A few of the tightly-knit group of road racers from Indianapolis sit in the pits at Indianapolis Raceway Park getting ready to race. From left to right are Gary Jeffries, Tim Powers and Mike “Stu” Stuhler. All three are still riding and involved in motorcycling. Stu has a website featuring his photography and views on racing.
Indianapolis-based road racers Gary Jeffries (396), Tim Powers (259) and Mike “Stu” Stuhler (714), prepare for a race at a WERA event at Indianapolis Raceway Park sometime in the mid-1980s. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
WOW….talk about dusting off the archives! April 1985.
Thanks LL. Brings back some very good memories!
I never really did too much in terms of placing well–I pretty much ran at the back 10% of the 4-5 events I did run, but I still say I had more fun with my clothes on I’ve ever had in my life when I was racing. What a great rush.
Now Tim did really well, winning a championship in WERA in ’86 and Gary did real well, too. That’s another of ‘The Ranch Brothers’–Dale Douglass–talking to Tim. Him, Tim and Gary were very inspirational in getting us to race. Dale was one of the best street riders that rode with us that never raced that would have done real well with his talents if he had–another guy with great control on a bike like Tim. They were in a league of their own. I just tried to keep them in sight!
I haven’t done much riding in the last 20 years or so, but still follow the racing very closely and still love it. Even shooting the pictures behind the fence all these years still gives me an adrenaline rush like nothing else I have ever felt in life. I guess that’s why I’m still so passionate about the racing thing after following it for so long.
Thanks again. Talk about a walk down memory lane.
You’re the best LL!
Stu
LikeLike
Stu
IRP was usually in April or Oct. and was usually cold. This one looks like it was a rare hot day there. Those were some fun times for sure.
LL
LikeLike
I stand corrected, after just talking to Tim. This was the October round in ’85. Memory is a little cloudy from some of those days……
Stu
LikeLike
Those were the days, what a crew! Later that day the FJ got destroyed!I think it was september.
LikeLike
Hey, that’s my trailer and bike in the background! Even better, the 666 belonged to my traveling partner, Rich Doan, who has worked for Yosh as the Team Coordinator for years. Rich’s GPZ became a 3 cylinder on the front straight at IRP, when it snapped the rod at the small end, and proceeded to ventilate the cases. The rod cleared a hole all the way around, and imbedded itself in the back of the cylinder block. The best part, was Rich rode the bike back in, complaining of a “vibration”.
LikeLike
I remember Rich’s GPZ. Didn’t it have a dinosaur painted on the tank or something?
LikeLike
I believe you’re right on that one. Not sure if he was the originator of the term “dinosaur rassler”, which a lot of us guys running Vintage used to run on the tails of our bikes.
LikeLike