Rabbie touches the deck carving out of Daytona International Speedway’s second international horseshoe turn with the lead in AHRMA’s National Historic Cup Formula 250 race, aboard the Mach1 / THR sponsored “Fast-Attack” 3D Racing Honda 350.
Having posted solid performances at Roebling Road Raceway aboard the ACS Specialties Racing Triumph 750 and the Mach1 / THR Sponsored 3D Racing Honda, the Team 3D Racing / ACS Specialties Racing posse headed south to the prestigious high banks of Daytona International Speedway – The World Center of Racing. The weather was forecast to be slightly better than the 30° Georgia temps, calling for sun and 50° temperatures for Monday’s racing, but cooler on Tuesday with rain and thundershowers thru the day. Rain is always dicey at Daytona. But it is better than trying to get tyres to hook up in 30° temperatures.
Last year, Rabbie dominated Monday’s Sportsman 350 race aboard the Mach1 / THR sponsored “Fast-Attack” Honda, crossing the finish line over 20 seconds ahead of second place finisher, Scott Turner. He was on his way to repeating that performance on Tuesday's event when an ignition failure on the white flag lap would end his race, and chance for a sweep. In Sportsman 750 action, Rabbie had a great battle with Michael Dixon on Monday’s race for the lead. Rabbie would stretch Mike through the infield section of the circuit, but Dixon would reel in the ACS Triumph with his Yamaha on the high banks. On the checkered flag lap, Dixon draft passed Rabbie for the win, winning by only 2/10ths of a second. ACS Specialties Team Owner, Art Stapleton and Rabbie were really looking for a rematch!
The Team 3D Racing, ACS Specialties Racing enjoyed some distinguished company this year in their paddock. #557 Dick Gariepy, from Barre Mass, #590 “Super” Dave Evens, #43 Henry Syphers, and from all the way across the pond, #41 Robert Lusk.
#557 Dick Gariepy tends to jetting adjustments through the morning practice sessions at Monday’s race event, prepping his Mach1 sponsored Honda for the Sportsman 350 race, where he sewed up a solid 5th place finish.
Dick raced for the Triumph Factory in the 50’s and 60’s as well as for Bultaco. Rabbie and Team 3D Racing have had the privilege of getting to know Dick, and are honored to be friends with Dick and his wife Peggy. “Super” Dave Evens, and Henry Syphers, also long time friends of the 3D Racing crew both hale from Manchester Connecticut. Robert Lusk, was a high school mate with Papa Chief, before leaving Brimfield Massachusetts to pursue his road racing passion.
Captain America, #590 “Super” Dave puts his "Dry" Honda Ascot FT500 through it's paces during Monday practice rotations. Dave fields two Ascot 500s -- one for rain and one for dry conditions. Dave’s recommendation for wet and dry racing is to have two bikes set up vs. changing wheels. The red Ascot with drys and the black one with wets!
#43 Henry Syphers worked through the morning sorting out his new race bike – a Honda CB 500 four. Henry replaced many components, including his right rear shock. In the background, #19 Chris Spargo’s tenacious TD’s are being sorted for Chris’s upcoming dual with Rabbie in the Formula 250 race.
Bob raced Birdgestones, among other marques in the 60’s and 70’s in the US and Canada. He has been on the podium with road racing greats including Bill Ivy! He moved to the UK in the 70’s where he continued racing motorcycles and raised a family. His son Chet followed his footsteps, and raced 125’s in MotoGP as a Factory Honda satellite rider, and then onto SBK campaigning a Honda 600 under Honda and Red Bull sponsorship.
John Rhoodes, left, and #41 Robert Lusk, right, make final atmospheric conditions adjustments to Robert's RS125, taping up the radiator to accommodate the 40° morning temperatures in Monday’s practice rotations. John, a former SBK racer himself, was the head spanner for Robert’s son Chet when he campaigned in MotoGP, and SBK racing. He continues to work today with Robert, spanning for his bikes.
On track, Robert shows the youngsters the fast way around the Daytona International Speedway infield aboard an RS125 – maximum revs, maximum lean! Robert raced to an impressive 2nd place finish aboard his RS125.
