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/126420
.•'.'•.•~-"_'_-_-.-_'.'.-.-_'.'''_'.-_'_'.'.'.'.-.'.'_' •.•.•.•.•.•.•.•,•.•T.T•.,J-"'J.-••••.,.'.T•.•T.T.T.T.TJ•.•-.-...-.-.-.-.·.-.-.-.·.-.-.-.-17.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.T •.•.•.•.•.•.•.•__.•.•.•'A'G•••' •••'J•••' •••'."iN.W Desert Hotline Ed Z8rp.s~WS the I8tnt In summer fashions in the desert. D"eysD-37 hare scrambles to Balentine ByJoyceMey LUCERNE VALLEY, CA, JULY 8 With the lead in his possession for only the last few miles of the Desert Donkeys AMA D-57 hare scrambles. KTM's Bob Balentine 20 outlasted all of his competition and paaed the chedtered flag fint. The Desert Donkefs M. C. had anticipated the typicalJuly heat and 10 laid out a 45:mi1e loop that was "fast and easy," according to them, at least. They had abo decided to up the staning time to 8 a.m. instead of the usual summer ltan at 9, but this fact had been omitted on aU but their poster ads. This was the closest race to the Founh of July, 10 the lponsoring club provided a shan but neat fireworb display from the billtop above camp on Saturday night, whih was enjoyed by everyone, with additional miscellaneous rockets being sent up from other club. in attendance throughout the valley. Raeen were ltiU coming into tbe pits at 8, 10 the club delayed the stan until 8:50. The ambulance was 011 time, for a cbaDF. The turnoIIt _ good for a _ race - there were over 260 entered, with over 50 signed up 10 the new Veterans class. The wild Amateur from Hesperia. Eric MacCracken, had the leild at the bomb and wasn't about to relinquish . it. Bruce Ogilvie was back out on the racing scene more serious than ever. His shoulder was feeling strong again and he was ready! Bruce was right behind Eric. . In the third spot was "Hard Luck Chuck" Miller. who has been plagued with much more than his share of bad breaks. Balelltine, Ed Zarp alld Jeff Matthews were next, foUowed l»y Brad Henson, Lee &beffen, and the fint rider of the IIW Veterans class, 1V646. Charlie Hamill was the fint "C" bike through,'while Ron Bebo held the Senior lead. Both Cliff Thomal and Kevin Hopkins were out for the Trailbike win and a neck and neck battle wai brmng.. Doug Bei.nep was the second Amateur (fint 2S0cc) with Chuck Hennansen (2S0cc) not far behind. Steve Priestly was the second Heavyweight Amateur. Amateur C biker Mike Smith had the lead in his class. but speedy Paul Krause wal very close and almost breathing down his neck. Wiley Vaugh was the fint Senior Amateur, while Richard Chue had the lead Veteran Amateur's spot. The Novices had a good battle going for the c1ass lead betwe.en Tim Burley (25Occ), Danny Drew (Open), 1S1b and Daft Chumney (C). By tbe time tbe leaden had reached Charlie Hamill took the "C" bike honora. fiiriahing fifth overall. the midway mark on the first loop, Ogilvie had overpowered MacCracken and was in the lead. Miller had already dropped out of the race, with four more HeavyweightS.- Balentine. Zarp, Scheffen and Matthews - in close punuit of the leaden. As the twb leaden crested the hill above the pits, it was McCracken who had the point position with Ogilvie· staying right on his tail. A breather behind these two was Balentine. A distance back was Scheffers, Zarpa and Doug WincheU, who had moved up through the ranks from 12th. . For the Beginners and Novice Trailbikca, the crest of the bill meant the end of the race for them. Kerry Schmidt (Open) took the overall onelooper win. Number S4lx earned second overall, fint 2S0cc honors, while 1V608x took the Veteran Beginner honon. Number lOST was first Trail and '80V was the fint gal to take the checkered. Out on the second loop, MacCracken had gotten a flat and could no longer k~ the breabeck pace, 10 he dropped out. Now the battle raged between Ogilvie..and Balentine. Balenti~ was going to wear Ogilvie down as much ill possible as he stayed right with him. A ways back were Scheffen (who had moved into the third spot now). Zarp and Winchell, with Hamill, I546x, Greg Thomas (2SOcc) and Gary Chanen (who had moved into the Senior lead) cIo.e behind. The loop _ a ionl( one, with many riden rwming out of gu, but for the leaden, the only problem was JeUiug around the Novices and Beginnen still on their fint lap. Balentine waited until about fire miles from the finish to make his fmal try to take over the lead. He took de point, but not without a fight. . Ogilvie stayed close all the way into t~ .finish, but just couldn't get past Balentine in the large whoop-de-dOOI that led to the fmish. Scheffen earned the third spot, while Winchell, aboard an ancieat (1977) Bultaco, did the impossible (but obviously, not impossible fOl' Doug) and moved into founh overall. Hamil}, once again back in top shape, was the fint C bike past the checkered. Number S46x earned the first 2SOcc spot with Thomas fmisbing seYe;Ilth ovrra1l, second 2SOcc. Chanen once again proved that age has no bearing on how fast one can ride, as be fmished eighth overall, flnt Senior on his l2Scc Suzuki. Fint . Veteran honon went to 1V612x in the 12th overaU spot, but there were two other Vets, 1V609x and Alex Lone, threatening close behind. An Knapp was the second oveni1 Senior to finiah, fint Heavyweight. In the C bike competition, behiDi Hamill it was Steve Zollinger folloMd closely by Steve Webb. Fint Trailbike honon· went to Je:"f Robbins. Both Hopkins and Thomu had broken and were out of competition. Lori Farmer was the first pretty face past the checkered. The neu 0-57 desert race will be the Shamrocb Dual Europea. Scrambles OIl the ... Wftkend of July (a two-day affair) in Fremom Valley.