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Texas Series MX: Austin round four By Mike Reilly AUSTIN, TX, MAY 20 The fourth and rnst event of the 1979 Texas Series was,held today at Austin Motocross Park, and with the exception of two Expert classes, there were few surprises among the winners. Riders who had been fast in the first three rounds kept right on trying to clinch a Texas Championship. Mark Rakestraw took the Open Expert division on a Maico Magnum; newcomer Ricky Blackwell won a close decision over toe 250cc Experts aboard his Honda; Suzuki mounted Mel Newman beat the 125cc Experts; and Wyman Priddy did it again with his Honda in the Over-SO Expert class. Mark Rakestraw from West Memphis, Arkansas (Kimbrell Maico) won botb motos of the Open Expert class for the overall today, but his ride included a bit of dramatics in the first mota. Ricky Weir on the Howard . Racing 450 Maico' Magnum practically turned the gate into scrap iron when he exploded off the start in the first moto'to take the first lap lead. Rakestraw and his big Maico were right behind by the fourth comer. Behind the leaders Mitch Milson (KTM) and Kirk Spencer (Yam) were moving quickly and the pair caught the first two as Rakestraw slipped around Weir on the second lap. The Milson·Spencer duel was so furious that they moved around Weir, dropping him to fourth, and then reeled in Rakestraw. On the next lap things got exciting. Spencer crashed; Milson swept his KTM around Rakestraw's Maico; and Darrell Holingshead came out of nowhere to pass Weir and join the leaders. Milson looked as though he had Rakestraw befuddled until the last corner on the last lap when "Munchkin" Mark picked the hot line exiting and £lew past Milson to win the mota by inches. The final mota started as a repeat of the first. Leaders Weir and Rakestraw looked like a Luftwaffe formation aboard their German flyers as they dove into the first turn. Within three laps Rakestraw had taken the lead over Weir, Holingshead and Milson. For the next three laps the top four were never more than a second apart but action within the pack moved Holingshead and Milson into second and third. On the final lap Rakestraw moved away for a three second advantage at the finish line beating Holingshead, Milson and Weir. Th~ "Amarillo Armadillo," Ricky Blackwell, won the 250cc Expert class on his Bill Kasson. sponsored CR 'Honda. Ricky, a former Texas State. Champ and more recently concerned with the Nationals and Supercross racing, decided to stay home and play with the local boys. Blackwell grabbed the first moto holeshot ahead of Glen Johnson, Gary Graham, Martin Talbot and Nick Cordova. On the second lap veteran Glen Johnson, trying to rap up the Series in Austin, lit the afterburner on the Howard Racing Honda. He roared around Blackwell and didn't shut off until he had a five second lead. Meanwhile Gary Graham (Demon Suzuki) and Houston winner Martin Talbot had a fine race for third. Behind them Cordova (Hon) and late starter Dan Conway were closing on the front. runners. Cordova, and Conway (A.J. Get protection like Dick Burleso'n Foyt Suzuki), joined with Talbot and Graham for a two lap destruction derby that resulted in Conway moving into third. On the final circuit lapped riders effectively blocked Johnson, and Blackwell was able to get within touching distance of Glen's rear fender. Entering the final corner before the finish, Johnson and Blackwell tried to outguess the intentions of a lapped rider. Johnson guessed wrong and ran right into the "lost soul" but Blackwell picked the right line and won the moto. Ricky Blackwell holeshot the second moto and within several laps he had a comfortable lead over Cordova, David Greenhill (C·A), Johnson, Conway and Talbot (Yam). Johnson backed off the pace to assure his Championship, as no rider in front of him could beat him for the title, and finished out the mota in fourth. But the big story was the incredible charge by 17 ·year·old Dan Conway who shocked everyone as he blasted past all challengers and came within inches of mota winner Blackwell at the finish line. His second