Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Louisiana. A crash victim while leading in Houston, Theriot played the smart game today to win the 250cc Intermediate class. Finding himself in second on the first lap behind Texan james Labarba, Theriot patiently waited for an opening and squirted by for the lead on the fourth lap. Ben on his Honda World CR 250 motored to a big lead over runner·up Labarba who ran a very impressive race. Andy Murray from Corpus Christi, Texas won the 125cc Novice class riding a Kawasaki. It was a sweet victory. Murray was fourth at the start behind jon Liddie from Alabama, Randy Stewart and Fritz Heiduck from Louisiana. By the second lap the top four were swapping positions in and out of every comer. Eventually "Hurricane" Heiduck grabbed the lead with Murray right behind. Heiduck got in trouble traversing the finish line whoops and Murray roared around for the lead, At the finish Andy was all smiles and three seconds ahead of Heiduck, Stewart and Kenny Cox from Georgia who stormed up on the last lap. The Minibike stock class, because of the fact that the machines are dead stock, usually produces the mOSt competitive minibike racing in the GNC line· up. The New Orleans race was no exception. Following jerry Howell's incredible holeshOl, Todd Bray, on the E.C. Birt Special, gobbled him up and took the point on the first lap. Tibbs McCullough quickly grabbed second and Greg Fouts third. The three Minibike superstars hounded each other unmercifully with Fouts slipping around McCullough, both bashing into Bray's rear fender. Something had to give and it did. McCullough stalled his Nogales Cycle Center Suzuki and couldn't catch back up. It would be settled between Bray and Fouts. Fouts swept his Denton Suzuki inside Bray by stuffing him at a corner, but Todd was back in front as he powered around Fouts through a sweeper. A lapped rider on the final lap slowed Bray and Greg Fouts almost got him, but didn't. Todd Bray won the best race of the day over Fouts, McCullough and Derick Latham from Oklahoma. Todd Bray and Greg F.outs were the leaders starting the Minibike Senior event but that didn't last long as Bryan Taylor outjumped them both over Honda Hill. Taylor looked like he was going to run away with it until he made a rare mistake and dropped his Yamaha. 'Bray and Fouts were hung up with Taylor's machine and Scooter Stafford used the opportunity to get out front on his Yamaha Motors YZ. Within several laps things had settled down with Stafford running perfectly in the lead, Bray second, Derrick Latham on a Kawasaki third and Carroll Richardson fourth, Todd Bray's Suzuki dropped out with engine problems on .the final lap as Richardson moved his Denton Suzuki past Latham for second and Marty Brown worked around Bobby Gilbert for fourth at the finish. Scooter Stafford went on to win the Senior class with a convincing margin beating the best Minibike pilots in a six state area, • The Minibike junior class didn't lack for excitement either. Angie Scott rocketed her Russell Allen Kawasaki KX 80 into the lead but fell allowing Greg Thomas and Danny Storbeck into the first positions. Chuck Wilkerson, Warren Dailey and Stacy Marek were next to follow. Greg Thomas and Danny Storbeck on Suzukis played cat and mouse for seven laps but Storbeck couldn't force a mistake or find a way around, and Thomas handled the pressure like a pro for the win. Randy Hatten holeshot the 100cc final on his Yamaha International YZI00cc but that didn't last long as Randy slipped down eventually taking third. Daniel Schmitt assumed the first position and confidently slipped away from all challengers to win by five seconds aboard a Yamaha. Robert Buisson,jr. returned for the 125cc Intermediate contest which he won on his Vernon's Cycle Yamaha. Buisson chased Mississippi ace Wayne Thompson for three laps until he skyrocketed over Honda Hill for the' lead. Behind them, Bubba Wilson was slicing through the pack with Gene Hegemeyer in his draft. This pair swapped positions as they moved into 'third and fourth on the last lap. At the finish Buisson' beat Thompson; and Hegemeyer lost JUSt enough control of his Suzuki in the finish line whoops to give up third place to Wilson. 250cc Novice rider Doug Melton and Open Intermediate contestant Glen Guedry probably consoled each other late that night crying into their beers. Both riders rode briliiantly holding back every challenge until the final lap on the final set of whoop·de· dos before the flag and then crashed, losing the Superdome National by six feet. Guedry had the saddest tale to tell because he couldn't restart his bike and finished out of the top 10, Tim Wagner was the beneficiary of Guedry's misfortune, winning the Open Intermediate class. At least Doug Melton didn't lose everything in the 250cc Novice final. After some furious early lap racing, things settled down to a three rider battle for the win. Melton and Texas riders Darren McKee and jerry Friedrich had broken away from the field and put on a four lap no holds barred slugfest right down to the last straightaway. Sprinting for the checkered flag, Melton made a fatal mistake when he glanced over to see McKee closing from the outside of the track. In that split second Melton lost control over the final set of treacherous whoops and bounced across the finish lim; on top of his handlebars and in second position behind winner Darren McKee on a Spruill Honda CR. Friedrich on a Kawasaki was third. Launch yourselfinto space with these genuine Kawasaki accessories for the KZlOOO Shaft. And remember, your Kawasaki dealer has got a full line ofaccessories to fit whatever Kawasaki you're riding. Roomy matched travel trunk. Blanton fastest on Mineral Wells hill By Diane Polley MINERAL WELLS, TX,jUNE3 James Blanton zipped to the top of 400 foot Mineral Wells hill in Wmdshield with pop-vents. / Double rail Saddle bags molded from tough, durable ABS. case guards. Fairing lowers. Kawasakiyou by. Don't let the good times pass TURBO RACERSI American Turbo-Pak can build your racing engine and blueprint your turbo! For more info. AMERICAN TURllO-PAK 15602 Mosher Ave. Tustin. CA 92680 (714) 838·8888 scan BOOTS 12995 Liners $9.95 Results MINI·MINI: 1. B.B. McLeod ISuzl; 2. Angie Scott ISuzl; 3. Ronnie Tocheoo< Iltal. OVER 30: 1. Billy Click IHoo); 2. Billy Hobbs {Hool; 3. Michael Morland IHusl. OPEN: 1. Tim Wagner (Honl; 2. Tracy Durham ISuz); 3. Pons Thomas (Suzl. 2SO EX: 1. Mickey Pizzitola (Kawl; 2. Bill Hobson (Han); 3. D...ryl Heisl.. IVaml. 2SO INT: 1. Ben Th.. io, (Honl: 2. James L.abatba IHan); 3. BOOba Wilson IVaml. 2SO NOV: ,. Danen McKee (Honl; 2. Doug Melton IKawl; 3. Je

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