Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

rn ~ CMC Irwindale MX iii!: DQ By John Bethea ...:I = IRWINDALE, CAL., FEB. 15 g It wasn't quite a "snap," but Jeff Vidic, neck brace and all, churned out his third consecutive 250 Pro event win at Irwindale before more than 2,000 spectators, moving him to within one notch of the all-time win streak at the track set only three months earlier by Dave Pessy at four. Vidic's onlv stiff competition came from Husky rider Jim West, who was concen tra ting on two classes thi s evening. Vidic won the first and then traded positions with West in the second, setting up a winner-take-all finale in the third. For several laps it was just as it should be , a tenacious battle down to the w ire, b ut with about a lap to go, West du mped it and Vidic squirted away with the win wh ile quickly glancing backwards to see where everyone had gone . Not so for Rex Staten in the 500 Pros. Yes, Rex was here tonight , b ut he was in the spectator roll as he wished to "Save the bikes for Sunday," the big $1,500 MX at Saddleback. In his absence, Jim West took over and like a week earlier, was tightly nuzzled by Joe Johnston (Mai). They ea ch had a first and second going into the final, but that round cost Joe his bidding. West won . Joe had his problems, gaining a DNF. Luke Messer (Mai) slipped in to take second overall. Earlier, in the 125 Pros, Chuck Lunde (Hon) became the third different winner in three weeks since the pros returned to Irwindale. He did it with a third in round one, a wild affair won b y Dave Taylor (Yam) over Chuck Bower (Hon), then victories in each of the next two motos. Taylor did some consistent riding to tum in a second overall performance ahead of the veteran Bower, whose fifth in the final round cost him his chances. Once Taylor gains a bit more experience, especially in learning how to pass, he should become one of Irwindale's more formidable foes. A reminder that in two weeks, March I, two changes take place at Irwindale. The first is that the Minis will be divided into a regular and Expert class, drawing out of its ranks the weekly stars who seem to " hog" the scene. The second is that the Expert class will be "kaput," 86-ed, ended. They become pros, racing for the bucks. • Results Powder Puff: 1. Sue Fish (HOd); 2 . Sandy Gonzales (Hon); 3 . Kim Herbert (HOd). Mini : 1. Bill Fancher (Hon) : 2 . Scott Mason (Hon); 3 . Vince Van Hook (Yam). 100 Jr : 1. Bob Evans (HOd); 2. Gabriel Martinez (Y,am): 3. Lonny Stroup (Vam) . The flight befo re t he fall. 1 2 5 Jr : 1. B o b Marino (Hon) ; 2 . Mlka Bush (Hon) ; 3 . Ala n Truax (Ho n ) . 250 Jr: 1. Rudy A bel e (Hon): 2. Jim Ruth (Mal) ; 3 . Don Wood (Han) . 500 Jr : 1. Pontiac Fry (Yam) ; 2 . Joe Plante (Yam); 3 . Karl Bash (SUl). 125 In t : 1. Bill Glore (Hon) : 2. Tag Turner (Nag); 3 . Gary Denton (Yam) . 2 5 0 Int: 1. Mike Huhn (Han) ; 2 . John Alden (Han) ; 3 . Rick Beason (Yam). 500 Int : 1. Buttons sadler (ez): 2 . Gary Lunsford (TNT): 3 . Ron Gray (CZ ) . 1 2 5 Ex : 1. Mike 8ell (Han) : 2. Albert Cancino (Hon): 3 . Kelly Owen (Pen) . 250 Ex: 1. Wes LeUel (Hus); 2 . G eorge Anderson (Hus). 500 Ex : 1. Dennis Clark (CZ ): 2. B ruce BOYd ICZI. 125 Pro: 1. Chuck Lunde (Han) : 2. DaVId Taylor (Yam): 3 . Chuck Bower (Hon) . 250 Pro: 1. Jeff Vidic (Ma il: 2 . J im West (Hus); 3 . Chuck Bower (Han) . 500 Pro: 1. Jim We st (Hus) : 2. Luke Messer (Ma l) ; 3. Joe J ohnston (Ma i) . CRC hare scrambles Photos and story by Joh n Hesson LUCERNE VALLEY, CAL. , F EB. 10 Soggy Dry Lake was the site for CRC's Hare Scrambles today. Aftcr the drive up the world's worst road, we arrived at the starting area. A good number of people arrived early Saturday to enjoy the entire weekend, also to make sure that they had cnough gas for the drive back. Tricky Dicky and Silly Billy should inform the gas st ations in Lu cerne Valley about the fuel shortage; most were open Sunday. CRC has an open invite for anyone who wants to spend the weekend at their desert ra ces. After a long delay the action finally got underway , as usual the ambulance was an hour