Yesterday Once More

D Jameson | Jul 23, 2011 | Comments 0

Fifth Annual Antique Motorcycle Races
and Ohio Speedway Long Track at the Wauseon National
Classic Flat Track National Championship Series
Round 3: Fulton County Fairgrounds

Story and Photos by Kurt Bauer
WAUSEON, OH, JULY 15, 2011

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America hosted the 29th annual Antique Motorcycle National Meet, starting off on Friday night, July 15, with flat-track racing on the Half Mile. Former Ice Racing World Champion Scotty Brown and the Bike Days Motorcycle Club put on an exciting and smooth event.

The Board Track racers take to the Fulton County Fairgrounds course for the fifth annual Antique Motorcycle Races and Ohio Speedway Long Track at the Wauseon National.

Eleven classes of bikes were on the program, from the Board Track racers of the nineteen-tens, along with Hand-Shift, Vintage Pro 1970s Singles up to the methanol-burning, brakeless Speedway Bikes. Festivities for the weekend included a bike parade for the antique bikes, a silent auction fundraiser for Community Health Professionals, live music, and a swap meet.

The Grandstands were packed as the racing got under way. The weather was great, as the heat wave had let up in the Midwest, and that made for some great racing on the Half Mile.

Carl Estes leads the Board Trackers aboard his B52 “Bottle Rocket” Harley.

The Board Track racers had 13 bikes entered, and what a sight it was to see them roaring down the back stretch handlebar to handlebar! Carl Estes, aboard his B52 “Bottle Rocket” Harley, bombed around the track, leading the way with a big margin, while Matt Walksler tried to keep him in sight. All 13 riders enjoyed the racing; they didn’t really care where they finished – just being able to ride these bikes put smiles on their faces. On his 1919 Indian, Kris Thompson was smiling every lap en route to finishing in eighth place.

Kris Thompson (58) came in eighth in the Board Track event, but he was smiling all the way!

Danny Vrana, sporting some www.bikedays.com leathers, won the Brakeless Foot-Shift 500 OHV to 750 SV (through 1967) class. He had his Harley hauling! Merlyn Wertz and Andy McRoberts finished out the podium.

The Brakeless Foot-Shift 500 OHV to 750 SV (through 1967) winner was Danny Vrana (4/88).

George Roeder II was in a class of his own as he won the Hand-Shift (1936 to 1951) class. At the start of the heat race, Larry Barnes, with his pristine-looking Indian, thought he would get a better start in second gear but instead found neutral and took a while to get refired before rejoining the field on the second lap.

Larry Barnes’ (4L) Indian may have looked pristine, but he encountered problems in the Hand-Shift (1936 to 1951) heat race.

Roeder dominated the main event, passing a lot of bikes up high on the smooth Half Mile as he lapped them.

George Roeder II (66) dominated the Hand-Shift (1936 to 1951) main event.

The Pro 1980s Singles (through 1989) racers put on a great show, with 12 riders battling in the main event. Thomas Englehart got the win, ahead of Jim Bolenbaugh. Troy Johnson narrowly beat out Ron Williams for the final podium spot.

Troy Johnson 1 battles Ron Williams 31 for the last step of the podium in the Pro 1980s Singles (through 1989) class.

The Ohio Long Track Speedway Division main event would see Chad Rall going up against Dan Weicht. Earlier, in the heat race, it was Rall, ahead of Weicht. As they lined up to the gate for the main, Weicht was hoping to get a superb start to have a chance at beating Rall. Joining Rall and Weicht on the inside for the start were Stephen Brinker and Michael Callen, with Rall outside of Weicht.

(Left to right) Chad Rall, Dan Weicht, Stephen Brinker and Michael Callen shoot off the start of the Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship A main event.

Dan Weicht (1) gets the initial jump on Stephen Brinker (foreground) and Chad Rall (behind Weicht).

At the start, it was Weicht, just barely ahead of Rall and Brinker, but it didn’t take Rall long to get by Weicht. Rall then led all four laps en route to the win, but Weicht (who is probably half Rall’s age) kept the leader honest, but he couldn’t get close enough to make a pass. Brinker came home in third. Callen was fourth.

Chad Rall was the winner of the Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship A main.

Dan Weicht (1) was runner-up in the A main event.

Chris Hathaway won the B main event, ahead of 73-year-old “Ohio Long Track Legend” Ronnie Rall.

Chris Hathaway (82) took the checkered flag in the Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship B main event.

Ohio Long Track legend Ronnie Rall (52) was runner-up in the B main.

If you are into some good flat-track racing and vintage bikes, be sure to check out www.bikedays for more information on the races at Canton and Wauseon.

Fulton County Fairgrounds
Wauseon, Ohio
Results: July 15, 2011 (Round 3)

OHIO SPEEDWAY LONG TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP A MAIN: 1. Chad Rall; 2. Daniel Weicht; 3. Stephen Brinker; 4. Michael Callen.

OHIO SPEEDWAY LONG TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP B MAIN: 1. Chris Hathaway; 2. Ronnie Hall; 3. Michael De Champlin; 4. Tom Keene.

BOARD TRACK (1910-1928): 1. Carl Estes; 2. Matt Walksler; 3. John Rhodes; 4. Michael Lange; 5. Mikeal Longoria.

LIGHTWEIGHT (1948-1966): 1. Larry Gillespie; 2. Barry Baker; 3. Tom Rambow; 4. Kenny Thomas; 5. Wayne Albertson.

BRAKELESS FOOT-SHIFT 250cc (0-1967): 1. Carl Forkey; 2. John Bova; 3. Thomas Cole; 4. Doug Young; 5. Ron Kretz.

BRAKELESS FOOT-SHIFT 500 OHV-750 SV (0-1967): 1. Danny Vrana; 2. Merlyn Wertz; 3. Andy McRoberts; 4. Gene Atherton; 5. Paul Bailey.

Classic Flat Track Series

VINTAGE 250/360cc (0-1981): 1. Jordan Baber; 2. John Tejzhma; 3. Andy McRoberts; 4. Rich Long; 5. David Greider.

VINTAGE OPEN AM (0-1980): 1. Aaron Long; 2. Eric Kolenda; 3. Joe Baker; 4. Jordan Baber; 5. Tedd Smith.

HAND-SHIFT (1936-1951): 1. George Roeder II; 2. Gerald Chism; 3. Matt Weaver; 4. Dennis Clark; 5. Brent Johnson.

PRO 1970s SINGLES/VINTAGE PRO 1970s SINGLES (0-1980): 1. Thomas Englehart; 2. Nathan Wilson; 3. Troy Johnson; 4. Lonnie Vanderpool; 5. Johnny Isaacs.

PRO 1980s SINGLES/VINTAGE PRO 1980s SINGLES (0-1989): 1. Thomas Englehart; 2. Jim Bolenbaugh; 3. Troy Johnson; 4. Ron Williams; 5. Steve Kasten.

PRO TWINS/VINTAGE PRO TWINS (0-1983): 1. Jack Warren; 2. Steve Kasten; 3. Eric Kolenda; 4. Merlyn Wertz; 5. Tony Giorno.