AMA Flat Track Revs Up for Arizona Mile on May Day

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in the '80s and early-mid '90s AMA Flat Track was in it's prime with big money from sponsor Camel and a multitude of rider entries at all races as a result. Since the early '80s, when the Springfield Mile returned to the Grand National schedule with the Memorial Day weekend and the Labor Day weekend runnings, the IMDA has put on one of the best shows on the circuit at these events. Of all of the stops on the GN trail, Springfield is one that virtually sells out the house for every event. And the great thing is there isn't a bad seat in the house. This shot was taken over the Labor Day weekend running of the event in 1992, and shows some of the sport's best blasting off the start line in what was the Camel Dash for Cash event that ran at selected races in those days, and paid a good dividend to not only MAKE the race-six riders qualified for each Dash-but especially to win. Putting the hammer down and getting some serious air are Terry Poovey on the USC Racing Honda RS750 #18, 3-Time Grand National Champion Ricky Graham on another USC Racing Honda RS, Scott Parker on the #1 Harley factory XR750, Larry Pegram on the #72, Rich King on the #80 Honda RS750, and Chris Carr on the #20 Kenny Tolbert-tuned H-D factory XR. Between the late Ricky Graham, Chris Carr and the winningest rider in GN history, Scotty Parker, they owned the history books with a total of 19 championships amongst them. Parker won nine of those championships himself on Bill Werner-tuned equipment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is what it looks like when an 18-rider mile event field of contestants blasts through turns 1 and 2 on a mile track. This was the Labor Day running of the Springfield Mile in 2001 that features #4 Chris Carr, #69 Nicky Hayden and #23 Kevin Atherton among others. Other then the fact that you HAVE to buy a ticket to get into the event, you hardly ever use the seat itself that comes with it as the action in fast, furious and festive. Mile races typically come down to a pack of 4-8 riders +/- that can be all but covered in a blanket they run so close together. Speeds on the mile come close to 140mph on the straights, and the single lap and race records for a Grand National bike are over 100mph average at Springfield. If you haven't ever seen a mile dirt track race in person, you owe it to yourself to do so. It's the best show on wheels!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heat race action at Springfield over Labor Day weekend in 2004 shows XR-mounted riders Joe Kopp #3 (and 2000 Grand National Champion), Kevin Atherton on the #23 and Terry Poovey on the #18 just beating them out at the finish after 10 laps.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Circus heads to Prescott Valley, AZ. this weekend for the inaugaral running of the Yavapai Downs Mile. After hosting Jake Johnson and the AMA Flat Track team for a track test several weeks ago, the series looks and hopes to strengthen it's west coast schedule of events with this stop on the tour. The series will also return in October to close out the season.
Also announced this month were the loss of Castle Rock and Lexington due to schedule and promoter conflicts. Here is the revised schedule of events for the year and the story from the super people over at CycleNews.com:
http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2010/04/20/two-dirt-tracks-off-schedule
With Daytona in the record books, it's now time to roll out the big bikes and get down to some serious high-speed action and get the season rolling along. Here is the day's schedule at Prescott Valley from the AMA as well as the link to the track itself and the link to the local weather as well:
http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/event.cfm?eid=2010021010
http://www.yavapaidownsatpv.com/ama.html
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=prescott+valley%2C+az&searchType=WEATHER
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's hoping the weather holds out and that the action is fast and safe for the weekend. We here at Stu's Shots wish all the best for the AMA and all the riders and we'll be watching from afar as the action gets underway on Saturday.
Let's go racing flat track mile-style!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------