Bob shipped his son’s RS125 across the pond to challenge the AHRMA GP125 class at Daytona. He said he had a personal score to settle – he never completed a race at Daytona in his professional career. At 72 years of age, the nimble Mr. Lusk not only completed the race at Daytona, he finished in second place!
Rabbie headed out for the first round of practice aboard the “Fast-Attack” Honda while Art sorted through his ACS maintenance and inspection on the Rompin’ Stompin’ Triumph, readying it for practice group three, when Rabbie returned from his Formula 250 practice session.
The barometer had swung up several points from Georgia. Rabbie made a calculated guess at the jetting, factoring both the air density, and also the extended period the engine runs wide open at Daytona. Rabbie clipped through the infield easy on the opening lap to let things come up to temperature, and then wound the throttle open accelerating up onto the west banking. The Honda responded spot-on, and got good drive coming off the west banking down onto the back chute. The front end chattered as Rabbie tossed the “Fast-Attack” Honda hard left into the chicane, but gathered itself in as Rabbie flicked right hard, exiting back out onto the east banking. Rabbie used the remaining time in practice to gauge entry speeds into the infield horseshoe turns, looking for track grip.
Rabbie sets out in the opening round of practice sessions aboard the Mach1 / THR sponsored “Fast-Attack” Honda, confirming jetting, ignition timing, and track grip conditions. The Team 3D Racing package seemed to be spot on.
Following the Formula 250 practice, Rabbie hopped aboard the ACS Specialties Triumph for a repeat performance of engine and chassis set-up confirmation. Rabbie rolled onto the infield and dialed up the ponies on the Rompin’ Stompin’ Long-Rod and sprung them loose exiting the final left hand infield turn, up onto the west banking. Rabbie put his head down on the tank, and accelerated through 5th gear, powering down off the west banking hard and fast, dialing in the field. The Triumph tore through the chicane hard, fast and focused, rocketing back out onto the east banking, where Rabbie throttled the ponies back up to 7 grand.
Rabbie touches the deck, accelerating the ACS Specialties Triumph hard, out of the second international horseshoe turn, working the suspension and engine set-up hard to confirm the package would be sorted for the Dixon re-match in the Sportsman 750 event.
The Triumph sliced through the infield and rode the high banks like she was on a rail. Smooth, deliberate and agile. Rabbie worked the entries hard into the infield corners, keeping the throttle dialed to get good exit velocity. The Triumph responded to the input without hesitation, lighting up the rear tyre! Following the practice sessions, both machines were inspected, and readied for battle.
Monday’s Race Action
Formula 250 - Race Six
Rabbie gets geared up on the third and final call for the Formula 250 race at Daytona International Speedway.
The Formula 250 class was gridded up one wave behind the GP 350 class. Rabbie had a front row grid assignment, alongside #19 Chris Spargo, the man to beat, aboard a Yamaha TD 250 GP machine. Spargo, is no stranger to the Daytona high banks and is a former Formula 250 National Champion. The long runaway east and west banks was where his skill and two-stroke Yamaha TD would clearly have an advantage over the Team 3D Racing four-stroke Honda.
Rabbie got the hole shot off the waving green flag and took the early lead as the riders entered turn one. Rabbie carved into turn one deep, on the gas, and then dove hard left, slicing towards the apex, throttle still open, looking to get a critical good drive through the right/left kink, leading to the first horseshoe turn. Rabbie flicked the “Fast-Attack” Honda over hard right, diving into the first international horseshoe turn, looking deep thru the exit at the GP 350 class – which he was quickly reeling in. Accelerating out of the first horseshoe turn, Rabbie caught and passed #71 Dave Roper, running second in GP 350. 3 seconds later, late on the brakes heading into the second international Horseshoe, Rabbie passed, #1 Tim Joyce on the inside to take over the overall lead.
Leaning in hard, and looking deep into the exit of first international horseshoe turn, Rabbie powers the Mach1 / THR sponsored “Fast-Attack” Honda through the field of the GP 350 class for the overall race lead in lap one of the Formula 250 race.
