Rider Files

I was really far away when I took this shot. Probably down at the second horseshoe and even with a 600mm lens the rider was a spec on the negative. I took the shot anyway and it turned out to be John Hopperstad, who was battling Thomas Stevens in a CCS race at Daytona, when the motor on his Yamaha blew up entering the dogleg. Hopperstad rode the thing out into the grass at triple-digit speed with the back wheel locked up and did his best to slow it down before hitting the deck. The good news is that Hopperstad was OK and back racing a few days later.

John Hopperstad crashes in the dogleg at Daytona International Speedway. The motor on his bike had locked up and he skidded off the track at over 100 mph. He was OK and able to race a few days later. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Andy Fenwick (10) of CIA Racing attempts an outside pass on Ken Essex (446) riding the Action Honda entry during a WERA Endurance race in the late 1980s. The outside pass in road racing is one of the trickiest and most rewarding things a rider can do. Fenwick must have been on loan to CIA from the Human Race Team. I have no idea where this photo was taken. Judging from the sandy terrain in the foreground it might be Roebling Road near Savannah, Georgia.

Ken Essex (446) and Andy Fenwick (10) race two abreast through a corner during a WERA Endurance race. Essex rode the Action Honda 600 Hurricane while Fenwick was on a CIA Racing Yamaha FZR600. (Larry Lawrence photo)