AHDRA - PHOENIX
VANCIL OUT FRONT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE AFTER A WIN IN ARIZONA.
Just two rounds into the 2007
AHDRA series, and it's already clear this season's championship hunt could be
more competitive than ever in several of the categories. The Screamin' Eagle Arizona Bike Week
Nationals presented by Chandler Harley-Davidson and Arrowhead Harley-Davidson,
AHDRA's Western opener, was legitimate proof.
Screamin Eagle Nitro Harley
Rider of the Vance and Hines/Drag
Specialties Nitro Harley Doug Vancil took the Top Fuel point’s lead with a win
at round No. 2 of the AHDRA series on the first weekend of April.
Vancil is undoubtedly one of the most highly decorated dragbike racers
today. The steadfast Nitro Harley pilot has held numerous performance
records and earned a pair of championships in the defunct-IHRA Top Fuel Harley
class and the AHDRA championship in 2004.
Vancil recognizes the ultra-competitive climate in the category and candidly
expressed what it will take to earn the championship in 2007.
"We only won two races last year and it's going to take a lot more than
that to get the job done out here," Vancil said. "It all
comes down to consistency."
For 2007, with the help of Vance and Hines, Vancil developed a new
beefier 196 cubic inch motor. The power plant is 37 cubes larger than the
159 cubic inch motor he started 2006 with.
VANCIL OUT FRONT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE AFTER A WIN IN ARIZONA.
Just two rounds into the 2007
AHDRA series, and it's already clear this season's championship hunt could be
more competitive than ever in several of the categories. The Screamin' Eagle Arizona Bike Week
Nationals presented by Chandler Harley-Davidson and Arrowhead Harley-Davidson,
AHDRA's Western opener, was legitimate proof.
Screamin Eagle Nitro Harley
Rider of the Vance and Hines/Drag
Specialties Nitro Harley Doug Vancil took the Top Fuel point’s lead with a win
at round No. 2 of the AHDRA series on the first weekend of April.
Vancil is undoubtedly one of the most highly decorated dragbike racers
today. The steadfast Nitro Harley pilot has held numerous performance
records and earned a pair of championships in the defunct-IHRA Top Fuel Harley
class and the AHDRA championship in 2004.
Vancil recognizes the ultra-competitive climate in the category and candidly
expressed what it will take to earn the championship in 2007.
"We only won two races last year and it's going to take a lot more than
that to get the job done out here," Vancil said. "It all
comes down to consistency."
For 2007, with the help of Vance and Hines, Vancil developed a new
beefier 196 cubic inch motor. The power plant is 37 cubes larger than the
159 cubic inch motor he started 2006 with.
"Byron Hines helped me iron out a few of the problems we were having
with the extra displacement." Vancil said. "I'm excited about
its potential."
After being defeated in the second round of the 2007 AHDRA season opener in
early March, Vancil climbed back into championship contention with the victory
in Arizona. Surprisingly Vancil's new stronger engine wasn't a major factor in
the win.
"We just had to detune the heck out of the
motor because the track was marginal and we were hazing the tire at the eighth
mile," Vancil said. "We won but it wasn't pretty. The track was
terrible. It was like ice. We didn't run really well, but we ran well
enough to get the win."
In the final both Vancil and Larry "Drums" Brancaccio fishtailed
through what seemed to be a slick launch pad. Vancil fell behind but was
granted the win when Drums crossed the centerline.
"Right before the final they drug the track and then they sprayed
it," Vancil said. "It seemed like it was okay for some of the
other classes, but it just wasn't setup to handle Top Fuel. Both Drums and I
got out of shaped big time. I shut mine off. He stayed in it and
ended up taking out the cones."
Vancil says his quick decision to let out of the throttle early was a blessing
in disguise and helped him avoid a dangerous situation.
"I figured I wasn't going anywhere so I lifted and it was a good thing
because he came over into my lane and my bike kind of pulls to the left a
little," Vancil said.
Vancil is hoping Phoenix will represent just one of his many victories in
2007. But for now the former AHDRA champion is taking things the
proverbial "one race at a time."
"I'm excited about the upcoming St. Louis event. We always seem to
run well there," Vancil said. "We are going to go through the
engine, tranny, rear wheel, pretty much the entire bike before the race. We'll
be ready."
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
Jims Pro Fuel
2006 West Coast Pro Fuel champion
John Breckenridge was eager for a trip to the winner's circle after being
defeated by Jay Turner in the Gainesville final a month prior.
"I'm very happy. We're trying out a new motor and my crew chief Dean
caught on to the combination really quick," said Breckenridge, who's
career best is a 6.54. "We struggled a bit on Saturday but
had it figured out by Sunday."
