Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

NORTHERN DATEUNE Formulated for dil ution ratios up to 80:1 .. z ~ 0:: >- 0:: 0:: w > '"- '" ~ t One ri der took the Watsonville season endlol a little too literally. Ridge Runners end the MX season L By Gerry Reagan WATSONVILLE. CA. OCT. 16 The Ridge Runners Motorcycle Club of Santa Cruz closed-out their 1977 season of Semi-Pro motocross with a sunny. dust-free day of excitement as 344 riders showed up to race. Kelly Mano (Suz) won the opening rnoto of the day . riding unchallenged in the 100 Novice event. Mano came back to finish second behind hardcharging Mike Sprenger (Suz) who had ended up third in moto one. The first and second gave Mano the overall on his little yellow buzz-bomb. Parry Klassen (Mai) took the lead in the first rnoto of the Open Expert class and disappeared from the field . finishing way out ahead . It was apparent in the beginning of the second moto that the other riders weren't going to give Klassen another runaway as Bob Myers (Mai) and Jerome Heiberger (Mai) grabbed the lead out of tum one and began to duel for the front. Myers got the lead with Heiberger hot on his tail. Klassen and Duane Joice (Yam ) fought for third. Myers began to build up a lead when Heiberger crashed on lap two . putting Klassen in second and charging after Myers. Klassen gained steadily until the fifth lap when he got by Myers in the back section to take over the lead. Meanwhile. Jim Turner (Suz). who had finished second in moto one. was fighting hard to pass Joice and take over the third place spot. Joice pulled away in the middle of the rnoto, but Turner began to move in again as the race neared its end . On the last lap it was Klassen in front with Myers keeping close behind and when they went around a corner out in back. Myers saw his chance and moved by the surprised Klassen. who hadn't realized Myers could do that! Crossing the finish line it was Myers in front with Klassen second . Joice finished third but Turner was a very close fourth. Open Amateur races saw two different moto winners but neither ended up among the overall trophy winners. Dennis Stapleton got the holeshot in the first moto aboard his new Yamaha . but crashed on the fourth lap. Hard-charging Jerry Martin (Yam) moved up from seventh to take the lead on the second-to -last lap and go on to win the moto. In the second moto it was again Stapleton with the holeshot and early lead. but this time he went on to win the moto unchallenged . Martin got off to a poor start and didn't get any better. The overall win went to Tom Kugeman (Hus) who put in a very consistent couple of rides to finish third and second in the rnotos . John Laggan (Yam) moved in and out among the leaders in both motos to finish second overall. Mark Fickas (Yam) and Jon Schloer (CI) shared runaway wins in the two Open Novice divisions and Scott Starbard did the same in the second division of the 250 Novices while consistent Tom Winkleman (Suz) put in two third place finishes to end up first overall in division one of the 250 Novice class . Second division of the 125 Novice class started with a crash which took out half the field in a tangle of handlebars and wheels. With no injuries resulting. and everyone getting back in the race. Rick Rinaldi (Hus) hustled to an easy win. In moto two everyone made it.through the first turn with Dan Carpenter (Su z) getting the hole shot. Barry Velasco (Suz) moved into second place on the second lap and got by Carpenter a lap later to go on and win . Rinaldi (H us) charged into third on the last lap after running fifth during most of the moto, but went off the track just after the last jump. getting passed by one rider before he could get back on course. Rinaldi finished third overall. missing second by that one position he lost on his excursion through the weeds. As they usually do. the 125 Experts put on the most exciting races of the day in both motes. Dennis Brand (Suz) in moto one stretched out a big lead by the third lap. Jim Lesniewski (Suz) got slowed down by other riders in the first couple of laps but soon broke free and took off in p ursuit of Br a n d . Lesniewski began to close it up. getting past Brand once in the middle of the race but soon getting passed back. The two diced like this all the way until the final turn when Lesniewski moved up beside Brand going down the hill toward the flag . and nipped him at the finish line by a spoke length. In moto two it was Mike Marquez (Suz ) with the holeshot followed by Neal Snarr (Yam) and Mike Preston (Suz) . Marquez opened a slight advantage while Brand . who was back in fourth . began to move up . Lesniewski had started way back and was moving quickly through the pack. picking off a position a lap as he worked his way through the front runners . Brand began to close on Marquez but never got close enough to put in a bid for the front spot as Lesniewski moved up behind him. Lesniewski passed Brand at the top of the big downhill and moved up to challenge Marquez for the lead. Marquez gave a good fight but Lesniewski slipped by. again at the drop-off on the downhill . Marquez was still within striking distance. with Brand close behind him . as the three crossed the final line with Lesniewski taking the overall honors for the day . Results in Results Section . Dick Mann dials Vets at Helvetia MX By Greg ~e uka m SACRAMENTO . CA . OCT. 9 The Veterans class had some unusually fast competition to contend with at Helvetia Park's CMC/Boss motocross races. The com petition came in the form of a " Ma n ;" Dick Mann to be more specific. " Bugsy" put his TT500 Yamaha in front of both rnotos , winning each with about a 30·second lead after five quick laps . In the first 250 Pro moto , Donny Cantaloupi got the holeshot as usual. He stayed there. never to be challenged. Mike Hersman had a midpack start but within two laps have moved up behind Brian Jodry in second. Donny "Can-he- loop-it " almost did off the jump whi le doing a little "styling. " but the front end came down enough to keep him right-sideup . At the checkered flag it was Cantaloupi, Jodry and Hersman. In the second moto Cantaloupi did an instant replay and took a first while Hersman had another mediocre start but again after a couple of laps on his favorite course worked his way up to £U LERI.E AU..... LONG TRAVEL FORK KITS FOR ALL MADEOf'60601T5Al.LDY FORKS AVAILABLE IN 9 -10 - 11 - 12" Call 513-372-760 7 mRRZO

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