Getting back to Arizona Bike Week, the Biker's Discount Supply rally was at the Speedworld Motorplex in Whittman, Arizona. It went on Saturday, February 7th. American Eagle/Pure Steel and Custom Cycle sponsored the AHDRA Nationals at that same location. Saturday was fine for qualifying, but they were rained out the following day for eliminations. Boy, there were some pissed-off racers, and who can blame them? Many of them had to come a far place to be there and test themselves and their machines. The rain-out made them mad. I saw Kris and Arley Becker and Helen Wolfe supporting her ol' man Postman; these folks all come from Washington state. They wanted to pound that pavement. As for myself, all Harley drag racing is like sex, I can't get enough of that wonderful stuff and I'm sure I'm not alone.
What a difference a year makes; last year it was hotter than a two-dollar pistol all week. This year it really wasn't that cold, but the drag races couldn't continue because of the weather. This 1/4-mile drag strip is located west of Phoenix near Jomax and Grand Ave. It was to have been the first drag race under the new AHDRA ownership, whom I wrote about in last month's issue of Rip's Run. This was also the first drag race under the official Arizona Bike Week banner, since they didn't have one last year. Incidentally, each drag racer was paid off, they didn't have to eat it; I thought that was admirable of American Eagle/Pure Steel, the principal sponsors of this AHDRA national.
The way it came down Doug Vancil from Albuquerque won T/F with a 7.21 e.t. at 192.83 mph. Chicago Joe won P/F; he's from Richmond, California, and he did a 8.38 e.t. at 160.41 mph. Chicago Joe also came in fifth in T/F, he has two rides. Bucky Varrone from Colorado Springs, Colo. took Pro Dragster honors home with an 8.10 e.t. and 162.59 mph. Both Bucky's e.t. and mph runs were faster and quicker than the class above. He was flying low to the ground. In Pro Stock it was all Dave Feazell from Hudson, Iowa. This corn husker showed his championship form with a 8.60 e.t. and a 151.28 mph run in the Modified ranks. Larry Cook from West Linn, Oregon, kicked ass doing a 9.47 e.t. and a 137.14 mph. All the above racers had best e.t. and also mph in their particular class as Keith Burley from El Cajon, California, did a 10.71 and 137.14 mph. Tom Roach, the Palm Springs Harley-Davidson dealer, showed the street class racers the way home, capturing the top e.t. in the street class with a 10.10.
Francois Schetelat was there and he put on his usual patented stunt-riding show. I wrote about him in Rip's Run issue #299. He's one hell of a fine rider, the best I've seen yet.
Text & Pictures From RIP's RUN 8-98
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