Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ w Z W ..J CJ > CJ by Mark Milford MOORPARK, CAL., Aug. 20, 1972 The Muntz Cycle Park motocross track, long unused, saw action again today as Western States Motocross hosted the second race in what is to become a regular schedule of weekly MX. The 120+ riders who showed up for the All-Junior affair bore witness to a marked change in the personaliry of Muntz racing. Gone are the rocks, dust, and Mickey Mouse organization of yore, replaced instead by professional track preparation and more competent officials. The light turnout, therefore,was attributed to the fact that "we're having a tough time gelling rid of the bad reputation." Muntz also recently added a water hole, a big waterhole, and spectators swarmed around like vultures to watch the frequent muddy crashes. The water did, in fact, affect the final results so much, that in the 100 Beginner class, clearly half of its entrants either crashed, or fell by the wayside due to lack of waterproofmg. The 100 Junior class was won by Steve Smith (Yam) with an undramatic grand slam, as Mike Hogan (Hon) and Jeff Hirtle (Yam) grabbed second and thrid. Finally, the 125 Junior class, packed with local 'shoes, came to the ljne and brought with it the fiercest competition of the day. Moto 1 saw Steve Copelin (Yam) streak out into the lead with Larry Hentschel (Yam) trying, unsuccessfully, to catch up. The rest of the pack was raging a tooth-and-nail battle for every place except last, when the waterho)e eventually claimed Copelin and Hentschel won. In the second moto, Hentschel shot off the line first, smoke in to the first comer, and promptly dumped it. Several riders painfully nipped over the berm as the pack jostled to avoid the fallen Yammy. Hentschel restarted but stayed well back thoughout the moto. Going into the final moto, Hentschel and Copelin each had a first and something akin to last. As the moto started, Copelin gained a 40 yard lead O\.t of the first comer - the biggest lead he held over Hen'tschel for the next five minutes. But bad luck, in the form of a crash, struck Hentschel and he finished second overall to Copelin. Bill ring (CZ) and Bill Kelly (Hus) each won their respective 250 and 500 Junior classes. WSM All Junior MX at Muntz ",,' . lr id:::".;U" Steve Colin (7731 leads the 125 class out of the first turn on his way to first overall. He is pursued by Bill Douglas (41. Tim Lamar (55HI. and Larry Hentschel (IPl. R.A.C.E. .. at Corona---------------------------------------------- By Dale Teubner CORONA, CAL., Aug. 17,1972 - They came a long djstance to watch Rex Staten do his thing, and he won both the 250 and 500 Expert Classes. Taking an evening off to spectate were the American Yamaha Team of Cary Jones, DeWayne .Jones, Jim Weinert and Marty Tripes. Hear tell they will be back next week to try and break Mr. Staten's record of 27 out of 28 moto wins. 1 find it hard to believe rhat anyone of them can beat Mr. Staten as be appears to have tbis course wired. If they perform as a team, then possibly they migh t be able to remove his crown. Rex dominated the first twO motos of the 500 Senior class followed closely by Bob Hershey and Bryan Breker. In the third moto the "Candy Man" had a good start until the last lap when "Rex the Rocket" Staten passed him on the steep downhill, all out of control and Bonzai. Rex was able to keep it up at the bOllom where there is a 90 degree righ t tum and went on for the victory, followed again by Mr. Hershey and Bryan Breker. The "Candy Man" vowed be would come back and beat "Rocket Rex" if it was the last thing he did. The only thing 1 have got to say is when the chips are down and you are leading "Rocket Rex" coming down that downhill, you had best be prepared for him to pass. because there ain't nobody that can go down that hill faster than Staten. The 250 Senior class was also dominated by "Rocket Rex" although there was qwte a contingent of excellen t American motocrossers in attendance. Morris Malone was au l on his trusty AJS. However, after the first moto he found it wasn't so trusty after all. Tom Rapp was back and chased Mr. Staten around the one mile loop but could not get past him and had to seLtie for second. Bruce Baron came in third on that one on his Yamaha. In the second moto Staten won going the way with Doug Sherman coming in for second some distance back, and Cayion Mosier behind him. In the third moto it was Staten once again followed to the wire by Baron and Doug Sherman. The 125 Seniors put on quite a show and there was excitement galore in the races which were a battle between Kenny' Zahrt on his BultacQ and Jeff Vidic on his Penton. Both riders seem to have this course wired and always put on one heck of a battle for the win. Zahrt was able to pull off the first win with Vidic second. Jeff then won the next two for the overall win. Kenny was able to take two seconds and thereby ended up with second place overall with Mjke Paulsellthird. The 125 Intermediate class saw Paul Shenman take the overall win with two firsts and a second, followed closely by Neal Wyckoff on a Yamaha, hjs first ride as an In tertttcdiate ou t of the 100 class. Only one rider showed up in the 250 Intermediate class and this wa:s Val Tamietti on a Yamaha. Due to the fact that he was the only rider signed up, he elected to ride against the 500 Intermediates instead and in doing so swooped the field. He took the win ahead of Doug Brown, and this was quite an impressive ride for Doug, as he has just been moved up from Junior and this was his first ride as an Intermediate. Hoyt Statham on his trusty Husky, the Desert Ace, practicing motocross, came in for third. In the Mjni Bike class there was a large tumou t and David Oller, on his screaming Honda took the overall win. He was chased to the wire each time by David Dieterle and Jon Hewitt oil Hondas.

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