Did you know #kegelHD once had an official racing team?
From the April 7, 1999 edition of the Post-Journal:
Motorcycle team sets signs on national competition
The feeling of speed, your body controlling the movements as it hurdles down straight aways and leans through corners at speeds of 140 mph. We aren't talking about the popular Indy or stock car races that are attracting the legions of fans, but motorcycle racing.
And not dirt track racing or motorcross. Motorcycle road racing is a series of left- and right-hand turns and straight sections of a paved road surface. Motorcycles race on the same courses as Indy and stock cars. Drag racing with motorcycles is similar to car drag racing and race on the same tracks.
Rockford has its own race team that recently placed fifth in a national event at Daytona International Speedway. Some hometown boys have taken their Sunday afternoon rides to the track and hope to make a name for themselves on the racing circuit.
After all, they say racing is safer than riding on the street.
"You don't have to worry about anyone else but yourself," said team captain Curt Ellis. "Plus we always wear the proper equipment when we ride."
Rockford's own Kegel's Harley-Davidson race team raced at the Daytona Speedway in Daytona last month. Yes, they raced on the same track as Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin but on motorcycles.
"We race on the infield oval and three-fourths of the oval track," Ellis explained.
The race team members geared up for their season with the Daytona race and came away with an impressive fifth-place finish for their first national event. Curt Ellis and Ron Vincer, both Winnebago boys, Rich Feagin of Rockford, and Byron native Dean Haggeman will race in the North American Sport Bike and Champion Cup Series (CCS) regional competitions this year. Randy Rule of Rockford will compete with his dragster in the All Harley Dragster Association (AHDA).
Ellis, the veteran of the team, raced as an amateur last year and finished fourth in the Harley-Davidson Super Twin. This year he will be joined by Haggeman and Vincer in the sportser division and Feagin will race the teamis Buell motorcycle.
Ellis had raced before but on a Yamaha 600. He made the switch to Harley-Davidson products because of the lower cost of the bikes - not to mention the fact that he works as a mechanic at Kegel's.
With the team making its first national appearances this year, they are excited but sometimes intimidated by competing with those they have idolized and admired. They will compete in the Harley Twin Sports and Buell Series. The team purchased their bikes last July and have been customizing the engines and paintwork after a short racing season in 1998.
"It takes a lot of time and money to get a team going," Ellis said. "The bikes alone cost $35,000 and then there is the equipment. We are lucky to have Kegel's as our major sponsor and they purchased the bikes."
Other much-needed equipment helps keep the rider safe when they are cornering. A good quality helmet costs $450, leather suits from $400-1200, gloves run about $200, boots cost $220, and a back protector is $150. The team members each pay for their personal equipment. Sponsors, Paintworks, Ed Nolanis Mac Tool Sales and the Rock River H.O.G. Chapter also help foot the bill for entry fees, parts and other expenses.
"It not only is less demanding financially to have a sponsor, but when you are part of team you have other people to talk to and compare how things are handling.
You can catch the Kegel's Racing Team in action at the CCS Midwest Series Race at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, on April 10. Rule will make an appearance at Union Grove in April.
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