Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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,"Pi- ~.' GIl _ ~ Wharton Tops Sunshine Pro -Series ~ I • = g ~ r-- 0'> ,....; Lamb Chops leads the 250's in the last mota. Chuck Lampe (11 is in hot pursuit and Alan Jeffries (21 AI, Jeff Billotte (41, and Lee Noblitt (361 are tagging along_ By E.C. Birt PHOENIX, ARIZ., DEC. 9 The Arizona All-Pro Series wrapped up here today, and there was a brand new Maico 250 waiti~g in the crate for the overallhigh-pbint rider. The question was: Would the Maico stay in Arizona or would it go to California? Sunshine Promotions, who, 18 through this series, have upgraded motocross enonnously in the Phoenix area, had prepared an excellen t track for today and abo some special noontime e'ntertainment. The S,upport races were highlighted by Kevin Marinovich (Hon) who again WOn the 125 Beginner class, giving him the only perfect, eight wins-for-eight motos score of the series. A California rider, Mike Brown (Mai), was top dog in the Open Beginner class ahead 0 f locals Tom S.cribner (H us) and Bob Peterson (CZ). Randy Ellis (Mai) got the overall for the 250 Novices. Brian Goodby (Hon) got second, Greg Goodman (Hon) got third, and Keith Marsh (Yam) got a broken leg, I think. Heal swiftly. Open Novice Rick Bomar (Mai) came on strongly today and took home first place. Second went to big Gary Conrad (Suz) ahead of Gary Boyse (Mai) riding out of Dave's Kart and Cycle. The 125 Amateur class' again went to Bill Meyers (Hon), riding out of Apache East. Bill looks like he's ready for the Pro class. Behind him were Tim Gamble on his Husky and Steve Derrick on his Yamaha from Yamaha of Tucson. The noon break brought something special for the minibike generation. There's a Phoenix TV comedy team called Wallace and Ladmo. Every racer needs a pit tootsie and Wallace and Ladmo have theirs. Gerald has got to be the ugliest broad I've ever laid my eyes on. But the kids loved them. Any of the top 10 Pros could take that Maico home and they all seemed to have precisely that in mind. Today they were aU business. The start of the firs't mo to was a bar-to-har charge of 14 of the fastest 125's on any track. In less than half a lap, Larry Watkins (Tyr) had taken the lead and began to pull away:. Gary Hickerson and his Husky had gotten a bad start, but he worked his way up to second spot by the flag. Honda-mounted Brad Mueller took third. Watkins began to figure out what he was going to do with a 250 Maico. The ftrst molo win in the 250's went to Chuck Lampe (Mai) after a hard battle with Bob Wharton (Hus) who filled the second' hole. Third went to I Sam Redman (Hon). The order of the first two finishers meant that the Maico was still up for grabs. The first moto of the Open class ~ent to Danny Croyle (Mai), Sunshine Promotion's' number one rider. Second spot was also'claimed by a Maico rider, David Anderegg. If Watkins won the second 125 moto, he would be almost unbeatable in the drive for the Maico. About 100 feet off the starting gate, Watkins put his front wheel in a hole, did a hand-stand, and just about ate -it. His landing on the gas tank put out Watkins' fire, and he just couldn't ride fast after that. But Gary Hickerson had his Husky Award winriing belly button. Ever hear the one about-the navel engagement? well under control and was on his way to the moto win. Mike Goodrich on his Honda took care of second spot ahead of Andy Frola (Hon). The 250 second molo was a fight all the way as Lampe battled wi th Charles Welk (better known as Lamb Chops) aboard a VR Montesa. Lampe ditl the deed and Frank Giardina (Mai) was third. Steve Strasser took his Yamaha to the flag first in the second Open moto with Croyk and Anderegg in second and thiro respectively. The final round of the 125's belonged to Gary Hickerson