Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

. E CMC Irwindale IIQ ...::I By John Bethea ... = ..r r-- O'l l!"l >l-o :";l ... ...0 ~ - IlJ ~ -' IRWINDA L E, CAL. , JAN. 25 Last week, when 198 riders showed up to race the second CMC night motocross of the year at Irwindale Raceway, general manager Steve Evans was very, very happy. But, tonight, when 239 riders clicked through the gate, he went wild. Included in the program, like last week, was th e Powder Puff class and this time out 13 young ladies t ook to the fast 5 /8ths mile circuit. Yup , Miss Sue Fish (Hod) collected the wi n bu t this time sh e had a re ally tough job as Miss Jan Kline (Hon) won th e firs t moto, en d ed up t he second tie d overall fin ish in g a sec ond w hile Sue wo n. It turned ou t to be a no con test in the third as Sue rose t o the occasio n an d plucked out th e w in while J an d windled to fo urth af te r a poor st art. By far th e most abundan t ty pe of rider tonight was the newest t o race, th e Juniors. So, we'll spotlight those before he ading o n to the Intermediates a nd E xp erts . Doug Nicol (H on ) staged a clean sw eep in the Mini Division I, but th at becomes even m o re impressive when you re alize t h at Bill Fancher (H on ), Bob Toliver (Hon) and Vince Van Hook (Yam) to o k the n ex t three spots. All t our normally w in just ab o u t every race they enter at other tracks. Ove r i n D iv ision 11, La nce Moorewood (I nd) decisioned Bo bby Gonzal es (H on) all three times out as they domin ated t he res t of th e Min i program. Then, tak in g ju st enoug h tim e to get off one b ik e and get on a nothe r , Moorewood enter ed the first d ivision of 100 Juniors a n d again banged ou t three solid vic tories fo r h is second tr ophy of the night. Joe Castro (Yam) was able to moun t two good per formances, seconds in the final p air of races, to take the runnerup sp o t o ver consistent riding Gary Bowden (Yam) . Division II was a tense affa ir whi c h was only settled in the fin al rou nd an d even t hen n obody really k ne w who th e overal l champ would be. T he p oin ts were totaled a nd Lonny Stroup (Yam ) came out with th e consisten cy th at paid off for fir st. Steve Rosale s (Yam) used a second, th ird and fifth for sec on d overall. Even more wild was th e 2 I -ride r fiel d com batin g the 125 Junior Division 1. T aking it afte r a gre at deal of pla ce . swapping, was J erry Burd (Pe n) . Amazingly, he did it with tw o th irds and a fourth , ye t th at's wh at it tak es under th e Ol ympic system. Rounding up second place poin ts from th e strength o f a fir st and a se cond was Tony DeLaSota (Yam) , hurt b y a seventh in the third race, as wa s Mar k Brown in the firs t, Brown also had a rust and second y et finished th ird overall. Mike McGonigal (Pen) won the First two round o f 125 Junior Divis ion II, but lo st out overall to three other riders when he dipped to 13th in the third race. The cons iste nt ove ra ll performers that stunned McGonigal were Robert Marino (H on) two-three-seven in firs t, Mike Harris (Hon) six-six-o ne in sec on d and J eff Rodg er s (H o n) three-seven-three in third. A bit of sanity and normal ity returned in Division III with Scot Briethaupt a t the winning reins of a Yamaha, riding to a two-one-two record dumping the rest of th e field easily in the overall count. Insanity returned briefly again in the 250 Juniors Division I when Don Wood's fo ur-five-three on the Honda turned ou t to be the winning