Carolina Motorsports Park-RR

CAROLINA MOTORSPORTS PARK

2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series

L to R: Helmi Niederer, Dave Tompkins, Lorraine Crussell

Sweet Caroline Sweet Caroline Not so... Photo: Bob Ranew

By: Vintage Cup contender, Wes Orloff

The AHRMA circus returned to Carolina Motorsports Park (AKA: Kershaw) for the 2nd round of the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing series. For me, this was feeling a bit like round one at Roebling Road—a 14+ hour drive from Wisconsin dreaming about warm summer breezes and hot racing action—only to find very ‘Yankee’ weather eerily similar to the wet and cold elements from the prior round down south. Kershaw was only about a dozen cheese curds away from being annexed by Wisconsin. For me personally, my journey south of the Mason Dixon line was sparked by chasing points in the NYC Norton/Roadracing World 500 Premiere Vintage Cup. I had never been to Roebling,

The 500 Premier Class

is the 2021 AHRMA featured Vintage Cup, sponsored by NYC Norton (nycnorton.com) and Roadracing World (roadracingworld. com). Any fully GP-kitted 500cc OHV/OHC or 750cc sidevalve fourstrokes built before December 31, 1968, and like design, are eligible. And there are perks, including an entry fee rebate, enhanced trophies throughout the season, special awards for the series champion, articles and photos on the Roadracing World website, Roadracing World print magazine exposure, early paddock access, racer spotlight features in AHRMA MAG and the class champion featured on the cover of AHRMA MAG. Wes is one of many capable riders involved in this competitive class on a variety of truly vintage machines.

Wes Orloff Photo: Bob Ranew

and this was only my second time to Kershaw, the last being in 2005. Despite the cold, the track was actually much better and even more fun than I remembered. The pavement surface was nearly perfect, and the prior ‘mickey mouse’ back section made up of tight 90-degree corners was replaced with a unique and beautiful decreasing radius sweeper.

I took my SOT3 Buell XB9 out in practice on Friday, and I had suffered enough Wisconsin beverage-induced brain cell deaths over the last 16 years that it was like learning a new track for me. I slowly progressed from getting in way too hot to the nicely banked turn eight, and not hot enough into the sweeping turn ten, to turning lap times just short of slightly embarrassing with the fun meter pegged. This track was a riot and throws a little bit of everything at you. I was not alone in the learning department, as Mark Morrow and the AHRMA instructors had their hands full with a respectable grid of 23 new students! Stellar turnout, and welcome to AHRMA!

My Race Weekend

After getting our butts handed to us at Roebling Road in the 500 Premiere Vintage Cup by Tony Read and his Rob Hall/Andy Findling-built and tuned BSA, I convinced my builder/tuner Dale Coffman to come down south with me and to bring the Seely-framed Honda CR450 ‘A’ bike (can’t be the rider, right?). I felt instantly comfortable on the bike, and despite the cool temperatures, began working my times down. The bike was performing well as I slowly brought the pace up testing the cool pavement for grip—although there unfortunately were a ton of red flags in both practice and racing. I never experienced an issue on the Premier bike although I was being very conservative.

Racing the AHRMA Vintage cup—Saturday

Saturday dawned cool and overcast, luckily, we were in race seven so there was a bit of time to warm up (warm may be too strong a word since checking on my phone, my hometown of Milwaukee was warmer than Kershaw by a few degrees). I really had to dial my stoke level down in the conditions; after a month of

thinking about my poor showing at Roebling, I really wanted to try and ride well. I got a decent start, but Jerry Duke on his Ducati got an awesome start and I just barely snuck by going into the treacherously narrow turn one. I tagged along with Formula 500 competitors Mark Morrow and Bob Demetrius hoping they would pull me with them, but the race was immediately red flagged. Unfortunately, it involved my fellow Vintage Cup competitors n the carnage at turn one, and neither Helmi on his NYC Norton G50 or my main points rival, Tony Read, and his BSA were able to restart. I got away decent at the re-start beating Jerry and Dave Roper to turn one (okay, yeah, they are on 350s, so I had an unfair advantage), and again found myself in close quarters on track with Bob and Mark. Knowing my main competitor was on the sidelines, I took a conservative approach to the race and tried to hang with Mark, but he crept a few yards away gapping me every lap, while I, in turn, put a small gap on Bob (again, on a 350). I ended up with a win, but it felt a bit hollow due to the carnage, and I was gutted for Tony and his team. Dave Roper added to his enormous record of podiums with a fine second on his AJS, and Jerry put his Duc on the box in third.

