Flashback to 10 years ago for Scenic Vet Race......my Cyclenews article from the event. I did not race this event because I had ACL repair surgery in July of that season. I remember Double D brought a quad for me to use as a pitbike at the race....
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Persistent Pape Pockets 2 Wins
Midwest Senior/Vet National
Scenic Highlands Motosports Park
Newcomerstown, Ohio - September 06, 2003
By: John Kreps
Ohio's Jeff Pape used plenty of the experience he gained running Pro National qualifiers this summer to garner two Vet titles recently at the Midwest Senior/Vet National. Pape, a resident of Louisville, had his hands full in the +25 and +30 A classes, especially considering he was racing a YZ125 two-stroke against the hordes of big bore thumpers prominent these days in the age classes. His day started off in the first moto of the day with a hard fought second to Chris Opliger and his Honda CRF450. Opliger and Pape were only a few bike lengths apart the entire moto, with the stubborn Opliger holding off several late charges to take the win. Pape came out swinging in the second moto, again behind Opliger, but this time managed to get around, taking the win and the overall +30 A title.
In the +25 A class, things were a little tougher for Pape, with "youngsters" Greg Hudak and Jason Rogers added to the mix. Opliger again roared to the front, with Rogers, Hudak, and Pape in tow. Hudak was soon pressuring for the lead, and a mistake dropped Opliger back two spots, allowing Pape into second. Rogers was feeling the affects of not racing for several weeks, and eventually dropped of the pace of the three leaders. Hudak took the moto one victory with Pape in tow. Moto two saw Rogers back on track with the early lead and wire to wire win on his CRF450. The fight for the overall raged between Hudak and Pape, with Pape besting his younger competitor and taking the overall victory via a 2-2 moto score.
In the B classes, "Rocket" Robin McClain continued his dominance of B class Vet racing with a victory in the +25 B class, but a late stall in moto two of the +30 B class cost him the win. Ken Mcgowen of Bellville, Oh kept the pressure on and it paid off when McClain stalled, allowing Mcgowen to cruise to an easy win and the overall. Second place in the +25 B went to Adam Neu and his CRF450, with Mark Weininger rounding out the podium. Neu was able to salvage a podium spot in the +30 B as well, after a tough first moto left him in sixth. The Wapakoneta native turned it around in moto two with a fine third place moto finish, and overall. Don Ruble dominated the +40 B and +45 classes, winning all four motos. Blaine Ducaster also won both motos of the Senior +50 class.
Some of the most popular classes these days, the C classes provided great racing. Mike Gerber destroyed the +25 C class, showing some of his big-race skill from recently competing at Loretta Lynn's in the 250C class. Mike Somers and Rich Silvers rounded out the top three. Silvers later avenged his loss +25 C, taking both moto wins in the +30 C. Following the Ohioan across the line was the Kawasaki of Mark Kirk of Saint Albans, WV, and the Suzuki of William Sabo of Pittsburgh, PA. Plus 40 C class saw a heated battle between the top three finishers of Marc Monroe, Kurt Mosher, and Jim Douglas. Monroe was able to work to the lead both motos, leaving Mosher and Douglas to duke it out for second, with Mosher getting the edge.
Results:
Plus 25 A: 1. Jeffrey Pape (Yam); 2. Gregory Hudak (Hon); 3. Jason Rogers (Yam); 4. Christopher Opliger (Hon); 5. Joshua Dohn (Hon).
Plus 25 B: 1. Robin Mcclain (Ktm); 2. Adam Neu (Hon); 3. Mark Weininger (Yam); 4. Shawn Gaskill (Yam); 5. David Grega (Yam).
Plus 25 C: 1. Michael Gerber (Yam); 2. Mike Somers (Suz); 3. Rich Silvers (Kaw); 4. Mark Kirk (Kaw); 5. Chris Vialand (Hon).
Plus 30 A: 1. Jeffrey Pape (Yam); 2. Christopher Opliger (Hon); 3. Joshua Dohn (Hon); 4. John Gallagher (Hon); 5. Tony Brown (Yam).
Plus 30 B: 1. Ken Mcgowen (Hon); 2. Robin Mcclain (Ktm); 3. Adam Neu (Hon); 4. David Grega (Yam); 5. Jim Griffith (Yam).
Plus 30 C: 1. Rich Silvers (Kaw); 2. Mark Kirk (Kaw); 3. William Sabo (Suz); 4. Dieter Koechling (Hon); 5. Joseph Olszak (Ktm).
Plus 40 A: 1. Robert Curtin (Suz).
Plus 40 B: 1. Don Ruble (Hon); 2. Jeffrey Miller (Yam); 3. Marc Baumann (Ktm); 4. Scott Highland (Ktm); 5. Chris Nelson (Yam).
Plus 40 C: 1. Marc Monroe (Hon); 2. Kurt Mosher (Ktm); 3. Jim Douglas (Yam); 4. James Miller (Kaw); 5. Ted Keating (Hon).
Plus 45: 1. Don Ruble (Hon); 2. Terry Deliman (Suz); 3. Todd Ervin (Yam); 4. Blaine Duecaster (Hon); 5. Jim Douglas (Yam).
Plus 50: 1. Blaine Duecaster (Hon); 2. Dennis Mcdonald (Kaw); 3. Tom Lewis (Kaw); 4. Lawrence Brill (Ktm); 5. Jerry Boyd (Yam).