It’s a comeback story for the ages.
For the first time in nearly two decades 2003 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Geno Scali will make his triumphant return to the class he loves so dearly just a few months shy of his 60th birthday.
Scali will enter Pro Stock Motorcycle at his hometown race, the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19 in Joliet, Ill. near Chicago.
This time around it’s all about having fun. It’s the pure love of the sport that has inspired Scali to bring his beloved toy out of the basement.
“It’s hard to stay away when you love the sport this much,” Scali said. “Motorcycles have always been a big part of my life. I always admired how much skill it took to ride one and the courage it took to be out there at high speed without a roll cage.”
Known as a rider to make the most out of the least, Scali carved out a reputation as a shining talent in the late 90s and early 2000s. He is one of the few racers in class history to win an event on a Kawasaki and he was the very last opponent of class legend Dave Schultz in the final round of the fall Houston race in 2000, before Schultz’s untimely passing shortly thereafter.
In 2003 Scali’s lifelong goal became a reality when he teamed with “7.0” Joe Koenig of Trim-Tex Drywall Products and longtime Fast by Gast crew chief Earl DeGlopper. The squad went on to make history, winning the hotly contested title in their first season together.
It’s an indelible part of the sport’s history the three men will always be grateful for.
“It was a special time,” Scali said. “I always wanted to be a champion and it meant the world to reach that goal.”
The new goal and mindset for Scali’s comeback is much different than his approach two decades ago. With a near 20-year-old motorcycle and engine, Scali’s mission is to simply try to make the field.
“This time around it’s all about getting back out there and enjoying the sport I love,” Scali said.
Scali will enter with the same chassis he last campaigned in the NHRA in 2007 with a two-valve, Vance & Hines 1,755 c.c. engine from 2003. Scali has added fuel injection and a Maxx ECU to help modernize the bike.
Last month Scali traveled to South Georgia Motorsports Park for the Man Cup opener where he made clean, straight runs and won the Pro Stock Class with a best run of 7.28 a 191 mph with a smaller motor. It was Scali’s first time back on the bike since 2007.
“It’s amazing how much comes back to you,” Scali said. “I felt right at home.”
One feat Scali would like to accomplish is getting his first 200 mph time slip. A lot has changed in PSM and the motorcycles have evolved considerably since the talented rider went 195 mph 17 years ago.
Scali doesn’t think his current combo has 200 mph pass in it but he says if this return goes well it may lead him to renting a more modern and competitive bike at a future event.
“It would be a big accomplishment for me,” Scali said.
Scali knows every pound counts and he has worked hard on the diet and in the gym the past few months losing 20 pounds to get about 165 pounds. It’s still about 30 pounds heavier than his starvation days where he raced at about 135 pounds, but it’s quite possible he won’t be the heaviest rider in the class.
Scali expects the bike and rider will meet the minimum weight for his category at 625 pounds without having to add any ballast.
He will be heavier and underpowered but those are two factors that won’t matter much because more than anything the mantra for the weekend remains the same – just have fun.
“I’m looking forward to this and will enjoy it,” Scali said.
Please join us in welcoming back former class champion Geno Scali
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