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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126274
Second amateur John Tobin was next with "Downhill" Alexander working up . from '-a' bad start, amateur Mike Murray, amateur Ed Pierce and Randy Devonshire bounced down the sandwash compelting loop one. Loop two positions stayed the same except Devonshire got on the gas, moving up four positions. Lap three had the Anaheim Sport -Cycle whiz Payton so far out in front the spectators couldn't believe it. Grant took second , "Downhill" Alexander third expert. Third overall and first amateur went to Steve Wiseman. Second amateur was Ed Pierce, third amateur Phil " Oorgone. Joe Ragle, Ron Hall , John Tarrant, Joe Wilson , and Mike Murray finished in tha t order. The 250s lined up in the early afternoon sun and Doug Winchell led them to the bomb and beyond. Larry Roeseler worked up from fourth place to overtake Winchell in the ess turn canyon before the cob by uphill. Holding down third was Tom Kelly, then first amateur Don Brand, Jr. Bruce Ogilvie, another bad start victim , moved into fourth by the Brian Klock Jump. Phil Cloward had Monte Lee on , his tail with Steve Lindsay and Hoyt Statham chasing them . Second amateur David Aleano' had Ray Alexander and Tom "Roadrunner" Schell giving him a hard time . Ken Makos wasted no time getting around the course, ,com in g through home check running 13th overall, third amateur. ' The final lap showed Ogilvie in third behind Kelly, with Don Brand edging out Winchell for fourth. Monte Lee stayed behind Bultaco man Cloward , ' Alexa nd er got by Statham, and Aleano got passed by Joel Stankavich but still held second 'am a teu r . Jim Fitzpatrick didn't show so third amateur Dennis Wilson, #758x and Rich Watson filed in for the finish. Jeff Thorpe had to ride his buns off to keep Mike Gibson from getting by throughout the entire race. The big bores warmed up their engines and tried to keep their ,bodies cool at the same time. The early leader , was Chuck Pettigrew on a Maieo enduro with light , plate and horn. Tom Brooks (KTM) gained the, lead and when he crested the entrance to the ess turn canyon, he was moving like there was no tomorrow. Pettigrew was next, then Brent Wallingsford, Bob Rutten, John Watkins, Gene Rowden and Bill Salt'zman. Halfway around the course, Bob Balentine made a move and settled in behind Saltzman. Steve Eckardt, Jim Owens, Mike Edmonson and four-stroke master Jay Orendorff were all moving very fast. Morgan Malocco and Ron Irby got dis- oriented due to the dust and markings, Almost running into each other, the two aces took off in what they thought was the course. What they did do was cut across , missing check two. Morgan found himself running second overall and knew something was wrong SO he pulled off at home check. Irbydidn't realize the mistake 'til a ' front flat sidelined him and Malocco laid the good/bad news on the hot, disappointed rider. , Chuck Pettigrew seized, letting Scott Child, running first amateur past. Second amateur Tom Center had his sights set on Child as the two shot down the loose downhill on loop two. Amateurs Dave Conner, Dave Townsend and' Pat McEvoy followed fast -moving Keith Hart's dust - Hart coming from a bad start. Jim Owens and 'Bill Saltzman swapped positions after loop two with Balentine in fourth spot behind Rutten . 'O rendorff took fifth ahead of Saltzman Tom Brooks took win number 10. and Owens. Scott Child held onto first amateur, Dave Townsend and Pat McEvoy were second and third when Tom Center didn't show up on lap three . Brooks stretched his lead out and took the checkered, turned left and came to an abrupt halt under the big joshua tree among 30 spectators. It was his 10th overall win. NovicelWomen's Division The trail bikes lined up and took off at 8:00 a .rn. Vern Clark doesn't show up regularly in the desert, but when he does he usually walks away with a trail class win. Today was no exception as he ', led from start to finish . Running second was Dick Steffan then Oren Beck III. Art Guzman and Dan Theel diced around loop one. On loop two, Jeff Moeller was being pressed by Pat Kerwin. John Hallet was trying real hard to get around Kenny Guyett. Loop three the positions were 'the same except Moeller and Kerwin got by Guyett and a pie plater. The ladies were next with a respectable turnout - about 20. The banner dropped and Trudy Beck took the lead with Kelly Wiseman right behind her. Shooting down the canyon, Penny Wallingsford was in second place. Melissa Thunderpussy got off hard riding in dust . Thankfully she was not seriously hurt. About halfway around, Penny Wallingsford and Chris Wallace missed the right ,h a n d turn and wound up in the foothills. Dawn Grant riding a healthy sounding Up-Tite Husky was in pursuit of Trudy while little Lisa Christensen was after Dawn. Lap two had Tony VanKnapp behind Kelly Wiseman and Chris Wallace behind June Elias. Jolene Payne andShila Hopkins really flew down the ravine past the bomb. The next three to go by were the lost /found Penny Wallingsford, Diane Elias and Sandy Love with the heart on her cheeks. The third lap positions were the same as lap two and Trudy smoked her Husky for the overall. The 250s took off in a cloud of dust with P43 in front, 755x and Ken Maw ri~ht behind. Cory Bonham, Craig Tunms and Gordon Hechter were next as the racers wound their way down the canyon. The course hooked right up an embankment before dropping down another canyon over a tricky roller. Cresting this. Mike Olinger nudged Paul Ryan, causing him to shoot wide right going down the ravine. There to greet Paul was a rock ledge. Once Ryan got going again. he had two Larry Roeseler returned from the speedWay ovals to win the 250 Expert race. square rims, a front flat -and a nasty The Open bikes didn't waste any attitude. Bill Wickerman was making time moving around the course. After so much dust that Sam Giafardone, out , la~ one, Marty Olsen was doing his here after a year plus layoff, decided to .: : favorite thing smokin! Tony break trail to the right in the section Epperson ' was doing the same while heading towards the big dirt road. The Rich Hall: Dave Olen, Sam Soule and trail Sam found was so neat, he forgot Brett Howell didn't look as clean as about the road crossing. The words they did on the start line. Shooting "Oooooh shute"could be heard through the up and down canyons past echoing up the canyons. Joe Sheehe the bomb on. loop t~o, Jim Smith, and Bob Fortune came by then turned #872, Ron Duncan and 1877 made right on the big road and checked out • sure they missed Ryan's rock heading their main jets. Dave Chase, John out towards the dirt road. Lap three Gallager and Jim Sanders arrived was a big disappointment as fast shortly making the jet run also. Lap moving Tony Epperson did not appear two was the same with the exception of thus - Rich Hall assumed second Gordon Hechter getting by Craig position. #880 got on the gas and Timms. Lap three was also the same moved up nine positions going into the except John Gallagher getting a good final lap. Flying Marty Olsen took the laugh going by the square wheeled checkered, Rich Hall second, 1880 Honda of Ryan's. The winner, was who third, and Jim Smith fourth. knows who, 1755X second , P43 then , Beginners, I apologize. The 'resu lt Ken Maw and Cory Bonham. sheets I had to depend on while I was The C bike race started with 28 and covering the Open Expert race, didn't ended with 18. Leading the first loop have X, C, or T behind the numbers so was Greg Johnston, followed by Mike I couldn't-tell who did what. This won't Easley, Rick Davis, Larry Hentchell happen again. Course rating was and Jeff Sweet. Past the dirt road novice good and amateur/expert, not heading into the rollers and jumps, Bill so good. The fast guys could not see the Farrow, Kevin Case, Frank DeMarco dark orange ribbon or the small and Lou Peick had a great time getting checkpoint signs in the heavy dust. You their machines airborne. Craig Baker, can thank or blame John Trani and new novice Bill Burnam, Rick Peck Bob Tartter for not having to ride or and Bill Williams made a mad dash for ' push up the loose-surface uphill. These home check then out for loop two. guys are really hot' to trot this year on Johnston pulled a wire-to-wire win with rider safety. The first ever Mike Easley holding second. Larry "Dedication" trophy goes to non-racer Hentchell edged out Bill Parks for Brian Kock. This dude drives down third. Alex Long, John Pulley and Bob here from Kernville, where he now Johnson didn't challenge the leader, works , to shoot and deliver your but they finished and had a good time pictures. At Soggy, that's a five- hour too. drive one way. 23