With the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Championship coming to Infineon Raceway on May 4-6 for the Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam, I thought it was a good time to dig into the photo files and find a cool shot from a past race there. Found one! This is the start of the AMA 250 Grand Prix race at Infineon (then called Sears Point Raceway) on May 18, 1986. The pack is heading into turn one at the start of the race. Leading the way is Rich Oliver (No. 97) on the Kosman Racing Honda. Following Oliver into the first turn are James Stephens (No. 24) and eventual race winner Donny Greene (No. 1). It should be noted that those three were all Northern California riders who had tons of experience at the track. This was a race chock full of talented racers. Also visible in the shot are Ed Key (No. 83), Doug Brauneck (No. 46), Randy Renfrow (No. 96), unknown rider (No. 414), John Long (No. 42), Keith Kiyota (No. 34), Jeff Heino (No. 64), Gary Tatsumi (No. 106), David Curtis (No. 47), Gordon Hedemark (No. 16), Alan Scott (No. 29), Robert DeWitt (No. 87), Andrew Price (No. 31) and several more near the back that I can’t ID. It was a golden era for America’s own GP series.
Rich Oliver leads into the first turn at the Sears Point AMA 250 Grand Prix in May of 1986. Following Oliver are James Stephens (No. 24) and eventual race winner Donny Greene (No. 1). It should be noted that those three were all Northern California riders who had tons of experience at the track. This was a race chock full of talented racers. Also visible in the shot are Ed Key (No. 83), Doug Brauneck (No. 46), Randy Renfrow (No. 96), unknown rider (No. 414), John Long (No. 42), Keith Kiyota (No. 34), Jeff Heino (No. 64), Gary Tatsumi (No. 106), David Curtis (No. 47), Gordon Hedemark (No. 16), Alan Scott (No. 29), Robert DeWitt (No. 87), Andrew Price (No. 31) and several more near the back. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
Larry…according to my Sears program from 1986 are these details
#497 Carl Wassersleben
#411 Marcello Del Guidice
#280 is listed as a James Henderson is not listed in the Sears program but is in the Laguna program
#274 could be Mike Sullivan,he is listed as #74 in the Laguna program.I believe #74 was Mike’s long time number
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Gary,
Thanks much. Is No. 414 listed?
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Found no listing for #414,interesting if this is the first turn after the start as #414 is near the front.If I had to guess he is a local rider as my 86 Daytona program shows no listing for a #414 but remember a program is just a pre entry list at best.
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Thanks for checking. I think you’re right – probably a NorCal rider. Anyone else know who the mysterious #414 might be?
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Also, i didn’t race at Daytona until 1987. Qualified 3rd on front row for the final that year, dnf on last lap of final while battling Oliver for 3rd.
Had been there on prior years but only as a 250 tuner for Chris Carr and later Dave Busby.
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Larry…whats interesting is the rider in black leathers and helmet that is mostly hidden reminded me of Marcello as that was his choice of leathers late in his career.
Marcello was a local boy (Vegas)going to high school and working at a Yamaha dealer near my house and we talked several times about his dreams of going road racing,which I encouraged him to do and the rest is history. ha ha
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Hi, #414 was me (Dan Coe). I was aboard a Spondon framed TZ 250. Using early series 16″ Michelin radials front and rear that season.
More trivia on this race…
Jeff Hino crashed just in front of me while entering the Carousel on lap 1. Set me back slightly.
By final lap i’d passed Oliver and into 3rd, then fell exiting T4, highsiding in my own fuel/oil as my bike was dripping with blowback fuel exiting all race long from my Lectron carbs.
Post race my bike sat on a stand coated and dripping with oil, my rear tire coated too.
Really disapointed with my race outcome, so close to the podium.
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