Pine Lake - CC

2020 Hagerty AHRMA National Cross Country Series Ashtabula, OH, 8/8-9/2020 Author: Joshua Schucker

Terry Cunningham Photo by: Joe Spayd

The Hagerty National Cross Country series wrapped up its mid-season tour through the northeastern part of the country in early August. After stops in Pennsylvania and Maryland, rounds seven and eight took place at the historic Pine Lake Raceway just southeast of Ashtabula, Ohio. While it has only been three years since Dennis and David Brown connected Pine Lake’s owner, Bud Fischer, with Becky Hayes and the AHRMA Cross Country family, this pristine facility has been hosting off-road events for over fifty years. Already, in just three events, this weekend is becoming a “can’t miss” on the national schedule. One look around the approximately two hundred-acre facility quickly illustrates why the event and location has prospered. The most prominent feature at Pine Lake is obviously its large dirt oval and infield TT track surrounded by guardrails and grandstands. It lends a certain professional, “big league” feel to the place. The parking area is ample, shaded, clean, and welcoming for weekend camping.

There is a lake that guests are welcome to use for swimming, although below seasonal temperatures for much of the weekend didn’t lend itself to swimming but was very welcome for racing! Miles of established trails can be found in the surrounding forest. Combined, the amenities are impressive and make for an enjoyable and comfortable experience.

While David and Dennis Brown made the first contact to get Pine Lake on the schedule, their involvement did not stop there. The Browns, along with Jerry Graskauskas, are primarily responsible for the layout of the nearly five-mile course. They were also among the first folks to greet you, as the Browns accompanied Tim Grow, James Smith, and Bill Ryburn in completing all the tech inspections for the weekend’s entrants. After which, sign-up was a visit and warm welcome with national cross country coordinator, Becky Hayes, and her capable assistant, Joe Cole. And of course, make sure to give a wave and nod of thanks to the scoring and flagging crew of Mike and Connie Zdybak and Chris Saylor. As always, it is because of these fine volunteers that we are all able to enjoy this sport. An emphatic “thank you” to all of them!

Saturday morning’s sight lap was to be the first taste of the course, which would be the same each day. Dennis, Dave, and Jerry did a tremendous job utilizing all the elements of the facility to produce a unique and memorable course. Surprisingly, given the proximity to Lake Erie and generally flat topography of the surrounding area, the course made great use of localized elevation changes on the property. The opening grass track section, which wore in tremendously over the weekend to become a bermed treat, led into the first major

67K Marty Strouse 10 Pamela Leibgold Photo by: Ed Klinger

Clayton Farris Photo by: Joe Spayd

elevation change. As the riders entered the wooded area for the first time, they were greeted with a large step-up double jump prior to hitting the trails. Several confident riders were tackling this jump with style, easily clearing the gap and landing smoothly on top. It was a popular location for spectators. This is the first of many motocross type elements found within the wooded area of Pine Lake, which creates a unique layout. Following the step-up, riders were directed into some tight, root laden, freshly cut single track that skirted some of the established ATV width trails on the property. The single track eventually dumped riders into the first of two jaunts down a creek bed where most attempted to weave between the deep spots and avoid becoming waterlogged. Despite the previously mentioned cooler weather, riding generates plenty of heat and the splashes were refreshing for sure! A variety of flowing single track and entertaining MX-ish double track eventually led to the riders climbing from the woods onto the infield TT track and its sweeping turns and gentle jumps. After completing the infield portion, the riders enter turn one of the dirt oval to experience the dirt track feel for nearly two thirds of an entire lap. Flat out and attempting to power slide is an inimitable experience that you will only find at Pine Lake

and will be talking about until next year! Back into the woods for the second creek trip and some more enjoyable trail with elevation changes, and you are through scoring and ready to hit the grass track again. Vintage Races: Forty-six riders lined up Saturday morning to kick off the weekend’s action. Since the series moved into the area, it has become clear that Christian Brumbaugh is the man to beat in the Northeast. He rides his Yamaha DT hard, and after four laps he was the first to the flag again for his fifth vintage overall win in a row. In his first national ever, Aaron Good would take his Suzuki to a second overall followed by John Fischer on a Husqvarna. Good would also capture the Sportsman 200 Expert class win over Harrison Walkama (Honda) and Tim Grow (Husky). These three riders would all place in the top six overall in a remarkably strong class. Chris Gillespie would put his number three Can-Am into the lead on lap two and hold on to take top honors in Vintage 50+ Intermediate over Kevin Marshall and John Denunzio on a CZ. Polly Grow would finish just ahead of Denunzio for a solid top-25 overall finish. In doing so, she claimed the class win over Jerry Graskauska Becky Hayes in Post Vintage Women’s Photo by: Joe Spayd Intermediate as well.

