Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

On the restart, minus Kiser and Price, King again led Springsteen and this time Canadians Steve Beattie and Chris Evans off the line and around the oval for a lap. But King could not hold off Springsteen and had to settle for a second place finish behind the senior member of the "Michigan Mafia. ',' Beattie took third, the last transfer slot offered in the race. Anticipation got the best of Tim Mertens, Bob Sweeten and Martin Lavoie and all three started the second semi from the penalty line. The race belonged to Rogers as he sailed home the winner ahead of Poovey and Fletcher, who had relatively uneventful rides to earn their spots in the main. The final semi saw Carr and Hill leave the start line the fastest, but Ingram was on the move from the back row and within three laps he had moved in on Carr and Hill. At the start of the fourth lap, Ingram squared off turn one and took the lead from Carr. At the same time, Hill had his hands full with Randy Texter, but Texter fell prey to the slick surface and the red flag was displayed once again. The event was called complete with five of eight laps completed and the field for the main event was set with winner Ingram, runner-up Carr and third place finisher Hill headed to the National. Junior National The Juniors lined up for their pointpaying final, headed by heat race winners Roy Hart Jr., James Hart and Bret Beyer. Once again, the question was, "Can anyone beat the Hart brothers?" It took just three minutes and 33 seconds of racing to answer that question. No! The Hart brothers sailed home 1-2 after Roy wired the starting light and led James into the first turn. They ran the remainder of that race in that order and were unchallenged. Behind them a battle for third took place between Bart Schmulbach and Kevin Varnes and their side-by-side duel ended at the line with Varnes getting third by a bike length. "I could hear somebody back there," said Roy Hart in winner's circle. "I hoped it was him (James), but I never looked back." Both Roy and James Hart boast the same sponsors - Neil Keen, Dale's HD of Mt. Vernon (Illinois), Lou's Leathers, Hog Wash, Bryan's Graphics, Bell and Hart's Motorcycle Repair. National It was closing on 2 a.m. as the riders went through the starting line spot selection ritual for the 25-lap m~in. Farris had the first pick and he chose third off the inside pole_ With that choice and those that followed, the front row read, from inside to outside: Roeder, Davis, Farris, Morehead, Graham and Atherton. Sitting on row two were, from the inside, Pegram, Ingram, Rogers, Springsteen, Parker and Poovey. Carr, Beattie and Fletcher made up the third row. • Farris, Davis and Morehead led the charge into turn one at the start and an action-packed race was underway as position changes were occurring all around the half-mile oval. After five laps, Farris continued to lead with Davis, Morehead, Ingram, Rogers, Roeder, Pegram, Parker, Springsteen and Carr following him in that order ahead of the remainder of the field. Rogers then began a quick advance to the front by changing lines. He passed Davis to take over second and then blasted by Farris to take the lead. Shortly after Rogers made that move, Davis moved back into second by also overtaking Farris. "I thought I had it made when Rusty went by about IO miles per hour faster," said Davis. The field was circulating the track on the rim as though tied to a string with the lead group made up of Rogers, Davis, Farris, Ingram, Graham and Morehead. With the race 10 laps old, Rogers had a few bike lengths on Davis and Graham had moved into third ahead of Farris and Ingram. Morehead was out of the race. "One of the throttle cables stuck wide open and I had kind of an exciting moment in turn three," said the veteran racer from Findlay, Ohio. "I just stood on the brakes to 'get it stopped. The disc was red-hot!" • The middle laps of the race saw a number of things happen. Graham moved in on Rogers and Davis while Ingram and Farris swapped fourth spot back and forth. Behind them, Carr and Pegram were starting to get the track figured out. "I finally got my head out from between my legs and let the bike do what it wanted to do," Carr said. "I just tried to be smooth and use my head," Pegram said. At the halfway point, Rogers was still in the lead, but Davis and Graham were closing in on him. Behind the