SEMDRA at South Georgia Motorsports Park May 29-30, 2009

by Marvin T. Smith

The Southeastern Motorcycle Drag Racing Association staged a big event at South Georgia Motorsports Park May 29-30. Bikes from all over the Southeast participated in seven classes in the eighth mile format.
Headlining the event were the Pro Mod cycles. Travis Davis qualified number one in the twelve bike field and went on to score the win. In the finals, Davis ran low elapsed time of the event at 4.252 at 168 to defeat Lance Hines’ 4.33 at 169.38. Carlos Wilkerson was the semifinalist.
Twenty-seven bikes battled for the win in Top Gas. Racing on a 5.10 index, Curtis Clark of Florence, Mississippi, defeated Robin Procopio of Wake Forest, North Carolina, when Procopio broke out. Clark ran a fine 5.116 for the win.
The 35 bike Super Comp field was topped by Deshawn Wheeler of Louisville, Kentucky when he defeated John Falciglia of Davie, Florida. Wheeler ran 5.624 on the 5.60 index to beat Falciglia’s 5.698.
In Ultra Street, after six hard rounds of racing, Georgian Terry Singleton defeated Tim Patrick when Patrick broke out with a close 5.991 on the 6.00 index. Singleton ran 6.042.
Six rounds of Super Street boiled down to Stanley Russell beating Thomas Whytas in a double break-out final.
It took seven rounds, but Mike Lakoskey defeated Roy Koch in the final of Pro ET when Koch fouled.
Seventy-seven bikes raced in Street ET. In the eighth round, Andy Lynch of South Carolina defeated Georgian Jerome Hill when Hill broke out. Lynch ran a fine 6.465 on his 6.46 dial for the win.
In the V-Twin class, Troy Kersey of Naples, Florida defeated Hunter Hancock of Georgia in a double break-out final. Both ran on a 7.74 dial.

Summit ET event at Atlanta Dragway

MASTER ABNEY SCHOOLS GRASSHOPPER BURFORD
By: Amy Glover

(Commerce, GA – May 30) Tonight’s race exposed some Atlanta Dragway regulars as serious competition, with many names reappearing in the top spots of each category. Mel Abney and JD Burford gained another opportunity to race it out, reworking the last race’s (May 9) Sportsman final. Chad Brewer won his second Pro race of the 2009 season, and Jay “Bird” Rhyne is proving to be a Motorcycle winning-machine, laying out consistency with experience as a double-threat. The weather was crystal-clear after several other events rained out, setting up perfect conditions for the well-maintained dragstrip. Racers were also treated to the Pro Stock Motorycles of Junior Pippin and his protégé Doug Horne, both zooming to the quarter mile line in the 180’s (mph) in 7 seconds. Also, Clayton Reeves, former Atlanta Dragway racer, tested out his impressive new Top Alcohol dragster, covering the quarter mile mark in 7.09 seconds at 192.36 mph.

Gainesville’s Brad Howard got the bye-run into the finals, pitting his ’02 Miller Dragster against Stan Sinack’s ’69 Dart. Sinack (Lilburn, GA) left the line first with a .020 reaction time, while Howard chased with a -.018 red-light, instantly handing the win to Sinack, who ran under his 6.62 dial-in with a 6.56 ET at 103.96 mph. Howard drove it out with a 4.90 on his 4.89 dial, at 141.00 mph. The win was intense for Sinack, who worked very hard to make it to the final. Sinack thanked Bill Boomhower, Ed Nalley, and Cindy and James Rice for their help. Sinack also dedicated his victory to his late mother Betty Vihinen. Jim McKelvey (Loganville, GA) ended his evening in his (self-proclaimed) ’98 Junk.

The Pro final featured Rickey Morris (’80 Chevelle – Ellenwood, GA) up against Chad Brewer (’67 Camaro – Canton, GA). With an even split agreed to for the prize money, both men raced for the honor. Brewer left the starting line with a formidable .003 reaction time, followed by Morris’ weaker .102 green light. Morris couldn’t catch up, when Brewer crossed the win stripe with a 7.28 on his 7.27 dial-in, at 91.99 mph, while Morris finished with a 7.02 on his 6.97 dial, at 97.49 mph. Brewer, who was “just having a blast,” thanked once more the mysterious ‘”Mayor of Hickory Flat.” Jim Barton (’67 Corvette – Cumming, GA) ended his night as the sole Pro semi-finalist.

