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/126274
CRC took over where ORA left off and Bob Balentine took over where he left off - winning. Balentine resumes winning at CRC hare scrambles By Jerry G. Welton CALIFORNIA CITY. CA, AUG. 7 ob Balentine guided his 400 KTM to victory at the California Racing Club (CRG) Gold Digger Hare Scrambles at California City. B 22 Balentine led from start to finish by beating everybody to the bomb. Following closely behind were Phil Sumbo (400 KTM), Bill Saltzman (390 Hus). Monte Lee (250 Yam), Tom Kelly (250 KTM) and the rest of the expert, amateur. and novice field. After the bomb, Balentine settled in at a good smooth pace but just a pinch too soon. Stumbo had snuck up within striking distance but was uanble to pass. Not wishing to give up his overall position. Balentine was forced to accelerate once more, pulling away slowly. Moving into the spotlight were "Bad" Brad Henson (175 IT). Kent Perkins (390 Hus) who suffered from a not so hot start, and Mike Johnston (400 KTM) . johnston was having trouble with clutch slippage. At the completion ' of the first revolution Balentine had only opened up a slight lead of about 20 seconds over the next pair of riders which were Kelly and Stumbo. Kelly had passed Stumbo about a mile before the pits . Bill Saltzman was the next rider to come into view but was not the next rider to come though the pits. Bill Tarling (250 KTM). because of a bad start had to come from way back in the pack and within 100 yards of the pits. came flying past Saltzman. Next through were Henson and Perkins, with Henson holding only a slight edge at this point. Lee and Johnston were next, followed by Dean Miller (250 Yam). On the way out for the second loop Balentine was uncontested and simply went about his business. Stumbo and Kelly on the other hand found it more fitting to battle it out. A few miles out from the pit area, Kelly found himself in rather an uncomfortable situation. At speed and while being chased by Stumbo. Tom's handlebar completely broke in two . but luckily he did not go down. Tarling had to pull in for gas and in doing so allowed Satlzman to slip past. Perkins made his way around Henson and motored ahead . Henson on the other hand contracted a flat tire. and rather than destroying his equipment decided to call it a day. By the completion of the second lap. Balentine was building a respectable lead of about a minute and a half, and without any hesitation proceeded out on is third and final KO around . Stumbo came through next with a decent cushion over Tarling. Saltzman encountered trouble on his second spin around the course with his brake rod rweeked loose from the rear brake pedal. Despite this he still was running a comforra ble fourth over Johnston and Perkins. Lee was through next with senior rider Gus Paull (400 Yam) following and riding very consistently. "Steady" Fred Strong (175 Yam) moved up in ninth overall and in the process took over the class lead. The third loop was rather uneventful and the top eight positions remained basically the same. At the finish it was Balentine. turking yet another victory under his belt and walking away with the gold. Stumbo nursed his machine across the finish next with Tarling about a minute behind. Tarling put in an excellent ride for the day as this was his first expert race and he has had the bike about a week . Johnston was having clutch slippage problem throughout the duration of the race, but managed to hook up well enough for fourth overall and complete the KTM sweep. Saltzman was in next with a tremendous lead over his competition inJuniorlSenior class and won easily. Kent Perkins captured first amateur and sixth overall turning in a fine ride for the day . 250 points leader. Monte Lee was in next picking up even more precious points and expanding his lead. First senior and eighth overall was the ever consistent and smooth Gus Paull who has been dominating his class this year. Rick Muller (175 'KT M) was the eventual lightweight winner with Ed Rodine (175 Yam) taking second. Fred Strong was leading the small bores until a broken shift lever and a flat tire forced him out. John Foster (175 Yam) once again stood out as the 0-200 Amateur victor. Frank Arciero (400 KTM) did an outstanding job of winning his class by not only being first junior novice but capturing the overall novice win . Open Novices Mark Force (400 Yam) and Tim Sloan (400 Yam) overpowered the rest of their class as did Gary Ames (Yam) in the 250 class . John Hopkins (715 Yam) took the small bore novice competition with Bob Ishman (100 Suz) overcoming the lack of motor displacement and doing a prime job of securing second spot. In the women's class it was amateur Lori Farmer (250 