AHRMA Vintage Cup—Sunday

Due to the cold temperatures and the fact I felt like I had figured out the track enough to race on it, we decided to not practice and preserve the Coffman

Will Brint's CBX Photo: Bob Ranew

Honda 450 for when it counted, knowing Tony would be back in full force. I was anxious to race, and my plan was to ride as well as I could and let the chips fall where they may; it would be a long drive back to Wisconsin self-critiquing my riding if I didn’t give it my best. We had a full complement of Vintage cup bikes on the grid for Sunday and both Tony and Helmi had gotten their bikes back into race shape. Starting from pole, I got a clean start and the whole pack made it through turn one in good shape. Again, I soon found myself with Mark on his RD ahead of me and Bob on his Honda hot on my tail. As we crossed the finish line to complete the first lap, I glanced over and saw Tony on the side of the track with a mechanical. A lot of empathy—I have certainly been there before. For a brief moment, I considered riding conservatively as we had a comfortable gap on the rest of the bikes in my class, but all apologies to my owner/mechanic/tuner and dear friend Dale, but I had to abuse the old girl a bit and see if we could put in some good laps. I had the perfect ‘rabbit’ ahead of me in professor Morrow and had a great time racing with him and staying as close as I could, setting my best personal lap time on the Honda at CMP. Dave took another second place, while Helmi finished a fine third on his beautiful G50. Chasing Mark was almost my undoing however, as the bike kept popping out of gear, and if not for a red flag-shortened race I am not sure we would have completed the last lap. The transmission locked up fully on the cool down lap! The fuse was just long enough…

Leonard Lewis (707) Photo: Bob Ranew

Alex McLean Photo: Bob Ranew

David Crussell (117) and Jeff Hargis (84) Photo: etechphoto

And that’s a wrap for my weekend. Took two wins but honestly there is an asterisk next to them without Tony in the race. It’s a long season and I know Tony and his team will come back swinging at Topeka, as well as all the other racers who are licking their wounds after CMP. On the plus side, we had a great time with our AHRMA friends, met some new ones, got to race with legend (and my personal hero) Dave Roper, and had some super fun on-track battles with my buddies Bob and Mark. I guess in the end, that’s what AHRMA is all about. That 14-hour drive home wasn’t so bad after all.

In Other Action… By: Joe W. Koury

Rob Hall, on his highly developed Honda, had a big weekend, quickly separating himself from the field in the CB160, 200GP and 250GP classes, finishing with big leads in every race. In Saturday’s CB160 race, Christopher Akaydin and Stuart Sanders had quite a scrap for second place honors, Akaydin barely nipping Sanders at the finish. The battle for third in Saturday’s 200GP race was one to watch as Don Hollingsworth, Mitch Barnes and Stuart Sanders were within a second of each other, Hollingsworth getting across the line first to grab that third podium spot. John Scales and Jonas Stein kept it interesting in Sunday’s 200GP in their clash for second place, Scales a wheel ahead of Stein at the checkers.

There were several other squeakers. Sound of Thunder 2 was another close dash to the finish. Clint Autin won, but Seth Starnes and Gary Orr were separated by just .2 seconds, Starnes just edging Orr. Alex McLean won the 350GP race with second through fourth a nail biter. Jonathan Hollingsworth took second, Jerry Duke third and Dave Roper fourth—all three within a second or two of each other at the line. Jim Padron and Lee Acree were side-by-side at the finish in Next Gen

Brian Woods (driver), Richard Burleigh or Rachel Brink (passenger) Photo: etechphoto

Superbike 2, Padron taking the win. Photo finishes both days for Seth Starnes and Gary Orr in Battle of the Twins 1 with Starnes nabbing the top podium step on Saturday and Sunday. Jake Hall, Mike Baker and John Rickard were tied together at the finish on Sunday, separated by just .8 seconds. In Modern TT2 sidecar action, Tony and Lisa Doukas traded wins with Dale and Milan Lavendar. They made it interesting, Lavender over Doukas by a whisker on Sunday. Ralph Staropoli Won Open Two-Stroke on Sunday, but the two guys chasing him were in a fracas that ended with David Crussell edging Greg Glevicky for second place.

