Logan Holley Photo: Jason Barr
Steve Bowman Photo: Jason Barr Vintage race start Photo: Becky Schreckengost
but the damage had already been done. A small portion of grass track had turned into a fifty-foot-wide quagmire akin to a scene from Blackwater highlights from days past. A large uphill near the starting area was the site of several lap one bottlenecks as even the alternate lines turned into rutted slop. Low lying areas regressed into single lane footpeg depth ruts filled with water and ever further exposed roots. As the footpegs grew higher from the ground in later races, the ruts got deeper. Tight single track often became a slot car track. Not to belabor the conditions as there is little you can do to control nature, but there is no doubt that success on this day was as much about survival as it was speed. As is habit for the Mid-Atlantic’s great group of participants, everyone made the best of the hand dealt, and more than one instance of altruism was noted on the course as hands were lent to extricate fellow competitors from undesirable situations. Challenging? Sure, but still a great way to spend your Sunday. Race One (Vintage) Fifty riders lined up to take on the first race of 2021, and it took little time for Brian Grove to demonstrate that he intends to be the man to beat in the inaugural AA class season. Although Josh Zerance, also running in AA, kept Brian honest by keeping him in sight throughout the race, Brian’s Husqvarna would eventually open a one-minute lead on the Can-Am of Zerance to take the overall win. Lee Hickok rounded out the podium while also taking the Vintage 200 Expert class win. Josh Horvath put in a strong ride on 46
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his Yamaha to take seventh overall, top intermediate, and the Vintage 200 class win over the Hodaka of Grant Reichart and first-time Mid-Atlantic competitor Sylas Merrell. Merrell held the lead early on before sliding to a respectable third place. As if the conditions were not challenging enough, several brave and talented competitors soldiered through the muck on diminutive 100cc class machines. The top three in the Vintage 100 Intermediate class were all running remarkably similar, and consistent, lap times with the Yamaha MX100 of Craig Lowery ultimately coming out on top of the dueling Hodakas of Scott Danner and Paul Thomas. Even more impressive was the top-ten overall performance by the ultimate 100cc warrior, Kyle Warner, winner of the Vintage 100 Expert class. James Breitegan would jump to the early lead in Vintage 60+ Intermediate action, but series veteran Glenn Hershey would continually chip away at the lead until putting his Can-Am in front for good on lap two. Mick Spisak (Husqvarna), Dave McIntyre (Honda), and Fred Walker (Yamaha) would make up the top five. Race Two (Post Vintage) Although starting from row two, Post Vintage 200 Expert class winner Lee Hickok would take out the best the AA class,
AMERICAN HISTORIC RACING MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
MAY 2021
