Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126349
_._._._._._.__._._._._._._._._._._._.. , Rick Johnson won t he Racing World 125cc Pr~ cla ss. nating open desert and fire roads , quite a race was bu ilding behind Laswell. Mel Chapman, noted locally more for his MX ·pertise, seemed to be closing his Yamaha 400 in on Laswell . Close behind was Jeff Harper aboard a reported 250 CZ that looked a lot like a Honda CR. The next group of three , running very close together were Martin St. Martin (390 Hus), a Phoenix, AZ, local , Der Winerschnizelsponsored Rod Alstrom (Yam 250 ) and first 125cc Ron Ellenberg (Yam). Into the pits and back on the final , approx · imately 40-mile, loop, desert Pro Jack Johnso n found himself in 18th overall , due to a faulty kill button wire which gave trouble through the first loop . The final portion of the. race was complicated by more severe rains and winds. Riders not prepared fo r cold weather riding certainly were wishing they were! There was one section in the second loop which helped to warm the racers up . Approximately 3·4 miles of , continuous 3·5 foot whoop dee dos, formed by the four wheelers who run on this section during numerous Sou thern Nevada Off Road Enthusiast SNO RE (not SCORE) sponsored events. Following Laswell to the finish were Chapman, Harper, St . Martin, then Jack Johnson after a very strong ' cha rge in the second lap . Next was KTM 250 mounted Kevin Davis , followed by Alstrom and first 125cc Ron Ellenberg. Ninth overall was 250 KTM rider Marc Knudsen , MRAN's number one 250cc for 1978 . Other class winners include Mike Motto, first Amateur ,(Yam 490 ); Ken Guio , first over 38: and first Novice Rich Capri (Yam 250 ). Next year MRAN has a very active calendar, including the year opening Moapa to Vegas point to point hare and hound , so if you are looking for an excuse to go to Vegas or you just want to supplement your local racing schedule, try the Nevada desert . Results . OPEN EX: 1. Butch Laswell IHusl; 2. Mel Chapman IVam); 3, Marty St , Martin IHusl, OPEN AM: 1. Mike Mono (Yaml ; 2..Dennis Johnson IVam); 3, Chuck Piddisi IHusl. OPEN NOV: 1. Mike Tucker IHusl: 2, Richa rd Price (Yam); 3. Mouse Cowman lHus) , OVER 38: 1. Ken Guio (Husl; 2. Ron Timmons (Hus); 3, Pat HaleIKTMI. 250 EX: 1. Jeff Harper (Hanl ; 2. Kevin Davis IKT M); 3. Rod A1strom (Yaml. 250 AM: 1, Don O'Kudy IHusl: 2.. Jeff Davis IKTM); 3. Girard Clark (HUll. 250 NOV: 1. Richie Cappri IVa m); 2. Terry Traat IHusI; 3. Dave Aunkst IHusl. 125 EX: 1. Ron Ellenberg IVam l: 2. MaN Chapman 1Suz); 3. Kevin Welch IC·AI, 125 AM: 1. David Fachs IS uzJ; 2. Doug Tichenor IHusl, 125 NOV: 1. Tod Timmos IVa m): 2, Doug Ozna IHusI. 100 AM: 1, MikeWelch lVaml. 100 NOV : Scon M orris (Suz). Jewell, Johnson, Andrist blaze Racing World MX THE NEW 1979 HI-POINT RACE DATE CALENDAR NOWATYOUR HI-POINT RACING PRODUCTS DEALER By Ke ith Clemons The Hi-Point Race Date Calendar w ith all ' your favorite racers doing their thing along with all of 79's important race dates.. . Pro MX, Grand .National, National Enduros, 2· Day Qualifiers and.the F.I.M. schedule. A great calendar for your shop, office, or house. If you can't get one at your dealers, send $3.00 plus 5O~ postage and handling to: Hi-Point Race Calendar, 3709 W . Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44053. TRABUCO CANY ON , CA , DEC. \0 Motorcycle long distance jump world record holder Gary Wells , (sometimes known as Scary Gary) , drifted ' out from his home in Phoenix, AZ, to play moto man out at Racing World for a day. Wells, who was in reality practicing to get in shape for the upcoming Parker 400 desert race said he hasn't raced ser iously in the past five years but will now be getting back into it for his Apache Honda East sponsor in Phoenix. Wells' lack of moto exper· ience showed as he didn't win either of the 250cc Pro rnotos he entered . He was able to take d ie holeshot in both but quickly got passed in each and he ld the second place position for only four laps in the first moto beca use his bike went out on him in the fourth lap and he didn't finish. . Race number two was a different story. Wells lost his first place hole , shot position to Scott Andrist early in the race but held his second place position and in the final stretch of the race got in so close to Andrist that at the flag he lost the race by less t ha n half a bikelength. Andrist , mean whil e had finished th ird in th e first race and totaled enough po ints to become the overall winner. Bill Boyer, who finished second behind Charles Welk in the first moto finished third the second time around and took second overall with Wells completing , th e day in third . Welk took his Jim Davis-sponsored Yamaha through the holeshot in the first Open Pros race followed by Bill Jewell and Brad McLeod, but five laps later McLeod had hustled his Husky into the lead. Bill Jewell was also able to master his Moto Meister Maico around Welk and when McLeod took a spill in the eighth lap, Jewell had the win. Welk" held his position to finish number two and McLeod recovered from his dive to round out the race in third. On the second tour of the track Jewell ran away with t he race followed all the way around by McLeod. Jewell's second win for the day gave him a \ -\ overall victory and McLeod's 3-2 set him up for second place pay and Welk didn't finish . Distr ibuted by Hi -Point Racing Products. 3 709 W. Er ie A ve.. Lorain. OH 44053 P,O, 80x 2327, Amarillo. TX 79 705. 9 604 Oates Dr .. Secremento. CA 95827 WORRIED about THEFT? MAGICLARM II Alarm, buzzer, & I\1 A GI C l A R ~l II key switch optional; $35.95 Siren $19.95 WHO Dealer or contact: :~6~:;' timerW.H .D. Page-Alert Unit $129 95 . MOTORSPORTS 4931 HARRISON STREET NO. H IGHLANDS, CAlIFORNIA 9S660 PHONE (916) 334-5178 [::::~~~! :~!~~i:!~~!~~i~:] -leJ- Vote for [g] Husqvarna Sales. Service. Parts 1979126 CR 2&0 OR, &390 OR now lnltock A few '78 2&0 OR left. prices reduced We have one of the most complete lines of Husky parts and accessories in the co unt ry Jim Wells for AMA Trustee T& 0 Yamaha T wo. ~.nJroY('n ll!-ad l"n hi p abilily. Prnf'ndy VKI"" . 24020 Narbonne Ave. !Torrance/Redo ndo areal Lomita. CA 90717 213-534-2311 in 0l"C. _co of AMA', Aml" a n MOlOf'C)'cllil pa~ II . r1c 8.l1 oumUIC be pOlunu knl bd'0f'f'D'!"C: . 5 1,1978 P,"ldl"nl IUppon lbr AMA - inatrumnual in tTttivina; ofO .£.M.o, in 1t ' AMA'.Ll nd UN' dIon . a,.11oQ M 41