2006 SCREAMIN EAGLE PERFORMANCE PARTS BIKE WEEK NATIONALS PRESENTED BY GAINESVILLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON

MARCH 4TH -5TH  GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

Sunday, March 5^th

7:00pm

Mike Romine finishes with quickest pass of the weekend (6.36) against a determined Bill Furr..records were set in several classes…and more.

Check out the results on the ladder pages here on ahdra.com.

Thanks for joining us and following the results. We will be back with you in Phoenix, AZ in April.

 More from the semis- Tom Bradford had problems in the box and backed the bike out- giving Chip Ellis a solo run to advance on what was expected to be a super match up. Ellis got close to the current record mark with a 7.068 E.T. and bettered the current record with an 189.27mph pass.

Matt Smith was in the record zone again with a 7.067 at 189.95mph.

We will be back to check in at the start to today’s final rounds. More to come.

4:30pm

The semis are underway for all classes.

Top Fuel

The Romine brothers came out paired together, and Mike held on for his spot in the final with a 6.42 at 217.28mph over Jack’s 6.55 at 214.79mph.

Bill Furr is going to the final!!! He just nailed a 6.46, his best of the day against a 6.55 from Doug Vancil. I’ll have to do a history check, to see how long it has been since Furr competed in a AHDRA final, but no matter how long, it is a time of celebration for the team as they have bravely made a comeback from his 2004 accident.

Stay tuned later for the Furr-Romine final later today!!!

The Nitro Outlaw class is on the track now, and we are going back to the ladder pages to update the numbers.

3:42pm

Round Two is underway with Top Fuel and Mike Romine opened it up with a 6.43 blast at 219.03mph over a 7.384 at 134.85 from Tracy Kile.

Jack Romine soared with 6.497 at 216.19mph over Jay Turner, who smoked the tire but scored a 6.856 at 193.25mph

Bill Furr is on the move to the semis after he beat Larry Stanley with a 6.615 pass.

Doug Vancil tailored Tommy Grimes in a nice race with Vancil getting to the stripe first with a 6.563 at 217.65mph over the 6.606 at 194.43mph.

More to come during 2^nd round. Please note the run order for Round 2.

TF, Outlaw, PM, SG, VR,SS,SE,HS,SEP,VRD,ET.

(The run order varies to get everyone to the finals together).

More to come.

G2 Street Pro

Zach Johnson gets a bye run when his opponent Robbie Closson shuts off with leaking fluid.

Michael Ray pulled to the line but had to back it out with problems and Jeff King advanced on a bye run as a result.

King and Johnson will square off in the final later today.

Zach has secured his spot in the final, but his Dad -Kendall Johnson has to get through the remaining field of SS124 bikes to join him in a final round. Johnson (Kendall) advanced in his opening round over Lou Gerencer and he will face the champ – Michael Ray in the next round.

In Kresto Pro Drag the #1 qualifier Rick Casas upset Greg Byrnes after Byrnes smoked the tire off the line.

Billy Leonard gave Willie Herschberger a great run but wasn’t able to catch him as Herschberger advanced with a 7.79 at 161.34mph. He will face Chuck Jones in the 2^nd round. Jones got by Curly Jim Fontaine when Fontaine had to shut if off early.

Mark Blackmer advanced over Mike Nicholson of Statesville, NC.

In Samson Pro Modified, Junior Pippin sailed by in his opening round with a 8.15 at 151.92mph over a red light from Lauren Long.

More from the Matt Smith team..he’s busting the numbers in Pro Mod just as he is in Pro Gas! Smith made a record pass at 8.06 and has three rounds left to back it up.

More to come.

 In the S & S Pro Gas competition (that intercepted a shy field of Pro Stockers as well) Tom Bradford and the Hal’s Speed Shop Team soared down the track with a 7.074 at 188.71mph. He’s knocking on the door of an E.T. record (current record- 7.065) and has passed the MPH record number of 188.40mph.

Bradford advanced over Rick Moore and he will meet his fellow NHRA competitor- Chip Ellis in the next round.

Ellis got by easily in the first round when his opponent, Kevin Cadby drew the red light foul. Dale Raudenbush cruised to an easy win light after Fred Collis left early.

Raudenbush will face Matt Smith in the next round- Smith is on the heels of Bradford with the record numbers with his 7.075 in his lead lap of the day.

