Document text
63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 13, 2004 Harsha eager to hop back on cycle Saturday By DON HUNT Mail Tribune A serious accident while competing in a flat track motorcycle race left Jeff Harsha in a hospital for 10 days in 1997. The accident left the Central Point man with a serious brain injury that caused slurred speech and a loss of memory. Harsha vowed he would never again race a motorcycle, but he broke his promise last summer when he climbed on a friend’s bike and won the Top Gun 450 class at the Gene Romaro West Coast Flat Track Series race at the Southern Oregon Speedway. "I had a blast," Harsha, 40, says. "You don’t ever completely get racing out of your system, but I’d forgotten just how much fun it was to get out there and fly around the track. "The adrenaline rush is incredible." Advertisement Harsha had so much fun that he’ll climb on another two-wheeler Saturday night as the popular motorcycle racing event returns to the White City track for the third straight year. Time trials are set for 5:15 p.m. with the main racing to follow. This year, Harsha will compete in the open class while riding a 600 cubic centimeter Rotax bike — a more powerful, and faster, machine than he was on a year ago. The long layoff didn’t seem to affect Harsha last year. The drywall supervisor started to get comfortable during time trials and heat races, and was back to his old self by the main event. Harsha dueled wheel-to-wheel with old friend Robert Horban of Grants Pass, passing him on the fourth lap of the eight-lap main event and pulling away for the victory. "You’re pretty much on the edge the whole time," Harsha says. "You can’t slack off or somebody will blow past you, and one slip-up can put you on the dirt." Harsha knows the competition will be much tougher in the open class, where the riders will be tearing around the oval at speeds approaching 100 mph. Jethro Graham, a 17-year-old from Graham, Wash., and Ken Carlotta of Gilroy, Wash., rank 1-2 in the open class points race. Rounding out the assortment of cycles will be two vintage divisions — the regular vintage class and a new classic vintage class that features twin-cylinder, four-stroke engines. The vintage machines were built prior to 1976. Veteran Rick Hocking, who started his career in the 1970s, has won five of six races in the regular vintage category this season. Promoter Gene Romaro expects about 70 competitors for the event, which ranked No. 1 in attendance at the speedway in 2002 and 2003. "We couldn’t believe the turnout that first year," Southern Oregon Speedway promoter John Skinner says. "People love to watch motorcycles race on dirt. It’s fast and furious action, and there’s no such thing as an easy fall." The flat track series will compete in Cottage Grove tonight, in Castle Rock, Wash., on Aug. 21 and in Renton, Wash., on Aug. 18 and Aug. 20. FRANK WORD III ROARED to his sixth victory of the summer in the pro stocks class last Saturday, and in the process increased his point standings lead to a commanding 112 points over John David Duffie. Word, 47, has improved his driving skills each year since he traded boat racing for car racing in 1998. He’s zeroing in on his third straight points title after finishing third in 2000 and second in 2001. "I think a lot of our success has to do with making sure every part on the car is ready to go every week," says Word, who pilots a 2002 Chevy. "We don’t have any DNFs (did not finishes) this year and that goes a long way (in winning a points title." But the driver is every bit as important as the car. And Word showcased his expertise last Saturday when he started 12th in a 21-car field and won going away. WHILE SPEEDWAY OFFICIALS expect a crowd of about 3,000 for Saturday’s motorcycle races, track manager Teresa Lowe believes an even bigger crowd could be on hand Oct. 2-3 for an inaugural supercross race that will feature the legendary Jeremy McGrath. "We’ve gotten several e-mails from riders and spectators wanting to know about that race," Lowe says. "We think that one could be huge." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities