The Springnationals
The Springnationals
Drag Racing:
Barker’s Harley-Davidson Grabs Top Fuel Goodies
BOB EBELING
HARLEY-DAVIDSON, Triumph, and Yamaha machinery battled for Top Fuel and Top Gas honors at the AHRA’s three-day Springnationals meet at Bristol, Tenn. Bob Barker, of Columbus, Ohio, hit the No. 1 spot of the four qualifiers in Top Fuel. His 74-cu. in. H-D Sportster set 10.14 sec. at 150 mph. AHRA record holder Larry Nance qualified in the No. 2 slot on his 275-lb., magnesium framed H-D. A sticky blend of humidity and high temperatures raised his best attempt to 10.15 sec., well above his record of 9.66 sec. and 155 mph. Conditions also affected other contestants, and during the entire meet no one could shatter the 10-sec. barrier.
Third best Top Fuel qualifier was the lone Triumph rider in the class. Sonny Routt. Sonny’s bike was, naturally, equipped with a set of his special Webcor barrels, raising displacement of the single-engined machine to 48 cu. in. (786 cc). His best qualifying figures were 10.28 sec. and 138 mph. Danny Johnson completed the field, recording 10.68 sec. on his H-D.
However, the clutch on Johnson’s bike burned out the day before final eliminations, and he was forced to quit the contest. A flip of coins decided which of the three remaining riders would take the bye. Fastest qualifier Barker was the lucky man to show the odd coin.
Routt’s Triumph and Nance’s H-D lined up for the first round-and Nance needed only 10.20 sec. to put the Triumph on the sidelines. Then H-D faced H-D. But as the Christmas tree began the countdown toward the green lights that would send the men and machines headlong into battle, Nance jumped the start and drew a red light-disqualified! That gave an automatic win to Barker, who completed the quarter mile in 10.31 sec. at 144 mph. Nance shut down rather than needlessly strain his engine.
Barker received a total of $325 cash for his win-$125 from the strip management, $100 from Champion spark plugs, $75 from STP, and $25 from CYCLE WORLD magazine. His merchandise awards were a Bonanza minibike, a set of ABC leathers, a Safetech helmet, and Chain Klean and Chain Lube from Petrochem.
Sonny Routt’s twin-engined Triumph dragster was best of a limited field of only two Top Gas machines. Routt, already busy piloting his single-engined fueler, chose Larry Welch, of Bladensburg, Md., to complete the riding chores on the gasser. The choice was wise/ for during qualifications Welch set a class speed record of 134 mph.
Competition for the Routt 1500-cc Triumph came in the form of a 350-cc Yamaha, fighting in vain against its disadvantage in piston displacement. The Yamaha was given a 2-sec. start at the lights, and Welch waited another half second to ensure he did not draw a red light. Even so, he gobbled up the distance between the bikes, recording 10.79 sec. and 133.33 mph. His cash awards, donated by the strip management, STP, and CYCLE WORLD, totaled $180.
All class winning bikes disputed the Competition Eliminator division. Racing was on a handicap basis, fixed in accordance with each rider’s best e.t. during the three days. C.D. Candler, of Knoxville, Tenn., surprised even himself by winning the division in his drag racing debut! The handicaps gave equal chances to machines from 100 to 1200 cc, but Candler’s consistent performances led him, and his 750-cc Norton, to the final.
He faced H-D rider Buddy Boggs of Alexander, Va. Once again, a red light decided the contest, as Boggs beat the tree to the “Go.” While Candler took the win, $200 cash, and several merchandise awards, Boggs was left with the runner-up position, and the honor of setting the highest terminal speed of all the stock and modified machines. His 72-cu. in. (1190-cc) machine crossed the finish Une at 101.80 mph.
Seven of the contestants set a total of 11 e.t. and terminal speed records. Three of the record-breaking bikes were Yamahas-Earl Harrington’s 350-cc gas dragster, Bob Luther’s 350-cc modified machine, and Jim Cullor’s little 100. Another impressive record in the modified classes was the 114.64 mph of Larry Campbell’s Triumph. Bridgestone can boast of a really quick 200-cc bike in Corty Elder’s Twin which screamed to an e.t. of 13.38 sec., and a speed of 72.81 mph.
AHRA SPRINGNATIONALS