Rabbie exited the infield, and lit the afterburner on the “Fast-Attack” Honda, rocketing thru the west banking, and down onto the back chute towards the chicane. Chopping the throttle at the 1 marker board, Rabbie tossed the bike hard left, then right, arcing through the chicane, and back out onto the east banking, head down, throttle open, looking to make time everywhere possible on #19 Spargo, whom Rabbie was sure would be right in his draft.
Rabbie crossed the start/finish stripe on lap one with his head down, and the throttle pinned pushing deep into turn one. 8 seconds later, Spargo crossed the finish stripe in second place. Rabbie would continue to power away from the field, laying down a series of 2:26 and 2:27 lap times. Chris Spargo dialed up 2:34’s and 2:35’s with a solid second place. Rabbie took the checkered flag, with the Formula 250 win, and the overall race win 40 seconds ahead of second place Chris Spargo.
Sportsman 750 - Race Nine
Rabbie works the ACS Specialties Racing Triumph 750 fast and low through the second international horseshoe turn, in a hard fought dice with #295 Jesse Morris in Sportsman 750 racing action.
The field of heavyweights assembled on the grid for the Sportsman 750 event. Rabbie had a 3rd row grid assignment in the D marker. Back in the field, but exactly where he wanted to be – on the outside for turn one. Because the gearing is so tall on the Triumph for Daytona, Rabbie can’t employ his normal launch procedure – bring the RPM’s to 6,500 and throw the clutch away when the green flag flies. Attempting this with the near over-drive gearing would simply shred the clutch. When the green flag was waved, the Sportsman 750 field launched. Rabbie entered turn one in 10th He exited turn one in 7th.
As the thundering herd of 750’s rolled out of turn one, and down into the first international horseshoe, Rabbie lit the back end of the Rompin’ Stompin’ Long-Rod up, kicking the back end out abruptly to the right. Focused on keeping the revs up, Rabbie muscled the Triumph back into shape, and worked his way to the outside to late break the field into the first international horseshoe. Working through traffic, Rabbie picked off two more places exiting the horseshoe and through the dogleg, settling into 3rd place. As the front-runners set up for the second international horseshoe, Rabbie late-braked the Pac, and dove hard to the apex, with the lead, ahead of Dixon and Morris.
Rabbie muscles the ACS Specialties Triumph through traffic, exiting the second international horseshoe with the lead in Sportsman 750 race action at Daytona International Speedway.
The squadron headed up onto the west banking for the first time, with Rabbie leading the train. #295 Jesse Morris gathered Rabbie in, and motored past on his Triumph 750 Triple. Jesse definitely had motor on the Rompin’ Stompin’ Long-Rod, but Rabbie used corner speed to make up the difference everywhere possible.
At the finish line, Jesse had opened up an 20-bike lead over the ACS Specialties Triumph. At the dogleg, Rabbie had closed that distance to 5 bike lengths. When the two riders set up for the second international horseshoe, Rabbie dove underneath Morris for the lead, again.
By lap two, Morris and Demetrius had run away from the rest of the field, making it a two-rider battle. Rabbie would catch and pass #295 Jesse Morris every lap exiting the second international horseshoe turn.
Rabbie was putting down 2:22’s and 2:21’s, squeezing every ounce of performance from the Rompin’ Stompin’ Long-Rod. Morris was posting up the same aboard his Triple. #839, Michael Dixon, running in third as posting up 2:27’s, -- 5 seconds off the pace. The ACS Triumph was running strong, and Rabbie was working thru options in his head for a way to be at the finish stripe at the checkered. With three laps to go however, the clutch adjustment started to go away for Rabbie. The Triumph became increasingly more difficult to shift, and the results were evident in the lap times. By the white flag lap, there was no clutch lever left, and Rabbie was RPM shifting. Entering the first international horseshoe, throttled, Rabbie was unable to downshift in time, and over-cooked the entry, shooting off track into the grass.
Art Stapleton, right, and his brother AOB, (Arties Other Brother), listen to Richard Chambers announcing the Sportsman 750 race action, and Rabbie going off-track into the first international horseshoe on the white flag lap!.
