Man I love coming here! Even if we were not racing the people alone would make the trip an event. Unlike last year we got the bad weather out of the way on Friday, and after the quick sand that met our Vintage riders on Saturday morning, dried up, things just kept getting better.
The fun got under way on Thursday night. I rolled into the pits about 1:00 AM. Kent Cameron was asleep in his pickup truck, at the gate awaiting late comers. I drove right by and could see him waking up but chose to ignore him blowing the horn and giving chase. Waking up from a coma like rest, to a dead run does the heart good. I of course continued to ignore him for a couple of hundred yards, picking up speed along the way. Finally I ran out of pit area, stopped, and then asked if the concession stand was still open. He gave me the same look that Patty Root gives me when I ask if there is any chance that we could get sign up started early.
The next morning we got things off bright and early with the Cross Country Event. At the riders meeting several of the contestants wanted to know if Fred K was in attendance. It appeared that several riders were sporting interesting fanny packs with one carrying a large rope with a noose. Thankfully Special K took a break from this year’s event. The loop this year was 3.3 miles and had a little bit of everything thrown in. Things would get interesting as the sky opened up just prior to the PV CC start, turning the lush course into a more entertaining venue.
Next up was the trials event. Dave Romine and I elected to make this our first event ever and were filled with confidence. We rolled up to the first section and parked our bikes for a look. Dave said, “I bet we could just jump that ditch and land past the flat at the top of the hill, and miss those rocks altogether.” Elsewhere riders were dividing up the course into sections and analyzing this line and that. Kinda like Golf. First guy into the section plowed into a spectator and went down hard. Buz Brinig never told me that there would be people obstacles! Heck I jumped on my Yammie and cleared the section. Romine and I looked at each other and said you gotta be kidding, this is like pit riding. Then we moved to section two…… and something new that I was about to learn. First trials bikes don’t have much steering lock and when you low side, the bike will pin you to the ground and it will take 4 people to get you out, as the bike must be physically lifted in the air to turn the wheel. After Romine lawn darted himself down a steep muddy ravine, and also found himself pinned under his TY, he called it quits and hung a for sale sign on his Yammie. I pressed on, with the ambulance people following me through each section. I had one of the trials regulars approach and say, “Fred I think that you are looking at this the wrong way, it is a completely different mindset than motocross. “ He was right. I don’t crash half as much racing MX! One curiosity was that Bultaco trials bikes start right up. Must be an aversion to going fast.
Friday gave way to Saturday morning and the quick sand that would greet the riders at practice. For the longest time no one would venture out on to the track, but finally one by one the fragile vintage riders made their way out. But by the 5 th moto things were getting pretty sweet!
Before we get to the highlights, one word about the awards. Kent staged a picture of Tom Boyd at speed, as his plaque picture this year. How did I know that it was staged? Well the photo showed Tom roosting on his KX400. All of us in the MA know that Tom has not had a bike stay together long enough to roost anything in the last 2 years. After Thor rebuilt Kent Cameron’s Elsinore, I suggested that Kent spend more time prepping his bikes and less time Photo-Shop’ing pictures of Boyd. I would much prefer having a picture of Bolton in action starting his bike as the award face, at least it would be real.
So how did the racing go? Pretty good actually. Here are some of the highlights. Bob Speiss finished ahead of former factory star Billy Liles in the Vintage +40 Expert Class. These guys flat haul with Billy looking just like he did 25 years ago! In the Vintage +50 Intermediate, Billy Lamadue was working his way to a black stripe with his convincing win. Bultaco Bill took a 9 th in what was the fullest gate of the day! In the Sportsman 250 Intermediates CZ mounted John Pagans finished ahead of Brian Gross, Matt Payne and Michael Bolton. When the checkered flag flew in the +70 Expert class, Jeff Smith crossed the line ahead of everyone’s hero Corky Root!
In the 125 Sportsman Expert class, Ohlin’s Shock Whizard Steve Marpes outgunned DR track owner Kent Cameron. Probably the most exciting action of the day occurred in the Sportsman 500 Expert class, where Billy Liles diced it out with Randy Smith and Bob Speis. Turn for turn these gentleman kept their 30 year old machines pinned!
The Vintage open Age Intermediates saw a slugfest between Luke Loy and Mike Bolton with Luke getting the nod.
Wrapping up the Classic 250s, had Jay Wilson besting all contestants in the intermediate classes and Jerry Casciero cleaning up the Experts. And with that we adjourned to the town meeting and some good old fashioned complaining……
On Sunday the PV Faithful were met with warm temperatures, a perfectly sunny day, deep loam, and rail like berms. The track could not have been better!
Neal Siegel got things off to a good start by drawing first blood in the Ultima 4Stroke Novice class, with the legendary Mike McCook taking the win in the Historic 125 Novice Class. Tom Boyd put 2 moto wins together in the 125 Expert class on a very fragile looking Maico 125. What is truly amazing is that Tom destroys nearly every bike he rides, but somehow keeps one of the most temperamental bikes in history together to win on. One thing for certain, he can certainly ride the wheels off of it! In one of the bigger classes of the day Harvey Double Jump carded a 2 and a 3 together for the overall. This was a great race as any of 5 riders could have overcalled.
In the GP 250 Intermediates, George Nebeling took the overall ahead of Brett Kerns, with David Hurley taking the win in the Expert class ahead of Randy Smith and Ronnie Rollins.
Ultima 125 Intermediate, Mathew Payne finished ahead of Jeff Baily and Terry Banks, while Stan Talego did the same in the Ultima 250 Sand Baggers. Mr. Talego did such a masterful job that he has earned a black stripe, which will be given at season’s end. Stan also checked out of the +40 class, besting the 16 other riders. All this on a bike he had pieced together the night before.
John Pagans put his trusty CZ out in front of the PV Open Age Intermediates, followed closely by Mathew Payne and George Nebeling. This class was owned by the Mid-Atlantic, as Jeff Conrad, Terry Banks, Mike Bolton, and Luke Loy rounded out the top 7.
GP Expert Thumpers, saw George Ackerman putting a very much underpowered Kawie 250 out ahead of Paul D and Brian O. George stayed out of the Corona’s this year long enough to piece a couple of motos together. Speaking of thumpers, in the Historic Expert class, Bill Boram finished ahead of NE Cheerleader and man about town, Alex Moroz.
Next up is the battle of the regions at Tomahawk May 12. Come out and watch the Mid-Atlantic keep its win streak in head to head region racing alive! See you at the gate! |