Exciting rounds are ahead as this one progresses through the day.

JIMS Pro Fuel opening elimination round- The champ Chris Streeter was upset by newcomer to the category- John Breckenridge. Streeter had problems shortly after take off and Breckenridge rode by him with a 7.16 at 188.48mph.

Streeter struggled in qualifying yesterday as well and wasn’t in the show until his final pass of the day. Breckenridge will be back in round two to face the #1 qualifier, Steve Simmons.

Simmons got the bye run in the 1^st round and shut off early.

Jay Turner got by a troubled ride from Russ Hildebrand. Turner’s 6.69 at 206mph will pair him Armon Furr in the next round. Armon received a free round after his opponent; Pat Caffrey was a no show.

Stay tuned for more numbers shortly.

We are fired up at 1pm here at Gainesville Raceway with a record turnout.  The hearty crowd saw Tracy Kile and Doc Hopkins lead off the round and it was Kile taking the win light with a slower number, but good enough at 7.016 at 202.74mph.

Next up it was Jay Turner and Tak Shigematsu and Turner went by with a “off his mark” number at 7.710 as Shigematsu smoked the tire.

Jack Romine and Griz Robinson were the first pair to light the boards with six-second numbers.  Romine landed a 6.573 at 212.76mph but barely got by Griz Robinson’s 6.705 at 203.85mph in a side-by-side race.

Bill Furr is getting his form back nicely at the season opener.  He started his day paired with Joe Timmons and got by him with an old time Furr performance at 6.59- 204.40mph.

Doug Vancil and Mike Ferris paired up and after Ferris smoked the tire, Vancil slid right by easily with a 6.53 at 195.60mph.

Tommy Grimes who is looking to back up a mph record pass of 222.16mph he landed yesterday came out with a 6.54 at 217.12mph to advance over Dean Comunal.

And the finale of the first round was capped off by the fastest of the session from the Champ-Mike Romine.  A 6.44 at 216.91mph beat a good run from Mike Lehman at 6.54-215.93mph.

The numbers from the Top Fuel opening round are being entered on the ladder pages now..back with Pro Fuel notes shortly.

Elimination Day is underway with early sportsman rounds to narrow many of the huge fields here at the Screamin’ Eagle Bike Week Nationals.  The skies are sunny and the temps are warming quickly after a cold morning.  At 10am the track temp dialed in at 83 and the forecast for today’s temps outside are high 70’s.

Plenty of action ahead and we will carry the ladders for you right here on the Live Update page.  There were at least a few records set here yesterday, we may have overlooked reporting a few here on the updates, but once we get official confirmation (tech inspections, etc), we will pass along to you.   I do know the MPH record is up for grabs today in Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod competition.  Lou Gerencer currently has enough to take it home with a 143.58 final round pass and backed up by his 142.36 in his first round, but David Stewart of Mooresville, NC came out with a 144.30mph pass in yesterday’s final session and he could take the record home if he is able to back it up during today’s show.

It is 12noon and we are still narrowing the sportsman fields.  Looks like we will be a little late kicking off the show today, so stay tuned, we will bring you the results when we fire em’ up.

Saturday, March 4th

11:08pm-  Final pair and qualifying is complete.  The numbers are posted and we are out of here for the night.  Good night.

8:30pm- Still going and going and going.  We are just beginning the final round of sportsman classes with the ET bikes out first.  We will do our best to get all the numbers to you as fast as or very tired hands can type.

6:15pm-  The Pro qualifying rounds are now complete and we are now underway with all Sportsman for TWO more rounds.  If you are not seeing results for 2nd round- it’s not that we are not posting them..they haven’t run yet!  So relax harsh messengers..I can’t post what hasn’t happened.

Here’s a few notes from the completed Pro rounds.

In Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel, Mike Romine debuts in firm championship form.  Romine was faster each round holding the top spot all three rounds and he finished with his best of the day- 6.404 at 217.75mph. 

With the air getting sweeter, five of the top spots in today’s final order were determined by 40-zone numbers. Tommy Grimes and the Samson/Ray Price team best of the day was a 6.512 for the #6 spot, but he grabbed the top speed of the day with a 222.16mph lap- better than the record at 221.56 set by Mike Romine at this track last year.  Grimes will have to answer the 222.16 with a back-up number during tomorrow’s eliminations.

