Published December 17, 2013 01:00PM
Kona History: 1985 Ironman Hawaii In Photos
Photos of the 1985 Ironman World Championship.
By the time he reached the Queen K highway during the marathon, Tinely had such a substantial lead that the win seem assured unless he blew up. Photo: Lois Schwartz
Join Triathlete.com as we look back at the history of Ironman Hawaii, including the 1985 race.
TRIATHLETE.COM IS ARCHIVING THE HISTORY OF IRONMAN HAWAII WITH GALLERIES OF THE PAST 28 YEARS OF KONA. CHECK BACK ON THURSDAY FOR IMAGES FROM 1986. Athletes lining up for the 1985 Ironman world championship in Kailua Bay in Kona, the same location as the race start today.
Back in the ’80s, spectators could sit right on top of the athletes on the sea wall. Currently, the finish structure and access limitations drive spectators a little down the bay.
An age grouper preparing for the start.
Wetsuits have never been permitted in the race, and swim skins wouldn’t be invented for another 20 years.
Pat Griskus was the first lower leg amputee to finish the Ironman World Championship. He died in a training accident on the course years later.
Tinley was the first person to use handlebars designed specifically for aerodynamic performance. This dropped bull-horn bar predates the modern form of an aerobar.
Joanne Ernst took the lead during the ride. With twin sisters Sylviane and Patricia Puntous, the best athletes during the ’83 and ’84 races, out of the race, the top spot was wide open.
Tinely came off the bike in second.
By the time he reached the Queen K highway during the marathon, Tinely had such a substantial lead that the win seem assured unless he blew up.
Tinely overtook Hinshaw shortly after T2 and took hold of the race.
Tom Warren was the second-ever Ironman champion in 1979. Sports Illustrated did a large feature on him after that race that helped raise the profile of triathlon. He finished outside the top 15 in 1985.
Ken “Cowman” Schirk rode around the course, watching the race and cheering the competitors. He finished second in 1979 and was one of the first finishers of the Western States 100 ultramarathon.
Ernst got off the bike at the front of the race and Elizabeth Bulman closed fast during the marathon. Ernst barely held her off and won by 93 seconds. In third place was Paula Newby-Fraser.
With his large lead, Tinley started to relax a bit during the marathon until Dave Scott came up alongside him in a car. Scott implored Tinley to break his course record and Tinley drove hard to the finish.
Tinely won the race and broke Scott’s course record, finishing in 8:50:54, more than 25 minutes ahead of Hinshaw in second. It was his second and final Ironman world title.