And then there were riders who just had it going on all weekend, twisting their throttles to wins in three or more races. Hats off to the following multi-podium AHRMA riders: Clint Austin (Thuxton Cup Challenge, Sound of Thunder 1, Sound of Thunder 2, Battle of the Twins 2); Jim Padron (Next Gen Superbike 2, Formula Thunder, Sound of Thunder 1); Ralph Staropoli (Sound of Singles 2, Sound of Singles 3, Open Two-stroke); Paul Elledge (Motard, Sound of Singles 2, Vintage Superbike Middleweight); Alex McLean (Pre-1940, Classic Sixties, 350GP); Michael Murray (Sportsman 350, Sportsman 500); Lee Acree (Next Gen Superbike Middleweight, Next Gen Superbike), Mark Morrow (Formula 500, Formula 750).

The weekend was ‘prolonged’ by an unusual number of red flags. Turn one seemed unforgiving and claimed its share of contestants. Check out The Headmaster’s column in this issue to see Mark Morrow’s take on warm-up laps. May be some connection there. Mark is a seasoned competitor and runs the AHRMA Academy of Roadracing. We hope everyone has recovered from the bumps and bruises, scrapes and scratches. Well, the wordcount meter needle’s in the red so time to wrap this up.

Last, but certainly not least, thanks to the AHRMA staff and especially all the amazing volunteers who toil tirelessly so we can fill our weekends with memorable experiences.

Eric Lukehart, in too hot! Photo: etechphoto

CMP results, Saturday/Sunday:

CB160: Rob Hall, Chris Akaydin, Stuart Sanders/Rob Hall, Chris Akaydin, Stuart Sanders Pre-1940: Alex McLean, Blake Wilson, Tim Droege/Alex Mclean, Ralph Wessell, Lewis Leonard Novice Historic Production Lightweight: Beasley Ayers, Craig Martin, Mitch Skaggs/Beasley Ayers, Craig Martin, Matt Rice Next Gen Superbike Middleweight: Lee Acree, Harry Vanderlinden, Rick Patrolia/Lee Acree, Harry Vanderlinden, Jonathan Hollingsworth Thuxton Cup Challenge: Clint Austin, Paul Canale, Mathew Estell/Clint Austin, Matthew Estell, Paul Canale BEARS: Daniel May, Stan Keyes, Stan Miller/ Stan Keyes, Daniel May, Stan Miller Vintage Superbike Middleweight: Paul Elledge, Kevin Rammer, Alexander Cook/Paul Elledge, Alexander Cook, Jim Eich Novice Historic Production Heavyweight: Lloyd Mason, Herb Haigh, Mike Baker/Lloyd Mason, Herb Haigh, Mike Baker Next Gen Superbike 2: Jim Padron, Eric Burrell, Jeff Nelson/Jim Padron, Lee Acree, Eric Burrell Sound of Singles 3: Ralph Staropoli, Edward Blount, Frank Guadagnino/Ralph Staropoli, Edward Blount, Marc Purslow Phillip Island Challenge: Warren Wilson, Kyle Bosclair/Warren Wilson, Kyle Bosclair