front-runners, Ingram and Farris were still fighting over fourth, and Parker was with Pegram, Carr and Roeder in his wake. Davis picked up the pace and quickly took the lead from Rogers and started to pull away. Graham, attempting to follow Davis, was alongside Rogers when his race came to an end. The knock-off nut that holds the rear sprocket on had worked loose and Graham coasted to.a stop minus a sprocket and chain. A moment after Graham dropped out, he was joined by Farris. "It just started to tie up," Farris said. "There was oil allover the left footpeg." As the race wore down, Atherton, who was bringing up the rear of the field, received the blue flag as the leaders closed on him. "My arm just started to get tired, Atherton said. "All I've been able to do is squeeze a ball. I haven't been able to work out." M&M Ra~ing's Ingram, who was running in third, was having problems of his own and Carr and Pegram passed him. "The liquid that I used on my faceshield to keep it from fogging up didn't work," Ingram said. "I had a major fogging problem and I couldn't see. I had to lift up the shield on the straights. Chris and Larry should not have got by." Up front, Davis had his A&R Rac. ing, Hondaline, Mother Fletcher's, Fun Products, Motion Pro, Bell, Road Rider, Red Line Cycles, Emery's Cycles, Farmers Insurance, Dennis Town-backed Honda where he wanted it as the laps were counted down. But behind the leader, Rogers had made up his mind: "I wasn't going to follow." On the last lap, Rogers went for the lead in the last two turns and crashed and Davis sailed home with his second National victory. "I went to the bottom, got sideways, it hooked up and I went over the high side, Rogers said. "What I was making up in three and four, I was losing in one and two. My only regret is that I didn't run lower five laps sooner." Rogers' fall relegated him to a 14th place finish. While the crowd's attention was on the downed Rogers, Harley-Davidsonl (Left to right) Carr, Davis and Pegram celebrated in the winner's circle. Arai/Hap J ones/Sunoco/Knightsponsored Carr slipped by Texas HD/KK/Sponseller Racing/Shoe/ Motion Pro-backed Pegram to take . second. "I have to thank Rusty for the big gift," said Carr in winner's circle. As happy as the occupants of winner's circle were, several riders who didn't make it to the charmed circle were not as pleased. "I never felt comfortable all night," said points leader Parker, who had finished fifth. "I am happy to be -out of here on two feet. When have you seen so many people fall?" "We couldn't get hooked up. I felt better in the heat than in the main," said Roeder, who was sixth. "I think we made too many changes." "We finished seventh, same as Pomona. I just held my line and picked them off as they broke. Some of those guys were faster than me," said the ever gracious Springsteen. The Smitty Challenge closed out the evening. For several reasons, attrition being one of them and celebrating another, not all of the six fastest qualifiers came to the line and Hale, Pegram, Roeder, Carr, Springsteen and Fletcher lined up for the dash. Carr went to the front at the start and was never headed, leading Pegram, Hale and Roeder across the finish line in that order. The only rider to change his starting position was Fletcher, who used some very daring outside lines to get by Springsteen.. The long day and night was over and after nearly everyone had left the track, Davis and his crew remained, savoring their win: "This is really our first win," said Davis, who had ridden Steve Morehead's spare bike to his first National victory at Lima in 1989. "We really worked hard. I know how hard we all worked for this." (;N Results TIME TRIALS: I. Rusty Rogers (24.557 seconds); 2. Rodney Farris (24.719); 3. Will Davis (24.901); 4. Mike Hale (25.009); 5. Larry Pegram (25.052); 6. George Roeder II (25.061); 7. Dan Ingram «25.063); 8. Ricky Graham (25.064); 9. Chris Carr (25.102); 10. Kevin Atherton (25.180); II. Jay Springsteen (25.243); 12. Steve Morehead (25.262); 13. Tim Mertens (25.279); 14. Terry Poovey (25.296); 15. Ronnie Jones (25.369); 16. ScOIl Parker (25.380); 17. Kris Kiser (25.414); 18. Jason Fletcher (25.478); 19. Aaron Hill (25.488); 20. Steve Beattie (25.551); 21. Davey Durelle (25.647); 22. Billy Herndon Jr. (25.715); 23. Georgie Price IV (25.722); 24. Davey Camlin (25.768); 25. Chris Evans (25.77 J); 26. Michael Scolly (25.804); 27. Greg Crow (25.858); 28. us