Hot temps and Love Bugs could not keep the racers from Orlando Speed World May 18th & 19th as Top Fuel classes down to the Sportsman racers showed from as far as Wisconsin to Michigan, & even from their home state of Florida!
Full fields in fuel classes brought noting short of total excitement for the fans. Pro Fuel, Nitro Funny Bike and Top Fuel made their noise with 3 rounds of qualifying Saturday with plenty to watch.
Jim Doyle from Chicopee Masseuses launched off the line and as he accelerated down the track the heat from his header pipe melted his boot laces. His special made boot began to burn and was blown off his foot. Bare foot by the 330, not able to put his foot back on the foot peg because of the extreme heat was now throwing his balance off and pulling Jim in toward the wall. Crossing the finish line 7 seconds later over 187 mph and a couple scuffs off the wall, Jim finally got the bike stopped in the sand traps and managed to escape with out major incident and was able to return for the next round of qualifying.
At the end of the day on Sunday, it would be Gary Stroud taking the victory over Ryan Perry in Nitro Funny Bike. Gary, piloting Johnny “Red” Rhea’s machine running consistent and fast numbers all weekend even setting personal bests for Gary running an impressive 6.646 at 205.07 mph in second round on his way for the weekend win.
Not only did Gary win the event, he also took the low ET and Top Speed of the weekend in the class with the 6.646 et and a 207.43 mph pass.
Round 1 of Pro Fuel qualifying would see Janette Thornley go to the top of the ladder in the number 1 spot but would be short lived. Jannette sat out the second round and when firing up her machine for the 3rd round, she would discover an oil pressure problem. That allowed Kirby Apathy to sneak in a take the number 1 spot away. Going to the semi’s in Bowling Green KY’s Pro Fuel, no stranger to the sportsman winner circle, Dennis Waldron had his eye on the prize. Racing his Vreeland’s backed machine, Dennis would stay consistent throughout the weekend and took the victors over Walter Halonski in the finals
In the Top Fuel ranks it would be the Andras and Furr show as Armon Furr would take the number 1 qualifying spot and Andras would be number 2. Randal would set the low ET in the class at 6.447 and Tracy Kile would set the top speed after 3 rounds at 208.81. On a hot track surface and less than perfect air, riders struggled to get down the track as they went through the rounds. Like the event started, in the finals it would be Randal Andras and Armon Furr, 1 and 2. Andras would hole shot Furr and not look back. Even though both bikes dropped a cylinder because of bad air Andras would make it to the finish line first for the win.
In the sportsman ranks the most excitement was in the JT’s Auto and Cycle pits. There is a group called the Keystone Mafia Racing, “KMR”. KMR is a group of friends that have raced together for over 10 years. This group of friends plan on the KMR staying around for many years to come as they have welcomed in young and new riders to their group Brian Conley Jr. Brian won the Zippers Super Street class for the weekend.
Long time members of the KMR Tim Grindle won the Brocks Performance Outlaw Street class and Dave “Paco” Cartwright would win the Horsepower Inc. Hot Street. Long time member but only a couple years on the bike, Ricky Lynn would take his first ever win in Super Pro!
Cycle Drag would like to say CONGRATULATIONS to all the riders for their efforts and victories!
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Ricky Lynn
VP Fuels Trophy Sunday – Rusty Crist
- VP Fuels Trophy Saturday – Randy Hammons
- Thunder Max Eliminator – Randy Hammons
- Energy One Dresser Class – Crosby Blair
- Baker Drive Train Street Eliminator – Donnie Huffman
- Zipper’s Performance Super Street – Brian Conley Jr
- Pro Eliminator – Glenn Sutton
- Horsepower Inc Hot Street – Dave Cartwright
- Super Pro – Ricky Lynn
- Brock’s Performance Outlaw Street – Tim Grindle
- Vreeland’s HD Super Gas – Bob Drapp
- Modified – Gary Douglas
- Vreeland’s HD Top Eliminator – Ken Strauss
- Super Comp – Donnie Huffman
The Next event for the AMRA will be on June 29-30 at Bowling Green, KY for the AMRA Summer Shootout and Rally Drags, hope to see you there!
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Report courtesy of Michael Davis of Motolenz Photos.
Click here to learn more about author Michael Davis of Motolenzphotos.com
