http://www.getbig.com/results/mens/ironman.htm
1998 Ironman Pro Invitational Results
February 21, 1998 at Redondo Beach, CA
The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Aviation Auditorium, on the corner of Aviation Blvd, and Manhattan Beach Blvd, was the site for the 1998 IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational. This was the 9th year for this event, and the 5th year in a row that Ken 'Flex' Wheeler has won this event. The evening show started off with a tribute to Vince Gironda, who died last November three weeks shy of his 80th birthday. Ironman publisher John Bailik and Vince were close friends, and John was planning an 80th birthday bash for him.
In the audience were noted people such as Francis Benfatto, Alq Gurley, Barry Kabov, Paul Dillet, Gunther Schlierkamp, Lee Priest (The Beast), Shawn Ray (first Ironman winner), Mike Christian (Iron Warrior), Tony Pearson (former Mr. Universe), Larry Scott (first Mr. Olympia), Kim Chivesky (reigning Ms. Olympia), Willie Stallig, Stan McCrary (Curly Top), Marvelous Melvin Anthony, Chris Cormier (The Real Deal), and many, many more, and Lynn Conkwright (1880 Ms. Olympia 3rd).
The prejudging started a little after 12:15, and the finals at 8pm. Interesting note is that Greg Kovacs did not show up to the finals, although he was at the prejudging. Lonnie Teper, the emcee, was presented a cake with a naked lady on it (complete) from Shawn Ray for his birthday, which was February 16th. And it was a triumphant return for Dennis Newman, whom this was his first pro show, after winning against the biggest battle of them all, leukemia.
The final results were:
Place Name Country
1 Ken 'Flex' Wheeler USA
2 Darrem Charles Trinidad
3 Aaron Baker USA
4 Patrick Lynn USA
5 Renel Janvier USA
6 Dennis Newman USA
7 Darryl Stafford USA
8 Kevin O' Grady Australia
9 Ron Coleman USA
10 Grant Clemesha Australia
11 Michio Grubbs USA
12 Roland Kickinger Austria
13 Jeffrey Long USA
14 Greg Kovacs Canada
15 Mohamed El Makkawy Egypt
16 Ken Jones USA
17 Alessandro Komadina Italy
4-dis Anthony 'Wolf' Williams USA
11-dis Fauzi Hanst Carribean
Anthony Williams and Fauzi Hanst were disqualified later on after failing the diuretics test. Slated to appear but did not were Jeff Poulin (USA), Jocelyn Cadieuz (Canada), and Federico Focherini (Italy)
