Ed Key and Ralph Johnston, both on Yamaha FJ600s (Key’s sans fairing), had a great race in a WERA C Production final at Grattan Raceway on July 28, 1985. This was a Yamaha-paying money race and veteran Key was able to hold off the young up-and-coming Johnston for the victory. Johnston was best known for being the anchor rider for the WERA National Endurance team North Ridge Racing, but he was a solid sprint racer as well. Key was a leading contingency money race winner in WERA’s North Central Region. He went on at the end of that season to be part of one of the all-time epic races at the WERA Grand National Finals, the C Production Championship race, where Bart Peterson went around the outside of Greg Tysor and Key over the gator bumps on the last turn to win the national title.
Ed Key and Ralph Johnston had a great race in a WERA C Production final at Grattan Raceway on July 28, 1985. This was a Yamaha-paying money race and veteran Key was able to hold off the young up-and-coming Johnston for the victory. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
Classic Ed Key image. He probably removed the fairing to save weight. In fact, I think he still wears those lightweight kevlar “leathers” today. Certainly some of my best races, and favorite racing memories, came from chasing Mr. Key…and just like poor Mr. Johnston in this image…most times I came up short. Race on Ed!
LikeLike
When I started racing, Ed Key was the guy to beat.
He was always fast. Every weekend. Every track.
LikeLike
Interesting that you mention that C Production race at the WERA Grand National Finals in ’85. That was my first year of racing and I went to the GNF to help crew for the endurance race. I couldn’t race in that weekend since I was still a provisional novice, so I did a lot of spectating that week so I was standing outside the last turn during the C Prod race. I watched that pass happen right in front of me! One of my favorite racing memories and the one I tell people about when they wonder how exciting watching club racing can be.
LikeLike