photo by Henny Ray Abrams
photo by Henny Ray Abrams
photo by David Goldman
photo by Henny Ray Abrams
photo by David Goldman
photo by Henny Ray Abrams
photo by David Goldman
They were taken in the AHRMA 350 GP race at Daytona, 3 March, 1997. I was having a cut-throat duel with my arch nemesis (and good friend) Chuck Huneycutt who was riding the Barber's Dairy CB77 Honda based 350. I was riding the Team Obsolete AJS 7R and we were having a real dustup. I believe that in the first two laps we exchanged the lead 12 times. It must have been on the 3rd lap, Chuck was slightly ahead and on the inside of me in the 'Dogleg', turn #3. Chuck lost the rear end on the oil his bike was puking and went down. I yanked my bike to the right to avoid him, and just barely did so. But, now I'm on the grass of the infield going a million miles an hour. Way far ahead, I see a row of haybales and I start to try to steer to the right of them. But, I'm on the grass and I'm trying not to put too much input into steering or braking. In the end, I ran out of room/time. What I didn't realize was that at the right end of this row of haybales, there was armco behind them. So, rather than just blowing through a haybale, I hit the armco pretty much head on, with still a bit of speed. Fortunately, two excellent photographers were there to document this. David Goldman, of Gold and Goose Photography took the color photos (#3, #5, and #7), and Henny Ray Abrams took the black and white photos (#1, #2, #4, and #6) for Cycle News. They took the photos from slightly different angles but, between the two, one can almost get the flip-card version of the crash.
They took me to the infield aid station to check me out, but I was fine other than a jammed thumb from the throttle as I went over the bars. George Roeder came to the aid station to check on me. I said to George that I screwed up and should have locked the rear brake and laid it down. George said something like "you don't know; maybe you did exactly the right thing as you here talking about it and basically alright." That did make me feel better. I raced the next day on T/O's AJS 7R3, the bike with which Rod Coleman won the '54 Junior TT at the IOM, and finished 4th in the Classic 60's class, 1st 350.
With Chuck and me crashing out, my near-do-well, wannabe, back-marker teammate, Erik Green, won His first Daytona race on another T/O AJS 7R.
Weeks later, when I started to repair the 7R (which had broken yokes and a bent down tube), I found a piece of fairing from the Honda with 'Chuck Huneycutt' on it, in the 7R. When I returned it to him at the next race, he said he watched my front wheel coming towards him and just missing his head. One more example of words I live by: it always could be worse.
OMG!!!Spectacular photos...albeit hard to look at even knowing the outcome.Yes as you say...things could always be worse! Glad you are here to tell the tale! DARLEEN
ReplyDeleteHeart-stopping gymnastics! Launching over haybale/armco is worthy of a gold medal! Photographic sequence too! You were able to tuck and roll on landing? Amazing. Thanks for your recalling of the event. H
ReplyDeleteThat was one of my favorite races ever even though it was cut short. I knew when we lined up it was going to be a battle. When I went down I was sliding on my back and suddenly I saw the bottom of Daves boot flash by my facesheild. Thats how close it was. After what seemed like forever I stopped crashing, got to my feet to look for Dave. He was going across the grass and as I watched I'm thinking -OK Dave a little to the right or your going to hit that light pole. To my horror he couldn't get it done and exploded into the barrier. I thought the worst, thinking I had been the cause of my friends demise. I started walking towards the scene and about that time the ambulance showed up to cart me away. The guys in the ambulance were adamant about taking me away but I told them I am going to go see if Dave is allright, I am either going to walk over or you can take me. When I got there Dave was standing and the 7R was in many pieces. I didn't know what to say because I was the cause, so I walked up to Dave looked him in the eye and waited for my due. Dave looked at me for a moment and said - THAT WAS A GREAT RACE.
ReplyDeleteLater when Dave brought me the fairing piece he asked if he could keep it, of course I gladly said yes.
You right Dave it could have worse.
Chuck Huneycutt adds a stirring bookend to Dave Roper's thrilling account. Thank you gentle gladiators!!! That was a "great race" in every sense. h
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