Breckenridge defeated his rival Armon Furr in the semis with a rapid pass
of 6.69 to Furr's wounded 8.17. Just don't ask him how.
"It was a big win over Armon. He has really been our arch
nemesis," Breckenridge said. "I'd tell you what kind of tune-up
we had in it, but every time I ask my crew what they are doing to the bike they
tell me not to talk. I'm just the monkey that twists the throttle."
That set the stage for a rematch from the Gainesville final, only this time
it was Breckenridge who had the performance advantage and lane choice over
Turner.
"Having lane choice helped. We had a little edge on him because
he had been smoking the tire throughout the day," Breckenridge said.
"But I knew Jay would be tough. He's a great racer and I have a lot
of respect for him."
In a crowd pleasing side-by-side final Breckenridge held off Turner with a 6.67
to Turner's 6.77.
"It was a good neck and neck race," Breckenridge said.
Breckenridge thanked Bardahl Oil, Barnett Clutches, NGK, and Union Iron
Workers.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
S&S Pro Stock
Junior Pippin, 53, has won five championships in the last seven years, and
led the Pro Modified points chase for a full three consecutive seasons.
For 2007, due to the recent AHDRA class restructuring, Pippin now competes in
Pro Stock. However his dominance remains intact.
Pippin is a perfect two for two in 2007 after winning Gainesville and
Phoenix. At the outset of the Arizona Bike Week Nationals Pippin wasn't
sure if back-to-back event victories would even be possible.
"We had some serious problems
in testing on Friday, and we really didn't know what to expect for the
weekend," Pippin said. "The racing Gods smiled on Junior
and we made it."
Pippin qualified on the pole with an 8.09, and in the final he ran an 8.16
to defeat the 8.34 of Bruce Beltramini.
Pippin thanked Stone Mountain Harley Davidson, Lozano Brothers Porting,
Rats Hole Place, Dale Raudenbush, and his girlfriend, Lisa.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
Kresto Pro Drag
After winning a pair of races in 2006 - Sturgis and Woodburn, Will Simplot
garnered his first event victory of 2007 in Phoenix. However, Simplot
will remember this particular race as one of his most difficult victories yet.
"It was a really challenging weekend for us," Simplot said. "We
struggled with the bike. We kept dropping cylinders, the thing was running hot,
and we were having electrical problems."
Simplot qualified in the No. 2 spot of the seven-bike field with a run of 7.57
at 172 mph behind Gainesville runner-up Rick Moore, who took the pole with a
7.54 at 175 mph.
Simplot defeated Chris Kirby and Wink Eller to advance to the final to take on
Moore. Simplot collected the event victory in unusual fashion - by
disqualification when Moore lost fire in the burnout box and had to restart his
motorcycle in order to make the run, a violation of AHDRA rules.
Both bikes launched off the line and, at the moment, it appeared
Moore had captured his first victory of the season with a 7.56 to
Simplot's 7.77.
"When I got to the far end of the track I thought we had lost. I was
pretty dejected," Simplot said. "Then they gave us the news and we
had to run around like a chicken with our head cut off to get to the winner's
circle. It was pretty exciting."
Simplot thanked Competition Cycle and Edwards Greenhouse.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
Rush Performance Exhaust Pro Gas
And the winner is.....
How is it possible to have a sturdy 12-bike field of top-notch Pro Gas
competitors, which includes the likes of multi-time winners Mike Lozano and
David Feazell, and end up without a winner?
The answer in its simplest form is mechanical problems.
Drag racing, especially heads-up no break-out drag racing, has been
known to take quite a toll on the high performance components of a machine.
It's not uncommon for a competitor to lose a round after breaking a part.
Nearly anyone that has ever been to a race has witnessed what the safety crew
calls a "slow roller" - a racer coasting to the finish line after
some sort of malfunction on his or her machine.
Coincidentally for No. 1 qualifier Lozano, 7.32, and No. 2 qualifier
Feazell, 7.59, those mechanical gremlins surfaced during the same round - the
final nonetheless. Lozano was unable to make it to the staging lanes for
the run and Feazell, who seemingly had a free pass into the winner's circle,
broke before he had the chance to stage.
No winner was declared and both finalists were awarded runner-up points and
purse.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
Samson Pro Modified
Randy Borho won two races last
season. Over the winter, in accordance with new class rules, he switched from a
two carburetor set-up to a one carburetor set-up and has successfully been able
to keep his performance solid with little maintenance. The victory was the second
straight for Borho.
Borho qualified second in the nine-bike field with an 8.97, behind the 8.81 of
pole-sitter Greg Krenik. (Krenik’s 8.81
was good enough for a new record).
