Paul Sharwell (No. 294) and Chris Hughes (No. 707) race side by side for the first turn at the start of a WERA sprint race in July of 1986 at Bryar Motorsports Park in Loudon, New Hampshire. Another rider in the shot is Brian Sobolewski (No. 319). Hughes, a master rain rider, won the race. It was somewhat rare to have WERA races at Loudon, since the AAMRR club ran most of the dates at the track. Interestingly it was a small group of AAMRR racers who founded WERA – then just the Eastern Roadracers Association (ERA). Riders were dissatisfied with track time, race weekend organization and cost to race with AAMRR so they split off to form the new club racing body, which promised more track time at more reasonable rates. WERA grew to become the largest road racing sanctioning body in the country.

Paul Sharwell (No. 294) and Chris Hughes (No. 707) race side by side for the first turn at the start of a WERA sprint race in July of 1986 at Bryar Motorsports Park in Loudon, New Hampshire. Another rider in the shot is Brian Sobolewski (No. 319). Hughes, a master rain rider, won the race. (Larry Lawrence photo)