VANSON LEATHERS TRANS ATLANTIC MATCH RACES™
presented by Team Obsolete
Dutch TT - TT Circuit Assen - June 24-26, 1999

By Dave Roper and Erik Green
Pictures by Kake Heikkinen available here

The latest venue for Team Obsolete's Vanson Leathers Trans Atlantic Match Races™ (TAMR) informal world tour was the historic Circuit van Drenthe at the Dutch TT in Assen, Holland on June 24-26, site of the F.I.M. World Championship Grand Prix. Prior venues were Daytona International Speedway, Laguna Seca, and Cadwell Park (UK). The usual TAMR™ format was expanded for this event to incorporate a third team. The Europeans joined the traditional British and American teams. TAMR™ racers were privileged to be racing on the 3.756 mile Grand Prix circuit for the last time. It will be shortened after this year’s World Superbike race because of local noise considerations. The circuit is fast and flowing with a smooth surface and phenomenal traction, with all the FIM homologated amenities such as gravel traps, air-fence and generous run-off.

Wednesday’s practice dealt a blow to the American team when Johnny Kain fell on the first lap, and Adam Popp lost the primary drive on his M3 Racing CR750 Honda. M3's owner/manager Mark McGrew was able to repair the Honda with parts donated by a local fan. After the first day of practice the Europeans were clearly the strongest team.

In Thursday's practice before the first TAMR™ race, the freshly repaired M3 Racing CR750 Honda dropped a valve just as Popp was coming up to speed. Again the American team was falling behind as Popp was clearly one of the fastest competitors. Despite heroic efforts, McGrew was unable to get the bike on the track again. Also not starting Thursday's race, due to an ignition gremlin, was Cal Rayborn III on the same XR750 raced by his late father 27 years ago. Having just had a handful of laps of practice up until that point, Rayborn was still among the fastest riders at the event. Fastest practice time was set by Euro Team Captain Sandro Baumann on a Triumph III.

Vanson Leathers Trans Atlantic Match Race™ Number One was led flag to flag by Swede, Hasse Gustafson on his immaculately prepared, Team Teknik 750 short stroke Ducati. American racegoers saw Gustafson place second place earlier this year at the Daytona Formula 750 race. Second place was British Team Captain and TAMR™ regular Dave Pither on his Triumph Triple. Third was fellow Brit Colin Breeze on a BSA Triple despite a box full o' neutrals. Fourth was the first 500, Dutchman Stefan Slootjes on a Seeley G-50. First American was John Long, on an Alan Windsor Triumph III. Meanwhile American Team Captain, Dave Roper was making beautiful music on the Team Obsolete, ex-Agostini MV Agusta 500/3 as he finished seventh overall and third 500. Cycle World staffer Don Canet on the Dutch made, ABSAF Seeley Gold Star swapped back and forth with Superfrog Yvon Duhamel on Mike Braid's BSA III. Canet finally prevailed when Duhamel overshot a turn allowing Canet an unassailable lead to finish ninth. Euro Captain Baumann’s initial threat never materialized because of fuel delivery problem.

The first race ended with the Europeans ahead on overall points. However, when the points were adjusted for the relative sizes of each team, the UK was first with 45 points, the Euros had 41 and the Americans had 34 points.

Friday's practice dealt another blow to the Americans when the Hicksville Assassin (i.e. USA Team Captain, Dave Roper) spun out the MV Agusta 500/3. Roper had been having erratic throttle response while accelerating out of corners. As he was experimenting with carb settings in Friday's practice the back end came around with unfortunately more damage being done to the bike than could be repaired for Saturday's race. Roper miraculously escaped serious injury at the hands of Team Obsolete boss, Rob Iannucci and the angry crowd. However, the Europeans also suffered a setback when Gustafson broke his gearbox, which could not be quickly repaired. On the positive side, three days of hard work revived Johnny Kain's Seeley G-50, and Cal Rayborn's XR750TT H-D was running again. Dave Roper also was able to obtain a ride on a spare ABSAF Gold Star.

Immediately following Tady Okada's win in the FIM 500 GP with well over a 110,000 spectators still in attendance, the second Vanson Leathers Trans Atlantic Match Race™ took to the track. The race was preceded by a lap of honor by six times F.I.M. World Champion, Jim Redman, M.B.E. who was the first man to win three Grands Prix on the same day, at Assen in 1964. Redman was joined by Dutch National hero Wil Hartog. Redman rode an MV Agusta Four and Hartog rode a RG500 Suzuki warming up the crowd for the upcoming Match Race.

At the beginning of race number two a European again jumped into the lead, but this time it was Euro Team Captain, Sandro Bauman on his Triumph III. Cal Rayborn III was in hot pursuit on the surprisingly rapid XR750 Harley-Davidson. But soon the Harley started to fade as it was once again overcome by ignition problems. A third of the way through the first lap, Roper's Gold Star expired due to unknown expensive causes. UK Team Captain Dave Pither, who moments before the start of the race had complained that he still didn't know the circuit, set-off after Bauman and turned the fastest lap of the race. As Rayborn's Harley continued to fade, first Pither and then Dutchmen De Ridder and Slootjes, both on Seeley G-50's, went by. Rayborn finally retired on the ninth lap, stating that his first ride on an XR750TT had given him "new respect" for his late father. On the fifth lap, Colin Breeze woke up and passed Slootjes and De Ridder. De Ridder retired on the next lap. Duhamel finally started to become comfortable with his bike, leaving Canet and overtaking John Long only to have his ignition fail on the tenth of twelve laps, setting the finish order. Bauman took the checkered followed by UK members Pither and Breeze, all three on "Besumph" triples. First 500 again was Stefan Slootjes followed by 750 rider John Long and the 500 of Don Canet.

When the total points were tallied and adjusted, the Brits extended their score over the Europeans 94 to 73 with the Americans coming in at 64 points. The celebrated Hailwood Trophy for individual high points score was handed over from previous winner Vernon Glashier back to Dave Pither who had held it twice before.

The Vanson Leathers Trans Atlantic Match Races™ have again proven to be a popular success. Team Obsolete has been invited to expand its program for next year. Stay Tuned. The Vanson Leathers Trans Atlantic Match Races™ are sponsored by Vanson Leathers, DomiRacer, Megacycle Cams, Cycle World Magazine, Avon Tires, Works Performance, AirTech & R/D Springs.

(Points have been adjusted for number of starters on each day)

tamr@teamobsolete.com