Australians Cap Off Long Journey With AHRMA Vintage Racing At DIS DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One of the most recognizable icons in Australia is the Sydney Opera House. One of the most recognizable images in the garages during AHRMA Vintage racing on Monday at Daytona International Speedway is the Australian flag. A group of Australians have traveled 9,300 miles to the “The World Center of Racing” with 18 bikes on the grid to compete in two days of vintage racing on the daunting 31 degree high banks. The trip was spearheaded by Tony Blain, who operates a motorcycle parts business that supplies parts for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Blain has visited Daytona Beach area many times for Bike Week but never to compete at DIS. He tossed the idea to some of his vintage racing friends by in Australia a few years ago and the idea turned into reality. “I was a tourist here eight or nine times with friends,” Blain said. “A group of us race the Class C hand shift motorcycles Harleys and Indians. Every time that I’ve been here over those times, I’ve always had the urge to be out there myself.” Blain, who along with his Australian riding buddies race eight to 12 times a year, pooled their funds together to complete this year’s trip. The bikes were put in a container before Christmas in Sydney and they arrived in Savannah, Ga. via sea freight. The group flew out of Sydney through San Francisco and Atlanta before arriving in Savannah. “As an organizer, you’re always nervous that something screws up and that customs won’t clear the bikes or whatever,” said Blain, whose group is competing with 11 Harley-Davidsons and seven Indian motorcycles. “We’ve been very diligent I feel in planning it all. So far so good. There have been no dramas only a lot of fun.” With exception of one member of the group, none of the Australian riders in attendance had ever raced at DIS before including Blain. “The last two or three nights I have struggled emotionally with that banking wondering how the hell am I going to address it,” Blain said. “I’ve heard stories of people that have a mind blank and can’t do it. I’ve heard others say it’s not a problem. I knew you couldn’t fall off it so I just nailed it and didn’t look down.” The only member of the group that had previous experience at Daytona International Speedway was Robbie Hermans, who won two races on Monday. “I was here 10 years ago and I had to sort of try to remember it,” Hermans said. The biggest obstacle for the Australian riders has been dealing with the jet lag from a 19-hour flight. “It was horrendous but lots of beer will that fix that,” Blain said. AHRMA Vintage Racing continues on Tuesday. For tickets to Daytona 200 Week By Honda, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.racetickets.com Monday’s AHRMA Results 200 GP: 1. Sakis Vasilopoulos (67 Yamaha), 2. Tim Kinsey (71 Honda), 3. Edward Sensenig (70 BSA) Pre 1940: 1. Alex McLean (37 Norton), 2. Will Harding (36 Indian), 3. Norbert Nickel (39 BMW) BOT Formula 2: 1. Ivan Messina (06 BMW R1200S), 2. Robert McLendon III (06 Ducati), 3. Jonathan Glaefke (06 Kawasaki) Motard: 1. Mike Parker (05 KTM), 2. David LaRue (03 Honda CRF 450 R), 