22nd annual Michigan HPV Rally – June 11-12, 2005

By Mike Mowett (mostly) and Mike Eliasohn

The rally attracted 37 entries on Saturday and 26 on Sunday. We had 44 last year and the record of 50 was set in 2001. Competitors came from Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania — and coming the farthest, Patrick Grant, who drove 690 miles from Laceys Spring, Alabama (near Huntsville) with two tricycles.

The two one-hour time trials were held Saturday morning. Then after the lunch break, it started raining and kept raining. Finally about 4:30, President Wally declared an early start to the traditional dinner at Big Boy.

After a two-hour dinner, we came back to the track and successfully ran the hill climb/coast down. After six or so riders ran the 1 kilometer, it started raining again, which caused some problems with the pressure sensitive switches that Warren Beauchamp made, so we called it a night.

Story of the day:

Sean Costin recovered from a dropped chain/gearing problem in his Coslinger streamliner on the hill during the one-hour time trial in the morning, then came back to win the evening hill climb in a record 18.6 seconds on his stock class Monkeyhand, the first ever sub-20 second run on the track.

Rick Gritters had the previous record at 20.06 seconds. These earlier runs were done with hand timing. Warren's new pressure sensitive switch tapes was used for this event, with one tape at the bottom of the hill and one at the top.

From a historical perspective, the two one-hour time trials were the fastest ever, based on the average of the top 10 speeds -- 27.0 mph. In 2002, we averaged 26.4 mph. What hurt in the hour races was the temperature was a blazing 89 to 91 degrees, with high humidity.

John Simon, in his 15+ year old Terry Hreno-built Moby streamliner has been a fixture (or top speed person) at Waterford every year. He’s won the sprints and hour time trial numerous times. He told me it was the first time he’s ever been lapped in the hour on the track, as both Rick and Warren passed him. He asked if everyone is getting faster or is he getting slower. The answer is: Rick and Warren have gotten faster, as John is running about the same 30 to 31 mph hour times as in years past, from a check of the records.

Rick, from Pella, Iowa, won in the streamliner class, 32.5 miles, followed by Warren, from Big Rock, Ill., 31.7 miles. Both were racing streamliners they built themselves. John, from Portland, was third, 30.1 miles.

Other time trial winners, all riding low racers, were: Super stock, Doug Pertner, St. Clair Shores, Optima with homemade fairing, 25.6 miles; superstock, Chris Evans, Flint, Velokraft, 25.4 miles; stock, Frank Geyer, Brighton, Challenge Jester, 25.8 miles; junior, Charlie Ollinger, West Milton, Ohio, M5, 21.5 miles; women, Kathy Eagen, Marietta, Ill., low racer built by Rick Gritters, 17.9 miles.

Hill climb winners, in addition to Sean Costin in the stock class, were: Streamliner, Rick Gritters, 21.03 seconds; super street, Mike Mowett, upright Cervelo with body sock, 20.06 seconds; super stock, Chris Cortez, Chicago, Earth Cycles Sunset lowracer, 27.9 seconds; junior, Charlie Ollinger, 20.31 seconds; and women, Amy Miller, Dayton, Ohio, Schwinn "10-speed," 26.72 seconds.

Coast down winners were: Streamliner, John Simon; super street, Rich Sadler, Quakertown, Pa., homebuilt bike and fairing; super stock, Chris Cortez; stock, Sean Costin; junior, Charlie Ollinger; women, Kathy Eagen.

Sunday Events

Standing start 1-kilometer time trial winners. (The six or so who ran Saturday night had their choice of accepting that time or running again Sunday morning, but couldn't run Sunday and then take their best time.): Streamliners, Rick Gritters, 31.9 mph; super street, Mike Mowett, 28.0 mph; super stock, Chris Cortez, 21.4 mph; stock, Sean Costin, 29.8 mph; junior, Charlie Ollinger, 25.2 mph; women, Amy Miller, 20.2 mph.

Timing for the sprints on Sunday morning started having problems half-way through when the rain started coming down again! So we took a quick poll of riders waiting to go and decided to hand-time. Thanks to Terry Gerweck for this. The timing trap is 200 feet long. In track and field, it is commonly accepted in 100 meter sprint events that automatic timing is 0.14 seconds faster than hand-timing. In stock class, on the Monkeyhand, Sean went agonizingly close to 40 mph (39.99 mph – electronic timed). OK, Sean we’ll round up for you. Not bad for unfaired.

Rick Gritters threw down a 41.57 mph (electronic-timed) for the fastest speed of the day.

Other winners: Super street, Rich Saddler, 35.51 mph, followed by Mike Mowett, St. Clair Shores, 35.24 mph; superstock, Chris Cortez, 30.1 mph; junior, Charlie Ollinger, 33.8 mph; and women, Kathy Eagen, 27.8 mph.

In past years, the rally concluded with two road races, one for the "fast group, those over 35 mph in the sprints,” and the other for the “slow” group.

This year, with participation being a bit down on Sunday, we only had one road race and no streamliners were entered. Fast guys Rick Gritters and John Simon had already gone home, and Warren didn’t race. Sean “King of the Hill / sprints” had a mechanical problem again, but since he dropped behind, I (Mike M.) was able to make it up to second place. I averaged 25.5 mph in 30 minutes for 12.75 miles, but had it been official, it might have been faster. (It seems my speedometer is reading low at every event). Frank claims he saw me behind him near the end because I’m up high with a bag over my head – literally!, but I never could see him, he was so far ahead! Dennis on his Jester was moving along well. The top five finishers were all within a lap or two, including Wally Keihler and Charlie Ollinger. Charlie’s looking strong!

Frank Geyer finished first, with Mike M. second and Wally Kiehler on his Lightning F40 third.

There was a turtle crossing the road during the road race. He made his way slowly across towards the infield and was there lap after lap till Warren thankfully came across the track and rescued it. We also spotted deer and a baby fawn during the weekend.

Road race results did not count as part of the standings. The top two in each class were: Streamliner, 1) Rick Gritters, 2) Warren Beauchamp; superstreet, 1) Mike Mowett, 2) Rich Sadler; superstock, Chris Cortez; 2) Chris Evans, Flint, Velokraft low racer; stock, 1) Sean Costin, 2) Rick Gritters; junior, Charlie Ollinger (the only competitor); and women, 1) Kathy Eagen, 2) Amy Miller.