Gary Gibson illustrates the maximum lean angle capability of the 1987 Honda CBR600 Hurricane in a WERA race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in April of 1987. Notice how the fairing is just about to touch. I doubt that the bike could be leaned any further without causing the front and or back end to wash out. What makes this even more impressive to me is that Gibson is at max lean angle on the normally dirty carousel turn at IRP. You wouldn’t see a rider leaned over this far in the turn very often. Nice job Gary. And judging by the condition of the fairing up around the windscreen, it looks like Gary already found the limits of lean on the bike.
Gary Gibson illustrates the maximum lean angle capability of the 1987 Honda CBR600 Hurricane in a WERA race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in April of 1987. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
I’ve got a ‘Crashing Sucks’ T-shirt with a picture of Gary pitching his TZ250 in the same turn. Maybe he got a little wide, and into the rough stuff in the middle of the corner. Notice the rough line about 5 feet off the inside of the corner? I never really noticed dirt on the main line of the carousel, but if you tried to pass on the outside, the rough line would push you wide, and it definitely was dirty out there.
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Kevin
Gary was fun to watch race, no doubt. I ran wide in that turn and started pushing the front end on a ’78 GS750. Too much fun.
Larry
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Engine is first thing to touch down when you take the fairing of an old cane. Easy enough on modern tyres but to do this in 1987 is seriously impressives
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I remember Gary fondly…he was one of the most durable racers! Taught me the value of using vitamin E on road rash! Where is Gary now?
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Guys,
I am alive and well!
The picture sequence on the crashing sucks shirt was actually taken earlier in the day in the same corner with the same bike, notice the damage to the fairing.
Gary
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Fairings would drag on both sides. Pegs Always on the deck. Exhaust collector/clamp. Remove fairings, and stator-cover drags.
That’s a Great pic(!), and I am sure the rider/racer is/was a Huge talent, but anyone who pushed/raced hard on their hurricane was at that/+ lean-angle all day long. Ground-clearance (w/ Metzler Comp-K’s/Lasers) was the Limits of that bike.
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