Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

- ... -.,......... .._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.Western hotline ....-4 ....-4 I-< ~ ..0 o ..... u o CRC motocross at Indian Dunes created a splash during the day, Could the SCTA Weterm.lon Triels actually MV. been ..Jaws 37" Plouffe plonks to SCTA trIals win By Bill Markham TRABUCO CAN YON , CA , AUG. 27 The day proved to be plenty hot - excellent weather for SCTA's annual "Watermelon Trial. " Sanctioned by the American Trials Association, the event was held at Racing World with watermelon for eve ryone afterwards . R ider J im Hodges won the new photo drawing, now offered during the early morning rider's meeting at each ATAsanctioned trials event - by " Photowheely." Winners are entitled to an 8xl0 black and white photograph of themselves in action during the trial. Andre Plouffe (Bul ) was the hottest rider of the day with his 48-point win in the Expert class. The three -way tie for second p lace between Mark Webster , Duane Feland, and Mall Pritchard , all three on Bul 3S0 machines..was decided by cleans, with second th ro u g h fo u rt h in th e aforementioned order . The Watermelon loop (ridden three times) of 13 dusty sections was tough in spots . T he Experts were given no mercyl Right off the bat, section one was a rea l challenge requiring the rider to ent er straight up a group of large boulders, make a 90 0 right turn on more boulders, then through a rocky ravine and ou t the exit . Sect ion two offered shady relief from the hot sun but it was a pisto l to ride for all classes. Kids, Beginners. and Sen ior B's entered this section over a log followed by a 180 0 turn in loose sand among some tree branches. The exit involved a big lim b which caught some riders for five points. This same section gave the Amateurs and Experts some headaches as well. These riders entered over a large log and immediately turned 90 0 .between two trees while ducking heads under the branches. Next, they maneuvered up a slight grade while taking a 90~ turn to the left only to find that they had to get past a large tree limb with real spring in it before hitting some loose sand on their way to the exit. Novice and Senior A classes entered this secti o n beginner style but then proceeded right to con tinue ridi ng the route taken by th e Amateurs and Experts. Kevin Morris , a new up-andcomi ng Novice rider looked great on this section and was first in his class for the day, Doster and Webster were the only two Experts to clean this one!' The s~per spectator sect ion of the day was the picturesque but wicked number 13 for Senior A, Novice , Amateur and Expert class riders , complete with bubbling water over the rocks and through the trees . Upon entering, riders made a difficult 180 0 turn over tree-lined slippery rocks, then a right turn, then severa l 180 0 turns before the exit. Results EXPERTS: 1. Andre PIouIIe IBull 2. Marl< W_... ; (BuI); 3. 0...... FeIond.Jr .lBuIl; 4. Melt Pritchlrd (Bull . AMATEUR: 1. R_ e..... CMon); 2. ~ge AVfKy (Man); 3. Rid< ~ lBul); 4. o..id Ige ('(oml. SENIOR A:. 1. _ E. R. -. Jr. lBuI); 2. Herold Rich (Bull: 3. Phil Smilh (Bull; 4. Joe S.1ge (,(ornI . SENIOR B: 1. Ralph S_ (Honl ; 3. GlenByers (Bull . IBuII; 2. W.,... J . Emge NOVICE: 1. Kevin W. Morrio(Bun; 2. Deve W oIIoon lMan); 3. Tom Decuo lBuI); 4. Brent _ n (Hanl. BEGINNERS: 1. ~ Woodruf (Bull; 2. Oorrtt Stone ('(lml; 3. ~ _(Bull; 4. Rod _lHonI. KIDS: 1. Erick Sod«quiot ('(om); 2. Snow _ ('(om). Renaux, O'Mara blast CRC Indian DunesMX By lee Taylor VALENCIA , CA , SEPT. 17 With' a storm threatening to move up from the valley , gray skies covered the Shadow Glen. With a cold wind stirring through. out the day , fall had come to Indian Dunes. scene of a California Racing Club motocross. The cool weather stirred bikes and riders into a frenzy . The Open Novices were a prime example. Ken Renaux aboard a Yamaha fought for two motos against James J imenez (Hus) and Maico-mounted Mark McClain. Jimenez snagged the first .moto win over Renaux with McClain holding strong in third. The second time out , Renaux sprung into action. When J imenez' DNF, Bob Crosta (KT M) found himself in second and was absolutely merciless in his pursuit . When the moto finally ground to a hal t Renaux emerged the overall winn er with a 2-1 ride, Crosta picked up second overall with a 4-2 and McClain was solid in thi rd. The 12Scc Pros stormed the track and set spectators running for safety. What had to be some of the fastest lap times for the track, including a long and radical