Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

i NORTHERN DATELINE ~ E en - I:' en You can bet your MX boots that with this kind of get down action at Washougal, the northwest MX season is definitely underway. Washougal MX Park opens with style ByActionOz WASHOUGAL:WA, APR . 29 A super good day of racing weather prompted nearly 300 riders and a super fan turnout to witness the Gresham Toyotoa MX Series premier run. . 44 It's always a big event for Washougal to open in the spring. Since the days of Dave Dimeo and Glen Gordon, who developed the park, up to the present time with new management, the Washougal opener heralds the start of the motocross season in the northwest. In past years the rains have often come and the opener's been cancelled before it began. Not 10 this day ; there was even some dust before the last moto of the day. To top off the joyful happening, competition was complimented by the appearance of Pat Jacobson, who is currently holding fifth place nationally in the 125cc class. Pat won the 125cc Pro class, as well as the 250cc Pro class, but not without some heavy competition from the local riders. Nineteen 125cc Pro riders came to the line for their first moto. The Open Pros were combined with the 125's, due to light entries in the Open class, and the heavyweights got a half la p start over the smaller bikes. Montey Mitchell (Gresham Suzuki), riding a Husky, got the Open class holeshot and steadily fought off pesky Eric Eaton (Mai). Pat Jacobson, Bellevue Suzuki , got the shot in the 12Scc Pro class. Jimmy Anderson , Longview Suzuki, would have been formidable competition for Pat had he and Kevin Jansen (Kaw) not decided to tangle off the fast downhill half way through the first lap. jansen is plenty fast and if this conflagration had not taken place the first moto probably would not have been as easy as it was for Pat. jacobson, by the way, really put it to the Open class the first moto. He passed them all to take the flag. Mitchell, who sometimes rides with abandon , cut it a little fine off the first giant downhill and flew off the course. He got up , hurting, but still pulled off the Open win with a 2-1 day . Eric Eaton (Mai) came in second overall with Mark Kim (Mai) ·following in third . Dave Van Epps (Suz) followed Jacobson in the . 12Scc portion of the moto and Dave Didier (Moto-X Fox) completed a fine race for third . . The second combined moto was a different story with basically the same ending. Mitchell came off the line and rallied to the win, never to be passed by anyone; not even those pesky 12S's. He pulled it off despite still hurting from his first moto get -off. Doug Taylor, Enumclaw Suzuki, followed ' him with a near perfect ride . Taylor finished fourth overall for the day with a 7-2. When the hammer dropped on the , 12Scc class, Dave Didier grabbed the holeshot and showed some fine riding style. jimmy Anderson made it through a pile -up on the second turn but jacobson didn't. By the time Pat got through it and had gone half a lap he was in 11th position. By la p two he had made it up to fourth after passing. some heavy metal. This is when the spectators started to get their payoff. The battle between Dave Van Epps , Dave Didier and jim Anderson was monumental. It was not just a case of picking off riders anymore: It was a case of picking off Pros who know who to block when they have to, or how to dial it on to the max. jacobson bided his time but kept the pressure on . One by one he slipped around them until he came up to Anderson. This was a different story. jim wanted the money. He dialed it. It wasn't until the eighth lap that Pat was able to make his move for the lead; that was that. Van Epps picked off second overall with a 2-2 day . Thirty-three of the top 250cc Pro riders in the northwest had signed up to ride the opener at Washougal. jacobson took the overall but the story of the day in this class was Troy Folck (Moto-X Fox) riding a Honda. Troy had driven all night from Boise, Idaho, after winning a disputed second place at the Peaceful Cove spring opener. He suffered a poor start but by rnoto's end had made it to third behind Anderson and jacobson. A bunch of individual battles raging in back in the 250cc class proved to be a slam bang affair. The second moto was a rim stitcher. Folck got the holeshot and pulled a gigantic lead out over the rest of the field . He was able to hold it for eight laps until jacobson pulled around him to take over the lead. This may not have happened if Troy had been riding under normal conditions, that is, fully rested . jacobson came from 10th off the line and had to work hard to get to Folck's rear knobby before he was abl e to get around th e tired leader. Troy finished second for a second overall, while Anderson handled the th ird spot. Results PEE WEES JR: 1. Travis ~ (Suzl; Cap (Suzl; 3. Brett Anion (Suzl. 2. V..nie _ PEE WEE SR: 1. Larry W.,d Uta): 2. Shane Ca_on (Suzl. MINI JR: 1. M ike Teylor (YamT: 2. Darren Monev (Suzl; 3. Jayson Dix (Suz). MINI INT : 1. Doug EichIlOl' (Suzl; 2. Steve Ost.. (Suz); 3. Larry Ward (!

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