Harth Brings Big Bike to Hallett Motorcycles Make Rare Road Appearance Today

Mike Harth would like to fix something which has really never worked in Oklahoma. But since he's in his home state about once a year, Harth has little chance of helping make motorcyle racing as popular as, well, football.

Harth will be one of several riders from across the nation competing in today's 11:30 a.m. EBC Brakes-WERA National Endurance Series road races at Hallett Motor Circuit.

"Basically, the people here are into football and that's all," said Harth, a 1974 Putnam City High graduate who lives in Roswell, Ga. "As soon as it's through for the year, the fans are through.

"Hey, I'm from Oklahoma and I'm into OU football, too. But this (motorcycle racing) is a very good sport to get into. It's a good spectator sport."

Harth, 31, is in his first year with Team Suzuki, a three-time endurance national champion. He and teammate Pete Carroll of Costa Mesa, Calif., will take turns in guiding a 375-pound, 150-horsepower motorcycle in today's event which will last six hours over Hallett's 1.8-mile hilly asphalt course.

A victory for Harth and Carroll would put Team Suzuki into first place in the 15-race Endurance Series point standings. Through four races, they're second.

Team Suzuki has an outside chance to win its fourth national crown.

But it would be Harth's first something which has eluded him since he began riding motocross dirt bikes at age 15 in Yukon.

"There are very few motocross tracks in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, so I had to go to California to try and make it big," Harth said. "I raced bikes on short tracks, then on motocross obstacles. Then I really got big into road racing.

"It seemed like everything I did before in motocross helped me out in road racing like the bike slide for example. But the big difference is this is on asphalt instead of dirt."

However, Harth said road racing does demand more mental than physical fitness, which is a requirement for a good motocross racer.

"You've got to spend at least an hour and a half on the bike in 90- to 100-degree temperatures," he said. "You only have to be halfway physically fit, but it really is a mental game. By the end of the six hours, we have to be there at the finish."

This is Harth's first race at Hallett since 1982. If the Endurance Series shouldn't return within the next few years, it could be his last.

Harth, who calls himself "old for the game" plans on riding for at least two more years.

"I wouldn't mind racing a car after I get out of this," he said.

"I guess after all these years I've become a speed freak.

"I don't care what kind of racing it is. Have wheels, will travel."

Hallett is located at the Hallett exit off Interstate 40, 40 miles west of Tulsa. Tickets are $8. BIOG: NAME:

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