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/126411
Association opened its ambitious 1979 program under (thankfully) sunny skies. Their fine contingency awards and financial incentives to .first -time riders introduced about 20 Novices to the mysteries of road rashing. Last summer the 1.9 mile track was resurfaced, then suffered some damage from the ' precipitate pounding of sports cars. But after some patchwork, it's once again a safe and enjoyable track. Yamaha swept the popular 410cc Production class despite challenges from Honda 4's and Gus Denzler's stubborn Honda Hawk . In the first 10 lapper, Keith Pinkstaff's RD·350 surged ahead to the flag , with Chris Michak's RD·350 just behind. In heat two it seemed a holeshot might decide the outcome for them . Quite a battle followed , but the crowd was qu ite .disappoint ed when Michak pu lled into the pits with a partia l seizure. Dean Peterson an d Rocky Phoenix rode strongly, as usual. Dean beat Rocky in . the first race, but Rocky aced him later to take second overall on the basis of second finish resu lts. About 25 bikes ran together in the combined 550cc, 750cc and Open Production events. The GS 1000 of Bob Loose led Keith Pinkstaffs Suzuki early in both heats. But aided by his superior Michelin PZ·2·s, Ke ith grabbed victory both times. ' In back of Loose, Tom Young's 1000 BMW took third overall. Brian Sutton surprised some with his overall 750cc Production win on a Yamaha triple. And when formerly seeded-third, Claud Hislop , challenged the second place of Mike Mayes' nearly identical Honda 750-F (because of the non - D.O .T. Michelin M·48 rear tire) , he assumed second overall. In this way Claude Hammond's Triumph triple took third. Frank Forster won 550cc Production on his BSA while two other 550cc racers had minor spills resulting from oil .on the track . A 750cc Suzuki had nipped a footpeg on the inside 'curb of turn three, gone into a wobble, and crashed, breaking a timing cover , Once the track was clean, Jim Dunn thrashed a field of mostly TZ-250's and cafe bikes in Open GP . There was a healthy race for money in 250cc GP . Bob Loose led and won both heats, although he was seriously challenged by Chris Robinson in the first. Jim Dunn's old R5·TZ·250 blew up early on , leaving more room for Dan Thorsen arid Canadian Alan Seddon. Steve Schaeffer seems happier since he sold his prototype Kawasaki KR·250 - he bagged a solid fifth overall on his reliable Yamaha. 600cc Cafe left spectators shaking their heads . Californian Mike Theroux almost lapped the field on what looked like an SR -500 Yamaha. Considering that he beat an RD·350 with TZ porting, and the totally cafe'd Gallagher-Gregg's Greenlake KH-400 , Theroux should have won the day's "most enigmatic racer" award. The Oregonians have an unusual 850cc Cafe class. It seems this was intended to entice more European cycles in to racing, but has ended in cont roversy. T here was some ru mb ling at the troph y prese ntation when Pat Mari nacci's Hon da led more J apa nese multi's in winning the class. Some me mbers want to limit the class to European brands, Others want to ad d another class, including all makes of vintage road racers. In any event, Po r tl a nd welcomes in put and partici pa ti on in t h eir r a ci n g programs. Results 250 PROD: 1. Dave W ilson IRD-2501. 410 PROD: 1. K..th Pinkstaff IRD·3501; 2. Rocky Phoenix (RD·3501 3. Dean Pet erson IRD-400·. ; 550 PROD: 1. Frank Fors ter IBSAl; 2. H. I:achnoId : 3. Randy Booth IRD-3501. 750 PROD: 1. Brian Sutton (Varn); 2. Claude HtsJop IHan); 3 . Claude Hammond ITt tl. OPEN PROD: 1. Keith Pinks taff IGSI; 2. Bob Loose IGSI: 3. Tom Young IBMWl . . 600 CAFE: 1. Nick Tr.eroux (Yam); 2 . J erry Wh itlow (Yam); 3. Ga'Y Gallag her lKawI. 850 CAFE: 1. Pat Marinacc , IHan!; 2. Joel Ittner IKawI; 3. Mike Hayes (Hanl. OPEN CAFE: 1. Tom Young IBMWl; 2 . Garry How e IKawI; 3. Dan Freeman IS uzl. 125 GP MONEY: 1. James Pike (Honl. 125 GP AM: 1. Ralph Javins (Ya m). 250 GP SINGLE: 1. Dan Zlock (Man l; 2. Tom Famell IBull; 3. John MoffetIKaw). 250 GP MONEY: 1. Bob Loose IYaml; 2. Dan Thorsen {Yam) ; J . Alan Seddon (Yaml . OPEN GP MONEY: 1. Jim Dunn (Yam); 2. Gene Brown (Yaml; 3. Jer'Y Whitlow (Yaml. OPEN GP SINGLE: 1. Nick Theroux IYa ml; 2. Dan Z10ck(Man); 3. Frank ForslerlBSAl. Pearson, Haney, Howard take Boise "regional By Jerry Ashlock BOI SE. 10, APR. 29 The 25th annual TT Regio na l was raced u nde r perfect weather conditions. Rick Hocking, Mickey Fay, Frank Word and Rand y Scott looked great in practice as well as Juniors Thomas McCullough and Lew Alter. Gary Davis set -fastest Expert time trial at 23.449 while Junior Lew Alter had top time of 23.920. Bill Howard won the first Novice heat over Billings and Mike Kearney. The second heat had a very close wheel to wheel battle going with Jorgenson , Cliff Allen and Danny Atkinson. Jorgenson won this one and advanced to the main. The third heat was restarted after the fourth with Brian Haycock winning over Paul Iwanago and Bruce Russel. Jordon led all the way to take the fourth heat. Chris Fit~hugh rode from fifth for second ahead of Cruckshank. Brett Barkman won the fifth heat as Randy Dugan out-maneuvered J erry Warren for second. Kevin Murphy outran brother Steve 'and Thomas Lills to complete the Novice heats. Chris Fitzhugh won the first Novice semi over Cruckshank with Donald Montgomery edging out Iwanago for the last transfer spot. Danny Atkinson was not to be denied in the second semi as he jumped into the lead and held on to win it. Allen ' broke, handing third to Billings and Lills took the last transfer spot away from Rick Ferris. The first Junior heat was red flagged when leader Lew Alter came in high on the first tum and ran out of track. Alter suffered a broken leg and cut hand. Brian Johnston . was awarded first and Robert Moran the second and last transfer spot. Ronald Yamamoto placed third. Jeff Celorie wrestled the lead from Terry .Weiga nd and sailed on to win the second heat. Kim Best put on one of the best rides of the day when he drove from mid pa ck to pass John Bu rnett then Weigand for second. On the third heat it was Brian T hompson and J eff Haney going for first. J eff s second was good enoug h for a front row start in the ma in, Eric Swans on was third. The fourth and fin al heat was res ta rted after two riders crashed on the big sweeper. T om McCulloug h took the lead again on the restart followed by Michael Davidson and Michae l Thompson. Keith Day made up some yards to take third. Terry Weiga nd took the lead in the To err is human.... to get marks for it is trials 2S0WR's r.OOD.1'iEAII T he 1979 Husqvarna 2S0WR shou ld sell for $2450 ••• but it doesn't, It's only $199S! GetaHusky & WIn! 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