Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ EVENT Steamboat Motorcycle Week ~ This marked the first year that AHRMA officials included vintage short track and TT competitions in the program. Mark Andrews (71W) won the Modem Vintage 250cc TT class at Hayden Raceway. Vintage events definitely bring out a different crowd than typical races. and many vintage motocross and road race competitors took advantage of that fact to get in a little warm-up practice while at the same time trying out something new. For this reason, a broad spectrum of bikes were in attendance, requiring several rather unique classes to accommodate them all. Many of the racers had never competed in a dirt track before, so the atmosphere was decidedly low-key. The small track's surface was bumpy, which kept the spectacular sliding to a minimum. An impromptu TT course utilized one half of the dirt oval and much of the infield. Dirt track classes ran six laps, while TT divisions went eight. Barry Higgins of Georgia began a long week of racing with a holeshot in the Modem Vintage 600cc class. While Higgins led the pack, Phil Hanford began to recov€r from a poor start, moving into second place on the third lap. Hanford tried to overtake Higgins for the remainder of the race, finally moving up to challenge the . leader as they approached the finish line. The two crossed the line side-byside, with Hanford stealing the win in a photo finish. After the first start of the Knobbie Lightweight class was red-nagged because of several over-anxious riders, Australian Geoff Eldridge pulled the holeshot on the restart and led for the first half of the six-lap race. Jim Lorington gated second on his 1974 Yamaha, and remained there for the entire race. Eldridge got his trip to America 0(£ to a good start, notching the win. Following the final race on the oval track, the TT competition got under way. While Jim Holbrook went down right off the start in the Pre '67 Classic race, Dan Deubler jumped out to the early lead aboard a 1966 Bultaco. When Deublerdropped out one lap later with mechanical pr-oblems, Norm Francis put his Rickman in the lead position and stayed therefor the win. Following him in a·close second was Terry Pratt on a 1963 BSA. . In one of the largest classes of the day - the Knobbie Lightweight division - Bruce Hays' 1973 Honda ·led for the first two laps before Australian Geoff Eldridge sneaked by at the start/finish line to take over the lead. Eldridge then pulled out small advantage on the pack aboard his 1974 Yamaha, until slow-starting Gary Tucker worked his way through the pack to challenge Eldridge on lap seven. Eldridge held off Tucker's 1974 H~sqvama for the last two laps for the a Rockin' in Colorado By Chris Jonnum STEAMBOAT SPRINGS. CO. SEPT. 16-20 ith its rolling mountain slopes, souvenir shops, condominiums and rousing night life, Steamboat Springs may be more of a haven for yuppie skiiers and tourists than for motorcycle enthusiasts. But for one week out of the year, the ski resort town in scenic northern Colorado welcomes the two-wheel crowd to what is fastbecoming one of the bigger motorcycle get-togethers in the country - Steamboat Motorcycle Week. For five days, a wide array 'of motorcycles converge on the town, and several different events and competitions are featured. The meet has been growing larger and larger each year, and records were again set for this year's 12th annual running of the event, as entries were up in literally every category. The extravaganza was one day longer than last year, as the American "Historical Racing Motor- W 22 cycle Association (AHRMA) sanctioned a vintage dirt track race for the first time this year, along with their traditional National Vintage MX, .National Vintage Trial and Classic Cup Series Vintage Road Race. As..they have in past years, the Denver-based Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) held a contemporary road race on the final day. Also featured were a BMWsponsored Concours d'Elegance, a vintage bike rally, and several awardpresentation parties. Steamboat Motorcycle Week was held one week later than it has been in the past, and the rolling hillsides . which surround the area were adorned 4t spectacular fall colors. The majority of events were literally held within the city limits, with the dirt track the only exception at its Hayden Raceway location, a little over 20 miles west of Steamboat Springs in the small town of Hayden. Participants came from every part of the country and as far away as Australia to ride, with an estimated combined total in all 0'£ the competitions of nearly 1000 entries. There was plenty for riders and their families to do in Steamboat Springs, even if they had a day off from competition. Some spent their off-time spectating, while others chose to watch hang gliders and hot air balloons, or go mountain bike riding, hiking and fishing. For the more adventurous, bungee-jumping was even an option. While AHRMA and MRA handled the sanctioning of the events, organizational assistance was provided by the local Timberline Trailriders M.G, . and sponsorship came from Vintage Iron, BMW, .Budweiser and Continental Airlines, Dirt track When AHRMA officials decided to add a vintage dirt track and TT to the week's events, a large turnout wasn't expected, but they were pleasantly surprised when approximately 130 riders signed up to do battle on the small dirt oval. The races were run on Wednesday, the first day of the Steamboat meet, WIn. One of the most popular classes among the spectators was the Pre·'51 Dinosaur division. Aboard a 1950 Royal Enfield, event-organizer Beno Rodi won by such a large margin that AHRMA's Jeff Smjth black-flagged him for half a lap to make the race a little closer. While there was not much battling for position, spectators enjoyed watching the riders work the foot-actuated clutches and hand shifters on the old machines. Trials The AHRMA National Vintage Trial was held just outside of town in Howelsen Hill Park, at the base of a ski jump. Nine sections were laid out, with alternate routes around the obstacles depending on the riders' various skilllevek Beginners only ran eight sections, as one trap did not offer the possibility of an easier route. The nearly 100 entrants ran three loops around the Derek Belvoir-designed course. . While the morning sign-up and first

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