In JIMS Pro Fuel, reigning champion, Chris Streeter got in the field on his last chance pass.  Is 7.780 at 178.42mph was good enough for the #5 spot.  Steve Simmons is the lead qualifier with his 6.836 at 193.84mph just ahead of Jay Turner’s 6.923 at 208.86mph for the #2 spot.

From the Pro Stock-Pro Gas news- With a shy Pro Stock turnout, the entries were combined with the Pro Gas class.  Riders are competing for the larger-Pro Stock purse, but the points will be awarded in the Pro Gas category.

Remember Matt Smith we mentioned broke a Pro Mod mph record earlier?  He now sits ready to back up a Pro Gas E.T. record in tomorrow’s eliminations.  Smith finished the day with a 7.068 barely off the 7.065 current record held by Ryan Schnitz and set here last year.

Also happening in S & S Pro Gas racing, Chip Ellis is here on the newly teamed- Drag Specialties-G-Squared bike.  His best of the day was a 7.087 at 187.03mph for the #2 spot.

Former AHDRA Champ- Tom Bradford is also here riding his Thunder Eagle team bike and riding for Hal’s Speed Shop.  Bradford is sitting in the 3rd spot with a 7.217 at 184.61mph.

In a surprising turn of events in Pro Gas, reigning champion, Mike Lozano did not make the field, with his best number a troubled 11.452.  Reports indicate he’s on a brand new bike, and obviously still making necessary adjustments.

AHDRA Nitro Party King, Greg Byrnes opened the season with the #1 spot in Kresto Pro Drag qualifying with a 7.469 best.  Pro Rookie of the year, Willie Herschberger followed in the #2 spot with a 7.516.

In G2 Street Pro, #2 plate holder, Zach Johnson clocked an 8.854 in the 2nd session of qualifying- good enough to take the top spot for tomorrow’s eliminations.  Missing from this weekend’s action is the champion, Travis Lummus.   No doubt he will return to the competition soon.

It is now 7:00pm and the sportsman are winding down 2nd session- yes another session to go.  I’ll return to punching the numbers now and will return to close the night later.

5:33pm Track temp-96

Pro Qualifying final session still underway at Gainesville Raceway and there is still two full rounds of Sportsman qualifying yet to come.

Pro qualifying notes: 

Matt Smith son of Pro Stock car driver “Tricky Ricky” a newcomer to the class has  busted the MPH marks in Samson Pro Modified with a 161.29mph final round pass that backed up his earlier 162.24 lap that now takes the record that was held by Doug Ainsworth at 162.22mph.

Top Fuel is on deck now, and Bob Malloy on the H-D of Seaford ride received a round of cheers from his fellow racers as he sailed through the traps with a 6.44 moving him currently to the #2 spot with several pairs left in the round.

More racing news to come after the round.

3:47pm: I’ve grabbed another moment to update you on the qualifying run order.  We have completed round 2 of ET and V-Rod Destroyers are in the lanes for their round 2 session.

Following the Destroyers, we will head right back to Pro qualifying for the final session.

The sportsman classes will resume with SEP qualifying round two and all the remaining sportsman classes following the final lap of Top Fuel today.

We are approaching the 400 mark on bike entries, causing the need to adjust the run order a bit and keeping us hopping up here in the tower.  It’s either chat here or type in the numbers and I bet most are looking for the numbers..so I’m headed back to the result pages.  Stay tuned for more later.

I’ve spotted NHRA Pro Stock #2 plate holder G.T. Tonglet taking on a crew role today.

He’s on the starting line with his Dad along side a V-Rod Destroyer.  Not sure who the rider is with the Tonglet crew in tow.  I’ll check it out and report back later.  Ron Hutchinson, Anne Paluso and a large contingent from Harley-Davidson are also here taking in the exciting debut of the factory drag bike.

**Note on the Round 2 Top Fuel round.  Griz Robinson took out a timing device in front of Tak Shigematsu, therefore Shigematsu will get a chance to repeat the run later.  Shigematsu is currently in the 16th spot, and would definitely like a better position heading into today’s final round.

2:45pm

Qualifying session #2 is underway with another around of the Pros.  We are punching in the numbers for you in the tower and will check back here with the progress of the schedule and any breaking news.  The Sportsman classes will begin round two laps following the Pros.

Qualifying Update-12:44pm  Track Temp 105.

We are underway with Top Fuel qualifying, but currently on hold for an oil down.

