Every once in a while we have a fan of Rider Files who would like to share old racing photos to fans of the site. I was thrilled to hear from Elliott Kieffer (son of former AMA national road racer Dr. Dave Kieffer). Elliott was scanning in his family’s collection of photos, which included a lot of images shot at AMA road races in the 1980s and ‘90s.
I’m so pleased to introduce a regular series of photos we’ll feature here from the Kieffer Collection.
This first photo is a classic. It looks like the riders waiting for the green flag for a warm-up lap, perhaps for a Heat race, at a drizzly Road America in 1982. Shown in the shot are factory Kawasaki’s Wayne Rainey (No. 60), Honda’s Steve Wise ((No. 38), Yoshimura Suzuki’s Wes Cooley (No. 34), Racecrafters Kawasaki’s Harry Klinzmann (No. 31) and privateer Suzuki racer Harry Vanderlinden (No. 96).
Thanks to Elliott for scanning these gems and stay tuned for more to come.

Riders waiting for the green flag for a warm-up lap, perhaps for a Heat race, at a drizzly Road America in 1982. Shown in the shot are factory Kawasaki’s Wayne Rainey (No. 60), Honda’s Steve Wise ((No. 38), Yoshimura Suzuki’s Wes Cooley (No. 34), Racecrafters Kawasaki’s Harry Klinzmann (No. 31) and privateer Suzuki racer Harry Vanderlinden (No. 96). (Dr. Dave Kieffer Collection)
I think #259 on the far left could be Lynn Miller.
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I will be looking forward to seeing pictures from that period. 1982 was the rookie year for Marvin West who was 208 that year and then became 44. I was Marvin’s sponsor/tuner during those years. Current AMA rider Cory West is Marvin’s son.
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Great. He’ s got a picture of the Twins start at Sears that I want to see though.
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Yep Stavin’ Marvin and I where there that year! We really had a great time driving around the country together and racing with our friends!
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I think that is Lynn Miller on 269, Great guy. This was my first year racing Lynn Miller and John Ashmead did a lot of races as teammates on a Ontario Honda. Lynn is very talented as well as John.
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If this was the Heat race the finishing order was Wise, Cooley, Rainey.
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Larry……..these has to be a heat race as I have two programs from !982,one from Sears and one from Laguna as other fast guys not lined who ran at Sears were Lawson,Wolf,M.Baldwin,Pietri to name a few.
Neither program shows an entry for #259 Lynn Miller………doesn’t mean he was there
At Laguna that year I see a listing of 59 riders racing in Superbike
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Gary, Thanks for that. For sure a Heat race since, as you mention, so many key players not in the photo. Wouldn’t surprise me if Miller didn’t make the trip to the West Coast.
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Larry
I am on the second row #76 behind Vanderlinden, that
is Rusty Sharp #99 next to me.
I love this old stuff, keep it coming.
Richard Chambers
Hollywood
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