"My crew chief did a great job finding the right tune-up," Borho
said. "We've been slowly dialing it in."
Borho defeated Dana Conley in the opening round with a 9.03 and ran
an 8.86 during his quarterfinal bye run.
Borho points to his semifinal win over Krenik with an 8.87 to Krenik's 8.93 as
the most challenging race of the day.
"It was a real close race," Borho said. "Fortunately I was
able to motor past him."
Borho defeated Greg Kuypers in the final with an 8.97 to a 9.33.
Borho thanked Latus Motorsports.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
McCaa’s Enterprises Street Pro
With powerhouses like Andy Simon, who dominated Street Pro in 2006, and
defending Hot Street champ Bruce Croneberger in the Street Pro class, it's been
tough for guys like Zach Johnson. In Phoenix Johnson battled adversity to
earn his first trip to the winner's circle since Gainesville of 2006.
"It was pretty hectic,"
Johnson said. "We've got a new motor an we're trying to get the
clutch set-up. The track has been really inconsistent and that made it
even more difficult."
Johnson qualified second with a 9.19, behind the 8.86 of pole-sitter Andy
Simon.
"We rode through a few wheelies and my crew chief David Boss did a pretty
good job of setting the bike up," Johnson said.
"The clutch slipped a little first round but we were still able to
pull through," Johnson said. "It did the same thing in the
second round, but we finally got it figured out for the final."
In the finals Johnson had the daunting task of facing off against last
years Street Pro king pin, Simon. In one of the closest finals of the day
9.23 was enough to hold off Simon's 9.24.
Johnson thanked Barnett Clutches, PMFR, David Boss, Hals Speed Shop, Mac
Tools, and Rance Aluminum.
Screamin Eagle V-Rod Destroyer
L.E. Tonglet, V-Rod Destroyer winner from Gainesville, continued his
dominance and remarkable consistency in the category at the Arizona Bike Week
Nationals. Tonglet won the event and qualified on the pole with a 9.11,
more than two full tenths ahead of the No. 2 qualifier.
"It was a long trip out here," said Tonglet who lives in
Louisiana. "But having a great weekend like this makes it all worth
it."
"We qualified No. 1 and stayed in the 20s most of the day,"
Tonglet said. "It was all because of my dad and my crew. They
did a great job with the bike."
In the final Tonglet defeated No. 4 Gene Thomason with a 9.37 to Thomason's
9.47.
"It was my toughest race of the day," Tonglet said "I
got the hole shot on him a little but he came back strong. It was a good
final."
Screamin Eagle V-Rod
Screamin Eagle V-Rod No. 2 plate-holder means business when he says he's
winning his long awaited championship in 2007. Point leader Edmondson followed
up his win in Gainesville with another at the Arizona Bike Week Nationals.
Edmondson was pleased with his own performance throughout the weekend and is
firmly focused on his goal of winning an AHDRA title in 2007.
"The V-Rod ran great for me all weekend. In the final Terry
(Vaughan) and I left with identical reaction times and I wheelied a
little," Edmondson said. "We're still dialing in the new
Metzeler tire that we are running. I'm looking to win the No. 1 plate for
Eagle Harley- Davidson this year."
Edmondson thanked Eagle Harley-Davidson and Elvis, “The Clutch Man” and Dick
Fish.
Drag Masters Hot Street
Drag Masters Hot Street boasted a
solid 11-bike turnout in Phoenix, led by Gainesville runner-up Bruce
Croneberger's 10.26 in qualifying. Behind Croneberger was Copper Stubbs
at 10.30, Gainesville winner Charley Douglass at 10.48, Charles Cannon at
10.51, and Dan Norlin at 10.58.
Norlin upset Stubbs in the quarterfinals to earn a semifinal bye into the
final. In a rematch from the Gainesville final Croneberger defeated
Douglass in the semifinal with a 10.32, which granted him lane choice in the
final.
In the final Norlin ran his best pass of the weekend and Croneberger was again
bridesmaid as Norlin took the win with a 10.32 to Croneberger's 10.46.
"I adjusted my rear tire pressure down to 14 pounds and just gave it
everything I could out of the hole," Norlin said. "We were
pretty even at the eighth and then I just pulled away."
Norlin thanked Sun Harley-Davidson and Buell.
S&S 124 Challenge
Mike Roberts earned his first S&S 124 Challenge event win of the 2007
season, but it didn't go as smoothly as he had hoped.
"I'm glad we got the win but it was a terrible weekend," Roberts
said. "There were only four bikes in the class and two of them
broke. We almost did too. We tried to fire up the bike on Sunday morning
and found that it had no oil pressure."