and his Husky ahead of Mike Goodrich and Brad Mueller. Hickerson took the overall for the day. The 250's came out of the hole like be,rserk rocketships with Lamb Chops and his VR in front. Lamb Chops held his lead until the last lap when he made that one tiny mistake. It cost him two places, and Lampe and the Maico moved to the front followed by Sam Redman. Lampe took all the marbles for the class. All the way to the flag in the Open Pro class it was Danny Croyle and his Maico. He had a burr under his tail and $250 in his sights. Second was Tom Metzgar (Mai) and third went to Eric Blatt (Hus). While they were figuring out who was going to get the Maico, I spotted the tootsie who gets the belly button award. The final tally gave Bob Wharton the series win and the Maico (not to mention a crate). Sunshine Promo puts on a good series and I'll be back next year. Results: # SUPPORT CLASS 125 Beginn.ers: Kevin Marlnovich (Hon). 250 Beginners: 1. Ricky Poole (Vam); 2. Richard Anthony (Vam); 3. Ken Hayes (Hon). . open Beginners: 1. Mike Brown (Mal); 2. Tom Scribner (Hus); 3. Bob Peterson (eZ). 125 Novice: 1. Brian Carey (Puc); 2. Steve Brown (Hon); 3. Kevin Nelson (I-Ionl' 250 Novice: 1. Ran.dy Ellis (Ma. ; 2. Brian Goodby (Hon): 3. Greg Goodman (Hon). Open NOVice: 1. Rick Bomar (Mai); 2. Gary Conrad (Suz); 3. Gary Boyse (Mal). 125 Amateurs: 1. Bill Meyers (Hon); 2. Tim Gamble (Hus); 3. Stew Derrick (Vam). 250 Amateurs: 1. Bill Rockley (Bul); 2. Steve Gunderson (Hon); 3. Roger Brown (HuS). Open Amateurs: 1. Bruce Parks (Mal): 2. Jay Mangu!J"l (Mai); 3. Thomas Hooker (Yam). Kevin Marinovich tallied a perfect score in the 125 Beginners. Gary Hickerson won the last two 125 money motos for the win. He's tr!liled by Mike Goodrich_ - Kenny Zahrt highlighted the Bultaco domination of Bultaco racer Lany Pfutzenreuter's day. A Motocross forPfutz By John Huetter Photos by Marcia Holley SUNNYMEAD, CAL., DEC. 16 D-37 motocrossers and 'even some Sled Riders M.C. desert racers turned out in tribute to the memory of Larry Pfutzenreuter today. Money taken in by the Doublecrossers M.C., sponsors of this special last motocross of the season, went to Larry's family, along with the cost of trophies, a pool fonned amongst all the riders present and a though tful donation from the hillclimbers at De Anza Cycle Park, who knew only that Larry was a competitive motorcyclist with a family now alone. Despite the sadness of the motivation, it was kind of a heartwarming experience to see a lot of riders turn out on short notice .for an even t to benefi t one of their own. The Bultaco riders, both factory-sponsored, shop-sponsored, and privateers, turned out in force and dominated all the classes they ran. Larry, of course, rode Bultaco. Ken Zahrt set the pace for all of them with walkaw,!y 250 and 500 Expert wins. Jim Connolly, at age 36, ... wrapped up the motocross No.1 plate in 125 class just before' his Bul seized a fresh piston~ Champagne cooled it off. Tom Rapp decided not to race and motored around trailriding and attacking the perpendicular De Anza hilIcimbs. Heavy turnouts in all classes meant that nobody, except possibly Zahrt, got a runawa.y. The competition remained fierce in six divisions that generally did not contain cherry-pickers or squids. It makes racin~ D-37 MX a fun, pumping experience and the two 25-minute motos make it more of a motocross. It's defini tely th·e way to go. You race longer and get through the day earlier. John Rice took fourth in the 125 Expert class on his trick Monark and would have won, for sure, except for a fouled plug. The top three finishers have their names in the Results section. You don't get a trophy if you want the cash to go to Mrs. Pfutzenreuter. It was Larry's day. # The co.:npetition was this tight for most of most Expert motos. John R. (Mnkl pulled a bole shot_