Cycle News

VOL. 53 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 8, 2016 P109 So a deal was done that would see Rainey race the Roberts/Lawwill Harley-Davidson at the Stroh's Miles that didn't conflict with his road race schedule. One funny side note was that Rainey was going to have his leathers sponsor make custom leath- ers for the flat track effort and there was a bit of miscommunication. "I showed up at the first race and walk up to Mert and he's got this strange look on his face," Rainey remembers. "I asked him if I had some- thing on me or something and he said, 'What is Electroflash Lawwill Racing?' I told him that's what he told me to have printed on the front of the leathers and he says, "No, I said Electro Slash Lawwill Racing." Rainey raced the Lawwill-built machine during the summer and he and the crew were quickly de- veloping the bike. Rainey said the bike was better every race. Towards the end of the season Rainey was starting to feel optimistic about his chances of winning a national on the machine. "It was a rocketship," Rainey beams. "The fast- est bike I ever rode on a mile." An indication of how good the bike was getting came at the San Jose Mile, a couple of weeks before Sacramento, where Rainey finished a solid fifth. At Sacramento, the season finale in '85, Rainey turned some heads when he was the fastest rider in time trials. He then went on to win his heat race as well. Things were looking good for Rainey to possibly win his first grand national dirt track race. Tire wear was a big issue at Sacramento that year and there was a lot of discussion on whether to shorten the race or run it in two segments, al- lowing for a tire change. In the end it was decided that the full 25-lap national would go on as sched- uled. Bubba Shobert, who'd already clinched the national title, led early over Scott Parker, Terry Poovey, Rainey and Alex Jorgensen. Rainey was the first to make a move on Shobert as he took over the lead halfway through the race. In the closing laps a quartet of riders got a gap on the field. It all came down to Rainey, Parker, Jor- gensen and Hank Scott on the final lap. Rainey was leading and trying to figure out on the fly what his strategy was going to be. "On the white-flag lap I tried to roll out of the throttle going down the back straightaway to see if Parker would go by me," Rainey explained. "But he'd been in that situation many, many times. So, since he didn't pass me I cooked it off real hard into three trying to get enough of a gap so that he couldn't draft past me. "Coming out of four out onto the front straight- away I could see the checkered flag and I was tucked in and had moved to the inside where the groove stopped and the fluff was. So, I knew if he was to pass me it would have to be around the outside. When we came past the checkered flag I honestly thought I'd won the race, but I knew it was very close." But the ever-crafty Parker had one more trick up his sleeve, according to Rainey. "Scotty, knowing there was no start-finish camera and only AMA officials watching, im- mediately when we crossed the start-finish line he threw up his arm and celebrating like he'd won, so when he came back around after the cool-down lap they gave it to him. I really thought I won, but I wasn't too upset because I'd just scored my first grand national dirt tack podium by getting second." Even Parker has a big grin whenever he remembers that race, one he calls one of his all-time favorites. "Beating Wayne by inches, or whatever it was that day, was one of my best wins ever," Parker said. "If for no other reason than whenever we get together Wayne always says, 'Scotty, why didn't you let me win that race?'" CN Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives

• Cover