3. Mike Proffitt (02 KTM) SOS 2-Stroke: 1. Bob Demetrius (96 Honda RS), 2. Richard Demetrius (rs125), 3. Andrew Anderson (Honda RS125) Super Mono: 1. Kevin Keys (02 Honda CRF), 2. Mike Parker (86 Honda), 3. Tim Lile (86 Yamaha SRX) 250 GP: 1. Pete Derosa (49 Bultaco), 2. Jonathan White (65 Ducati), 3. Robert Brangaccio (71 Ducati) Class C Foot: 1. Alex McLean (37 Norton), 2. Greg Nichols (49 BSA), 3. Norbert Nickel (39 BMW) Class C Hand: 1. Robert Hermans (42 Harley-Davidson), 2. Tim Joyce (37 Indian Scout), 3. Will Harding (36 Indian) Production Lightweight: 1. David Rotvold (70 Honda), 2. Robert Wilson (72 Honda), 3. Dan Green (Honda CB350/4) 350 GP: 1. Bruce Yoxsimer (68 Seely G50), 2. David Roper (70 H.D. Sprint), 3. Henry Syphers (67 Suzuki) Production Heavyweight: 1. Chad Bebout (76 Triumph Bonneville), 2. Alexander Sohn (72 BSA Lightning), 3. Bernie Conflitti (72 Yamaha XS) Triumph Thruxton: 1. Robert McLendon III (04 Triumph Thruxton), Jim Callahan (04 Triumph Thruxton), 3. Jeff Hinds (05 Triumph Thruxton) Vintage Superbike Middle: 1. Ed Milich (80 Ducati), 2. Harold Page Jr., 3. Mike Curtis Formula 250: 1. Christopher Spargo, 2. Craig Breckon (70 Can Am), 3. William Bria Wells (75 Honda 400F) 500 Premier: 1. Tim Joyce (62 Norton Manx), 2. Pat Mooney (62 Petty Manx Norton), 3. Wes Orloff (03 Buell) Classic 60s: 1. Will Harding (60 BSA Gold Star), 2. David King (60 Norton), 3. Dick Miles (62 Norton Manx) Classic 60’s 650: “Doc” Batsleer (53 Bobby Hill Indian), 2. Bud Denny (61 Triton 650), 3. Beno Rodi (60 Norton) Formula 125: 1. Neil Pooler (74 Can Am), 2. James Pooler (77 Honda MTR), 3. Bion St. Bernard (68 Bridgestone) Sportsman 350: 1. Scott Turner (68 Honda), 2. Tim Kinsey (70 Honda), 3. Henry Syphers (Honda) Vintage Superbike Light: 1. Dave Bourbeau (79 Suzuki), 2. David Evans (82 Honda FT 500), 3. Ed Milich (81 Moto Guzzi) BEARS: 1. Tim Joyce (73 Triumph T-140), 2. Ivan Messina (71 BMW R75/5), 3. Stan Keyes (72 Norton) Formula 500: 1. Charles Easterling (76 Yamaha RD), 2. Conrad Urbanowski (77 Yamaha), 3. Jamie Linxwiler (73 Yamaha) Sportsman 500: 1. Don Jagger (71 BSA B50), 2. Tash Zarvalas (72 Honda CB), 3. Mike Matthews (72 Honda CB 350) Vintage Superbike Heavy: 1. Jeff Hinds (74 Kawasaki), 2. Jimmy Stargel (79 Honda CBX), 3. Thad Wolff (80 Suzuki GS1000S) BOT Formula 1: 1. Gianfranco Guareschi (07 Moto Guzzi), 2. Valter Bartolini (07 Ducati NCR Millona), 3. Larry Pegram (07 Ducati NCR) BOT Formula 3: 1. Ed Milich (80 Ducati), 2. Jonathan Glaefke (06 Kawasaki), 3. Robert Gregory (99 Suzuki SV) Formula 750: 1. Jay Springsteen (72 Harley), 2. Ken Nemoto (72 Moto Guzzi), 3. John Ellis (72 Yamaha XS) Sportsman 750: 1. Jesse Morris (68 Triumph Triple), 2. Michael Dixon (70 Yamaha), 3. Brad Phillips (72 BMW R75) Open Two-Stroke: 1. Thomas Fournier (03 Yamaha), 2. Michael Perry (80 Yamaha), 3. Terry Eldred (1979 Yam TZ250) Sound of Thunder: 1. Larry Pegram (07 DUC NCR), 2. Gianfranco Guareschi (07 Moto Guzzi, 3. Valter Bartolini (07 Ducati NCR Millona) Formula Vintage: 1. Jay Springsteen (72 Harley), 2. Ken Nemoto (72 Moto Guzzi), 3. Chris Jensen (74 Ducati) Super Mono 2: 1. Kevin Keys (02 Honda CRF), 2. Kevin Brown (01 Yamaha), 3. Dan Elders (84 Honda Ascot)