Bob Demetrius Photo: etechphoto

Formula Thunder: Jim Padron, Pete TenHoopen, Gary Orr/Jim Padron, Pete TenHoopen, Gary Orr BOT 2: Clint Ausitn, Tony Prust, Bob Robbins/ Clint Ausitn, Tony Prust, Bob Robbins Next Gen Superbike Lightweight: Brad Coleman, Harry Vanderlinden, Jonathan Hollingsworth/ Harry Vanderlinden, Jonathan Hollingsworth, Bill Howard Sidecar Super Vintage SC2: Tim Joyce-Renee Schuelke, Daniel May-Craig Chawla, Eric Trosper-Celia Trosper/Tim Joyce-Renee Schuelke, Daniel May-Craig Chawla, Eric Trosper-Celia Trosper Lost Era Sidecar SC3: Sean Stivason-Muirisha Lavender, Timothy J. O’Brien-J. Lynn/Sean Stivason-Muirisha Lavender, Timothy J. O’Brien-J. Lynn Classic Big Wheel Sidecar: Byron P. Hannah II-A. Bower, Silke Crombie-Dave Keister, Kurt Jaeger-Bob Berbeco/Byron P. Hannah II-A. Bower, Silke Crombie-Dave Keister, Kurt Jaeger-Bob Berbeco Sound of Thunder 2: Clint Austin, Seth Starnes, Gary Orr/Seth Starnes, Gary Orr, Pete TenHoopen Vintage Superbike Heavyweight: David Crussell, William Brint, Alan Perry/Martin Jarusek, William Brint, Alan Perry Sound of Singles 2: Ralph Staropoli, Marc Purslow, Paul Elledge/Paul Elledge, Marc Purslow, Mike Robinson Formula 500: Mark Morrow, Bob Demetrius, Jim Hinshaw/Mark Morrow, Brian Woods, Rudy Schlachinger 500 Premier: Wes Orloff, Dave Roper, Jerry Duke/Wes Orloff, Dave Roper, Helmi Neiderer Battle of Twins 1: Seth Starnes, Gary Orr, Paul Canale/Seth Starnes, Gary Orr, Paul Vance Motard: Paul Elledge, Mike Robinson, Casey Clark/Paul Elledge, Mike Robinson, Brad Carlisle Formula Vintage: Brad Coleman, David Crussell, Matt Esterline/William Brint, Matt Esterline, Keith Powell Sportsman 500: David Miller, Michael Murray, Eric Cook/Michael Murray, Eric Cook, Scott Turner Formula 250: Steve Decamp, Bob Demetrius, Brian Woods/Bob Demetrius, Colton Roberts, Jarl Wathne Classic Sixties: Alex McLean, David Tompkins, Patrick McGraw/Alex McLean, David Tompkins, Patrick McGraw Classic Sixties 650: Jake Hall, Mike Baker, John Rickard/Jake Hall, John Rickard, Mike Baker 250GP: Rob Hall, John Scales, Don Hollingsworth/Don Hollingsworth, Craig Light, John Scales

Sidecar

US F1: Nick BaileyAdam Cramer, George ‘Boris’ StroudBonny Hazen/George ‘Boris’ Stroud-Bonny Hazen, Nick Bailey-Adam Cramer Sidcar Modern TT2: Tony Doukas-Lisa Doukas, Dale Lavender-Milan Lavender, Mike Stivason-Kayla Theisler/Dale Lavender-Milan Lavender, Tony Doukas-Lisa Doukas, Mike Stivason-Kayla Theisler Sidecar Modern US F2: Eric Trosper-Celia Trosper/Eric Trosper-Celia Trosper Sidecar Formula Classic SC4: Paul Koehler-A. Blake/Paul Koehler-A. Blake 200GP Plus: Rob Hall, John Scales, Don Hollingsworth/Rob Hall, John Scales, Jonas Stein Class C Footshift: David Tompkins, Alex McLean/David Tompkins, Alex McLean Class C Handshift: Tim Joyce, Ralph Wessell, Luke Conner/Tim Joyce, Ralph Wessell, Luke Conner Two-stroke Classic GP 250: Sakis Vasilopoulos/Sakis Vasilopoulos Two-stroke Classic GP 350: Michael Perry, Richard Burleigh/Richard Burleigh Sound of Thunder 3: Thomas Ryan, Danny Miller, Paul Canale/Thomas Ryan, Paul Canale, Bob Robbins Formula 750: Mark Morrow, Brad Phillips, Jim Hinshaw/Kenny Cummings, Mark Morrow, Brad Phillips Next Gen Superbike: Rick Patrolia, Gilbert Jennings, Lee Acree/Lee Acree, Rick Patrolia Sportsman 750: Matt Esterline/Matt Esterline Vintage Superbike Lightweight: Matt Joy, Jim Eich, Pete Homan/Pete Homan, John Rickard, John Costello 350GP: Alex McLean, Jonathan Hollingsworth, Jerry Duke/Jerry Duke, Dave Roper, Craig Light

Sportsman

350: Michael Murray, David Miller, Eric Cook/Michael Murray, Jack Mattlin, Ken Debelak Formula 125: Colton Roberts, Bob Lewin, Greyson Rogers/Colton Roberts, Bob Lewin, Greyson Rogers Next Gen Superbike Lightweight: John Costello Sound of Thunder 1: Clint Austin, Jim Padron, Ervin Kollek/Jim Padron, Pete TenHoopen, Daniel Garver Open Two-stroke: Ralph Staropoli, David Crussell, Gregory Glevicky/Frank Shoenbeck, David Karten, Paul Stamper Formula Extreme: Peter Nicolosi/Peter Nicolosi Sound of Singles 1: Stuart Carter, Kevin Greimel/Bill Gillis, Kevin Greimel, Tim O’Connor Formula Lightning: Curt Comer/Curt Comer

Harry Vanderlinden's (32 Honda), Brad Coleman (77R Ducati) and Paul Canale (553) Photo: etechphoto

MARK MORROW'S CORNER

AHRMA ACADEMY OF ROADRACING HEADMASTER

One area of both safety and performance that is often overlooked, is the warm-up lap. The warm-up lap is seen by some as simply the process to get to their grid and start the race, but there is so much more going on than just getting to the grid!

