Riders on the first couple of rows launch their bikes at the start of a WERA Formula One race at Roebling Road in February of 1985. I believe that’s Danny Hyatt on the No. 85 Yamaha TZ250 on the pole. Hyatt went on to win the race. Next to him is John Bulawa on the No. 737 Kawasaki GPz900. On row two is Deano Swims (No. 1) on a Honda Interceptor and Chip Terrell (No. 34). Coming up from the third row is Don Leavitt (No. 427) on a Honda inline four, possibly a CB1100F. Bulawa took second behind Hyatt, followed by Swims in third.
Riders on the first couple of rows launch their bikes at the start of a WERA Formula One race at Roebling Road in February of 1985. (Larry Lawrence photo)
John says:
First Expert race ever and last race on the Ninja as I got one of the first 10 FZ750’s a couple weeks later and just in time for Daytona. I used to love Roebling Road! I can’t remember for the life of me why Deano wasn’t on the big bike since this was Formula 1..?
July 11, 2012, 4:15 pmLarry Brown says:
Kinda a funny pic for me Larry, not for the racing history so much but for the reason that the Volare wagon in the background, I would own it a year later…LOL! Actually had this wagon on the banking at Daytona a few years later during a tire test there…don’t know why Deano wasn’t on the Axe for this race either, maybe he will answer the mystery question later….also note the younger Vic Fasola with the stop watch in his hand at the rail on the left obviously timing Deano from the start….I met Deano later this same year….
July 11, 2012, 6:13 pmadmin says:
That’s funny Larry. I bet that Volare really ripped around the banking! I don’t think that’s Vic with the stopwatch. It’s the guy who worked for Michelin whose name escapes me right now.
July 11, 2012, 6:29 pmadmin says:
I think Kevin Hunt was riding Battle Axe that weekend.
July 11, 2012, 7:46 pmMark Long says:
Michelin guy… were you thinking of Walt Schaeffer?
July 11, 2012, 10:10 pmJohn Sackett says:
My money is on that being Vic too. Didn’t seem like he was ever far from Deano in that 84-85 era and the height to width ratio sure looks like him. Add in the ’stache and it’s gotta be him…
July 11, 2012, 10:14 pmadmin says:
No it’s Phil Flack. It took awhile for my brain to engage.
July 11, 2012, 11:32 pmMark Long says:
OK, Phil Flack was the Dunlop Tire guy
July 12, 2012, 8:04 amJohn says:
Forgot all about Phil as I always relied on Walt Schaeffer as my tire guy back then…
July 12, 2012, 11:35 amDave Hammer says:
Yeah, that’s Phil Flack.
I also believe that number 427 is Don Levitt out of West Chester, PA on a bone stock CB1100F (still has stock exhaust, CV carbs and airbox)
Always loved Roebling (was just there in March and the place is a time capsule) and did well there.
Once again Larry, your photo collection is just too cool.
Thanks again for sharing !
DH
July 12, 2012, 12:11 pmDave Hammer says:
Oh forgot to mention, I think 1983-’85 was one of the most transitional times in roadracing. As your picture shows, it was the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Aircooled, inline 4 cylinder, steel backbone framed UJM’s(like the ‘83 Honda CB1100F Levitt’s on)that weren’t much removed from the original Universal Japanese Motorcycle the 1969 Honda CB750KO, were in their last days as the next generation of superbikes arrived from Japan.
In no particular order, the 900 Ninja, Yamaha FZ750, GSX-R (oil cooled) and the V4 Honda Interceptors with water cooling and “modern” perimeter frames arrived and are pretty much still in use today.
Again, cool pic that exibits this transition in time and design.
July 12, 2012, 6:08 pmJohn says:
Yup, stock pipes on the Ninja the Interceptor and the 1100F. Back in the day the “Production” classes required them, so most of us just ran up into Superbike and Formula classes with the same equipment. Things have changed a ton since then!
July 16, 2012, 8:19 pm