Roberts qualified on the pole with a 9.81, ahead of his only challenger Grover
Inks, who ran a 10.29. Roberts says he knew he was going to have some
mechanical issues with the bike after qualifying.
"We had been having some serious oiling problems," Roberts
said. "Luckily we went all throughout the oil pump and found a
broken piece. The bike came around and made it through the day."
In the final Roberts defeated Inks convincingly with a 9.35 to Inks 10.34.
"I knew he was capable of some low ten-second runs and if I made a mistake
he would be right there," Roberts said. "I'm glad we were able to get
the win."
Roberts thanked Joes Hog Shop, Andy Simon, Charlie Cannon, and his crew.
Rucker Performance Super Gas (9.70)
Multi-class competitor James Surber had an exceptional
showing in Super Gas to earn his first national event victory in over five
years.
"It's incredible to have a win in the AHDRA," Surber said.
"It means a lot to me."
Surber, who also competes in Pro Stock, qualified his V-Rod Destroyer in
the No. 7 spot with a 9.75.
"Running two classes made the weekend pretty hectic," Surber
said. "We had some problems in Pro Stock that were making things
difficult. Thankfully, the Destroyer was making things easy for me in
Super Gas."
Surber's second run in qualifying was a 9.76. Surber ran 9.79. 9.81, and 9.82
en route to the final against Joe Colchico.
In the final Colchico was first off the line with a .029 to Surber's .092 but
Surber was closer to the index and took the win with a 9.83 to Colchico's 9.90.
Surber sent a special thanks to his sponsors and his wife.
S&S Super Sport (10.30)
Two-time AHDRA champion Julia Holliday took the pole position in Super
Sport with an impressive lap of 10.30 at 110 mph. She was followed
closely by a competitive field of over 25 riders.
On race day it was the consistency of No. 27 qualifier Roger Bickmore and No. 6
qualifier James Peattie that prevailed. Both advanced to the final with
Bickmore taking the win with a 10.32 to Peattie's 10.27.
Pingel Enterprise Super Eliminator (10.90)
In Pingel Enterprise Super Eliminator qualifying, three riders ran dead-on
10.90s. Gary Douglass took the pole with a 10.901, followed by Jeff
Farnum, 10.905, and Laura Miller, 10.906.
Of the 24 competitors entered in Super Eliminator, it was a pair of AHDRA
veterans that emerged.
Bill Rowe Jr. and Roberta Seaman had a great battle in the final.
Rowe Jr. was near perfect off the starting line and was able to hold off
Seaman's 10.93 with a run of 10.98.
The win was the first of Rowe's career.
"I was 0 for 5 in finals before this race. It feels great to finally
get the win," Rowe said. "The key was getting the bike to run
consistent in the heat of the day."
Rowe thanked Crossroads Harley-Davidson, Rowe's Cycle Shop, his wife, his boys,
and Tracy Kile.
Screamin Eagle Performance (11.50)
Qualifying in SEP was fierce. Just to break into the top ten a rider
would have to run 11.57 or better. Danny Harvey took the top spot with an
11.50, followed by Dan Norlin's 11.51, Roger Bickmore's 11.53, Randy Monte's
11.54, and Charlie Walker's 11.55.
In eliminations not one of the top five qualifiers was able to reach the
final. Instead it was Stan Sheppard and multi-time AHDRA champion Donnie
Huffman who survived the longest.
Sheppard, who qualified tenth, cut a solid .055 light and caught Huffman
sleeping with a .155. Sheppard's 11.51 was enough to force Huffman under
with an 11.47.
Syn 3 ET
At the conclusion of qualifying multi-class competitor and defending Super
Gas champion Bob Drapp locked up the Super Gas pole position and appeared to be
headed to yet another event victory. Sunday wasn't quite as
fortuitous for the 9.70 champ, who was upset early in the day. Drapp was
able to bounce back with a commanding win in Syn 3 ET instead.
"I went out early in Super Gas after qualifying No. 1," Drapp
said. "I was pretty disappointed. Winning ET was a nice way to
end the weekend."
In the final Drapp defeated Screamin' Eagle V-Rod winner Larry Edmondson with a
9.69 on a 9.68 dial-in to Drapp's 10.90 on a 10.82.
"The final round was the closest run of the day for me," Drapp
said. "We were pretty even at the finish line. Lucky for me he
ran under."
Drapp thanked his wife, Jordan Cruz and Donnie Huffman
Next up for AHDRA’s Screamin’ Eagle Championship Series is the Gypsy Rendezvous National’s at Gateway Int’l Raceway, St. Louis, MO.