Brenner runs away

Now, that's how you win a race at Daytona.

At the Speedway, a big early lead is one way to make sure a rival doesn't use your draft to his advantage in the final turn of the race, and Josef Brenner took no chances. The Elkridge, Maryland, rider got out front in the Classic '60s class and ran away on the second day of AHRMA race action.

But while Brenner would enjoy a 10-second lead by the mid-point on his 1954 BSA Gold Star, David King and Alex McLean dueled for second all race.

The two got within a few bike lengths of each other on the last lap, with King holding the runner-up spot. Indeed, after Brenner ran away, it appeared McLean was content to sit in third behind King, gambling on a draft move on the last ride through NASCAR turn 4.

While that strategy has worked well for other riders here at Daytona, it didn't pay off for McLean, and he had to settle for third. Meanwhile, Brenner got his second win in the Classic '60s event in two days.

In other race action...

Brenner wasn't the only two-race winner in AHRMA racing action this week. Phil Turkington from Willimantic, Connecticut, did just that when he rode his Bultaco to victory in the 250 and 350 Grand Prix classes in Monday’s race action.

“I was just as surprised as everyone to pull off the 250/350 double,” Turkington said. “The motorcycle and rider attrition were key factors.”

Of course, as everyone in the pits knows, with vintage racing, the battle is as much about building the bike as racing it. And Turkington knows a little bit about that.

His winning machine runs a Bultaco engine in a frame that Turkington built himself, based on a Bultaco motocrosser. One of the trickest parts is the four-leading-shoe Fontana drum brake, which he says is powerful enough to smooth the transition from his modern racebike to the Bultaco.

He says that riding the small-bore two-stroke, which is geared for a top speed of about 115 mph, presents some unique concerns around the high banks of Daytona.

“I was going around the oval with one hand on the clutch the whole time, waiting for a detonation,” he explains.

But Turkington says that the history of Daytona makes winning here really special.

“Every year, I take the trophies from that season and put them away,” he says. “I only save the special ones. The Daytona trophies will stay on the mantle.”

Unfortunately, Turkington would miss his chance at more more keepers on Tuesday when he, along with several other riders, ran off the track at the start of the 250 GP race and missed the rest of the day's racing. 

© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association