F-Zeds versus the Gixxer

Another photo illustrating the wonderful 1986 season of club racing where the established Yamaha FZ750 riders were battling the brand-spanking new Suzuki GSX-R750. There was good contingency money offered by both Yamaha and Suzuki. Yamaha riders had a full year head start and a ton of talented club racers who made a lot of money in ’85, were sticking with the FZ when ’86 rolled around. In this photo Dan Chivington, on his Suzuki, is holding off a trio of talented Yamaha riders – Terry Hampton, Ed Key and Fritz Kling – at Grattan Raceway.

Dan Chivington, on his Suzuki, is holding off a trio of talented Yamaha riders – Terry Hampton, Ed Key and Fritz Kling – at Grattan Raceway during a WERA B Production money race. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Dan Chivington, on his Suzuki, is holding off a trio of talented Yamaha riders – Terry Hampton, Ed Key and Fritz Kling – at Grattan Raceway during a WERA B Production money race. (Larry Lawrence photo)

3 thoughts on “F-Zeds versus the Gixxer

  1. Another great picture from the North Central, with a few of the iconic riders of the time. This must have been shortly after they repaved Grattan, and turned it into an ice skating rink.

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  2. Looks like Mr. Ed was wearing his “Nylon” suit from that period.
    His outfit seemed so much more comfortable than “leathers” on those hot summer days. Since Ed never “crashed” he wore that suit a long time.
    If my memeory serves me we were at a trophy presentation and he had a nasty scar on his leg from “Nylon” melt and that was the end of the “Nylon Suit”.

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