combination ! Even m o re asto unding is that you have to go all the way down to third p lace finisher Ri ck Beeson (Yam) before you find a single moto winner; second place Paul Piper (Yam) had a two-seven-four record. Division II winner, Dan Bryson (Ya m), won the final two motos an d kept a firm hand on the proceedings, as did Dave Maxwell (CZ) in Division III with two seconds and a first. Carter Read (Mai) swept the 500 Juniors with Trent McGee (C Z) easing ou t Karl Bash (S uz) for second. Using two thirds and a rust, Bill Glore (H on ) topped the 18-rider 125 Intermediate class with second going to the consistent Gary Denton (Yam), two-two-five. Of th e 13 25 0 Intermediates scoring, Steve Tafoya (H on ) improved with each moto, going fro m fourth to eventual seco nd and it paid off with th e overall trop hy . Mike McClung (C Z) took second, ac ing out double moto winner Mik e F o llme r (Mai) , wh ose 1 1th in round two co st h im. Favored 500 Intermedia te Curly \\'hole y (CZ) went in to th e fin al moto with two wins but left it wit h a fif t h and only a second overall after Gary Luns fo rd (Hus) ban ged o ut th ree straight seconds to take it in a stun ne r. I n E xpe rt co m petition, still wallowing in sm all rider cou n t , Albe rt Can cin o rec orded a third overall 125 but because o f it, to ok ove r th e CMC Points Leadership fro m Bob Maxwe ll, wh o h as been racing only Sund ays . Taking the class was Mike Bell (Hon) , wh o h as stated he is a fter th e cha m p io ns hi p this year. Tonigh t he m oved in t o the Top Ten. The 25 0 w inner was Frank Fitzgerald (H us) wit h two m o to win s, and the lo ne 500 ri der was Dennis Clark (CZ). - Results POWDER PUFF : 1. Sue F ish (Had) . 2. Jan Ka in e ( H on) . 3 _ Sa ndy G on zales ( HOn) . M IN I D IV I : 1 . D oug N ic o l ( Han) . 2 . B i ll F an che r ( Hon). 3. B ob To l ive r ( Hon) . M INI DI V II : 1. L ance Moore wood (l n d ) . 2 . BOb b y Gonza les ( Han) . 3. V a n ce Luevano (Hon) . 100 J R S D IV I: 1. Lance Moore wood (I n d) . 2. Joe C ast r o (Vam). 3 . G a r y Bow de n ( Vam) . 100 J RS DI V II : 1. Lonny Strou p (Vam). 2 . Steve Rosales ( Vam) . 3 . Steve SChill ing (Yam). 125 J R S D 1V I: 1. Jerry Bu r d ( Pen) . 2 . Ton y DeLaSota ( Y a m ). 3. Mark Brown (Pen). 1 25 JRS DI V II : 1. R obe rt Mar ino (Hon ). 2 . M ike H a r r i s ( H o nj , 3 . Jeff Rodgers (H o n). 125 J RS D IV 111: 1. Scot Briethlup t ( Ya m) . 2. R ichard R ad ice (H on) . 3 . Steve C ross (H an ) . 2 5 0 JR S DIV I : 1. Don W ood ( H a n ) . 2. Pau l Pipe r ( Ya m) . 3 . R ic k B ee so n (Vamt. 25 0 JR S D I V II : 1 . D an Br y son ( V am ). 2. B ill La ity (Y am ) . 3 . Larry L u t z (Han) . 2 5 0 JRS DIV III : 1. D ave Max well (CZ) . 2 . G ar y C olbert ( H on) . 3 . R OCk y Pellegatte (Hon } . 5 0 0 JRS : 1. Car t er Re ad (Mai) . 2 . Tren t M cG ee (C Z ). 3 . K a rl Ba sh (S u z ) . 1 2 5 INT : 1. B i ll G l ore (H a n). 2 . Ga ry D en t on (Y am ) . 3 . Joh n McGonigal (Pen). 25 0 lNT : 1. St ev e T af oya ( H on/ . 2 . M ike M cC l ung (CZ). 3 . Mi ke F o ll m er (Ma ) . SOO I NT : 1. Gary Lu nsf ord (H us} . 2 . C ur ly W ho ley (C Z ) . 3 . Ca lv in Web er ( B&S) 1 25 EX , I. Mike B e ll (Hon) . 2 . Cli ff L ett I (Ho n) . 3. Albert Can ci no (H On) . 2S 0 E X : 1. F ran k F'l t zg era ld . (Hus) . 2 . Sc ott Doo rnbos (Han). 