The Infamous TBA Racing

• Larry Lawrence

TBA Racing was a leading team in WERA National Endurance racing in the late 1980s. While TBA was capable at times of earning strong finishes, the team was somewhat infamous for their bikes blowing up, often puking oil on the track. Team owner Ward Cook built the bikes and I’m not sure if he tried to get too much power out of the bikes or what, but at one time there was a running joke that TBA’s Suzukis were rolling hand grenades. In this particular photo I believe it’s Earl Spellman aboard the TBA Racing Suzuki GSXR1100 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in October of 1988.

The TBA Racing Suzuki, possibly with Earl Spellman riding, competes in the WERA National Endurance race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in October of 1988. The team, with Spellman, Ward Cook and Doug Sholty, ran near the front until a crash dropped them back. They managed to come back and finish fourth in the Heavyweight Production class. (Larry Lawrence photo)

The TBA Racing Suzuki, possibly with Earl Spellman riding, competes in the WERA National Endurance race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in October of 1988. The team, with Spellman, Ward Cook and Doug Sholty, ran near the front until a crash dropped them back. They managed to come back and finish fourth in the Heavyweight Production class. (Larry Lawrence photo)