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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126291
Sideways an' stylin', KTM rider Bob Balentine worked his way fro m a fourth row start to t op t he CRC Golde n Bear Hare and Hound . Balentine shines 'a t eRe Golden ~Bear R SR By Jerry G. W elton CALlFORNIA CITY , CA , DEC. 4 KTM mounted Bob Balentine worked his way 'up from a fourth-row start to the lead physically as well as by tim e, giving him the overall win at (the CRC Golden Bear point to point hare and ~hound, which ran from Californi a . ..City to Red Mou ntain. The start was a timed situation with 10 riders in a row and each " row left one minute apart . Wh.en the first row departed at 9:01 It was Howard McCasland (400 KTM) and Amateur Richard Zajic (250 Suz) who led the charge. McCasland took firm command of the lead as the course turned off the fire road and into the I open desert. Morgan Molocco (400 IT) led the second row off the line a minute later and was really going for it . The fourth row housed Balentine and teammate Tom Kelly (400 KTM). When they set sail, Kelly and Balentine immediately began to battle it out with the pair nearly colliding at one point. When Balentine reached the rollers he took charge of the situation and put a couple of seconds on Kelly. At 9:35 when the first rider entered the first gas pit , "approximately 30 ' m iles out", it was McCasland with about 45 seconds over Zajic who in turn had about 35 second over , Malocco. John Foster (12 5 Yam) was -ru n ning fourth with Balentine and 1 Kelly not far behind. Amateur Chuck Miller (175 IT) was in control of the seventh spot with Heath Hibbard (400 Yam) , Amateur Wayne Allen (400 Yam) , Doug Busner (25 0 Su z), and Amateur Mark Mou lett (250 KTM) following in order. As the course headed around Randsburg and towards gas two down Trona road, Balentine picked up Foster and Mal occo . Malocco, realizing tha t Balentine was ahead of him on time, let him pass without a fight. Zajic got off hard' and knocked himself unconscious just before Trona road pit. Before Zajic could get under way and back up to racing speed again Balentine and Malocco has slipped by. At the second gas stop McCasland overshot the Clean Sweep pit, and after riding clear to the end of the pit row , doubled back and found his crew . While McCasland was finding his pit, Balentine came down pit row riding on the rear wheel ana became the overall leader physically as well as by time. Malocco was in next stopping and the Cucamunga Yamaha pit with Zajic following. McCasland was back on the trail again in no time at all. Kelly was in next with Allen.' Foster, Hibbard , Miller, and Biesner coming through in that order. Mike Martin (390 Hus) moved up and overtook Moulett before gas two . Balentine still had a good lead as he stopped for petrol just yards before the railroad tracks at Trona road . McCasland was through next with a bit of time over Malocco. Kelly worked his way past Zajic before the last gas stop and was running well by time. T he last 30-mile stretch to th e finish was considered by some to be the most challenging pan of the course, especially the deep sand downhill. Balentine and his trusty KTM .,nce again crossed the finish line first and took the overall ' win with a time of 1:41 :38. Kelly got by McCasland as didMalocco; and finished second, two ci ~ w '" -, >CD 5 il: Second and third Open Expert placers, Tom Kelly and Morgan Malocco got together afterward for a grin and say-cheese photo session. minutes behind Balentine. Kelly nas never raced a 400cc bi ke before and found it to his liking. With Malocco in for third, McCasland came in fourth . The first four overall riders to cross the finish line were also the first four by time. Crossing the line l Sth with the fifth fastest time was Bill Tarling (250 KTM ) riding for Hemet Cycles. Tarling started in the eighth row and fought through dust to turn in an outstanding ride, capturing first 250cc Expert. Sixth overall by time was W. Allen who edged out Zajic by a mere 14 seconds. Hibbard and his Crown Cycle Yamaha finished eighth as Heath rode one of usual consistant rides . Biesner brought his Valerian Cycle in at ninth with Foster and his Fairway Yamaha finishing first lightweight bike and 10th overall on his first Expert ride. C. Miller was victorious in the O· 200cc Amateur class finishing overall.' The first Novice to cross the finish line was Juniorl Senior class rider Leon Prick (400 Yam) who took his class but not the overall Novice victory. Gordon Sta tler (400 KT M) scored the overall by beating Kevin Cantwell (400 SSS) by only 11 seconds. The early Lightweight N ovice leader was Ch ris Duncan (125 Yam) but he dropped out with unknown problems. Greg Johnston (175 Yam) picked good line and kept it on two wheels to finish first in class and third overall Novice. . Brian Dier (250 Yam) was the first Beginner to cross the line but Mike Dooley (250 Yam) and Don Wells (250 Yam) just edged him by having slightly faster times. Tim Foster (125 Yam) captured fourth overall. first small bike. ln the Women's Division, Lori Farmer powered her 250 Bultaco to victory over the ever-consistent Nona Richardson (250 KTM) . Both Lori and Nona have had a good season of racing this year with Lori getting the number one plate and Nona number two . Kelly Kline (80 Yam) and Gary Curtis (80 Suz) rode feverishly in the mini class , both leading several times during the race, with Kline fin ishing first on her ride as a mini and Curtis ending up a well deserved second. Results OPEN EX: Bob Balentine (400 KTMI, Tom Kelly (400 KTM). Morgan Molacco (400 rn, OPEN AM : Wayne Allen (400 Vaml. Kent Perkins (390 Husl. OPEN NOV Gordon Statler (400 KTMI. Kevin Centwelll400 SSSI. 250 EX: Bill Tarling 1250 KTMI. Ooug Biesner l250 Suzl. Mon'e Lee1250 VarnI. 250 AM : Richard zajic 1250 Suzl, Mark Moulett l250 KTM). 250 NOV: Jeff Cannon 1250 Hus), James Draves l250 KTM). 250 BEG: Brian Oier (250 Vam), Mike Oodey 1250 Vam), Don Wells 1250 Vam). 0-200 EX: John Foster (125 Varni, Fred Strong (175 Tim Plant (175 0-200 AM: Chuck Miller 1175 0-200 NOV: GregJohnszonf175 Vam). 0-200 BEG: Tim Foster1125Vaml. W OMEN: Lori Farmer l250 buD, Nona Richardson l25OKTM). OPENJRJSR NOV: Leon Price 1400Vam). MINI: Kelly Kline 180 Vam). Gary Curtis 180 Suzl . Byron Van 180Vaml. rn m. m. 9