3. Gary KOIeper (R i C). SOO EX : 1. D e nni s C l ark ( C Z). Las Vegas MX LAS V EGAS , NEV., JAN. 13 120 of Southern Nevad a' s fiercest at hletes blasted the top off the 1974 motocross scen e today be Steve Fortune. fore 500 eager, well wrapped race fans. Ten year old David Thomsen motored his Mini Yamaha to a hard earned Amateur win, edging by Mik e Worthington (Hon), proving m otocross champions come all ages. Leading a pack of 25 0 Amateurs was Kirk Bothwell, around the 1.5 mile course. A blanket could have been thrown over the class from start to finish . John Gurganus [S te] b eat the Mini No vices and go t h im sel f m ov ed to Amateu r. On t h e b igger bik es, Ho ward Lockwood (Pe n) m oved to Am a te u r status b y earning h is sec on d 10 0 Nov ice go. Roger Wells ran a way fr om th e 25 0 Novices and gave h im hi s second win, m aking h im an Amate u r. _ Results M IN I BEG CLASS : 1. To m J aco bsen (Ya m ). 2 . J immy S zeb on! (Yam ) . 3. Ste ve n Stro ud ( H on). 4 . George Foos hee (Ya m ) . 5 . Chris H ale (Vam ) . MINI No v CLASS : 1. J o h n G u r ga nu s St e ) . 2 . Joey D ee (Hon} , 3 . Todd Hunter V am} . 4 . Joe Agu il ie r a (I nd) . 5 . Ronnie G i ge r (Hon . MINI A M C L ASS : 1. D av id Thomse n (Yam) . 2 . Mi k e Wor thi n gt on (H on) . 3 . D oug (;reg ory (HOn) . MINI E X CLASS : 1. L enn y G iger [Be r} , 2. M arv Chap m an ( Hon ) . 1 00 NO V CLA SS: 1. H o ward L o c k w o od (Pen). 2. Ste ve Jac k so n ( Y am ) . 3. Wayne ~ar n5 . 4 . Joe Gurga n us(H od). 5. Gi no Curso l i (Va m ) . 1 0 0 E X CLASS : 1. Mel C h ap m a n ( Vam ). 125 N O V O f V I : 1. Ra n d y K i mbr o ugh ( Vam) . 2 . Ton y B r un ett i ( Va m ). 3. R aul Rodriguez. 4 . Da ve Kut iej ( V am) , 5 . Robe r t Alle n ( 5 uz ). 125 NOV D IV II : 1. B Obb y O 'A m o r a ( B ul ) . 2. Dav id F ultz (Han) . 3. Fritz M o se r (H a n) . 4 . R i c k y Po l son ( Yam ). 5 . Eddie M u noz ( H a n). 125 A M C LASS : 1. C harlie F in negan IVZ) 2 . G le n M u n y an (M nk ) _ 3. G re g C o nrad Y Z ) . 1 2 5 EX CLASS : 1. Pau l Williams (Han). 2 . Mar ty B o l ze ndah l (Hon) . 3 . R obert L ea ( HOn ). 25 0 NO V C L A SS: 1. R o ger W ell s ( Ka w) . 2 . Ch r is A nd r eo li (SUZ) . 3. Ricky Malo ne (Kaw) . 4 . B r ian Step nenson (Kaw ) . 5. a lii Biernac ki ( Ya m). 250 A M /E X CLA SS: 1. K i r k Bot h w e ll ( Ya m ) . 2. C hris Guit ta rd ( H a n). 3 . M ark Gree n (C Z) . 4 . S id England (Han). 5 0 0 NO V CLASS : 1. Randy B rown ( C Z) . 2 . Larry S li f e (Vam) . 3 . R . W al ston (Hus) . 5 00 A M C LASS : 1. Ra ndY Justice (S u z ) . 2 . John V an Hoove (Ma l ) . 3 . D enn is Joh n son (Vam). I 500 EX C LASS , 1. Bill HI li (M al) . 2. Ji m K eeto n (H u s) . 3. Fl o y d Du n n ( Mal) . Elsinore TT Story & Photos by Christopher EL SINO R E, CAL., J A N. I 9 History was made ton ight, ladies and gentlemen. For the first time in my short ca reer as thi s track's ph o tographer my life was no t threatened b y a misguided two wheel projectile (read "Hard racing biker."). My insurance agent and I thank you, guys . But make no mistake about that sta tement. The hard racing was still there, but thankfully was kept on course. In the 100 Novice group we saw David Le ach take first place with second going to one Betty Welcher. That's right, guys. Stay tuned for future reports on this growing phenomena. It might not do your male egos any good, but I personally think it's th e best thing to happen to the sport since "bean oil " In the Amateur-Expert division so me of the hottest racing w itnessed the entire evenin g was turned in by those 125s agai n. Steve Mille r took the class win, b u t Mike Ochs (pla