ARCTIC CIRCLE VINTAGE TT, JULY 11 & 12, 1998
BY DAVE ROPER
When Team Obsolete was contacted by the organizers
of the Arctic Circle Vintage TT, we were incredulous that there was a road
race circuit, let alone the enthusiasm to bring the Team Obsolete road
show 30 miles from the Arctic Circle in Norway. But not only is there a
circuit there, it's absolutely fabulous: 2.33 miles long with 100 feet
of elevation change, a very smooth surface with excellent traction, plenty
of run-off room, and first class paddock, garages with electricity, water,
transponder lap timing and compressed air. The facility rivals any I've
ever seen. In fact, we were told that it is the only circuit in Europe
that is fully homologated by both the FIM and FIA without any dispensations
for anything. Plus it has spectacular views of snow covered mountains,
and the track has the ability to run a 24-hour endurance race without lights
(the Land of the Midnight Sun...).
The format was 10 classes run in seven races with
pre-1947 Classic, 175, 250, 350, 500, 750, sidecar, Forgotten Era, 883
Sportster, and S.O.S. The biggest entry was the 750, closely followed by
the 500 and Forgotten Era. Most of the riders were Swedish (Sweden having
twice the population of Norway) with a few Finns, a couple of Brits and
me being the lone American. Notable riders were Dave Pither, Captain of
the British Team of Team Obsolete's Trans Atlantic Match RacesTM
Series and Daytona Classic winner, Bo Granath, a Swedish GP veteran, and
Penti Elo (and his son Joni) a Finnish European Championship contender.
Team Obsolete brought a Matchless G-50 and an MV Agusta 500 3 cyl. The
BSA Rob North Triples were well represented with 4 or 5 from Sweden and
Norway in addition to Pither's from the UK. Weslake, Triumphs, BSA Twins,
a very trick Brooke Henry V2 Ducati 750 and an interesting Laverda SF based
special with a 90º crank and an Yabsa (XS 650 Yamaha in an BSA A-10
chassis). A lot can be accomplished over the long dark Arctic winter.
The 500 class had several Honda 450's, Seeley G-50's,
BSA Goldstar's and several Triumph Daytona's. Penti Elo brought a number
of interesting smaller bikes, starting with a 125 Tuntari one of four built
in Finland in the late 60's powered by a Puch motor one of which Jarno
Saarinen raced. Penti's son Joni won the 175 both days on this. Penti's
250 Motobi unfortunately broke in practice but he won the 350 class both
days on his Aermacchi beating several Honda CB 350 based racers. Another
unfortunate engine failure in practice was a Cotton, but an early Greeves
Silverstone upheld the British two-stroke flag. Bultacos and Suzukis also
chased the winning 250 Honda.
The Pre-1947 class was small but with good variety.
A B-33 BSA was passed several times by a WR Harley before pulling out a
slim victory chased by a '47 Triumph and a 4-valve, bronze head Rudge.
In the Forgotten Era class a TZ 500 won on Saturday in the sunshine but
the rain came on Sunday and Bo Granath, at around 60 years old, on a Nico
Bakken framed TZ 350 prevailed over the other TZ 350, TZ 500, TZ 750, RG
500's 860 Ducati & Guzzi LeMans. Bo Granath also rode to 3rd place
in the S.O.S. class on a Harris framed Husaberg on Sunday with an MuZ Skorpion
beating the very trick ONO-GDM Rotax (which won Saturday) and a couple
Gilera Pumas.
In the 750 class on Saturday, Pither chased Hasse
Gustafson on very fast V2 Ducati 750 with event organizer and Team Obsolete
liaison Odd Gunnar Moe third and a Nourish Triumph 8-valve twin fourth.
But Sunday in the wet Pither retired with ignition problems after challenging
for the lead, and Swede Magnus Carlson having cured the suspension problems
that held him to 4th Sat, took a convincing win on a Rob North Rocket-3
over the Gustafson Ducati with the Yabsa taking third. Magnus Carlson also
passengered on a Triumph Triple powered sidecar that won Saturday and was
third Sunday behind Weslake and Honda powered outfits.
In the 500 class, I smoked 'em on the G-50 Saturday,
setting a new Classic lap record. Then on Sunday, shortly after parading
our ex-Agostini MV 500 3 cylinder, I crashed on the warm-up lap and was
unable to start on Sunday. From hero to jerk in minutes. I like to think
it was gasoline on the wet track which the Marshalls said they found, but
we'll never know.
The Arctic Circle Vintage TT is perhaps the best
kept secret in Classic racing with top quality bikes and riders and a world
class circuit in a gorgeous, exotic setting. Team Obsolete is putting the
1999 Arctic Circle Vintage TT on it's schedule now, and possibly we will
also run our Trans Atlantic Match RacesTM
Series there as well.
We would like to thank our sponsors Vanson
Leathers, DomiRacer, Megacycle
Cams, Roadracing World, Red
Line Synthetic Lubricants, Avon Tires, Works Performance, AirTech
& R/D Springs for their support during 1998.
KEVIN CAMERON, DAVE ROPER, MIKE GONTESKY, DON VESCO, AND GORDON MENZIE.
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