The Sportsman final was a re-run of the previous Summit ET race, when JD “Doc” Burford (Greenville, SC) met up with buddy and mentor Mel Abney (Cumming, GA) in the last round. Abney pulled out all the stops in his ’67 Camaro, against Burford’s ’07 Corvette, in hopes of altering the outcome (as Burford won the last race). Abney took the advantage on the tree, reacting with a .038 green light against Burford’s later reaction time. The pursuit for the win stripe was neck-and-neck, but Burford defeated himself at the end, breaking out with a 13.15 elapsed time on a 13.17 dial-in, at 110.33 mph. Abney was the victor, crossing the line at 103.94 mph, with a 13.07 on his13.02 dial-in. Pro winner Chad Brewer joked, “The master didn’t teach the grasshopper all his skills.” Abney insisted, “I just got lucky tonight,” but let slip with a grin, “We’re even now.” Abney thanked his wife “for making it possible to come and race,” and his fellow racers who “put on a good race, and made things exciting.” Allen Long (’96 Chevy 1500 – Ballground, GA) and Nick Wagner (’04 Dodge Neon – Jefferson, GA) were the Sportsman semi-finalists.

The motorcycle final featured old and new bikes, with Paul Cavanaugh (Loganville, GA) racing his ’02 Hayabusa against Jay “Bird” Rhyne (Athens, GA) on his trusty ’81 Kawasaki. Rhyne left the line first with a .033 reaction, Cavanaugh following with a .155 green light. Cavanaugh’s Hayabusa chased Rhyne to the finish line, crossing with a 9.65 ET on a 9.60 prediction, at 147.55 mph. Rhyne’s better reaction time determined his victory, as he finished with a 12.40 elapsed time on his 12.32 dial-in, at 94.11 mph. Howard Bowman (Homer, GA) finished in the semi-final round on his ’06 Harley.

In the 8-12 Junior Dragster Category, Austin Solesbee (11 – Sautee, GA) was up against Alexander Krause (11 – Peachtree City, GA) for the final run. Solesbee left first with a .061 light, Krause pursuing with a .106 green. Krause finished with a 9.00 ET on his 8.95 prediction at 71.29 mph, but Solesbee stole the show with a tighter 9.07 ET on a 9.03 dial, at 71.39 mph. The final was Solesbee’s first win, making the day very special for the multi-talented junior racer, who also sings and acts. Solesbee commented, “It was nerve-wracking.” He also thanked his mom and dad for their help and support. 8-12 Junior points leader Chris Bowden (13 – Homer, GA) was the category’s semi-finalist.

The 13-17 Junior Dragster final featured a mutual 7.90 dial-in duel between Bailey Denton (15 – McDonough, GA) and Chase Mullinax (17 – Buford, GA). Mullinax left first with a .043 light, Denton following closely with a .067 reaction. Denton later reflected, “We pedaled a lot.” Mullinax ran too quickly, breaking out with a 7.88 at 78.86 mph, while Denton stayed on top of things with an 8.02 ET at 63.24 mph. Denton thanked her parents, grandparents, and brother for the win. Leighann Mayfield (16 – Gainesville, GA) and Mitchell Hennessee (13 – Dallas, GA) were the semi-finalists.

Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2009 events, including the 29th Annual SUPER CHEVY SHOW "Feel the Power" Tour on June 5-7, 2009, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Stan Sinack ’69 Dart Lilburn, GA 6.56 103.96 (6.62)
R/U: Brad Howard ’02 Miller Dragster Gainesville, GA 4.90 141.00 (4.89) (foul)
Semi: Jim McKelvey ’98 Junk Snellville, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer ’67 Camaro Canton, GA 7.28 91.99 (7.27)
R/U: Rickey Morris ’80 Malibu Ellenwood, GA 7.02 97.49 (6.97)
Semi: Jim Barton ’67 Corvette Cumming, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney ’67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.07 103.94 (13.02)
R/U: Jim Burford ’07 Corvette Greenville, SC 13.15 110.33 (13.17)
Semi: Allen Long ’96 Chevy 1500 Ballground, GA
Semi: Nick Wagner ’04 Dodge Neon Jefferson, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay “Bird” Rhyne ’81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.40 94.11 (12.32)
R/U: Paul Cavanaugh ’02 Hayabusa Loganville, GA 9.65 147.55 (9.60)
Semi: Howard Bowman ’06 Harley Homer, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Austin Solesbee 11 Sautee, GA 9.07 71.39 (9.03)
R/U: Alexander Krause 11 Peachtree City, GA 9.00 71.29 (8.95)
Semi: Chris Bowden 13 Homer, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bailey Denton 15 McDonough, GA 8.02 63.24 (7.90)
R/U: Chase Mullinax 17 Buford, GA 7.88 78.86 (7.90)
Semi: Leighann Mayfield 16 Gainesville, GA
Semi: Mitchell Hennessee 13 Dallas, GA