Headstrong North Carolinian Rodney Williford loves long bikes that go fast. A few years ago he developed a turbocharged GS-based Suzuki Outlaw Pro Street bike that was the first no-bar bike ever in the 6s, then quickly headed towards the 6.80s. His success got turbos banned from the 75-inch class—a debatable decision that some say led to Outlaw’s eventual demise at the end of last season. A turbo guy all the way, Williford switched to a Hayabusa and the Pro Sportbike class. After impressing initially, Williford failed to find success in that short wheelbase class. But now 68-inch Orient Express Pro Street is the marquee class in the MiRock Superbike Series, and Williford took the first win of the season at the Fast By Gast Spring Superbike Classic season opener at Maryland International Raceway (the scheduled March opener in Rockingham was rained out). “The longer wheelbase is a little easier for me to handle,” admitted Rodney. “I don’t get so crazy with it.
Rodney Williford took the season opening win in the longer wheelbase MiRock 68-inch Orient Express Pro Street class.
“But we were chasin’ it all day yesterday (Saturday qualifying, where Williford placed 4th). We had boost problems, boost leak issues, and finally found a bad sensor and fixed it at about 5:30 this morning.” You were up that late or up that early? “Up that late. And then we were up again at 7:30. It was a long night, so, but it was worth it though.”
Williford beat two-time Pro Sportbike champ Vinnie Demito in the final. “My closest round was the final round with Vinnie,” said Rodney. “The bike had been getting down the track pretty consistently today, so we just kept it all the same. We ran into a little bit of a tirespin issue in the middle of the track, and he was hooked up in the other lane, and I thought he was gonna drive around, but. We hadn‘t even been looking at the middle of the track. It was hot, greasy—typical.”
Fellow Shybear racer Ashon Dickerson had a fun weekend, going rounds in ET on Saturday night and carrying an underpowered Real Street mount through rounds on Sunday. “Yeah, I was runnin’ last night, I had a ball,” Dickerson said about Saturday. “It’s good to finally get to spot. Normally I’m spotting people, and last night I was on a slow bike bracket racing. That’s the first time I’ve been on a slow bike in years, and man I had a ball.” Dickerson made it to the quarterfinals in the large field.
His Real Street bike qualified in the nitrous class on motor alone, then got to ease some spray in on Sunday. “We were able to spray a tad of nitrous today. We’re trying to figure the system out. We ran a best of 8.22 at almost 177 mph on a small shot, so next race we should be right there, if not better.”
Williford, who plans on making all the MiRock races and hit a few select AMA Dragbike events, had lots of “Thank you’s” to throw around after his three year hiatus from the winners circle. “First off, thanks to my crew,” said Rodney. “My dad Jimmie, my wife Amber and daughters Skyler and Shyann, for all the hard work all weekend and putting up with me. Granny also came this weekend to hang out, so maybe I should bring her more often.
“Thanks to Greg Wallace and the ‘Now and Later’ crew for holding down the grudge scene, helping out our grudge racers, working on motors during the weekend, and then taking over the track on Sunday. The 1000 put in some work on Sunday and I think everyone now knows who has the quickest and fastest 1000s in the world.
“Thanks to Shybear Racing for the development support on the bikes. John Davis is the man that makes it all possible. Thanks to Tim Hays and Hays Machine. I used the prototype Extreme Light Clutch all weekend and it operated flawlessly. Thanks to Worldwide Bearings. Dave Conforti is the man and you need to get some ceramic bearings if you don't already have some. Thanks also to our class sponsor Orient Express for the cash.
“There were also so many people who helped out during the weekend, I'm sure I won't remember them all but, thanks to Shaun ‘Bullfrog’ Roles for staying up and helping me out until like 5 am Sunday morning. Richie Brotherton kept me stuck at the starting line while everyone else seemed to have issues. And also, thanks to all of my customers. I would not be able to race without all of you. Thanks for understanding that I'm a small time operation that gives big time results.
“All in all it turned out to be a great weekend and I’m looking forward to the next event.” And that next event will be the Fast by Gast Summer Showdown, June 6-7 back at Maryland International Raceway.
