5 minute read
Roebling Road - RR
2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series
By: Kevin McIntosh
Wet road, dry road, sunny road, warm road, frosty road, chilly and windy road, it was all there at the first AHRMA Road Race event of the 2021 season hosted at Roebling Road Raceway. The winter weather and recent snowstorms, along with local forecast did its best to scare people away, but the final numbers proved AHRMA racers were more than ready to get back on track after a most difficult 2020 season, with a solid turnout of 215 riders. Multiple classes gridding more than 15 bikes, were ripe for some great battles throughout the weekend. Having two days of practice to knock off the cobwebs and get a solid pool of rookie racers a chance to participate in the AHRMA Academy of Road Racing (AAR) was much appreciated by all. There were 14 AAR students between the two days, with some, like Tsutomu “Tom” Okada #2 traveling from as far away as California to take part in the class and hopefully race. Running a 1968 Yamaha DT1,
Tom learned firsthand the challenges that come with riding a vintage two-stroke race bike in variable weather, or any kind of weather for that matter as his engine sized during one of his first on track practice sessions. Tom wasn’t deterred though and with some help from fellow AHRMA members, was able to get his bike running again in between attending in-class sessions. Though he did miss Thursday’s mock race, he was able to participate in Friday’s, passed the class and got to race the weekend. Nice work Tom and welcome to the AHRMA family.
For the rest of the practice day riders, the mixed weather and track conditions did invoke some pause, but it didn’t stop those hungry for track time like Wes Orloff who didn’t skip a beat on the wet track, coming from Wisconsin and just stepping off an ice racing bike days before, this didn’t faze him at all—weather be damned!
Between the two race days, Saturday was the winner, by a mile. While temps were definitely cool, barely breaking into the 60s mid-day, if at all. The sun was out, the wind was calm and the track ready for some racing action.
Chris Akaydin (082) and John Scales (294) Photo: etechphoto Rob Hall hauling the mail in GP200 Plus Photo: etechphoto
Race 1 There was plenty of action in the CB160 exhibition class. While Rob Hall #270 took top honors both days, 2nd and 3rd place were not so easily decided. Christopher Akaydin #082 took 2nd with a strong finish Saturday with John Scales #294 inching out Stuart Sanders #215 for the final Podium spot. Stuart would not be held off for long though, as he grabbed 2nd on Sunday, with Brian Larrabure nipping at his heels just .29 seconds behind, or should I say, next to him, for 3rd.
A bit further back in the CB160 race, Tim Terrell had to pull out all the tricks to stay ahead of Mitchell Barnes who had a DNS the day before. With a difference of only .001 of a second at the checker, it was clearly a highlight of the weekend for both of them.
In Novice Historic Production Lightweight, Frank Cotton #6F and Beasley Ayers swapped the top spot Saturday. and Sunday. The same story unfolded for 3rd with Mike Kirby #10 and Steven Fowler #716 swapping the last podium spot each day. Nice work Steven on dropping your best lap time by more than three seconds between the two days. Race 2
Jm Padron #15R led the pack both days on his Sound of Thunder Ducati 1199. Keeping his closest competitor, James Eberhart #245, at arms reach or 1.785 seconds at the Checker on Saturday, followed by Eric Burrell #6E in 3rd. Sunday saw Steve Terbruegen #702X step up to 2nd spot and Mark Tenn #22A into 3rd.
Ralph Staropoli #80L handled the competition in Open Two-Stroke with relative ease. The real battle was for 2nd and 3rd between David Crussell #117, Greg Glevicky #R73 and Stewart Aitken-Cade #251, with David taking 2nd Saturday and Greg shadowing him just 0.5 seconds behind in 3rd.
Pre-1940 rider Ralph Wessell (81), Novice Historic Production Lightweight riders Mike Kirby (10), Frank Cotton (6F) Photo: etechphoto
Sound of Singles on Saturday had a great battle between Kevin Greimel #97K and Eric Block #922, so close at the finish, they both recorded the same time 10:01.583. How exactly is that possible? I guess it’s like Robin Hood splitting an arrow; very impressive and well match riders. Eric did take home 1st on Saturday when the dust settled, and Eric took it right back on Sunday.
Race 3
Alex McLean #122 comfortably manned the 350 GP top spot all weekend, while Jerry Duke #Z7 found 2nd both days as well. The Battle for 3rd on Saturday found Colton Roberts #9 just a bit faster to the finish than David Roper #1B.
Saturday’s Sportman 350 clash was really nothing to write home about, with Michael Murray #072 taking an easy win. Sunday’s race on the other hand found David Miller #69M on the hunt for the top spot, only missing it by 0.274 seconds to Murray once again. Hunter Longshore #999 followed both days in 3rd.
Race 4
Sound of Thunder 3 had great battles for the top three spots both days. On Saturday, with Steve Decamp #13D and Kevin Greimel #97K going nose-tonose all the way to the checker. Steve found a .001 second edge to take the win, while Chris Haesemeyer #80H, Shane Quigg #762 and Chris White #412 sliced and diced the whole race with Haesemeyer finding the checker with less than a .5 second difference between all three riders.
Next Gen Superbike found Brian Larrabure #14 a bit too excited to get back to racing as he jumped the start on Saturday, giving Scott Billings #35R the win, Bob Berbeco #690 2nd and Larrabure taking 3rd, though clearly having the fastest laps of the day. Luckily the start on Sunday’s race was clean and it was clear Scott Billings made some changes as he closed a 30 second gap from Saurday. to come within .168 of a second of Larrabure at the checker to a much better race than the day before.