As riders lined up for Sunday’s race, one had to wonder if Brumbaugh could make it six in a row… no. After hanging onto Brumbaugh’s tail for two laps Saturday before failing to finish, Brian Grove would start the same way Sunday by hounding Brumbaugh throughout the race. Grove would push his Husqvarna to the quickest lap of the race when it counted most and took over the lead on the last lap. Brumbaugh would follow across the line in second while Harrison Walkama took third. The action in the Vintage 60+ Intermediate class was red-hot all weekend. Despite closing the gap from nearly two minutes to just seven seconds, Mark Schwab would settle for runner-up to winner Bill Harrison on Saturday. However, Schawb would carry the momentum into Sunday and take the class gapping second place Terry Koziara by over five minutes. Dennie Mitchell would improve on Saturday’s fourth place finish by landing on the podium in third. Another strong finish by Pamela Grow was overshadowed by Samantha Valish claiming top woman honors with a magnificent ride to seventeenth overall and a Vintage Women’s Intermediate win on her Penton, surely making the day’s spectators, John and Jack, proud. Jerry Allison would scream his race-modified Hodaka to the Sportsman 100 Expert win Sunday for a doublewin weekend. Ken Cichy would accomplish the same feat in Sportsman 200 Intermediate by leading every lap on his Suzuki and garnering a top-10 overall on Sunday. Post Vintage Races:

In a field loaded with potential overall winners—Fischer, Farris, Ashcraft, Brumbaugh, Grove, etc.—it is still hard to bet against number 4x. Four-time AMA National Enduro Champion, Terry Cunningham, was on the starting line with his trademark Husqvarna, and you knew he was going to be in the hunt. Despite starting from the back row (of 55 riders!) in an Early-Modern support class, John Ashcraft was not to be denied Saturday. To make up for his poor starting position, he unleashed his 1990 CR500 on a first lap sprint that set the quickest lap time of the event by far and pushed him into the lead. Cunningham would run Ashcraft’s pace or better throughout the remaining laps, but the margin built early would carry Ashcraft to the overall win. Terry would hold on for second over fellow Husqvarna rider Brian Grove. Terry would win the battle in the Post Vintage 60+ Expert class while Perry Hodges, second, took comfort in knowing that the only guy who could beat him is a legend. Jerry Graskauskas would take third in the class, and Brian Ashcraft, knowing better than to interrupt a Terry, Perry, Jerry top three, would settle for fourth.

Perry and his IT200 would benefit from Terry picking on the younger kids Sunday, as he switched to the Post Vintage 50+ class, handing Perry the top spot with the Hondas of Graskauskas and Ashcraft behind. Chris Gillespie would follow up his morning success with a Post Vintage 50+ Intermediate class win riding a clean Yamaha TT. Robert Ragon took second on his Husqvarna just ahead of Michael Miller on an early water-cooled KTM. James Smith would lead all four laps over Beno Rodi in Historic 200 Expert action. Robert Lisey proved septuagenarians still “got it” by besting Donald Harless in Post Vintage 70+ Intermediate on Saturday and go on to do the same Sunday, as would Fred Veator in the

Jerry Allison Photo by: Ed Klinger

Post Vintage 70+ Expert class. An equally strong turnout of 51 Kevin Marshall riders lined up for Sunday’s race, Photo by: Ed Klinger excited by the previous day’s close races. When the checkered flag fell, the racing experienced on Sunday was even better. John Ashcraft was unable to get an early jump on the field this day, but he did settle into third early on just behind Terry. Brian Grove jumped to the early lead, but Cunningham was stalking mere seconds behind for three laps until making the move on lap four with Ashcraft right behind. Grove would eventually finish in fourth as Brumbaugh slid by as well. The crafty Cunningham did enough to keep Ashcraft at bay and secure the overall win. Aaron Good wrapped up a strong weekend with fifth overall on a twin-shock XR500.

Michael Wright put his Suzuki in the lead early both days and did not relent in taking the Historic Open Intermediate win Saturday and Sunday over Husqvarna-mounted Michael Cotopolis. Ed Klinger was in the perfect position to take advantage of Saturday winner Joshua Schucker’s early flat tire. After mechanical problems of his own Saturday, Klinger claimed redemption as he and his XR200 took the lead and made it stick despite a mid-race challenge from Joe Spayd II.

Both days provided excellent action on a memorable weekend with perfect weather. And if you thought you were going fast around the dirt oval, David Aldana brought his traveling crew of crazy-fast dirt-trackers to Pine Lake for an AHRMA National Dirt Track event Saturday afternoon. A completely different dynamic of racing, it was thrilling to spectate and a perfect addition to an already great event. And, if you still hadn’t experienced enough by the end of Sunday’s Post Vintage race, the AHRMA Great Lakes region hosted an afternoon motocross race that utilized the TT course and the grass track. Cumulatively, the Pine Lake event is wonderful, and reinforced its standing as a “can’t miss.” Plus, it is always amazing to rub elbows with motorcycling royalty as Terry Cunningham, John and Jack Penton, David Aldana, and others prove they are just cool as you’d think they are. Again, many thanks to the volunteers who make it all work, especially Becky Hayes, as she travels the country facilitating all the national events. Thanks to the Fischer family for allowing AHRMA to become a part of Pine Lake’s historic roster of events. Also please show your support to Hagerty Insurance for stepping up as the primary sponsor for the 2020 AHRMA National CrossCountry Series. Full results and national series point standings can be found at https://www.ahrma.org/schedules-results/.

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