Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ Chowchilla "6' i "by John Crawford ;:: CHOWCHILLA, CAL., Sept. 15, 1972 '" - Even though the tum out wasn't first 0' rate, the racing definitely was great in this small community just north of u fresno. The only complaints heard o aboul the track concerned the last part VJ of the last turn, whIch developed a few ~ ripples near the pole. It is hard to Z imagine how the resl of the track could ~ ha\"e been improved. ~ Little Donnie Howard led the 70 u Novice from start to finish, turning in an almost faultless ride ahead of Brell Collins and Tim Porter. The lead position in the 100 Novice was never in douht as Jim Turney took charge right off the start and never looked back. Joey Villanueva was second followed by Dale Jones and Sam Mathews, hut exiting the last tum of lap one, Joey had problems finding a gear and Jones was there to sJip around for second. Entering the first tnm of lap six, Mathews went to the high groove to drive in around the outside of Villanueva to grab third, then exiting the last lum of lap seven got the drive on J ones to nail down second. In the 125 Novice, Bud Sturgill chased Mike Van Dyke for four laps hefore finally finding a way around and once into the lead. proceeded to pull out a handsome margin ahead of Van Dyke and Paul Rubalcava. John 1I0llis charged right into the lead of the] 00-]25 Junior followed by Phil Waters and Randy TaUey. Richard lJorton got the drive on Talley coming out of the last turn of lap one, then made an abortive attempl to pass Waters in turn one of lap four. In the last tum of lap five, Walers got into a large overslide and both Uorton and Talley slipped through for second and third, then in the last turn of lap six, horsepowered his way past !Jollis to grab the lead. However, as the white Oag went up, so did Horton's left arm andhe pulled off the track with a wasted engine. At the checkered, Hollis had the win, ahead of Talley and Waters, all three on ] OOcc machines well in front of the J 25 's. Mike Keith got the best jump on Lhe starter in the 125 Expert, only to have his front wheel rise and start clawing for altitude_ Mike was forced to back off the throttle to regain control and was second into the first tum behind Rick Delgado and ahead of Richard Fritz. Entering the first turn of lap four, Delgado had his bike'slide out from under him and both Keith and fritz were gone, completely out of reach . the 100 Junior Main in short track ... ,r I n the daylight, getting power to the ground was the biggest problem at the Chowchilla track. Those that did it best, won. Chowchilla Scrambles by Fresno M.e. by Sportphoto CHOWCHJLLA. CAL., Sept. 24, 1972 - Rather than cancel their Seventh Annual Double Point Scrambles, the Fresno Motorcycle Club elected to run the race at the Chowchilla fairgrounds Track, not being able to use their own c1ubgrounds due to a zoning change. At night, this track of late has been suger sticky but daytime is a completely differen t story. He who managed to get the power to the t~ack in most cases, won the race. The 55 avice-Junior saw Jeff Bell take charge righ t off the line and was never even n:motely th reatcned despite the battle being waged belween Ricky Pearce and David Yeargan for second. Ric k TaUey was close behind Yeargan for first Novice, just ahead of Teri fritz and Danny Huckabay. Brent Collins had to play catch up in the 70 Novice-Junior as Guy Childs grabbed the lead off the start and held Collins off for three laps. Ilowever, entering the first tum of lap four, Childs left just a' bit of an opening inside and Collins nailed down the lead for the duration. It was a wire-to-wire victory for Paul Falvey in the] 00 Novice, well ahead of Jim Flowers and Dale Jones who just moved into third on the last lap. At the checkered, it was Hollis with the win the 100 Junior-Expert after pulling out a lead in front of Garrison and Mathews, all of whom are Juniors! Bud Sturgill led a parade in the 125 Novice ahead of Randy Myers and Bill Formby, as the order off the start was unchanged at the checker. Mike Keith read starter Wayne Sumner perfectly in the 125 Junior-Expert, and took command right off the line. Gary Miner got his second win of the weekend, even though he had to take advantage of early leader Bob McDaniel's error on the second lap to do it. In third all the way was Chuck Hankins in the 200 Novice. Paul Cates and Tim Phillips came off the starting line side by side in the 200cc Junior, and were dead eve.n in to and through the first Lurn. but coming out Phillips got out into the loose stuff and Kipp Cox slipped through for se and. Coming ou t of the last lurn of lap one, .cox experienced a horrendous get-off (which he fortunately walked away from) and, in the momentary confusion, Stan Champlin drove into second spot ahead of Phillips. Mike Keith jumped right into the lead of the 200 ExperL, chased by Bob McClure and Jim McAleer who were some kind a duking it out for second spot. Exiting the first tum, McAleer slipped out into the marbles and McClure took over a solid second. Then, " , ,L.,a~t,r(lon l~ 's an

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