sandwash, were set by John O 'Mara (Suz-AI Baker), Tim Locey (Yam-DG) and Chip Johnson (Suz-Canyon Tire). The first moto was a battle to the end between these three with O'Mara and Locey taking on the track neck and neck . Johnson , tangled up in streamers alongside a monstrous waterhole, went down bu t recovered in time to finish fifth . Locey, who had been baiting O 'Mara over every inch of the course, made his move on th eir approach to the waterhole and pushed ahead into the lead. Flying off the downhill, back into the wash, both riders had photographers and fans flying for cover. The moto came to an end with Locey in control, O'Mara in second and a flying A.J. Whiting, moving up steadily into third aboard a Yamaha for U.S. Yamaha and A.J. Racing Products. The second round promised even more madness with Johnson , glued to O'Mara's rear fender , in a duel for th e lead. Locey was absolutely airborne in third -with George Faber pushing hard in fourth . Faber had a rook ie Pro hot on his heels , IS' year-old Jim Pappe. Coming into the hom e stretch Locey out-maneuvered Johnson for second and held to the fin ish . O'Mara took hom e top dollar for the class. Locey gathered second pla ce money and third overall went to J ohnson. Results MINI BEG 1, St..... Van Duzan (Yarn); 2. Blelte Vitali : ('(ornI; 3. Johnny Slovens (Yom ). 100 BEG 1. Rid< Kr : ...... ('(amI; 2. J erry Anker ('(ornI; 3. J im W.,... IY ornI. 125cc BEG 1. louie Ramo ('(om); 2. S. Avoian ISul); : 3. Dan Olson lHusl. 2SO BEG 1. Terry Allinder ISul); 2. Gordon Flaherty : ISuz); 3. J _ Hermen (CoAl. OPENBEG 1. Doug Merquis ISuzl; 2. David Villa IC· : Al . MINI NOV 1. Chris Gables ('(oml; 2. David Lamb : ('(om); 3. Randy Johnoon (Suzl. l00cc NOV 1. Tony _ : ('(am); 2. Robert Giammerino ISUll; 3. Kirt< BeIto('(am). 125cc NOV 1. Don Peca ('(amI; 2. Eddie GrMn : (Suzl; 3. Chris Marsh (Suzl. . 2!iOc:c NOV 1. Craig Wem... ISulI; 2. Herb Paniegua : ICoAl; 3. Skip Gillam ('(am). OPENNOV 1. Kennelh Renaux ('(am); 2. Bob Croota : IKTM); 3. ,.,k McClain lMaiI . MINIINT: 1. ZoIi ~oo ('(oml; 2. Eddie Gr_ (Suzl; 3. Randy Dyer (Yom). l00cc INT: 1. Ron Norwood 1SuzJ; 2. Roy Gomez 1SuzJ; 3. Dub Wright (,(ornI . 125a: INT: 1. Bobby Ryen 1SuzJ; 2. Devid Baker 1Suzl; 3. _ Nance1SuzJ. 2!iOc:c INT: 1. Darrel_ ('(ornI; 2. Mike Van _ _ lHonl; 3. John Drury(,(ornI . OPEN INT: 1. Bill Epprington (Yam); 2. Andy Meszeroo: 3. Buddy Bosh ('(ami. MINIEX: 1. George Curnutt (Yam); 2. Merk Tomaselli (SUll; 3. Doug Dabech('(om). 125cc PRO: 1. John O'Maia ISUll; 2. rim Locey ('(om); 3. Chip Johnson 1Suz1 . 25Oa: PRO: 1. Donnie Hansen ('(ami; 2. John Atwood IMall;3. MIke Shoomak... ('(oml. OPEN PRO: 1. ~ Welltlns IM",l; 2. Will Harper IMail;3. Marl< White IHUIl . VETERANS JR: 1. Dan Sonchez (Suzl; 2. Ron Ctawoon IMai); 3. ~ WallislKTM ). INT 1. Bob CroollI IKTM); 2. Asker .....-;- ISuzI. : SA: 1. Did< Y. . . 1lUw ); 2. Joe Brown IMai ; 3. Gory l Willioon(Mail. Hames takes two at Corona STtHM . By Elaine Jones CORONA, CA , SEPT. 21 It was Pro night at Corona as 20 of California's finest turned out to break in new equipment and get some valuable practice on the quarter and half mile ovals. The big battle of the night came on the short track as . Pete Hames, the "Simi Flash," took on Eddie Lawson in the run for the gold. In the semi , Lawson had things pretty much his own way aft er getting around Mike Minnig was two laps down. Hames was running third but was unable to crack the strong front put up by Lawson and Minnig. When the main came around Hames was ready and exploded off the line into th e lead with Lawson in hot pursuit and Rob Selvey third . Hames had managed to open up a considerable lead but, as the laps dwindled down , Lawson began closing the gap. As the white flag came out Lawson was with in striking distance and it was Hames at the checkered as he won th e d rag race out of turn four bya mere half bikelength . The 250cc Money race . was an instant rep lay for Hames as he went wire to wire to pick up his second handful of dough. Ross Klatt , Tommy Walton and Bobby Garabedian diced it up pretty good for the first th ree laps as they jockeyed for the 2-3 spots . Klatt came out as top dog in that one while Garabedian got around Walton to tak e over third . From there on out it was a case of follow the leader and Hames had his second win o.fthe night. Eddie Lawson , the lap time record holder on the half mile on the big iron, showed the spectators why as he smoked the field in the IS-lap ma in . (Cont inued to page 26)

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