Washbon (25.963); 29. SCOIl Stump (25.982); 30. Michael Varnes (26.022); 31. Rex Fisher (26.052); 32. Curtis Rehnert (26.117); 33. Jim Sumner (26.204); 34. Danny Koelsch Jr. (26.241); 35. Greg Sims (26.337); 36. Rich King (26.419); 37. Scott Buchan (26.569); 38. Tony Donahue (26.584); 39. Chance Darling (26.599); 40. Craig Estelle (26.613); 41. Randy Texter (26.641); 42. Harold Dorsey Jr. (26.643); 43. Paul Polhenus Jr. (26.645); 44. David Rayburn (26.648); 45. Darrin Erichsen (26.652); 46. Martin Lavoie (26.744); 47. Robert Sweeten (26.855); 48. David Lloyd (26.857); 49. Geoff Clark (26.936); SO. John Holmes (27.068); 51. Dan Knecht (27.075); 52. Gordon Schopieray (27.245); 53. Kelly Bowlby (27.457). HEAT I: Ricky Graham (Hon); 2. Scott Parker (H-D); 3. Chris Carr (H-D); 4. Rusty Rogers (HD); 5. Kris Kiser (Hon); 6. Randy Texter (H-D); 7. Dave Camlin (H-D); 8. Chris Evans (Hon); 9. David Lloyd (Hon); 10. Craig Estelle (H-D); II. Jim Sumner (H-D); 12. Curtis Rehnert (H-D). Time: No time due to restart. HEAT 2: Rodney Farris (H-D); 2. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 3. Georgie Price IV (H-D); 4. Jason Fletcher (H-D); 5. Ronnie Jones (H-D); 6. Rex Fisher (HD); 7. Harold Dorsey Jr. (Hon); 8. Danny Koelsch JL (H-D); 9. Chance Darling (H-D); 10. Robert Sweeten (H-D); I I. Dan Ingram (Hon); 12. Michael Scott (Hon). Time: 3 min., 23.12 sec. HEAT 3: Will Davis (Hon); 2. George Roeder II (H-D); 3. Terry Poovey (Hon); 4. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 5. Aaron Hill (H-D); 6. Gregory Crow (HD); 7. Michael Varnes (H-D); 8. Greg Sims (H-D); 9. Billy Herndon Jr. (Hon); 10. Paul Polhenus Jr. (H-D); I I. Geoff Clark (H-D); 12. Martin Lavoie (HD). Time: 3:24.54. HEAT 4: Steve Morehead (H-D); 2. Larry Pegram (H-D); 3. Mike Hale (H-D); 4. Steve Beattie (H-D); 5. Tim Mertens (Hon); 6. David Durelle (H-D); 7. Rich King (H-D); 8. Scou Stump (Hon); 9. Scott Buchan (H-D); 10. us Washbon (H-D); I I. David Rayburn (H-D); 12. Darrin Erichsen (H-D). Time: 3:25.1'1. SEMI I: I. Springsteen; 2. King; 3. Beattie; 4. Evans; 5. Fisher; 6. Varnes; 7. Scou; 8. Washbon; 9. Darling; 10. Sumner; I I. Polhenus; 12. Kiser; 13. Price. Time: 3:29.12. SEMI 2: I. Rogers; 2. Poovey; 3. Fletcher; 4. Crow; 5. Camlin; 6. Mertens; 7. Estelle; 8. Stump; 9. Dorsey; 10. Rehnert; II. Sweeten; 12. Lavoie. Time: 3:27.33. SEMI 3: 1. Ingram; 2. Carr; 3. Hill; 4. Durelle; 5. Hale; 6. Sims; 7. Jones; 8. Cuchan; 9. Koelsch; 10. Lloyd; II. Clark; 12. Texter; 13. Erichsen. Time: No time due to restart. NATIONAL: I. Will Davis (Hon); 2. Chris Carr (H-D); 3. Larry Pegram (H-D); 4. Dan Ingram (Hon); 5. Scou Parker (H-D); 6. George Roeder II (H-D); 7. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 8. Jason Fletcher (H-D); 9. Steve Beattie (H-D); 10. Terry Poovey (Hon); II. Aaron Hill (H-D); 12. Rich King (H-D); 13. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 14. Rusty Rogers (H-D); 15. Rodney Farris (H-D); 16. Ricky Graham (Hon); 17. Steve Morehead (H-D). Time: 10:39.85. AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP/ CAMEL PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Scou Parker (155/5 wins); 2. Chris Carr (142/2); 3. Kevin Atherton (102); 4. Ricky Graham (95/1); 5. Larry Pegram (86); 6. Will Davis (68/1); 7. George Roeder II (55); 8. (TIE) Dan Ingram/Terry Poovey/ Jay Springsteen (48); II. Ronnie Jones (46); 12. Rusty Rogers (44/1); 13. Steve Morehead (40); 14. Dave Durelle (28); 15. Mike Hale (20); 16. Dave Carolin (18); 17. (TIE) Steve Beattie/Aaron HilllTim Mertens (15); 20. Rich King (14). JUNIOR NATIONAL: I. Roy Hart Jr. (Rtx); 2. James Hart (Rtx); 3. Kevin Varnes (Rtx); 4. Bart Schmulbach (W-R); 5. Alan Eadie (Rtx); 6. Kenneth Mohler (H-D); 7. Robert Miller (Rtx); 8. Eric Kinsey (Rtx); 9. Kyle Long (Rtx); 10. Doug O'Boyle (Rtx); II. Brent Armbruster (Rtx); 12. Bret Beyer (RLX). Time: 3:33.27. AMA JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Kevin Varnes (53/ 1 win); 2. Tim Selby (47/1); 3. Roy Hart Jr. (44/ I); 4. James Hart (41); 5. (TIE) John Resso lIl/Bart Schmulbach (34); 7. Brent Armbruster (31); 8. (TIE) Ty Howard/Bret Beyer (30); 10. (TIE) Jess Roeder (I win)/AlIon McBee (26); 12. Robert Miller (24); 13. Jaime Aguilar (19); 14. Alan Edie (16); 15. (TIE) Cory Perreault/Ben Bostrom/Dallas Baer (13); 18, Ray Dugan (10); 19. (TIE) Je({ Eklund/Doug O'Boyle/Kenneth Mohler (9). 9

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