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10 ~ I-< 11) .J:2 e 11) > o Z Balentine runs away with .CRC Cal City GP By Dale Brown Phot os by Dale Brow n and JetTy G. Welton CALIFORNIA CITY, CA , NOV. 5 KTM's Bob Balentine took the lead shortly before the midway point to win the Open class of the California Racing Club's' California City Grand Prix. It was Balentine's third win in the history 'of the race run through the streets and surrounding desert of Califomi a City. A two-day event in the past , 16 promoter Jerry McNeal shortened it to one day this year for financial reasons. Four 80·mile races were run . with Darren Pritchett, Dave Wood , Doug Beisner and Balentine winning thei r respective events. In the Open class, the last race of the day, Yamaha-mounted Morgan Malocco started on the first row and jumped into a' quick lead. Rows left every 50 seconds, and Balentine was on the third row. Balentine moved quickly through the dust, passing most of the riders in front of him. But 'when he hit the long pavemen,t sections, he discovered his engine was jetted a little too lean and it started pinging. " I took it easy on the pavement and tried to make up time through the desert. " he said later. He completed the first 20-mile loop in fourth behind Malocco, Jeff Matthews' Yamaha and Rick Muller's KTM. Malocco was running an excellent race up front , with a good lead, but as he rode through a section of deep whoops leading to a microwave tower out in the desert, his chain came off. He put it back on, but the chain tensioner was broken and the chain would fall off two more times in the. course of the race. A few miles later, through a fast . desert section, Balentine passed ' Malocco for the lead. He continued building the lead until he had severa l minutes over second place at the finish. Second went to Matthews, who turned in an excellent ride, much to the delight of the large Viewfinders M.C . contingent. Malocco, dispirited after the chain problems cancelled out his victory hopes, finished ehird. Riders heading out into the final loop of the race came face to face with the sun , low in the sky and sinking fast. The sun was directly in the riders' eyes as they rode the first section of the loop, \ and had already set when Balentine finished , leaving some riders • to finish in near-darkness. Finishing fourth was Rick Muller, ahead of Yamaha rider Mark Force. Then came a parade of Husqvarnamounted riders, led by Wayne Garrett , Bill Saltzman (riding his second race of the day , Mike Martin and Kent Perkins. Richard Hall rounded out the top 10 on a Yamaha. In the 250cc race, Doug Beisner, riding a Suzuki, pursued the Honda of Texan Billy Smith and the Suzuki of Richard zajic for two laps , finally getting by them in the pits as they began their third lap. Beisner hooked it up and continued in the lead to the finish . Zajic and Smith were in soon afterward for second and third. Fourth and fifth went to Las Vegas riders Rod Ahlstrom (Yam) and Kevin Davia (KTM). The second race of the day was for all junior/Senior (riders 50-59), Senior (59-plus) and Women's Division entrants. Dave Wood~ owner of 29 Palms Yamaha , led the first two lcops, but Bill Saltzman got by him 'on the third. "I was just cruising, and he walued by me . I picked it up after that and could stay with him , but I couldn't pass him ," said Wood after the race . But luck wasn't on Saltzman's side. Hitting the pavement near the end of the final loop , he ran out of gas . That left first to Wood and second to Amateur Frank Arciero Jr. (Hus). Saltzman recovered for third ahead of Leon Price (Yam). The fint two Senior riders were Richard Hughes and Don Wooldridge, both Yamahamounted. They finished right in front of Leslie K1ug, who rode her AI Baker 590 Husky .to rmt woman at 10th overall. Lori Farmer (Yam) and Michele Goffin (Hus) were second and third in that class. The first race of the day was a wire to-wire romp for Darren PritchCit. riding an IT175 out of, appropriatdy enough, Pritchett Cycles. Second went to Kenny Upp, also Yamalia· mounted. Scott Atchiaon (Yam) beat viaiting Las Vegas rider Chris Howard for the third spot, ' while Rick BeCk (Yam) followed in their wake for first Amateur. Motocrosser Cliff Lett finished sixth ahead . of Amateur Donnie Morrison . (Yam) and rnit Novice Doyle Sewell (Yam). Unoffi cial Results . 2OOa:: 1. OBrron Pritchett (Yam); 2. Kenny- Upp 1Vam); 3. Scott , , _ (Yom); 4. lSuzl; S. Ridt IIeck (Yom); Cliff lolt lVoml; 7. Donnie MorrioonlVoml; B. Doyle S - (Yoml. e. em._ JRlSR. SR. WOMEN'S DIV: 1.· Dew WoodI, ~1S lVom); 2. FronltAtcIero Jr .. JIS (Hull; 3. IIllI SIItzmon, JIS (HUll; 4. lion Price. JIS (Ylml; S. unl<.-n; Jim Griffith. JIS (Suz/; 7. I.-fy ~ . JIS (Y1m); B. RichIrd Hughoo, S (y1ml; 9. Don Wooldridge. S IV....); 10. ~ KJug. WD (HUll. . 2SOcc: 1. Doug _ _ (Suz/; 2. RichIrd bjIc (Sui); ' KIVin 3. BiHy Smith (Hon); 4. Rod AhIIlrom (Y1m); DIIIio (KTM); Monto LIo 1V1m); 7. TIIO Nolhing (Hulll ; 8. Jeff Hylton (HUll ; 9. Kon Hoi! (Yom); 10. Jock Full. (Yoml. OPEN: 1. Bob 8IIonlino (KTM~ 2. Jeff _ 1Vam) 3. Mor_ M _ (Yom); 4. Ridt M..... (KTM); ; S. Mork Fon::o (Yom); e. W..,no Gorrott (HUll ; B. MikI _ (HUll ; 9. Kent _ (HUll; 10. RichIrd HIIII (Yom!. • e. e. s.