cin g second) and Mark Pr escott (th ird) were never far behind. And sp eaking of o uts tandi n g racing, y o u sh ould have seen Mark Reichert an d R od Sexton go at it tonigh t. The friend ly rivalry between these tw o guys is so m ething that has to be see n to b e believed. You practically n eed a Pres ton Petty starting ga te to keep th ese 5 00 Open Experts from ju m p ing the st art. Poor Mac (t he starte r) and T om (th e lin e judge) work harder trying to give these guys a fai r start than they do wi th all the o ther classes co m bined. After several b ad starts Mac finally got a good one, an d im m edi atel y Mar k to ok the lea d, w hich he never gave up. Mr . Reichert also took th e Sweeps ta kes class, while Mr . Sexton d ominated th e Sp ecial Expert class fo llowed by Don Grigsby and John Allison. - Results M in i Nov ic e : 1. John VasQue z ( H an) . M in i Amateur : 1. Pau l McPhearson ( H a n). Novice : 1. D avid LeaCh ( K aw ) : 2 . Be tty Welche r ( K aw) : 3 , Bob H all ( V a m). 125 Novice : 1. Da n a N elson (Suz) ; 2. R ob er t B a x ter ( SUZ) ; 3. Lin Pic ken s (Pen). 2 5 0 Novice : 1. Per ry B lack (Bu l); 2 . J im Davidson (Bu l ) ; 3 . Li n Pic k en s ( Y a m ). • 500 Open N o vice: 1. Dave Perk ins ( Y am) : 2 . Ivan Oden (T ri) : 3 . D en n is Br iggs (Ya m). s pec. N o vice : 1. Jeff A ll i son ( V am); 2 . Steve Pic ket t ( V am ): 3 . B lran Webb ( Y a m). 1 25 Am ateur /E xpe r t : 1. Steve M ille r ; 2 . Mike O ch s ( Pe n ) ; 3 . Mark Pre scott (Yam) . 175-200 A ma t eu r : 1. Jerry Ell ison (Va m ). 175. 200 E xpe rt : 1. S t eve Fortune (Yam ) . 500 Open E xpert : 1. Mar k Re ichert (Vam); 2. Rod Sexton (Yam ): 3 . J im Summ ers (Y am ) . Spec. E xpert : 1. Rod Se xton (Yam): 2 . Don G rigsby ( Ma l ) ; 3 . John A ll ison (Kaw) . Sw ee ps: 1. M ar k R eich er t (Yam) . 100 Long Beach Cycle Park Opens By Larry Langley After th ree years o f effort by the Lon g Beach Mini-Bike Committee, of which Cycle New s General Man ager Tom Culp is a member, the Cit y o f Lon g Beach o pened its first' mo torcycle park on Saturday, January 12, 19 74. The 8.5 acre Honda Haven Cycle Par k is so named because American Honda ge nero us ly donat ed a number of motorcycles t o the p ark for training. We visited the par k o n opening d ay and talk ed to J im Sar i, Park Manager , and Roy ce Ziegler, Mini -Bike Committee, while our kids rode the motocross and m inibik e co urses. Jim to ld me that much wo rk still has t o be done and training programs will be se t up t o te ach kids to ride safely . The park is sponsored b y the Lon g Bea ch Safety Counci l. T hey cu rr en tly have a tight winding motocross course, a m inibike co urse which is fen ced o ff from the other areas, and an ar ea se t asid e for trails type riding. Not bad for their limited space. The motocross course is fun but very sandy in sp ots. Fees seem qui te reasonable for the park. If you buy the $5 .00 annual permit, you can ride for $ 1.00 per day or pay $2.00 per day without the annual perm it. Special group rates are also availa ble . It's not Saddleback, Escape Country , or Indian Dunes, but it is super close and in expensive to ride. Now that the cities of Long Beach and Cerritos have taken the plunge and proven it can be done, wh y n ot a p p ro ac h your city cou nc il with th e id ea o f creatin g a small cy cle park in y ou r ci ty? Be prepared for a long eff ort th ough, bu t it ca n be done.

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