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/126417
•.•".-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.,JI•.•-.-.-.ri?-.'.-.T'•.•-.-.-.-.T'.-.-.-,.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.'.-.-.-.-.-.'.'.'.',.·.·.',:r.'r.'r.'.-.-r.-,IJ1.·.·.·.", -"-'.-_~_-_-_-'_-_-_-".-_""'-_-.~-'.-.-J'".·.-r_-_-_-J_-""..-.-,J Desert Hotline Kenny Upp took his first AMA D-37 victory. ftnIahing with a heahhy lead. Kevin Hopkil. pushed hi.100cc Yamaha to fifth overall. firat Trallbike. Upp up-ends 4 Aces D·37HS the Four Aces have a way of laying out a course that will work up a good sweat. Check points were showering the riders with water and there were even reports of "beer stops" being made along the way. Bob Balentine was out of the race before it really began. Upp had led it to the bomb with Lee Scheffers and Balentine close on his heels. Balentine soon took over the lead but then was out of the race with bike problems. Ken Upp (250cc) took back the lead with Scheffers (Open), Rich Zajic and Mike Eckardt (both on 250s) breathing down his neck. Next were Gary Charters, Sr. (Sr-175cc), Kevin Hopins (IOOcc), Bill Saltzman (Open) and Rick Jones (Open). Rick Schumaker (175cc) was in the ninth spot followed by Jeff Matthews (Open). The first 10 riders were "juggled" again while they made the big sweep up through the mountains, down the wash below the Rands, across the highway through the flat country, and then back across the highway towards the pits. Eckardt had now taken over the lead with Upp dropping into second. Zajic was pressing in the third spot. In fourth was the first heavyweight, Saltzman, followed by the ever· charging'Senior, Charters. Jones was next, followed by top Trailbiker Hopkins whose stay away from the desert seemed to only make him keener at the sport. Russ Jenkins (250cc) had moved up into the top 10 along with two others: Paul Christensen (250cc) and Senior Morris Norman (Open). At the end of the first loop the Novice Trail class and Beginners took the checkered. This group was led by Trailbiker Bill Mattox. Beginner Don Solberg (25Occ) was second. Three "C" bikers battled to the finish with Gregg Whitehorn leading the trio, including Steve Sixberry and Jim Mattox, past the checkered. By Joyce May FREMONT VALLEY, CA, JUNE 10 CRe's hot shot, Kenny Upp, was dealt the top hand at the Four Aces AMA D-g7 bash as he flew to the overall win, racking up an • . ' 30 extremely healthy margin while doing' so. The fun all began on Saturday, however, as the Four Aces M.C. treated the Shamrocks to a "feed" and a "drunk." A statement of "Articles of War" between these two clubs had been officially preSented at a 0-37 meeting held early in June. so it was now at the stage where "anything goes," .... "all is fair in love and war,", .. etc. The Four Aces had searched through some old, old home· made films and came up with some jewels which they showed after dark for everyone's enjoyment. The films included the 1939 Pedro Rally and' the Little Bear and the Big Bear race in the- early 40's (when gas stops were made at the local gas stations and "energy" was orily IHH a gallon!!l). Abo on the movie bill were the 'Barney O'Field's Hill Climbs, the Four Aces GP at Willow Springs in 1970, and the 1974 Moose Run. Throughout the evening gals and guys from the Shamrocks were swapping T-shirts with the gals and guys from the Four Aces. Soon it became impossible to distinguish ()De "foe" from. the other, Mixed into this mess also was a group of riders from northern California (Los Gatos Club) who made the trek to the southern desert to support the Four Aces events_ They too got into the T-shirt swapping game. (Their game with the Four Aces had started at Virginia City GP in May.) To put the fmal touch to the evening the Shamrocks "captured" every Four Aces' banner they could find as well as any blazer that was "unattached" while the movies were being shown. A few of the Four Aces' banners were recaptured the next morning while the Shamrocks were over at the Four Aces camp setting off bright red smoke bombs. Ah, but this was really only the beginning. The real fun was yet to come, during and after the race. It was almost impossible to figure out who was putting on the race because there were more "Shamrocks" and "L!JS Gatos" jumpers out there in front of the start line marking tank cards than Four Aces. ,Besides that, there were numerous "Four Aces" jumpers (ooe on the back of Shamrock Bob Perkins) on the starting line ready to race. As the Amateurs and Experts readied themselves for the race, the banner went up. It was a Shamrock banner which the Four Aces proceeded to set on fire to the amazement of all who watch'ed. Finally the banner poles dropped signifying the start of the race, The Los Gatos crew were madly scrambling to put on their helmets and gloves. They had been caught completely off guard and were hollering ... "wait, we're not ready." But the show went on anyway. The smoke bomb was ablaze with color as black, yellow and red smoke grenades were set off. , Chuck Miller, who had hurried to 'the event from the Mexico race, didn't make it to the starting line as he had been centerpunched on his way to the start by an unconcerned pit racer. Chuck reinjured his hip and received enough damage to his machine that he couldn't race. . J:he we.~~r wasn't overly hot, but First Beginner Open honors went to John Hylton while Karl Smith was the second Trailbiker in. David Lowell earned the second spot in the 250cc class. Eckardt soon broke down and Upp took OVer the lead with Zajic still not far behind. Saltzman moved up to third overall while wild man Charters was n.ow in fourth. Hopkins, Jones; Christensen, Jenkins and Norman abo all moved up a position with Eckardt's drop out as they moved around the loop for the second time. With the trail almost completely empty ahead of him, Upp opened up an imrressive lead as he flew to the overal win, drawing a full hand of 4 Aces. Zajic (second overall) also had pulled well ahead of the third overall spot, finishing with a healthy lead over Saltzman. The next five to take the checkered were Charters, Hopkins (this Trailbiker finished fifth overalll), Jones, Christensen, and Jenkins while Norman and Steve Krasch rounded out the top 10. Krasch abo had the dubious honor of being the first Shamrock to cross the finish line. The Four Aces had a surprise for all the Shamrocks that' took the checkered (except the Beginners - they were afraid the Beginners might spill the beans to the rest of their club riders). The Four Aces planted a whipped cream pie squarely into Steve's face as soon as he took off his helmet. As each Shamrock pulled his machine to a stop and got his breath, he got a pie. A few didn't take their helmets off, so ... a well placed pie went through the goggles opening. Most of the Los Gatos riders were abo greeted by thiS doubtful honor, but it was all accepted in the vein intended - to add a bit of humor and fun to a hard day of rac~g. •