The Texas Vintage Racing Club started the year off with a
bang at the Awards presentation this year. On the ten year
bithday of the club, promoter and racer extraordinary Mike
Kidd performed the Trophy Presentation at the Motorcycle
Exposition in Fort Worth. Mike and the Miller Lite girls
presented the winners of the 1997 Fall Series trophies on the
Miller Lite Stage on Saturday night.
As Lynn Nickerson emceed, Mike commented that it looked
like a reunion from some twenty years ago. This statement is
accurate, as many of the members in the club, raced these
same bikes in the formative years of motocross along with
Mike. Oh yes, many thanks to Mike and Lynn for the
presentation!
Weatherman Misses Mark! /
Burleson Right On!
Even though the weatherman
missed the forecast by 15-20 degrees, Chester provided a
great groomed track, and five gates for the T.V.R.C. This was
the opening round of the 1998 Spring Series. With 85 entries
on Superbowl Sunday, the format was great for Vintage Racing.
The vintage steeds of the T.V.R.C. enjoyed the cooler, oxygen
rich, European type weather that many of the bikes were
conceived and designed to run in. Burleson provided trophies
to third place.
Series Open Action Intense
In the Small Bore
Class, Ronny Welch stayed on the gas of the
little 175 Honda four stroke to thump his way to 1st place in
the Small Bore. Allen Christenson came out of the woodwork
out take 2nd and James Taylor ran a close third. Joe Edwards
(4th), Jeff Acklen (5th), and Buddy Brumeier (6th).
GP Small Bore
saw Mike Partain clinch 1st with Russ Kinsey in 2nd, Randy
Brown finished a close third and Chris Barton had trouble
both motos.
Four Stroke Class
racing action saw Rick Denny, Waco rider, and his Powroll
kitted XL-410 redistributing the loam of Burleson with its
muscled up motor. Denny's consistency earned him a 1st place
in the Four Stroke Class. Harry Smith finished 2nd,
Jerry Nelson 3rd, and Jay Jackson 4th.
Beginner Class
racing action was great with John Pearson finishing a 1-2
punch for the overall, Jeff Sides 2-3 for 2nd overall, and
Roy Pierce finishing for 3rd overall.
Amateur Class
racing was exciting but not injury free as a big pile-up in
the first moto put David Bell out big time, and reportedly
broke his shoulder. Get well soon, David. Arlin Smith, Carter
Fournier and many others were involved in the pile-up. Robert
Sojka finished 1-2 for the overall, Walter Jordon finished
(2nd), Dean Hart (3rd), Terry Gilley (4th), Mike
"Cement" Reeves (5th), Jay Powell (6th), Arline
Smith (7th), and Don Kraft finished (8th).
Action in the Intermediate
Class was hot as Dave Fournier and Tim Wallis,
both new to the class, ended up with great overalls. Dave
finished first, as veteran to the class Skip Miller, had a
great first moto and ended up second overall. Tim Wallis
finished with a third overall. In the last moto, it looked as
though Wallis was going to put the moves on Fournier, as he
tried repeatedly to get by him, but Fournier's 450cc Maico
proved to be too fast on the straights for Wallis's 250cc
Wheelsmith Replica Maico. Mark Brown (4th), David
"Bruise Bros Racing" Kirk (5th), Jim Sharp back
after a long rest, finished (6th), Kelly Garner had a hot 3rd
in the first moto and a DNF left him at (7th), Steve Ligon
had trouble in the first and ended up with (8th) overall.
Buddy Brumeier had trouble with timing and such and ended up
(9th), with the Bad Luck of the Day Award to Brett Bowles at
(10th).
Masters
racing with TVRC consists of the fastest vintage riders in
Texas. Today was no exception, as Jeff Acklen spanked
everyone overall. Dave Thompson was second, Allen
Christianson (3rd), "Dollar" Dave Allard was (4th),
Bob McNamara surged to 3rd in the second moto to end up with
a (5th) overall, Joe Edwards was (6th), Stacey Smith was
(7th) and Bobby "Sarge" Lucas DNR in the second
moto placed him in (8th).
In the GP I classes there was
great action and new faces, the Bowles from Oklahoma. GP
I Amateur saw Eric Bennett finish with two
overalls for the big #1, Frank Sides Jr. rode to a strong
(2nd), Robert Sojka finished (3rd), and Mike
"Cement" again, finished (4th).
GP I Intermediate saw Bobby Bowles
taking a clean sweep, Russell Kinsey finishing second in both
motos, Skip "Iron Man Miller" taking (3rd), Mark
Miller at (4th), and David Conner with a (5th)
GP I Masters saw Billy Smith smoking
the class with two overalls to take #1, Chris Barton finished
(2nd), David Thompson finished (3rd), Mike "The
Ride" McBride took a stylish (4th), David Thompson
(5th), and Brett Bowles (5th).
GP II Amateur
racing was hot with Ron Short taking the big double win,
James Nees in (2nd), Jerry Nelson (3rd), Roy Giles (4th).
GP II Intermediate was furious with
Mark Brown delivering the 1-2 punch for the overall, Bobby
Bowles (2nd), Dave $ Fournier (3rd), Jim Martin in tow (4th),
Shawn Smith (5th), and Brett Bowles with much bad luck in
(6th).
GP II Masters was scalding hot with
Mike Partain and Joe Busby changing places in the motos for
an overall for Busby, Partain in (2nd), Skip "Iron
Man" Miller (3rd), Chris Barton and Mike Klement had
trouble and ended up (4th) and (5th) respectively.
Many old faces appeared after
some time off, James Taylor, David Kirk, Rick Denny, all who
have had some injuries or health issues this past year. Their
Live appearances proves that couch potatoes they are not.
