Illinois racer Boonie Knott lays his Honda 600 Hurricane on its side as he rips through a turn at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in a WERA race, probably in 1987. Honda was paying decent contingency money for racing the Hurricane and Knott, who had raced AMA Formula One and 250 Grand Prix, put away his GP bikes to chase Honda money in AMA Supersport and WERA C Production. Racers who ran the worn-out pavement of Blackhawk back in the day recognize that this is a pretty impressive lean angle, especially considering the tires of the era.
Boonie Knott lays his Honda 600 Hurricane on its side as he rips through a turn at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in a WERA race, probably in 1987. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
What’s the ‘FBI’ badge on his helmet about?
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Dave
I think it stood for Fast Boys from Illinois.
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And yet another pair of Fox Race Paws. Man they were a deal at $18 per pair.
And check out the cement wall. I never paid it a second thought. Is that why they added that goofy chicane. Yeah I know I’m an old curmudgeon(sp?).
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I’m pretty sure that’s turn 5, as turn 4 was a left as well, but usually was well shaded, and much lower speed. Turn 5, you were building some speed, and needed every bit of lean angle to finish that turn. Coming into 4, there was a wall fronted by tires, and you were headed right at it. I think the wall here is just after the alternate pit entry between 4 and 5, and it wasn’t in an impact area if you lost it here. Now, the creek filled with trees to Boonie’s right is another story.
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Just to start an online argument I think it’s 4. here were times of the day when there was sun on 4, and the appearance of that waal just doesn’t look right for 5.
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Sorry I can’t help. I know it’s either turn 4 or 5, but I’m not sure which. I used to walk back and forth between the turns to get that inside shot.
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Ed…how DARE you question my opinion! 😉
I suppose it could be 4, but I’ve got shots of the pit area behind the wall around that time, and I don’t see any of that brush that shows in this shot. There was, however, quite a bit of scrub just past the pit entrance in 5. Now that I take a second look, I seem to recall 5 having a pretty significant curb on the inside, and I don’t see that here. Hey, the detective work is half the fun! Of course, it would be easier if Larry weren’t senile, and could remember where he was standing for every shot he took….jeez Larry, what’s up with that?
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You know, the more I look at it the more I think it’s turn 5. Ha, ha.
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Yeah, well now I think you are right about the brush. It just doesn’t feel right. Of course I never STOOD anywhere near there. Damn, I miss racing.
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Well, I can’t say I actually stood there myself. I have been intimately familiar with the tire wall outside of 4, however.
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