Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125812
s ., Pe s. f the proper adjective to describe Thursday night's competition at Trojan Speedway. But it will have to do, that is until a better word is invented. However, the evening's program did have at least one redeeming quality that was worth every bit the price of admission as out-of-state riders, Gary Wells of Phoenix, Arizona. and IS-year-old Bill Oliver of Corvallis, Oregon, unleased individual crowd-pleasing performances in winning their respective 250 Main even ts from the local hot-shoes. Some say that compeatlOn is supposed to bring out the best in a rider, but tonight. this was the main ingredient missing as both Wells, and Oliver literally ran away from the field to score relatively easy wins. 'Yells, mounted this time on a Yamaha, otH-raced Rick Goade (Bul) to the first comer of the 250 TT feature, and although Goade gave it a good try. was unable to out-sprint Wells as they came off the second comer and unto the TT course. Positions remained the same until the third lap when Oliver out-maneuvered Swett for third. The top five positions remained unchanged all the way to the checkered, but not for the lack of any hard racing on a well prepared track. Taken somewhat by surprise, Wells after again taking the jump on the field of 12-enlries in the 250 F.T. Main, was unable to hold off a strong challenge by Oliver who refused to back off as both riders went at it nip-and-tuck for the lead on the first lap. Coming off the fourth comer, it was Oliver crossing the starting line ahead of Wells. What at first glance of the Main looked like a potential hot duel (first first of the evening), failed to materialize as Oliver, finding the Trojan oval very much to his liking for his first time out, just waSn't any match for We Us who is seemed to be possessed with a determination to excel in anything he does with motorcycles. In 125 class action, Steve Okuda (Kaw) finally ended a long standing jinx by winning the 125 TT Main over a much improved Jim Stewart (Yam), and Richard Kyzer (Suz). In winning, Okuda overcame a string of...call it racing bad I\U:k that previously sidelined him after leading numerous mains. This event was unique in as much as it was not Okuda who crossed the finish line first, but Tom Doty (Hon). Once again, what' could have been the competition I u Rick Goade No.1, defending 250 class champion is reported that he will divide his time between motorcycles, and racing sprint cars next year. needed,. just wasn't there despite that Doty came from the back of the pack to pass rider-after-rider to nip Okuda on the fmallap for the checkered. The only problem was that Doty was always a lap dowp having failed to negotiate the second lap after encountering a malfunction on his mount. The 125 FT Main was all Doty, from start to finish as he too wen t off and hid from the field unmolested from any serious contention. Another up-and-coming youngster who somehow reminds, you of a young Sammy "The Flea" Tanner, little Mike Minnig (Hod) of South Gate, defeated Stewart (Yam), in both 100 IT and IT· Main events. A l!;raduate from the Tuesday night minicycle program, young Minnig has shown immeasurable promise and has now been pitted against much older riders. Minnig is now going for his 12th birthday, and those who have seen him in action, are now talking abou.t how to h.mdicap this little buzz-bomb. Allen Swett (Hon) was the winner of the Hbackwards" IT special event over Scott Schndl (Hon), and Chase. As an added bonus for the chilled spectators, WeUs, a real professional at this trade, and Swett, attempted to upstage each other in a contest of uwheelies" in the front stretch'. For an Amatenr, Swett gave a good account of himself while coming close to even terms with WeUs, but wasn't ready to match the Arizonian's one-handed wheelies. Mike Beck got back on top in the 250 Novice class. The past couple of weeks Mike has had some pretty stiff competition and he has managed to stay in the top three. Saturday he was not to be denied and rode three very good motos, using his head and not losing his pose for an instant. Bob Byars got up for the second and Kenny Fuller third. Bill Fu~ton was the best in the 250cc Novice lover Don Boon and orm Blake. A new crop of 175-200 Novices was on hand with new names making their way to the win column. Miles Strickland, a familiar name to us but not on a I75cc, had a nice running Ossa as Mike Thayer and Terry Pruitt discovered. Meanwhile going off behind the Novices were the Am/Experts with WiUie Hardin leadin~ the way in this one. Gary White was second but just dido't look like he was with the program. Don't know if he didn't feel good or he was having bike problems but he was way off the performances he is capahle of turning in. Scott Flint was in for the third place SP01. Bill Dell another new name lead the 125 Novices around, with Randy Doyle second and little Ricky Hart third. Vern Maxwell did it again in the 100"125 Amateur/Expert class. Riding his second week against the big boys, Vern continues to prove that the track officials knew what they were doing' when they pulled him out of the Novice ranks. Rex Hailey was home second and Eric Engen third. In the 100 Novice 11, not meaning to take