A thousand superlatives rang out of Rabbie’s full-face helmet as he muscled the big fire-breathing Triumph through the grass, backend kicking out left and right with the rear tyre lighting up. Watching Jesse Morris open up the lead was bad enough. Expecting Dixon to come pouring on past for second was simply unthinkable! Rabbie had no idea that Dixon was running 20 seconds behind.
Rabbie got the Rompin’ Stompin’ Long-Rod back on track, put his head down, and opened the throttle up to the stop. The Triumph responded and hurled down the infield through the dogleg, toward the second international horseshoe. This time, unfortunately, Jesse would be in the clear, and on his way to exiting the infield. Rabbie had to change battle plans, and focus on preserving second place. Still unaware of where Dixon was, Rabbie managed to get the Triumph shifted through the last two infield corners, and back out onto the west banking. The chicane would only need one downshift, to 4th. And then an easy grab back to 5th as he headed back out onto the east banking. Head down on the tank, throttle pinned, and the tach spinning past 7 grand, Rabbie motored through the east bank one last time, neck craning and eyes straining looking up and to the left, replaying last years draft pass, waiting for the turbulence he expected to feel from Dixon initiating his move.
Rabbie arced the Triumph down low to the inside, on the final leg off the east banking in an attempt to kill any possibility for Dixon to get a draft pass move initiated. The seconds seemed like hours. Rabbie focused on the flag marshal waving the checkered flag. As the distance closed, Rabbie realized Dixon was nowhere close enough to challenge him. Rabbie crossed the stripe in second, more than 28 seconds ahead of Michael Dixon.
Tuesday’s Race Action
Formula 250 - Race Six
Rabbie sets up a repeat performance aboard the Mach1 / THR sponsored “Fast-Attack” running away from the field winning the AHRMA Formula 250 race at Daytona International Speedway.
Tuesday started out gloomy. Heavy rains and high, 30mph gale winds soaked the track, and made for slippery conditions through the morning practice sessions. The gods were smiling on the event however. The rain, forecast to continue all day, stopped late morning. The wind’s continued and dried the track rapidly, setting up for good race conditions albeit, a fierce headwind. Monday’s win in F250 had Spargo and crew working on his TD thru the day Monday, and into the morning Tuesday. They were looking for power, and giving Rabbie a rematch for Tuesdays outing.
When the Green flag waved, Rabbie would again get the hole shot, and lead the field out of turn one. He would again, catch the GP 350 field exiting the second international horseshoe, and again, head out onto the west banking on lap one, with the overall race lead. Rain began to spatter Rabbie's face shield, as he entered the second international horseshoe turn. This would certainly make things interesting, as the Daytona racing surface gets slick and greasy in the wet. Fortunately, it only lasted for two laps, never mounting to much of a threat.
The Mach1 / THR sponsored “Fast-Attack” Honda motored down the back chute, running away from the field into the chicane. Exiting the east banking, Rabbie hit the fierce 30mph headwinds, lopping of 1,500 RPM’s off the motor as he crossed the finish stripe. The wind was significant, and Rabbie began to wonder if he should have added a tooth to the back sprocket to compensate. Maybe Spargo did.
Rabbie carves through Daytona International Speedway’s second international horseshoe turn maximum revs, maximum lean, in AHRMA National Historic Cup Formula 250 race action.
Entering turn one, deep and on the throttle, Rabbie tried to squeeze out a bit more entry speed, hoping to counter the negative effects of the head wind. The impact was significant. Rabbie's lap times were 2 seconds slower! Spargo was suffering from the same factors however, running on average 2 seconds slower. On lap two, exiting off the east banking, Rabbie ran the “Fast-Attack” Honda right up tight to the outside concrete wall, hoping to find a small cavity of negative air pressure and get away from the daunting head winds. The move was a gamble. This added distance around the track. The trade-off in Rabbie’s mind was that he could keep the RPM’s revved up, and get a better overall top speed. The gamble paid off. Rabbie crossed the finish stripe and got the checkered flag for the win – 36 seconds ahead of Spargo, who finished solidly in second.
Sportsman 750 - Race Nine
Rabbie dives into Daytona International Speedway’s first international horseshoe turn hard and on the gas, in the opening laps of the Sportsman 750 race.