Things are busy as ever getting through this opening round, so we are limited on time for this commentary page- but the numbers are coming on the result pages as quickly as we are able to get them entered.

We interrupted sportsman qualifying to begin the Pros, so if you are looking for round one numbers in your favorite sportsman class, stay tuned and we will get them to you shortly.  We will resume where we left off in the sportsman categories following this Top Fuel round. 

10:25am Track temperature is now 85 and outside temp is 60 with cool light wind and plenty of sunshine.

The 20’s are here for the Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer.  Gene Thomason of Culver City, CA leads the field after one round with a 9.284 at 140.58mph.  Thomason was the guest instructor of the Harley-Davidson hosted Destroyer school on Thursday and he has obviously done his homework.  Chuck Kennedy turned in the next best with a 9.316. Check out all the numbers on the qualifying result pages.

Sportsman qualifying continues and we will have more results coming at you shortly.

Qualifying day leads off with a triumph return to racing for Maura Hall as she officially opened the season by making the first pass of the weekend.

The E.T. class is in the lanes..in big numbers.  The Destroyers take the track next and we will report the numbers to you following the round. At 9am the track temp registers 70 degrees.  Stay tuned for more from a sunny day at Gainesville Raceway.

AHDRA Pre-Race Highlights

AHDRA rolled in the gates at Gainesville Raceway this morning with over 300 racers and still counting at close of tech tonight.

Highlight Notes:

Over 100 participants forked over a “pricey” Gainesville Raceway test and tune fee of $100 for practice time. The weather was a sunny and pleasant 80 degrees with a forecast of upper 70’s for the weekend.

Fastest time from the fuelers was a 6.59 from Jack Romine while his brother, and reigning champ, Mike clocked a 6.62 best.

And the Destroyers are here!  Last count- over 30 teched in for tomorrows show with room for only 32 in Sunday’s show.

Harley-Davidson hosted a Destroyer race school on Thursday that was attended by 28 of the entrees.  Word is that is was very well received and with Harley-Davidson and Vance and Hines techs on hand, it was the place to be for all your questions on the bike. (NHRA Pro Stock bike icons, Andrew Hines and GT Tonglet spectated during the session).  Discussions are underway on a “west coast” class at Phoenix and once we receive word, we will pass along.  Best time so far from the Destroyer here in Gainesville- 9.33.

Lori Frances, known for her Pro Stock riding days has teched in for the Pro Stock class here in Gainesville.  During today’s test session, she took a spill at the 60ft mark, and stood up in time to watch her bike coast straight as a string down the track before coming to a still upright stop.

Neither rider or bike was hurt.

Zach Johnson edged barely ahead of the mph record in a Street Pro practice run today with a 9.03 at 153.89mph.

Comeback of the Year:  Maura Hall is here!  As many of you know, she began her journey of recovery from a bout with cancer severalmonths ago.  After 7 weeks of extensive treatments, she battled the odds of making here for the season opener, and she has done it.  It didn’t happen with ease as she encountered motor home problems along the way, but took it all in stride as she shared some of her thoughts with me this afternoon.  Although running on limited energy, she brought her usual smile with her and plenty of desire to compete and be with her racing family.  Maura will lead off our season opener tomorrow with the first pass of the 2006 season at 9:00am to celebrate her road to recovery.

And finally..from the “Don’t try this at home” news.  A motorcycle water ballet of sorts occurred when a “new” rider returning to his pit on a “new” bike and still learning the throttle as he passed by a fence.  The rider came off and tangled with the fence a bit (uninjured) as his bike slid under the fence and into the shallow pond.  With several racers and the safety safari, minus their waders, the bike was recovered and cranked right back up and rode under power back to the pits.  “There’s one in the water” doesn’t necessarily mean water-box here in Gainesville!

We are closed down for the night and will be back tomorrow with all the action from a jammed packed qualifying (16 classes) session.

Stay tuned right here for the results from the Screamin’ Eagle Bike Week Nationals presented by Gainesville Harley-Davidson.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Saturday, March 4th

Gates open- 7am

Opening round Sportsman Qualifying- 9am

Opening round Pro Qualifying- 11am

Sunday, March 5th

Gates open- 8am

Sportsman Eliminations (as need to reach 16-bike fields)- 9:30am

Opening ceremonies- 12:15pm

Opening round Pro Eliminations- 12:30pm