Dirt Track returns to Elkhorn Elkhorn, Wisconsin - June 3 By Bruce Currie
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fter a thirteen year absence, Dan Vrana Racing Enterprises and Spectro Oil brought motorcycle racing back to the cushion half mile at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. This combined show featured Classic Flat Track vintage classes, AMA amateur classes and also AMA Open Pro’s. The crowd pleasing tank shift brakeless vintage bikes were the first final onto the oval. Harley mounted Sam Wills got the drop on the field and led into turn one, but promoter Dan Vrana decided to make things exciting by attempting a WFO pass on Wills around the outside with his Pettis Racing WR Harley. It didn’t work as Vrana lost the back end in turn two and the Harley cartwheeled down the back straight without him. Will’s cruised to an easy win over Bill Berger’s BSA. The 250 Amateur class provided one of the best battles of the afternoon as Charlotte Kainz and Morgen Mischler disputed the front spot the whole distance. Midway through the final, the “first lady” of Wisconsin flat track put a slide job on Mischler going into turn one to grab the lead. Mischler returned the favor with a nifty outside/inside pass as they came off turn two and reclaimed the top spot. Kainz kept looking for another opening, but Mischler shut the door the rest of the distance. The Vintage Pro Twin class had one of the biggest rider turnouts of the day, and the big field didn’t disappoint the crowd. Dan Vrana had dusted his leathers off, and he rocketed his Triumph to the front of the final with Soren LaValley’s XR-750 Harley attached to his rear fender. LaValley made several runs up the inside of the Triumph in an attempt to take over the point, but Vrana kept it on two wheels this time, and held on to win. Yamaha mounted Steve Kasten worked his way up through the field and passed Rocco Giorno’s Triumph late in the race for third.
At the start, Pro winner #44 Brandon Robinson, #12 Brad Baker, # 19 Adam Bushman, #17 Henry Wiles, #21 Cole Anderson, #77 Dan Mischler, #98 Kayl Kolkman and #14 Nick Smith.
Twenty-five years ago “Iron” George Istvanek was one of the young rising stars in Wisconsin dirt track racing. Istvanek still remembers how to get around the Walworth County Oval in a hurry as he dusted off the +40 final with his ‘Run it High and make it Fly’ rim ride around the top. Dominating the Vet riders apparently wasn’t enough as Istvanek also rode the 450 Amateur class in an attempt to school the young guns. It looked like it might work, as Istvanek put his Honda up front early in the final. Morgen Mischler wasn’t willing to take lessons from a Vet rider however, as he stormed past and opened a big lead enroute to the checkers. Istvanek was left to battle with Charlotte Kainz and Dave Kilkenny for second. Kainz grabbed the spot as the last circuit started, but Kilkenny eventually prevailed over Istvanek at the wire for the runners-up spot. Fifteen Pro riders were in attendance to take a shot at the Spectro Oil Open Pro purse. Recent Springfield TT Grand National winner Henry Wiles led the first pro heat flag to flag, while California’s National #98 Kayl Kolkman grabbed the top spot in the second qualifier. It was a different pair of Kawasaki riders up front as the final left the line however. Werner/ Springsteen Kawasaki teammates Brandon Robinson and Brad Baker put their 650 twins in the top spots as the pack
came off turn two for the first time. Robinson began to open a lead on Baker and continued to stretch it as the laps wore down. Wiles fought thru a mid-pack dust storm after a bad start to slot in behind Kayl Kolkman and the Kawasaki sweep was set. Nick Smith on a Rotax single in fifth was the first rider to spoil the green domination. With a rich history of dirt track racing that dates back to the 1960’s, it can only be hoped that this is the first of many future Elkhorn half mile events in a new era. Results: Open Pro: 1.Brandon Robinson 2.Brad Baker 3.Kayl Kolkman 4.Henry Wiles 5.Nick Smith Vintage Twin Pros: 1.Dan Vrana 2.Soren LaVally 3.Steve Kasten 4.Tony Giorno 5.Jordan Baber 250/360 Air Cooled Vint: 1.Todd Smiley 2.Mike Corey 3.John Lovas 4.David Grasser 5.Jordan Babe Brakeless Hand Shift Vint: 1.George Wills 2.Bill Berger 3.Dan Vrana 4.Dennis Clark 250Am: 1.Morgen Mischler 2.Charlotte Kainz 3.Parker Lange 4.Alec Muth 5.Steve Wasser 450Am: 1.Morgen Mischler 2.Dave Kilkenny 3.George Istvanek 4.Charlotte Kainz 5.Sergius Figliuzzi +40: 1.George Istvanek 2.Brad Boughtop 3.Jim Kirschbaum 4.Bert Sumner 5.Jack Kainz Single Vint: 1.Mike Bickerton 2.Troy Johnson 3.Steve Kasten 4.Dan Murre 5.Cody Evans +50: 1.Mark Muth 2.Steve Brinker 3.Steve Captain 4.Mike Yogerst 5.Marl Dolacin Quads: 1.Jake Foti 2.Tim Loomis 3.Brett Durant 4.Tim Day 5.Ken Remer
The great battle developing between Morgen Mischler #18 and Charlotte Kainz #05 for the 250 Amateur win
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CYCLE USA, July 2012