any credit away from winner Jeff Miller who did a good job, I would like to give special congrats to little Debbie McGregor who tied for third with Walter Hall. Debbie is a qttiet gal who's on the line every week and never once complain-s abou t having to ride with the guys. She does her thing and does it well. Greg Kelse was second in this one. John Erickson won Division I. With money being paid at several tracks some thing has got to be s.aid to the riders winning the coin. This.is fine if it's what you want but once you have taken so much as a dime for your racing abJ1Jty you can no longer classify yourself as a Novice or even an Amateur at Sportsmen tracks. You have lost the righ t to pass yourself off as any kind of Amateur athlete so think hard before you take the plunge. Is a couple of buck.s worth the loss of your Amateur standing. by Debi Whiting VALENCIA, CAL.. Nov. 19, 1972 The first of the thrilling 17 events was the Pee-Wees. They all were racing together but the faster ones were seO red' separately, namely "Little Beaver" Gabe Thomas and Mike Mulligan. These two really battled it ou t, bu t Gabe came ou t wi th a clean -sweep. We had another large 1-3HP class with old and new alike. The familiar face of "get it on" Shawn Moran took home this class trophy. "Little Beaver" Gave pulled away with second overall. The 7 and over HP class had more Dunes regulars. Bob Friese, "Slidin Kelly Moran" and "Crazy Horse Lance Moorwood." Bob was the smooth rider ou t of this class, and with the 'grand slam win all three motos. The Powder Puff class had five competitive girls' whipping lb.ru the tums and really turning it on do.wn the suaightaway especially- lb.e tworegular Honda.- at it aj{ain. Renee Payne' and "The Bombshell" Terri McQueen really fought it out weekly and today wasn't any different. Here's how it went: Renee beat Terry. Our first 10 years and under Mini Stock Cycle class, once again dominated by "Get It On" Shawn Moran being pressured by (a long time missed rider) Jimmy "Bam Bam" Simons. The second 10 and under Stock Class was led and captured by Brian Strong. Our first class of 11 and over Stockers red to pure battle between "Crazy Horse" Lance ,Moorwood and "Slidin' Kelly Moran. Lance however had the days win. The second largest class of 11 and over Stockers was led by a new rider on a new Indian, nam.ely Frank J ones. Only three slim poin ts behind was Scott McCarty. The faster 10. and under modified bo.ys were now on the line. Dwane Ellio.!!'s 1-4-1 victory led him to his Perris TT by Elaine Jones PERRIS, CAL., Nov. 4, 1972 - One of the best and certainly the closest race of the night came in the 250 Amateur. The principles were John Lowe, Frank Schnetz and Bob Graves. John and Frank are teammates, riding for Bill's Bullaco, San Bernardino and Bob is sponsored by Buddha B ultaco, Riverside. The first two heats had John and Frank each coming up with a first and second with Bob third. In the final go Bob exploded out on top, never to be challenged, while John and Frank looked like a pair of Siamese twins as they battled for that all importan t second place finish. It was John at the fmish line by the width of his tire with Frank second by a scant 75 points OYer Bob Graves. Dennis Creason, who hasn't been around in over a year, showed everyone he hasn't lost his touch as he won the 250cc Expert from Rex Hailey and Mark Reichert. Doug Mason decided not to ride the class that is truly dominated by him and chose instead to climb aboard a Maico and ride and win the Open Amateur-Expert. Doug is proving that he's just as dangerous in the bigger class as he is on his 250cc. Paul Lambert had a strong challenge from Mike DuBont who continues to be in the thick of things every week. Paul held him off to take the second with Mike third. By the way Doug's times are very close to the record times he has set on his Bul. R. G. Stone our old young man got himself another first in the Novice Moto II. R. G. has really come into his own and everything is together for him_ He's gotten it down to figuring his own score and figuring ou t all the possibilities- so that he knows- just what he needs to get in that final moto_ Chuck Perrault was second and Jimmy J ohnwn third. Bob. Herrick topped Ken Norris and Bill Mitre to win the Novice Moto.l. NMRA Minis _ day'S'"win. The- second class-o£ mod. Mini Cycles led us to. pure battle between Randy Kramer and Mike Prunty. There was onJy four points separating these two and Randy took home the trophy. Yamaha moun ted "Mavin" Matt Whiting with his 2-1-1 victory creamed his competition in the last class of 10 and under Modified mini cycles. • Now for the 11 and over Super fast racer, we saw "Flying Newhall Buzzsaw" Mike Brown clean sweep this class with Allied Racing Team partner, Bobby.J ones, taking second sP0l. In the next race Lance Sloane really had to keep his throttle on to· stay in front of Terry Woolwine. . Bill Jewett and Chad McQueen made a clean smooth sweep of the third class of 11 and over Mini Cycles. The race of the day had to go to the last event which was the 76:I2Occ class. The wnole Allied Racing Team had no trouble, what so ever conquering thi1 class. Buzzsaw, buzzed right thru this class, except fot the second motO'when. he made a slip-.