VOLUME 63 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 P141
In 1987, there was still an
overall AMA Grand National
Champion, but a separate AMA
Dirt Track Series champ was
also being recognized. Dirt track
racing in 1987 was pretty much
a Honda versus H-D show, and
The Mile (as it had been dubbed
by one motojournalist) was go-
ing to be yet another showdown
between the two brands. Shob-
ert's Honda may have been the
fastest qualifier, but Parker won
the Camel Challenge race, which
pitted the six fastest qualifiers
against each other. He picked up
a very cool $10,000 "in an all-out,
do-or-die five-lap dash," wrote
Cycle News.
Not even listed among the top
10 fastest was Honda rider Doug
Chandler, who, at just 22, was
already in his fifth season on
the AMA circuit. When the green
flag dropped to kick off the main
event at San Jose, it didn't look
like this would be his day to get
that one on his resume.
"Poovey powered off the line
at the start of the 25-lap main
event, followed by Shobert,
Boody and Parker," wrote Cycle
News. "Gremlins in the electrical
system on Carr's Mert Lawwill
Harley-Davidson took the young
Californian out of the race as the
pack exited turn two." Shobert
would slip past Poovey for the
lead, with Ted Boody, Park,
Graham, Ronnie Jones and Scott
Pearson in tow. Chandler, on a
Honda sponsored by Freddie
Spencer, was all the way back in
12th position.
Nearly every other discipline
of motorcycle racing has la-
bored in futility, trying to emulate
what dirt tracking seems to do
naturally, i.e., handlebar-to-han-
dlebar racing from flag to flag.
For decades, dirt tracking was
a game that wasn't over until it
was over, until the fat lady sang,
good to the last drop and so on.
Especially on The Mile.
"Livin' on a Prayer" was a big
hit for Bon Jovi in 1987 and
Doug Chandler must've been ri-
din' on one that day at San Jose.
"Chandler," wrote Cycle News,
"unnoticed by the front four, con-
tinued to reel in the leaders. By
lap 22, he was on Parker's rear
fender. On lap 23 he moved into
third, while Graham led Shobert."
Heading into turn three on
the final lap, Chandler made his
move on the Team Honda riders.
"The trio powered out of turn
four, headed for the checkers
and they crossed the line in such
close quarters that no one pres-
ent, including any of the 18,000
spectators, had any idea who
had won the race."
"I don't think three people
ever came across the line that
close," said Shobert. "Wasn't that
the closest race you ever saw?
No wonder I'm going bald," he
added. "I never," said Graham,
"crossed the finish line before
with a handlebar in my armpit."
The Cycle News photo finish
gave the win to Chandler, though
"give" wouldn't be how Chandler
would describe his hard-earned
victory. "That was the toughest
race I ever had to run. Halfway
through the race I decided I had
to change my line and that's
when I started picking up time."
Halfway there…livin' on a
prayer. And a Honda race bike
that talks so tough. Don't believe
it? There is a real, old-time black-
and-white photograph to prove
it. No artificial flavors added.
CN
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