STEPHEN VANASSE 1985 GRAND CHAMPION
Steve Vanasse has done it twice now and has his sights set firmly on the ISDE. He will only ride those New England enduros that don't conflict with the U.S. Qualifiers. Self-described as not having the most finesse of other top New England riders, Steve nevertheless has something most do not—that extra reserve to push him harder than anyone else when he absolutely must win.
The year's statistics for Steve prove it. Despite a number of early-on problems in '85, Steve pulled through and won when he had to even High Pointing at the year end Salmon River to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that his overall win was no fluke. When asked about the closeness of the '85 competition, Steve explained: The competition this past year wasn't as close as it was back in '83, back against Pete Leonard and Todd Poirot. I think it just happened to be the fact that a number of things happened to me: I was disqualified at the Snow Run, I didn't ride the Slippery Rock because I was riding a Qualifier, I got stuck in a mudhole and DNF'd at the Greylock. Just think all those early bad things showed a false impression of what the points looked like until the very end. Other than that, I made a few mistakes and had a few bad runs so I could have had a more substantial lead. I wasn't worried as much about the competition this year as I was in '83.
What did you do this year that you didn't do last year?
Pete [Leonard] didn't ride this year, so my biggest competitor wasn't there.
[Note] Peter Leonard (Quasar), a King Philip Trail Rider was the first in New England to Grand Champion both the Enduro and Hare Scramble series in one year.
Did you have any particular strategy?
Well, in the beginning of the season, with this new bike [the KTM 250], the front suspension was so much different, and it took me a real long time to get used to that, It handled so much differently, plus the front forks and the rear suspension needed a lot of sorting out. I didn't really get all that squared away until probably June or so. I started out the season without really the intention of going for the Grand Championship. I went into the '85 season with the intention of trying for the Qualifiers, and when that fell through and I found that I didn't make the team around June, I decided to try for the Championship. It was tough because I needed that tenth run right up to the Salmon River. I already had two DNF's and one DNS so I had three runs gone and no leeway. So the Salmon River was do or die.
What about for '86?
Next year my main goal will be to ride all five of the Qualifiers.
Al Wickstrand said you rode extremely well at the Salmon River—he couldn't keep you in sight.
Well, I finally got my act together. I had studded tires on the bike, just the regular car-type. Both Al's (Zitta and Wickstrand) had studs for the Boneyard and the Black and Blue (and I didn't) ar,d that was the way to go, especially in the Boneyard with all that trash. Even in the Black and Blue, everything was pretty frozen and I made a big mistake in both those runs not having studded tires.
How would you categorize or characterize yourself as an enduro rider?
I think I can be as competitive as I have to be for the situation. I may not have the greatest finesse when I ride, but I can do what I have to do when I have to do it. 'When the going gets tough...' It's hard to motivate yourself. I've been riding enduros since 1972, was at the first NETRA meeting in 1970, and so you do it all these years, you gotta get the motivation up.
Why don't you ride hare scrambles?
I don't really like hare scrambles, that's why I don't ride them. I rode three last year. The quality of an event isn't anything compared to enduros, not nearly the amount of work goes into it. Being an organizer, I appreciate all the work that goes into it. I don't get off on riding around in circles for two hours. I don't look forward to seeing the same terrain for 7-10 laps. That's not what I thrive on.
Part of the challenge in riding enduros is what's around the next turn. I've trained myself to that and, you know, as far as a trail rider goes, as far as an enduro rider goes, I think I have a good trail sense. I enjoy reading the terrain; it's like a mind game—even timekeeping. I like using all the aspects of trail riding.
What do you think your biggest challenge will be this year in contesting the Qualifiers?
Certainly the competition. Time and money are big factors, and equally important is finding someone to go with you as a pit crew. You cannot be competitive at all at a Qualifier without a pit crew. You've got to have one person to be there at all the gas stops for you. If you don't have that, don't even go. People try and get whoever they possibly can. If a guy can get his wife, then fine. I think Nancy...she said she wanted to try and go to some. But it's also...she doesn't have much experience. It's a whole new experience to be a pit crew at a Qualifier. The whole thing is so intetense, you have to be split second, able to anticipate every need of the rider even before he asks.
[note] Joe Fred Curti and Gary Puget took the time necessary to support Steve at the Qualifiers.
The Qualifiers this year are in Oklahoma, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon and Washington. The two West Coast ones are the killers. They're a week apart. With the drive, that's three weeks gone. It's a real commitment.
Who are you grateful to and for in helping you achieve your goals?
Gordon Razee and KTM America and Aldo
Despite the huge sacrifices that anyISDE-hopeful must endure, Steve isone of those people who won't be 70 years old with regrets for what could have been. No "if only I had tried" phrases for him—Steve is firmly on the road to Italy.
With Steve's win in 1985, he joins a select band of New England double Grand Champions including Frank DeGray, Don Cutler, Bud Peck, George Peck and Randy Martin. Bob Fielding was the only triple winner. Since Steve is only 31, and still competitive, he has the best shot at tying or even surpassing Bob Fielding's record.