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Welcome to the BIKE DAYS site
Wauseon National Classic Flat Track Race Friday July 20th 2012 By Larry Barnes In six quick years, the Wauseon National Classic Flat Track Half Mile Race, and the accompanying
AMCA National Meet, has become the place to be, if you are into vintage and antique motorcycle races. 155 riders
brought their rare and valuable bikes to compete with each other in ten different classes, ranging from 100 year old board
trackers to 70's and 80's twins and singles. And if that weren't enough, the event also featured a Speedway Long Track
National event! The
Wauseon race is now only rivaled in size by the Davenport, IA race held in September at the Chief Black Hawk Meet. And
they are both part of the Classic Flat Track National Championship Series that also holds races in Elkhorn, Wisconsin and
Knoxville, Iowa. In front of a packed grandstand, rider
Paul Bailey gave a stirring rendition of the national anthem, dressed in full race leathers. Then came a parade lap
by the Motor Maids of America, a tradition that began at races generations ago. And the first bikes on the track were
three antique Flexi-sidecar rigs, something not seen in a hundred years or so! You can see a great Youtube.com
video of the event by "Chew & Mia" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGKKohVZo7U&feature=player_embedded When racing started, twelve ancient board trackers were topped by Carl
Estes, of Loveland Park, OH on his 1929 HD. Then George Wills won the Handshift class on his '51 HD, topping two-time
Wauseon winner Doug Horner and his Indian Sport Scout and a field of 11 foot-clutch hand-shifters. George Roeder II
rode a Kelly George built, Indian Chief in this race, but graciously passed the victory flag on to Wills. The most-entered class and probably the most exciting races of the night were
put on by the vintage twins (thru 1983) class with 35 riders. It took four heats and two last chance qualifiers to set
up a three-row 18 bike main event, including such riders as George Roeder II, Chad Rall, and 71 year-old "On Any Sunday"
rider Jack Warren. Warren then overcame a penalty line start to win a thrilling race over the two "big names"
Roeder and Rall. Roeder and Rall later competed in their annual
Wauseon "grudge match," with Rall coming out the victor this year when Roeder's Norton failed. The score is now
tied, with Roeder winning in 2011, and Rall in 2012. The
crowd really enjoyed the high-speed, dirt flying National Speedway events with Dan Weicht topping such names as John Debats,
Chad Rall, Chris Hathaway and Ohio's patriarch rider, Ronnie Rall. The senior Rall had both knees replaced just six
months ago. I asked him if he should be risking them so soon and he said "Why not? I put up 1500 bales of
hay yesterday and that didn't hurt too much." Sponsors of the race are: Oury Grip, PJ's Fabrication, Spectro Oils, Wiseco. click for: WAUSEON NATIONAL RACE RESULTS Featuring: The Classic Flat Track National Championship Series The Speedway Long Track National Championship
George Roeder II and Chad Rall match raced at intermission during the Wauseon
National Classic Flat Track Races. Rall came out on top, leaving the score: Roeder
with 1 win, and Rall with 1 win. photo courtesy of David Moore
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