Last
en
I-<
IIJ
..c
a
IIJ
u
IIJ
o
Bakken takes
Baja de
Saddleback
By Dale Brow n
ORANGE, CAL., NOV. 23
A.C. Bakken (360 Hus) led the
motorcycle portion of the Baja de
Saddleback off-road race all the
way to win easily.
However, the $100 Uni Filter
"Fastest lap Award" went to a
single seat buggy, driven by Rick
Mears, who turned a lap 21hundreths of a minute faster than
Bakken's best lap. Overall though, the
bikes were faster, with A.C . taking an
hour and eight minutes to complete 11
laps, while the four-w heelers to ok an
hour and five m inu tes to complete 10.
A.C. got a poor start off the line, but
dove under a couple of bikes in the first
tum and led from there. Chuck
Pettigrew, aboard a big -bore Honda
thumper, ran in second during the early
goin g.
A.C. Bakken simply ran away with the bike port ion of the Baja de Saddleback .
Finishing ai second overa ll. Steve Rhya n swept the 250 class.
Craig Adams was styli ng in secon d
place, only to run sho rt of gas on
th e last lap and drop to fo urth.
12
The 250s, starting 30 secon ds later,
were led by Bruce Baron (H.D). Baron,
riding in Levis and workboots, moved
up to fifth overall by the end of the first
lap .
Mike Volkman and Lorie Watson,
both on 125 Monos, battled for the 125
class lead. Volkman led until he hit a
ditch, then Lorie took the lead until her
clutch-less engine bogged in some sand.
Volkman got back into the lead and
Lorie did a beautiful crowd-pleaser
going off the big jump in front of the
majority of the spectators.
Craig Adams (400 KTM) moved past
Pettigrew to occupy second. Baron was
busy gaining time on the lead ers until
the Harley 's downpipe worked lo ose
and Bruce lost a lap in the pits hav ing it
repaired. Steve Rhyan (C-A), n ever very
far behind Baron to begin with, to ok
over as the leader of the 250 pack.
Scott Coutts (Hus) took the 125 lead
as the race neared the halfway point.
Bakken was cooling it , with a big lead
and no one to push him. About 40
seconds behind him, Adam s, Rhyan and
