Milton’s Yamaha SRX Drives FZR400 Riders Nuts

• Larry Lawrence

Californian J. Andrew Milton had heard the lore of Grattan Raceway for years and he was eager to visit the legendary Michigan club road racing circuit. So in September of 1989 he made a Midwest swing late in the season. At Grattan Milton used his Yamaha SRX thumper to drive the FZR400-mounted Grattan regulars nuts in the WERA D Superbike final. Milton railed the turns of the twisty Grattan circuit on his single-cylinder bike. The FZR400s would pass him on the front straight and then Milton would zap them again in the infield. It was quite entertaining to watch. Here Milton leads Grattan aces Larry Cohee (No.413), Jeff Vos (No. 121), Robert Newby (No. 350) and possibly John Durkin at the tail end. Cohee and Vos eventually out powered Milton, but Milton came back and won the Clubman race.

J. Andrew Milton races his Yamaha SRX ahead of Yamaha FZR400 mounted aces Larry Cohee (No.413), Jeff Vos (No. 121) in a WERA D Superbike race at Grattan Raceway in September of 1989. Cohee and Vos eventually out-motored Milton, but not before he drove the Grattan aces nuts for several laps on his nimble thumper. Californian Milton won the Clubman race that weekend in what was likely his first visit to the Michigan circuit. (Larry Lawrence photo)

J. Andrew Milton races his Yamaha SRX ahead of Yamaha FZR400 mounted aces Larry Cohee (No.413), Jeff Vos (No. 121) in a WERA D Superbike race at Grattan Raceway in September of 1989. Cohee and Vos eventually out-motored Milton, but not before he drove the Grattan aces nuts for several laps on his nimble thumper. Californian Milton won the Clubman race that weekend in what was likely his first visit to the Michigan circuit. (Larry Lawrence photo)