Hank Denney Motorcycle Club Race Report

Mully

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Jun 9, 1999
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November 13, 2011

Article By: Scoop Newsflash
Photo By: Mully’s camera
Submitted By: Jeff “Mully” Mullendore
2701 South Washington Road
Columbia City, Indiana 46725

Hank Denney Motorcycle Club 15th Annual Fun-Day Charity Hare Scramble

On Sunday, November 13, 2011, near Harlan, Indiana the Hank Denney Motorcycle Club, members, and their guests, hosted their 15th annual Fun-Day Charity Hare Scramble. The event is held each year to enjoy a day of riding and bench racing. This non points paying Hare Scramble event is run in Hank’s memory. Many of the riders who participate remember Hank as a motorcyclist who enjoyed nothing more than a day in the woods with his family and friends; RACING, DICING, AND TELLING STORIES AT THE END OF THE DAY.

The day before the race, trail boss Jack James, and his crew put the final touches on the course. Jack and his family have been gracious hosts for the race over the past several years. With the last arrow and ribbon hung the crew hoped the sunny Saturday would continue on throughout the remaining weekend. Jack has always laid out a challenging trail for the mini’s and beginners as well as the “A” and “AA” riders. The trail for the weekend included lots of tight woods, several creek crossing, some fast two track plus the ever present grass track that was used for the start and scoring barrels.

Sunday morning was not a copy of Saturday. Instead of sunshine, the day brought with it extremely high winds and a good looking chance of rain. Sitting up the sign up table proved to be a challenge and had to me moved inside. Still, with the bleak day unfolding, a great many club members and friends showed up to ride and spectate.

The first race of the day include a two row start with the beginner class going off first, from a dead engine start, followed fifteen seconds later by the mini class. The first race ran a shorter course to avoid some of the “big boy” obstacles. Even with the shorter course, the riders of the first race still had a couple of water crossings to contend with plus a lot of tight woods. The hole shot of the beginner class was taken by Roger Howell followed closely by Nicholas Hunt. The age difference between these two riders is like night and day. Nicholas won last year’s mini class and was thusly promoted to the next class for this year’s race. Roger has, like most of us, been “around the block”. It should be noted that Roger was riding his trusty old DR and honked his horn each time through the scoring area. The mini class hole shot was taken by Race Vollmar with Logan White nipping right at his heels. Lap times for the first race were extremely quick, even with the water crossings. Nicholas Hunt worked his way around Roger Howell to take the beginner class race and the first race overall. Logan White ran a close second to Race Vollmar in the mini’s but was never able to get around. Race Vollmar received the checkered flag to win the mini class and capture his first ever class win.

Thirty minutes after the first race, the “A” and “AA” riders made their way to the starting line. The only changes in the second race would be the addition of the extra trail and the scoring barrels were moved out of the woods due to safety concerns relating to the high winds.

As with the first race of the day, the “AA” riders would be the first off the line with the “A” class following fifteen seconds later. Even though this race is a charity race and a “non” points paying event, the riders would still be competing for the coveted “Hank Denney” trophy. Hank’s family has donated one of Hank’s “older” trophies to the overall winner of the past fifteen yearly races. Some of the past trophies have been as old as the early 60’s and coming from some noted races as the Jack Pine in Michigan, the Corduroy Enduro in Canada, as well as local races. Needless to say, the second race would still be a hard fought battle.

When the green flag waved for the start of the race, “AA” rider Duell Murphy on his KX250F was first into the woods followed closely by KX250 rider Pat Flynn and then a sea of KTM pumpkins. It should be noted that both Pat and Duell are past ISDE competitors and both have rode in the Hank Denney race many times. Pat was last year’s overall Hank Denney race winner and Duell grew up through the ranks at the Hank Denney Race. Duell has an overall win in each class, winning his class overall in the minis, then beginner/C class, and recently the “A” class. Duell is now competing for the first time in the “AA” Class. The “A” class went off fifteen seconds later. Several riders had good starts and it was difficult to say who actually led going into the woods. Coming into the scoring area for the first time saw Duell Murphy leading and Pat Flynn a close second. Third overall was Terry Bender, riding for just the second time this year. Fourth was Joe Schmidt and Tom Sheets fifth. The “A” class saw Shaun Blake through the barrels first followed closely by Drew Murphy, (Duell’s brother), and Matt Amstutz third. Several seconds behind the lead trio followed Drew Mullendore then Nicholas Hunt. Nick had so much fun in the first race he decided to race the “A” class in the second race. Now that is a kid who loves to ride!! The next several laps showed only a few changes in the running order in both classes. Duell Murphy led the overall and “AA” class, followed by Pat Flynn. The “A” class order did not change either with Blake continuing to lead the group. However, all of this was to change. One of the river crossings broke down faster than anticipated and for some became a giant obstacle. On the fifth of seven laps the “A” class running order would dramatically change. Drew Mullendore who had been running a about a minute behind in third suddenly appeared at the scoring barrels in first place. Matt Amstutz shot up to second from fourth and the leader of the previous lap, Blake dropping to fifth. Making the running order Mullendore, Amstutz, Drew Murphy, Getts, and Blake. It was obvious the river crossing had begun to take its toll. Action in the “AA” class continued to show Murphy in front followed by Flynn, with Tom Sheets now running in third, followed by Bender and Schmidt. As the white flagged was shown Bender, who was running fourth overall had to pit for gas. This allowed Schmidt to move into fourth with Bender quickly back out in fifth some 15 seconds behind. The checkered flag fell on Duell Murphy giving him the overall race win. Murphy was followed a few seconds back by Flynn. Sheets followed in third about a minute behind. Next out of the woods was Terry Bender, making up the fifteen seconds on Schmidt. When asked where he passed Schmidt, Bender replied “at the highway 93 crossing”. This being a reference to the infamous river crossing at the old “Blackwater 100” GNCC race from the late 80’s and 90’s. In the “A” class Drew Mullendore, riding his father’s old 96 RMX, kept his cool and his head down to lead the class across the finish line. This would be Mullendore’s first class win and a quick promotion to the “AA” race next year. Following Mullendore across the line some thirty seconds later would be Matt Amstutz. Third went to Mitch Getts, with Drew Murphy and Shaun Blake rounding out the top five.

After all the riders were accounted for, all the guests and riders were then treated to a meal, with the trophy presentation following. After the trophies were award the Club then held a raffle “give away” with a lot of goodies donated by the House of Honda of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Parts Unlimited. At the conclusion of the day’s activities many of the riders mingled about talking with old friends and reliving the day’s race, something that would have made Hank smile!!!!

The Hank Denney Motorcycle Club would like to thank the following for their charitable donations, hard work and dedication:
Bruce Denney – owner/operator of the House of Honda for raffle donations and the “Hank Denney” trophy.
Parts Unlimited for their donation to the raffle.
Jack James and family for allowing us to hold the event on their property and laying out a great trail. Jack also helped score the second race.
Family Enduro Series for their donation of trophies.
Mully for organizing, scoring, cooking, etc. etc.
Hank Denney Motorcycle Club members and guests – because you’re the best!!

With this being our fifteenth year, it should be noted that all proceeds from each and every race has gone to a charitable organization. The Club has donated to the girl and boy scouts of America, volunteer fire departments, scholarship programs, Cancer Research and Veterans Groups during our existence. The club decided this year’s proceeds would once again go to the VA hospital in honor of 11/11/11.
 

Mully

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Jun 9, 1999
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Trophy winners:
 

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Mully

Moderator / SuperPowers
Jun 9, 1999
4,233
113
Duell Murphy - Overall winner
 

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