late, the normal delay at almost all desert races lately. First off the line were the Experts, Intermediates, and Novices, followed by the Beginners. Next off were the Powder Puffs and Minis . Even with the long delay no one was seen watering the desert, not to say that it never happens at CRC events. (Maybe they didn't want to get th e Hazelwood blues•.. Ed. ) First loop action saw Lee Scheffers, on a 250 CZ, take the lead which he never lost. Even after a get off on the second loop, he took first overall, with Jamie Abels on a 250 Yamaha sponsored by 29 Palms Yamaha, about a minute behind for second overall and first 250 Novice. Chris Hightower, DKW mounted, was third overall and first 125 Novice. Chris received the CRC high point trophy in his division fo r th e past season. Another CRC high point win ner was fourt h overall , Bill Sears, riding a 400 CZ sponsored by Competition Cycle Cen ter , Bill was first Open Novice Veteran . (Sears also cleaned up the Rawhide GP several weeks ago... Ed. ) I n the Beginner division Marv Christensen was the first at the checkered flag . Marv rides a Yamaha J im West serving up some Husky com petition . and his overall posruon was a well earned 29th . Bob Huff (Yam) shut the door on the 250 Beginner class, and not far behind was Vince Porter on a Pu ch for first 175 Beginner. Steve Brown rode a new Dalesman Prototype Enduro to win first 125 Beginner, showing a lot of guys that enduro machines can get it on with the best of them. Leslie Klug took ho m e a trop hy for first Po wde r Puff. Leslie had the Ho nda right on for a we ll rid den.97th overall. Duane Mapes was first Mini, with John Wilson in for second place. Everyone liked the course, and co m men ts ove rheard were that it was very well mar ked , had very few rocks, and was super fast. One rider summed it ' up by saying that he really dug the course, mainly because he wouldn't have to spend any money on broken parts from riding a super rough course. Jerry McNeal, head honcho for CRC, said he likes putting on races where everyone can really enjoy just good old desert runs, without the hassle of impossible rocks, massive up or downhills, or broken bodies. After all, • he wants you back again. Results 1st OVERALL: Lee ScheUers (CZ) . 100 125 125 175 175 250 250 250 BEG : Don Dorman (Hod) . BEG: Steve Brown (0011) . BEG -16 : Kent Hawksworth (Yam). BEG: Vince Porter (Puc). BEG -16 : Tim Fitzpatrick (Yam) . BEG: Bob Huff (Yam). BEG · 16: Scott Speights . B EG VET : Floyd LiVingston, Sr . (Yam). O PEN BEG: Marv Chrrstensen (Yam). O PEN BEG VET : William Bennington ISuzl. 100 NOV: Scott Hightower (Hod) . 125 NOV : Chris Higntower (KDW) . 250 NOV : Ja mie Abf i (Yam) . " O PEN NOV: Joh n VI' kes (Yam) . 25 0 N OV V E T : cu. Perd ue . O PEN NO V VET : ' tnarn Sears (CZ). POW DER PUFF : L me K l u g (Han) . MIN I: Dua ne ... ,.. "'e" 125 l NT : p . ~ ·o;U l ) . 175 l NT : ~ot .. IC) 2 5 0 IN T : JO hn " l u g \HOn) . OPEN I N T : Joh n Boll ey ( V a m ) . CRC night MX By Dale Brown 28 VALENCIA, CAL., FEB . 9 A small turnout didn't hamper the action in Friday night's CRC motocross at Ind ian Dunes. Eddie Cole, aboard Uncle Donny Emler's Flying Penton, ran away with the first 125 Expert mo to . The second moto was one of the most exciting of the evening as Cole had to overcome a bad start and - try to catch Joe Root (Bul), who was really m o vin '. Catch him he did, on the fou rth lap . Root took the last moto, bu t Cole's second place sewed up the overall for hi m. Frank Giardina (Mai) smoked everybody in the 250 Expert division as well as showing his rear tire to the Open Experts who were on the track at the same time, due to the small turnout. Wayne Brown won the. Open Expert prize by one point over Lynn Stokey. Both were Maico-mounted. Greg Griffen (C Z) and Chris Bartlett (Hus) were the lone survivors in the Open and 250 Intermediate classes, respectively. Don Faulkner grand-slammed his way to the 125 Intermediate trophy. Jim Eveland (Yam) won the first two Eddie Cole wins 125 Expe rt, again.

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