“ Fred, you have to help me with this”, said the nice lady at registration, “does a Monticello 250 race in the Lites Class or the MX Class?”
I love the smell of a new race track. Folks who are unaccustomed to our way of moto life always look at us with curiosity and today would not be any different, but by the end of the day, even the land owner himself was pulling out pictures of a very sweet 1974 Husky 250. (He will not sell it, so don’t ask!)
For all who made the trip to scenic Summersville, West Virginia, you were greeted with perfect weather and a wonderful day of vintage racing. The track itself needed only minor “Holcombization” to meet our standards, eliminating a whoop section and a large double to make it just perfect! Thor was able to get the classes straightened out with the wonderful score keepers, and by the end of the day, I was asked, “ Wow! This is nice, every rider has his own class.”
First moto got under way with the Sportsman and Historic classes. I finally figured out that Thor puts my moto first in order to get me to stop talking and get the program rolling immediately after practice. Steven Paulk came off the Cross Country course and went to the gate besting all comers in the Sportsman 500 Novice class. In the Historic 250 Experts JC scared the hell out of me with the evil sounding twin carb Puch. This bike sounds like a big block Chevelle coming out of the turns, and has such an unpredictable power band that our CZ hero was seen bouncing all over the track. Every turn had me listening for the 4 barrel whoosh, and the expected pass, but out of the corner of my eye I would see the yellow streak off on some other portion of the track. Wackerman suggested that JC find a nice ratted out TM400, as that would possibly be more tame.
Moto two featured some of the closest racing of the day, as Thor and Speleos spent their two motos checking the serial numbers on one another’s bikes. My 7 year old said that Thor is riding a lot faster since Faye has ditched the starting blocks, and must now stand on his own two feet! Even more impressive was Jay Crandall, rebreaking his wrist, pulling on the offending hand to have the bones line up like a Tom Boyd bore job, tape them, and go back out and race. At the start of the 2 nd moto, he actually had the starter hold and release his clutch lever so he could get underway. This was impressive! (Jay in case you are wondering, your Ducati is in my garage and is being terrorized by my CZ’z)
Race 3 featured the Women’s Vintage Class with Noel Turner and Debbie Lasure, with Noel coming out on top. Brian O won the Classic 125 Expert class on a Honda, with John Stackus doing the same in the Intermediates. Alan Brown took the win in the Classic 250 Novice Class on a sweet looking CZ. Bill Boram continued his dominance of the Thumper Class, while George A rode his broken shocked, puke green, KLX to a win in the GP 4-stroke division.
The PVR modern class had Creek Turner put back to back moto wins ahead of Steve Collins to take the overall. A new series sponsor, KSR Performance, provided the awards for this class.
Next up was the day’s potpourri moto. New comer, and soon to be black striper, Stan Talego won the Ultima 250 Intermediates. Leon Turner, bested all comers in the Historic 500 Intermediates, and Scotty Sayers and Ronnie Rollins, finished 1 and 2 respectively in the 500 Experts.
New comer Dan “the man” Welch made his vintage debut, winning the PV Open age intermediates, with John Pagans, and Leon Turner keeping the YZ rider honest.
Race number 8, featured Mathew Payne, winning the 250 Sportsman Intermediates ahead of racers Kevin Smith and John Pagans. Race 9 had Ronnie Rollins coming out ahead of Thor and JC in the GP 250 Experts, and Mathew Payne besting Mike Harrington in the 125 Intermediates.
Wrapping up the weekend’s racing, Skip Collins beat Rick Dye in the +40 Intermediates, and Jerry Casciero coming out ahead of all challengers in the +50 Experts. In the +50 Intermediates John Stackus put back to back moto wins together to take the overall.
And with that another great day of racing is behind us. All who attended enjoyed their weekend, and you can be sure that we will be back! Thanks to all who attended and we will see you again at Mid-Ohio. The next MA race will be held at Mountaineer, and will feature the Bultaco/CZ grudge match! Bultaco Bill has announced that it will be a dead engine start, as tales of finicky Bulls is just a rumor that needs to be laid to rest! The bet is that the winning team gets to write the September Vintage Views article. See you at the gate! |
