine and team. Heschimura Racing's sole purpose this year was to win the race. With Honda reentering the Heavyweight Performance class the team thought it could pull it off. Owner Bob Hesch and team captain Bill Wilke enlisted a few talented riders in Kling, McGill and Deatherage to augment Wilke, Rinkley and Thomas. They recruited an engineering company to manufacture some very trick suspension parts and talked Pro-Action Suspension's George Quay into helping out. It all worked too well as the motor, suspension - which Quay rebuilt at the track - and track surface chewed tires like yesterday's puppy. The team started on Michelin and actually lost count on how many tires it went through until the team settled on the Bridgestones. Another shop was so enamored by their effort that they (Honda House) donated a new CBR900 for parts as required. They were required as McGill crashed in the 19th hour in his pursuit of Suzuki just as the tires were starting to hook up on the track's surface. McGill high-sided so badly that he damaged the inside of his helmet but not his head - and only incurred a few fractured or dislocated fingers and toes. The team benefitted from the red £lag as it was thrown one lap after his crash and allowed the team to repair all the damage. Making its first appearance at a 24hour race and winning its class was We're Dunn Racing aboard a 600 Honda. Riders Dan Sabol, David Kubic, Kevin Warner, Ray Fages, Jim Fages and Tom Dunn logged 840 laps for the day with a 27-lap victory cushion. Team personnel were very quick to point out that Heschimura gave them a new 600 to use for parts, Pro-Action Suspension set up the machine to work with riders of weight varying from 240 pounds to 127 pounds, and Lee Shierts built the motor. Also, they crashed"the bike during night practice and Heschimura helped rebuild the machine. (;N Results OVERALL: I. Team Suzuki Endurance (Suz); 2. OAK Racing (Suz); 3. Team Pearls (Han); 4. Heschimura Racing (Han); 5. Vir~nia Breeze Racing (Yam); 6. Motion Systems Raang (Han); 7. Force Racing (Yam); 8. Roswell Racing (Suz); 9. We're Ounn Racinfi (Han); 10. Royale Racing (Han); II. C&M Raang (Yam); 12. Nonhero Boys Racing (Han); 13. TKO Racing (Suz); 14. Indy II (Suz); 15. Welch Racing (Suz); 16. Power Cycle Racing (Han); 17. Rapid Fire Racing (Yam); 18. It's· A·Secret (Han); 19. Anderson/Jardine Racing (Suz); , 20. Proltressive Racing (Suz); 21. Red Hot Racing (Yam); 22. Ann Arbor HD Racing (HO); 23. KneeOn Racing (Kaw). Time: 24 Hours Distance: 920 laps, 1932 miles. Average Speed; 80.5 mph. MarJtin of Victory: 25 laps. CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: I. Team Suzuki Endurance (954.53); 2. Force Racing (736.75); 3. OAK Racing (648.08); 4. Team SO/Pearls (624.50): 5. Royale Racing (584.78); 6. Virg!nia Breeze Racing (559.49); 7. Mouon Systems (549.11); 8. Northern Boys Racing (534.27); 9. Roswell Racing (517.51); 10. Mota Sport Racing (454.454.14); II. Knee-On Racing (452.47); 12. C&M Racing (404.54); 13. TKO Racing (400.36); 14. Anderson/Jardine (387.76); 15. Red Hot Racing (381.20). 19