The final dance of the opening round of the 2010 racing season was here. Third and final call for the Sportsman 750 race. Jesse Morris was not entered in this event, however, his teammate, #83 Geir Jacobson, running an identical Triumph triple was. Art had worked through sorting out the clutch adjustment issues from Monday’s race, as well as the rear axle alignment situation. Rabbie was again, looking forward to an opportunity to find a way to stay in front of the high-revving triples.
The field launched off the waving green flag, and Rabbie settled the Rompin’ Stompin’ Triumph into the outside of turn one, carving through traffic. Like Monday’s performance, The ACS Specialties Racing Triumph came charging fast and furious out of the right/left kink, down into the first international horseshoe turn, picking off riders left and right. Again, Rabbie accelerated hard out of the horseshoe turn, down thru the dogleg, towards the second international horseshoe moving up in position. Again, Rabbie exited the second international horseshoe turn with the lead. And like Monday, the high revving triple, this time, piloted by Jacobsen, would motor past Rabbie in the west banking.
Rabbie runs a hard, fast race pace aboard the ACS Specialties Racing Triumph 750, chasing #83 Geir Jacobsen in AHRMA National Historic Cup Sportsman 750 race action at Daytona International Speedway.
Arcing off the east banking, Rabbie hit the fierce headwinds and felt the motor drone down on the big bad Triumph 750. The ACS Power plant muscled head on with the winds but still averaged 2 seconds slower in lap times from Monday. As the laps wound down, Rabbie and Jacobsen continued to run away from the Sportsman 750 field. Rabbie crossed the finish strip in second, behind Jacobsen, and 24 seconds ahead of third place finisher, #647 Dave Cobeen.
Three days of racing completed and in the books, Team 3D Racing and Team ACS Specialties Racing winds down, and enjoys the fruit of their efforts, posting three wins in Formula 250 aboard the Mach1 / THR Sponsored “Fast-Attack” Honda, and two seconds and a third place finish aboard the ACS Specialties Racing Rompin’ Stompin’ Triumph.
With the opening round of the AHRMA National Historic Cup Championship Series wrapped up, the crew will take a few days off and enjoy watching some racing action from the bleachers, at Thursday nights AMA short track nationals. #76A Lew Woods will be on hand, and hopefully qualify for the main event. The track is a brand new circuit built just outside the west banking of the Daytona Speedway complex. Following that, the crew will make the 23 hour journey back north, and begin the process of inspecting the race equipment, preparing them for the next event, The New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Vintage Celebration in New Hampshire in May.
Team 3D Racing wants to send out major props to Pete Talabch of Mach1 Racing, for all of your help, support building and preparing the “Fast-Attack” Honda. Your work shined at Daytona, rocketing away from the field. I could not have won the races with out you Pete! Mach 1 Racing – Real Speed and Performance Begins at Mach 1™
Also thanks to Buff Harsh, of THR, for all your support and faith in me, and the “go-fast” Todd Henning parts. THR parts work hard to keep the 3D Racing “Fast-Attack” Honda 350 going, and going, and going! THR Buff Harsh – There Is No Substitute
Also, special thanks and props to Art Stapleton, Jay Osborne, Long Haired Dave and the entire team at ACS Specialties for the long hours and attention you put into the ACS program. Every year the team gets better, and the racing action more intense. It’s an honor to swing a leg over the ACS Specialties Triumphs. I love those 180’s! ACS Specialties Racing – Some People Talk A Lot, We Torque A Lot™
Next on the 3D schedule will be diagnosing and fixing the Grumble Bumble Bee, AND sorting out a couple of MotoGiro machines for this May’s USCRA MotoGiro event. Rabbie plans on sporting a Good Humor Ice Cream uniform driving Papa Chief’s 1968 Bijah 3-wheeled meter maid scooter, while the Chief plans to run his 1968 Ossa Pioneer. Christina plans on riding Rabbie’s 1965 Ducati 250 Scrambler. If you’re interested in the event, check out the information online at the USCRA’s website. www.race-uscra.com under events. That’s if for now. And remember, Hang on, but Hang Off!
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