Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Legends Night
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway, Gold Country Fairgrounds
Yarrow Doubles Up
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, June 24, 2016

Friday night along with a full night of exciting speedway racing, Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway paid tribute to motorcycle racing legends and riders who have raced at Fast Friday’s in Auburn at the Gold Country Fairgrounds over the years. Vintage Speedway/Racing Legends Night at Fast Friday’s brought out a handful living legends for the tribute, most retired but a few still racing. Among the legends Friday night was Grass Valley’s Motorcycle World Land Speed Record Holder Rocky “Rocketman” Robinson, the world’s fastest motorcycle rider. In 2010 Robinson piloted a motorcycle with duel 1300cc Suzuki engines and close 1000 horsepower to a world record speed of 376.363, a record that still stands. Earlier in his career Robinson also raced a speedway bike and was regular rider at Fast Fridays from 1982-1990. “We ran three nights a week because we raced in Napa and they were running Baylands in Fremont as well, in 1989 I won the Northern California championship right here,” Robinson said. “After that I kind of got out of it and got into the land speed racing stuff and I been stuck there ever since.” Robinson holds the land speed record for two wheels and is back pushing the speed envelope and would like to break the 400 mph barrier, “To give you some idea how fast 400 mph, it’s two football per second,” he said.

In the speedway program Friday night, it was Bryan Yarrow’s turn to have his way at Fast Friday’s. Yarrow followed Billy Janniro’s lead last week and doubled up winning the handicap and scratch main events. Yarrow is a rider who can never be counted out on any given night, his mild manner is deceiving. In the scratch program Yarrow was second in his heat and first in his semi. He drew lane two and lined up against Bart Bast in lane one, Charlie Venegas in three and Luke Becker in four. Yarrow was out front from the start just ahead of Bast on turn one. Bast was right behind and pestered Yarrow the whole race but could not get around him and had to settle for second, Venegas was third and Becker was fourth.

Off the 40 yard line in the handicap program it was Becker who tried to tame Yarrow. The two kept at it until Yarrow slowly pulled away from Becker. Becker, also off the 40 yard line, finished second after a valiant effort. Tommy Hedden was third and Bast fourth. “Yeah, it was really unexpected, everything just worked out tonight, I really just didn’t feel comfortable all night, I got a good start in the handicap and a terrible gate in the scratch,” Yarrow said.

In Division II Charlie Haines racked up the points, picking up the main event win. Eddie Marsalla was second and in a near photo finish for third Shawn Eldredge held a slight edge over Michael Achilles. The Division III main event was again won by Jeremy Estes who has just ruled Division III for the last three weeks with main event wins. Estes has four main event wins this season so far. Estes started on the 30 yard line Friday night, so next week he will be on the 40 yard line and a win there should bump this guy up to Division II.

In the Youth 250 A main event, Kyle Cunningham found a way to keep ahead of speed demon, and current youth national champ Colton Hicks. Granted Hicks is handicapped on the 60 yard line and Cunningham the 10 yard line, still it takes a good rider and no mistakes to keep ahead of Hicks at any handicap. Gregory Moore was first in the Youth 250 B main event. Alex Martin, one half of the racing Martin Brothers, won the Youth 150 A main event, and Sammy Waddill won the Youth 150 B main event.

In a special Vintage racing program, Jimmy Abrams won the Vintage Flat Track/Run What U Brung main event. On two valve vintage speedway bikes Harlan Bast won the vintage speedway exhibition main event.

Fast Fridays Results for 6-24-16

Scratch Main Event
1-Bryan Yarrow, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Charlie Venegas, 4-Luke Becker

Handicap Main Event
1-Bryan Yarrow, 2-Luke Becker, 3-Tommy Hedden

Division II Main Event
1-Charlie Haines, 2-Eddie Marsalla, 3-Shawn Eldredge

Division III Main Event
1-Jeremy Estes, 2-Hunter Morris, 3-Cameron Beck

Youth 250 A Main Event
1-Kyle Cunningham, 2-Colton Hicks, 3-Dylan Wagner

Youth 250 B Main Event
1-Gregory Moore, 2-Blu VanderBroeder

Youth 150 A Main Event
1-Alex Martin, 2-Charlie Trana, 3-Sterling Martin

Youth 150 B Main Event
1-Sammy Waddill, 2-Colton Nelson

Vintage Flat Track/Run What U Brung
1-Jimmy Abrams, 2-Jimmy Felice

Trophy Dash
1-Matt King, 2-Charlie Haines, 3-Mike Achilles

Photos By Michael Kirby

	On Vintage night at Fast Friday’s Harlan Bast won the vintage speedway main event exhibition.
	Bryan Yarrow won both the handicap and scratch main events Friday night.
	Jeremy Estes is on a roll winning the Division III main event three weeks in a row.
	Kyle Cunningham (35) keeps out in front of Colton Hicks in a heat race and also won the Youth 250 A main event.
	In part of Vintage Night at Fast Fridays, the vintage flat trackers took to the Fast Fridays track.
	Alex Martin won the Youth 150 A main event Friday night and picked up his trophy and a couple of kisses from the trophy girls on the winners podium.

Below is the early report:

My full report will be available Sunday or Monday. I am covering the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run Saturday and Sunday and will be unavailable until Sunday night. Sorry, my report will follow as soon as possible. Thank You, Michael Kirby

Bryan Yarrow took both the handicap and scratch main events at Fast Fridays June 24. Yarrow is the second rider in two weeks to double up following Billy Janniro who won both main events last week. Never to be counted out on any night, Yarrow had a fantastic night winning both main events.

The Fast Friday's vintage program was highlighted with special guest Rocky Robinson who owns the Motorcycle World Record Land Speed Record of 367.363, and is the world's fastest motorcyclist.