moto heroics earned Conway second overall ahead of Cordova, Johnson and Tom Holtan. It was the young challenging the old in the 125cc Expert class but this time experience bested enthusiasm. Mel Newman (Dallas Suzuki) won overall beating a bumper' crop of Texas teenagers whose time is still to come. The Minicycle and Amateur divisions offered a few surprises 'among the overall winners. "Flyin' Bryan" Taylor resumed his domination of the Mini Senior class, beating David Douglass, and in the l00cc class as well, beating arch· rival Ben Theriot. Defending 50cc Texas Champion Angie Scott from Conroe rode her Suzuki to a big win in this class over Peter Thornfield. Danny Storbeck from San Antonio had one of his better days in the Series beating Stacy Marek in theJun~r Minicycle_ Tim Butler (Yam) finally gOt his act together, beating 125cc Novice points leader Glen Goodier. Goodier remained on top of the 250cc Novice class points heat after taking the overall win today besting David Scheffler and Randy Squier. Allan Davis, who has been close to an overall during the Series, finally got his win today. Riding a Suzuki from Hillsboro, he beat Austin master Greg Labbe and "Suerpman" Bob Pope. • Dick Burleson relies on Hi-Point boots for the finest in comfort and protection...a must for off~road racers. Stop by your Hi-Point Racing Products dealer and look over the entire line of dirt bike racing products. H'·PO'NT RAC'flG PRODUCTS 3709 W. Erie Ave" Lorain, OH 44053 I~lI . I Results MINI MINI: ,. Angie Scott IKaw); 2. Peter Thornfield ISuzI; 3. James Skinner ISuz); 4. Scott ThomasISuz); 5. Blake Garland ISuz). MINI JR: 1. Donny Storbeck ISuz); 2. Stacy Marek (Vam); 3. Tommy Wayland IKaw); 4. Eddie Vreeland IVam); 5. Kit Vick (Yam). • MINI SR: 1. Bryon Toylor IVam'; 2. David Douglass IKaw); 3. Greg Baker ISuzI; 4. Floyd Robbins ISuz); 5. Marvin Skinner (SuzI. 100cc: 1. Bryan Taylor IVam); 2. Ben Theriot IHon); 3. Greg Fouts ISuzI; 4. Tim Butler (Yam); 5. Stove Farmer (Vam). 125 NOV: 1. Tim Butler (Vam); 2. Glen Goodier (Han); 3. Stove Roovis (Vam); 4. Glen Ingram IKaw); 5. Mark lamb IHan). 125 INT: ,. Ben Theriot IHan!; 2. Danny Scheffler (Hon); 3. Tony Nielson IVom); 4. Rondy Monooll ISuzl; 5. Dovid MyroslSuzI. 125 EX: 1. Mel Newman (Suz); 2. Doniel Conway (Suzl; 3. Donny Doss IHon!; 4. Weldon Riobschleeger ISuzl; 5. Keith Dovis ISuz). 250 NOV: ,. Glen Goodier (Han); 2. Dovid Scheffler (Hen); 3. Randv Squier (Han); 4. Mike Bradshaw lHusl; 5. Los Rugg IHon). 250 .lNT: 1. Brent Johnson (Mai); 2. Ron Susman (Yam); 3. Kevin Gee {Honl; 4. Franklin Catanzaro (Honl; 5. Tommy Cureton IHon). 250 EX: 1. Rick Blackwell (Han); 2. Daniel Conway ISuzl; 3. Nick Cordova IHonl; 4. Glen Johnson (Honl; 5. Tom Holtan (Han). OPEN tNT: 1. Chuck Nichols (Suz); 2. Tracy Durham ISuzl: 3. Joe Balcom IHus); 4. Scon Bucsanji (Yam); 5. Kary Don Smith IMai). .... OPEN EX; 1. Mark Rakestraw (Mail; 2. Mitch Nielson (KTM); 3. Darrell Hollingshead (Suzl; 4. Rick Weir (Mail; 5. Jack Beckham (Yarnl. OVER 30: 1. Alan Davis (Suzl; 2. Grog labbe IVam); 3. Bob Pope (Mail: 4. Bill Austin (Hont; 5. Dwight Leatherwood IMail. OVER 30 EX: 1. Wyman Priddy (Hon); 2. Earl Cherry ISuz); 3. Gary Chandler IMail; 4. Billy Click IHon); 5. Bill Hobbs ISuz). The All New Carabela MX-III. Moto-Crossers Utilize The Very Latest Moto Cross Technology To Offer The Hot Set-Ups For 1979 - I I I ~, I I I I I I I I I I I L~....J "'rhese Xlob preparations are in our estimation, the· single most important power increase available on any machine"•.. DlBt BIJCJ: .ag..i~e, February, 1979. MX-III 125cc - 250cc • 360cc Llmiled Dealerships A••llabie . _U.S. Importer Cycle-Kart Racers. Inc. 4131 S. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa. Oklahoma. 74145 (918) 663-4080 Moto-Cross e Flat Track Mopeds Mini-Bikes . Canoga Park Suzuki Husqvarna (8J H Sales - Ports - Sarvice 7046 Canog. Ave. Canoga Park, CA 91306 12131_13 Hours M·Sa" U . 1%!I@!l%IJfJIfEII/811/ Klotz Specl81 Formulll Products, Inc. P.O. Box 1343 eN 79 Ft. Wayne, IN 46801 219-749-0489 ~ moTO.XFOX . . , ,.., 520 McGLlNCV LANE. CAMPBELL, CA 95008 (408) 371-1221 51