For starters, the warm-up lap is your final opportunity to observe the track conditions. How bad is the oil dry in that corner where the CBX blew up? If it’s wet, is there a dry line forming? Any puddles/rivers that will require a different line? Any changes to the runoff in any of the corners? How is that rough pavement that was starting to come up in practice? Whenever you take your warm-up lap, you should always have at least half an eyeball open for these things.

Even more important, the warm-up lap is your only chance to get heat in your tires. If you run tire warmers, they are at least half warm before you start your warm-up lap, but they still need some good acceleration, braking and cornering forces to get them fully warm. Tires get heat from carcass deformation, not swerving (NEVER swerve on a warm-up lap!) or burnouts, but good old-fashioned accelerating, braking and cornering. If you drone around on your warm-up lap at 50% pace and don’t give it some full throttle, brake hard and corner fast, you won’t put very much heat in the tires and will be starting the race at a disadvantage compared to someone who did. You will also be at risk going into turn one on the start without enough heat in your tires and losing the front. Of course, blazing out of the pits on cold tires at full race pace isn’t the answer either; that will put you on the ground in a heartbeat. You have to exercise a little judgment.

The answer is planning a progressive out lap, where you steadily increase your pace every corner until you are at or very nearly close to full race pace by the time you get to the final turn. When you leave the pits, GET ON THE GAS! This shifts the weight to the rear, distorting the rear tire and immediately starts putting some heat into it. Next, as you approach the first turn, BRAKE FIRMLY! This will transfer weight to the front, distorting the front tire. Brake firmly, but only in a straight line. Trail braking should be reserved until after your tires are 100% up to temperature! Next, turn the bike and don’t worry too much about hanging off. Staying straight with the bike makes it lean more compared to hanging off and that extra lean angle will put a little more heat in the tires. For sure, your first corner should be at a reduced pace, but you would be surprised at how much grip even a cold tire actually has. I’m not advocating anything crazy, just keep in mind that the faster you go and the farther you lean, the more heat you put into the tire. Pick a conservative pace for the first turn, but gradually increase it every corner you hit, hopefully arriving at 90-95% pace by the time you reach the final corner.

One factor to remember is that even though ANY distortion will heat the tire overall, right-hand turns focus heat on the right side of the tire and left-hand turns focus the heat on the left side. If you are at a track like Laguna Seca, it’s difficult to get a lot of heat into the right side of the tire due to how few right-hand turns there are. Last year, it was cold and the majority of the crashes all weekend were on the first lap, in turn four, which is the first right-hand turn on the track.

Likewise, if you are at CMP, the opposite is true as there are only four left-hand turns out of 14 there. At CMP this year, there were a LOT of crashes and red flags. Over 90% were in either turn one or turn eleven, both left-hand turns that have a long time spent on straights and rights in between them. Those who didn’t crash in turn one, mostly crashed in turn eleven because it’s a hard braking turn and there are six right-hand turns and the two longest straights on the track in between turn four and turn eleven. All of that time off the left side of the tire allowed it to cool off, requiring a more cautious approach on the brakes. Tracks like CMP, TGPR and Laguna Seca often require MORE than one lap to get tires fully up to temperature, especially when it is cold.

The final thing to remember about the warm-up lap is that it is your last chance to get “in the game” mentally. Maybe you’re worried about a problem at work, a fight with a loved one or even whether you remembered to turn off the stove before you left. The warm-up lap is the time to put all of that out of your mind and start thinking about the RACE! Whatever is bothering you in the “real” world will still be there waiting for you when you get off the track. Clear your mind of any distractions and shift your focus to lean angles, braking markers, available grip and race strategy. Things happen SO fast during a race, the last thing you want is the distraction of worrying about some domestic problem while you are out there racing! Stay safe!! Headmaster

P.S. Correction on previous article! Please note there was an error in the graphic provided with my last article. It stated incorrectly that passing is not allowed under a "Stationary Yellow." Race pace and passing are still allowed in this instance, caution and alertness is key.