Fall Rally and Races
Leesville 171 Speedway
Leesville, LA
October 27, 2001

Malena Browning the Operator/Promoter of the new Leesville 171 Speedway must be dating the weather gods. Southwest Louisiana is famous for finding moisture from some source in order to rain on our racing parades, but Saturday, October 27th, was a welcome exception. The weather was crisp making for good horsepower, and the track was providing lots of bite. Four wheelers opened the show with dirt drags down the front straightaway. As night fell, the flat trackers came out to play.

Fans were treated to two heart-thumping, come from behind, flat track battles. Doogie Trahan of Lake Charles has just recovered from two injuries to the same leg and this was his first race in months. That old prankster "Murphy" (as in Murphy's Law) caught up with him again as he was trying to get the hole shot in the 80cc Main. He jumped the flag once, then twice. He was moved back from the starting line 10 yards for each infraction. When the flag fell for the third time, his ride stalled 20 yards back from the pack. He got the bike re-fired, and took off in hot pursuit. Cutting laps faster than the leader, Doogie finally fought his way back to a well-deserved third place.

In the Vintage prelim, Frank Bartran, the far traveler from Laurel MS, went down between the 1st and 2nd corner. Frank got back up to battle his way from the rear to finish second. He gained one spot on the restart and took another one down the back straightaway. Frank figures that if you are going to drive 200 miles (one- way) to go racing, you don't want to go home without something to brag about.

Winners of the events are as listed below:

60cc Motorcycle
1st place-Cody Richard, #03, Topsy, LA, Honda

80cc Motorcycle
1st place-Daniel LaRocca, #6, Westlake, LA, Honda
2nd place-Kameron Richad, #03, Moss Bluff, LA, Kawasaki
3rd place-Doogie Trahan, #58, Lake Charles, LA, Honda

Amateur Motorcycle
1st place-Curtis Richard, #03, Curtis Richard, hometown and mfg not listed

Vintage Motorcycle
1st place-Tiger Clark, #27, Pearland, TX, Yamaha 500
2nd place-Frank Bartran, #84A, Laurel Ms, Yamaha TT
3rd place-Ryan Yocham, #10, hometown and mfg not listed

Pro Motorcycle
1st place- Toot Reeves, #66N, Ragley, LA, Rotax
2nd place- Shannon Wix, #15, Westlake, LA, Honda
3rd place- Rome Comeaux, #26, Moss Bluff, LA, Rotax

European Speedway
1st place-Crusty Jones, #74, Moss Bluff, LA, Jawa
2d place-Rome Comeaux, #26, Moss Bluff, LA

Article and photos submitted by Stephen D. Turner, 2016 Olene Drive,Sulphur, LA 70663, Phone 337-625-3625

For more information on 171 Speedway racing, check out www.171speedway.com or call the track phone, 337-238-5000