Flat track cycles at Eagle Track
Flat track motorcycle racing is looking for a new home and after this weekend it may have found one.
With Playfair leveled and out of the picture, promoter Todd Somers it looking north to Republic and Eagle Track where this Saturday he will put motorcycles on the big three-eighth’s-mile oval for the first time.
The bikes will be part of the already scheduled stock car program and offer fans an added bonus for their $10 admission. Gates open at 10 a.m. with racing at 1 p.m. Bike racing entry fees are $20.
“Buck Strauch (track president) approached me about putting on a motorcycle race in conjunction with their Kids Day event,” Somers said.
Classes will range from 50cc’s to Quads and Pros, Somers said. Also included are Quads, which Somers thinks will be of huge interest. Eagle Track’s three regular classes, Street Stocks, Open Wheel and Fever Fours, will also race.
With a lack of facilities to run a big event, Republic could be the future for dirt tracking.
The event is drawing interest from American Motorcyclist Association officials who will attend the race.
“We’re losing tracks, like Playfair, left and right,” Somers said.
According to Somers, the officials from Eagle Track, which was built for stock cars, “have really freshened up the place,” with new guard rail. Of course, for the bikes that new safety barrier will be lined with hay bales.
“We appreciate being able to go and run,” Somers said. “A two-and-a-half hour drive is nothing.”
Eagle Track is located just South of Republic on Highway 21. There is camping available at the track.
Info: Todd Somers (509) 921-6432.
Kopp rebounds for Rapid City win
After suffering a crash, minor injuries and a dismal finish last weekend at Farley, Iowa, Mica’s Joe Kopp rebounded to claim his second AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track victory of the season Tuesday night at Rapid City, S.D.
The Rapid City race marked the halfway point in the 2004 season and Kopp now trails Chris Carr, Tuesday’s runner-up, by 25 points.
At Farley, Kopp wound up a disappointing 11th, his day starting off with a hard crash in qualifying heat forcing him onto his backup bike for the rest of the night.
Carr (184 points/four wins) leads Kopp (159 points/two wins) with nine races to go and the next being Aug. 22 at Peoria, Illinois.
Hydros race at Scooteney
Scooteney Reservoir near Othello, Wash. is the site of the fourth race of the year for Northwest Water Competition hydroplanes and flat-bottom race boats.
The George Nordling Invitational Regatta will feature Nostalgic Circle Boat and outboard hydroplanes both Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission charge to view some of the fastest hydroplanes and inboard flat bottom boats in the Northwest. Racing starts at 11 a.m. each day.
Also scheduled to appear are vintage 266 hydroplanes.
Info: (509) 255-6237 or www.nwh2oracer.com.
Pit stops
The fifth event of the 2004 Autosports Northwest of PPG Certified Autocross Series will be at Spokane Raceway Park on Sunday. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Info: Gary Klawitter (509) 926-8157 or www.autosportsnorthwest.org.
•Spokane Raceway Park hosts the Spokane Pro Gas Association along with bracket drags. Sportsman Superstocks headline on the oval. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7.
Results from last week’s AHRA World Finals drag racing event at SRP were not provided results to The Spokesman-Review.
•Winged Sprints and Vintage Modifieds, along with Hobby Stocks and Street Stocks will race at Stateline Speedway on Saturday. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.
The Northwest will stage another big drag race this weekend when Boise’s Firebird Dragway hosts its 28th annual Nightfire Nationals and Bracketeers. Spokesman Scott New said 25-Nitro cars (Fuel Altered and Fuel Dragsters) are pre-entered. Info: (208) 938-8986 or www.firebirdonline.com.
Streaks and stats
Rick Schultz became the first driver in the five year history of Stateline Speedway’s Idaho 200 to lead every lap of the race. John Gamble was runner-up for the second year in a row after winning the race in 2001 and 2002. … Spokane’s Gary Allen said he “felt pretty good after the weekend,” of competition at last week’s Idaho 200 at Stateline Speedway, and why not. First, Allen set a new Outlaw Compacts with a 15.22 second time trial lap, then picked up wins in the “A” heat and Main event. … Jason Jefferson of Yakima lead all but the final 112 laps on the way to the win in last Saturday’s NASCAR Northwest Series race in Kalispell, Mont. … Spokane’s Matt Hall started 15th and finished 13th in the RentQuest/Affordable Graphics Chevrolet, one lap down to the leader. Next race is this Saturday at Yakima for the Frank’s Chevrolet 125.