Bul) making her new sponsor , Steve 's Bultaco very happy with yet another class victory. Bret Cushing (250 Hus) raised a lot of eyes as he led . from start to finish in the beginner class virtually uncontested even though it was necessary for him to pit twice for gas and repairs . Congratulations. Second beginner overall was a lightweight Yamaha piloted by Jerry Donaldson: Donnie Morrison (80 Yam) has been tearing up the competition in the mini class lately and today was no exception having several minutes on the next mini Alan Dryden (80 Suz) . CRC did a wonderful job of preparing for this event and showed great enthusiasm in the remainder of the year and next year's racing program. • Results OPEN EX: 1. Bob Bolentine 1400 KTMI. 2. Phil Stumbo 1400 KTM) . 3. Mike Johnston 1400 KTMI. 250 EX: 1. Bill To~ins 1250 KTMI. 2. Monte Lee 1250 Yam ). 3. Dennis Greene l2SO H-D(. 0-200 EX: 1. Rick MuliOf 11 75 KTMI. 2. Ed Rodine 1125Vom)_ OPEN AM: 1. Kent PMkins l390 Husl. 0-200 AM: 1. John Foster 1175Vom). OPEN NOV: 1. MlWk ""'co l400 Vom). 2. Tm Sioen l4OOVoml. 250 NOV : 1. Gety Ames t250Husl . 0-200 NOV : 1. John Hopkins 1175 Voml . 2. Bob Kishmen 11 00 Suzl. OPEN JRIEX: 1. Bill Saltzman l390 Husl ' 2. Pet Mcevoy 1400Voml . 3. Dove Wood 1400Vom). OPEN JR NOV : 1. Frank ArOOfOl400 KTM) . OPEN SR EX: 1. Gus Paull. OPEN SR AM: 1. Ed Denbow l400 Vom). 250 SR AM: 1.1.JIrryUpp 1250Vom). OPEN BEG: 1. Berry Denlom 1370Suzl . Brooks, Roeseler win at Checkpoints' D·37 Euro Scrams Brooks is back on the winning track and Roeseler's thumb ain't hurtin' the season s over halfway gone and the Number Ones uncertain. By Gary Laudig SHADOW MOUNTAIN, CA,jULY 31 AmateurfExpert hadow Mountain had to be the only cool place in Southern California race day evening. But as soon S as the sun broke over the horizon , the racers knew it would not be an easy task earning District points. Kicking off the day's activities were the trail bikes. Charlie Hamill decided to show everyone concerned who was number one, taking the lead and holding it for the distance. Ken Dodd put it all together and stayed on Charlie's tail. keeping him honest while Steve Webb was doing the same to Dodd. Rusty Blake was running fifth behind Joe Lockhart then Juan Benividez buzzed by at first amateur. Paul Krause came through next followed by #217t and a pie plater. The fast bomb ran the racers into a whoop-de-do wash that funneled into canyons that went up and down. then left and right. Then the course turned right up a cob by , boulder-strewn road that checked out your level of concentration pronto. Cresting this, Bill Tarling went from a bad start t o third overall. Mike Hosch, Pete Andelman and third amateur Torsten Corum proceeded down the long, loose downhill into the hard-pan canyons below. Following their dust, Gregg Hatzenbuhler, D. L. Dorman (just back from Europe). Wes Arita and Zuba the Rover all made it down the hill. The course wound down a fire road. a sandy canyon eventually shooting the racers out across the desert towards El Mirage Dry Lake. Turning left, the course picked up a well used switch back road that dumped into the whoop-de-do sandwash and the home check. Positions remained the same on lap two except for Rusty Blake, who dropped out with bike problems. On lap three. Charlie took the overall with Juan Benividez second. and first amateur Paul Krause was right on juan's fender for second amateur. Mike Hosch, Steve Webb and Joe Lockhart headed up third amateur Torsten Corum. Finishing next were Pete Andelman, Gregg Hatzenbuhler, D.L. Dorman and Wes Atkins. Ken Dodd got off, causing the long delay in the second race. The seniors lined up and old teamster Earl Roeseler jumped out in front with Art Knapp right behind. Smokebomb Gaetz. Jack Froelich. first amateur Allen Johnson, first C bike Bill Stewart. Lee Elias, second amateur Ron Hubbard and second C bike John McCown all rattled handlebars up the wash. Heading down the hill. Jerry Carson had first 250 Amateur, Earl Carpenter behind him, then came Bob Delliplaine , Ed Williams, George McClelland. third C bike Harry Cantrell, and old Wendell Parks, Sr. By lap two. first Open Novice Bob McClelland had Bob Steffan and Jack Myrick chasing him. Frank Sherill and Roy Barnett. both C bike riders, had a race of. their own as they clamored down the downhill making dust for Jim Peterson. Pat Dempsey and Rummy Rumbarger. Running for the checkered, Earl Roeseler had the edge on Knapp, b ut Earl got the front end airborne and Knapp took advantage of the unexpected wheelie and won by a front tire. Tom Grant on his Up-Tire Husky had a good lead on Mitch Payton as the C bikes hit the downhill . Third-place Steve Wiseman was flying across the desert like a man with a stuck throttle .