Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

took care of it. I have to thank or-rr sponsors KTM, Cycle Sport, Maxxis, Enduro Engineering, Powersport Grafx, KTI'4 Hard Equipment, Clay Stuckey and Wade Lamb." Besides taking home a nice trophy for their efforts, the team also pocketed $2500. Finishing in the runner-up spot was the Graham Last Dime Racing KTI'4 team. The team was truly a mix of riders from all parts of the South, coming from Mississippi, lndiana, Alabama and Tennessee. The team maintained a solad rhird throughout the majority of the race before taking over second at the finish, completing 45 laps. The Graham KTM team rode an EXC 525 and took home $ 1500. Rounding out the top three was the Spanner Wrench Racing Team. They battled with the Action Kawasaki Team for most of the race and finished with 44 laps on record, and claimed $1000 in prize money. The lGwasaki team ended up fourth after leading much of the early pan of the race. For the fiIth year in a row, the Perry Mounrain l"lotorcycle Club hosted the race, which was held on the Reynolds pasture near the small town of l'4applesville in centralAlabama and is about the big8est thing that happens there all year. The Perry l4ountain gang is usually busy hosting enduros and hare scrambles throughout the year. The Perry Mountain race is pretty much a long-dis- tance hare sc.ambles, complete with tight southern woods, plenty of rocks, sand, whoops, fire roads and pastures. There are even some hllls to keep most every- one happy and challenged. The most challenging element that the riders had to deal with, though, wasn't so much the course, but rather the heat. With temperatures in the 90s, and humidity to match, the stifling conditions took its toll on the riders. But it did rain heavily the night before the race, so at least the trail conditions were close to perfect for the l0 a.m. start Saturday. Dust would not be a problem- The course itself was I I miles long and quite techni- cal- Lap times for the top racers were in the 29- to 3 l- minute range. An impound area held each team's spare bike, but if you were forced to use it, you were out of contention for the cash, but you could still be recognized as the official winner. A LeMans start was used with rac- ers running about 30 feet to their bikes. On the flrst lap, the Kawasaki l(X450F of Team Action Kawasaki, with Garrett Edmisten riding, iumped out to an early lead. About 30 seconds back was the KTH Southeast team, with Gibson giving chase. Edmisten rode for four laps, with Gibson making up some time on the leader. The two teams swapped the lead all through the day, the passes usually taking place during the rider changes and pit stops. With night coming, the race would change dramatical- ly. Lighting problems slowed the Kawasaki team down. and a nighttime crash pushed a radiator hose into their bake's exhaust, resulting in a costly and time-consuming pit stop. The Kawasaki team dropped back to fourth, where they would stay for the remainder of the race. KTM Southeast moved into the lead at that point and never let ofl With the Kawasaki team out ofthe way, the new leaders were ,ust trying to have a trouble-free ride. There was still a lot of tight racing going on. The run- ner-up spot was up for grabs, as the Spanner Wrench team moved into second and held it there through the night. When the sun came upt they were still in second, but on lap 42, the Graham KTI'1 got by and held on to second place till the end. ln the 64-rider stTong lronman class, Floridian Mike Phillips, who had won the class in all previous races, faced some stiff competition this time, namely South African rally racer Elmer Symons, who r.red the Perry l.lountain (Top to boltom) Teom Spqnner Wrench finirhed o hord-eorncd third; ooion Kowo3oki led for muth of the rqce before struggling with mechqnicol issues. race to help him train for this year's Dakar Rally. Symons ended Phillips' lronman reign, posting consis- tent laps to finish 36 laps for the win. He was riding a James Embro-sponsored KTM. Symons had some riders puzzled - they iust didnt think anyone could ride that many last laps. Symons was all smiles after the race, not really look- ing all that tired. "lt was fun," he said. "l have ridden more miles in a day before, but this was good training. The course was a lot of fun." Phillips, however, was no slouch- The KTl.'l rider kept Symons honest throughout the race, completing 32 laps to take the Over 40-class win. Casy Campbell. riding a Kawasaki, won the lronwoman's class. A two-man class was added to this year's race, and Pro IYoto Sports KTM won the new division by posting a winning number of 32 laps. CI{ OYEAALL: l. KTtl South6t C/clerport (46 hps); 2- Gmhm LEt Dim Ra

• Cover