Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

\ _._.-.-._._._._~._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.~_.--- Western hotline Sofka ·soars to SSMvietory By Terry Whytal ORANGE, CA,JUNE~O Showing tremendous improvement in the past few months, Can-Am rider Kun Sofka finally bagged the big one by winning "THE FASTfST MOTORCYCLE WSfNCANTS" iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifil- K~rt Sofka showed the SSM 250ee Pros the way. e:e-MY, lie.. ~ CQIIlP. HDemtI. P.O. Bolt.528, DII:Il M-13. Fem*lgdIIe. '" 0T127. (20'1) "'2421, T. . 132471 N1,.My NAl'IClM&. IALD 0f'PICI. :-1 Cc*gIIIwd.. 0lIpl. BA-13,~. CA 1li2e31. (7'4) 73M47. s. s.. Russ Darnell 'M@t0cross I§chools . Schedule Jun.Sept. 1979 Two-day schools $40 Five day training camps $125 Limited Entry for information & reservations call 213-767-1854, or write to Russ Darnell Motocross School 9225 TeHair, Sun Valley, CA 91352 Morgan, Lewis: Drury, Peter Newman, ShOemaker and Hansen. The 125cc Pro motos went back and forth several times, with the overall up for grabs among several riders. Bobby Kline took the holeshot in the first moto followed by Johnny O'Mara, DC's Willy Simons, A.j.' Whiting, Jimmy Holley, Jim Sandelbach, Kawasaki-mounted Chappy Blose, Steve Schmitz and LOP's Gary Denton. The top five held form for the first four laps, until Holley got on the gas and flew past Whiting, Simons, and O'Mara, all in three consecutivelaps. Schmitz also moved through traffic, and pulled up to fifth behind Simons, his DC teammate. On the ninth lap, Holley got close to Kline, then gave it' all he had and took over. Kline held on to second and the flag came out, ending the' moto Holley, Kline, Whiting, Schmitz and Simons. O'Mara suffered a blown lower end, which cancelled his efforts for the day. In the second moto it was all Chappy Blose and his factory Kawasaki. Blose led it wire to wire, with Holley and Kline going at it for second early. Holley had control for the first' two laps, then got off and dropped to 14th. Schmitz mo.ved in then and took over second, ahead of Kline and Simons. These positions held to the wire, and at the flag it was Blose, Schmitz, JUine, Simons, John Wht:lchel and Whting. Overall it went to Kline, with Schmitz, Blose, Simons, Whiting and Holley taking the other paying slots, after Holley worked ·his way back up to ninth. Results 30 • Don't go on the Ride Without It•.. 125 PRO: 1. Bobby Kline lHunI; 2. SI...... Schmitz lV....); 3. Choppy _ (~. 2IiO PRO: 1. Kenny ZlIhrt lMoiI: 2. Scott Morgen (Honl; 3. Dele LewiI lHonI. 500 PRO: 1. Mike Shoemek. lV....l; 2. Donnie ...... IC-Al; 3. Bob !lena lVom). MINI BEG: 1. J _ Beiley (Suzl; 2. Robert eo.-ubiIo (Suzl; 3. S_ _ IRMNI. MINI NOV: 1. M8rty L_lSuzl; 2. Brien ~n lHonl; 3. Jeke o..-e lV....). MINI INT: 1. S _ VenIluzen lV....I; 2. Denny _lVom); 3. Scott Merridon lSuzl. 125 BEG: 1. Dennis Hulen lV....l; 2. Mike Perry IVeml; 3. Roberto ~ lSuzl. lOll BEG: 1. Ken WiIIieon lV....l. lOll NOV: 1. Rendy Johnoon lSuzl; 2. Duene _lVaml. . 125 NOV: 1. ~k Henan ISuzl; 2. Bruce Meynor (Suzl; 3. Nick Lanon (Kewl. 500 NOV: 1. Robert Brazier (Meil; 2. J _ Ja""'" IMaiI; 3. Randy Gefner lVaml. 500 BEG: 1. ~k Gibbs ISuzl; 2. N1ike Kell (Mail; 3. Bob Breech lV.."l. 125INT: 1. Darel Francia lVaml; 2. BiD Recchia ISuzl; 3. Richard Ising lVaml. 2IiO BEG: 1. Eddie Ree lV....); 2. L_ie (V.... I; 3. Don HoItand (Honl.· 500 INT: 1. stiMt _lSuzl; 2. KaWt Clark lVam); 3. Don MoorelMail. 2IiO INT: 1. Nick Alhana (Mail; 2. Dan Welkor IHonI; 3. Bob Schulz lV....). _ust.. o. T; 's rip up eye/eHaven By Bob Alloy LONG BEACH, CA, JUNE 24 We really had a light turnout of Old Timers for our MX, probably because of the national race in Mammoth the following week. Anyway, 24 of us gallant Old Timers were treated to a new track with loads of whoop·de·doos, and some L·tums which required slowing down to a snail's pace in order to negotiate. Marshall Jennings started things off in the Masters division by taking a clean sweep of things in moto one. Following Marshall was Blackie Lewis. The second moto was nicely won by Blackie, who ended up with first overall. Jennings then had second. Senior Expert Ray Sanchez, hard riding fella that he is, just wouldn't share the winning position. He not only took first place in moto one, but turned around and took first place in the second moto. Talk about the luck of the Irish. Second place in moto one went to Norm Elledge, while second in the second moto was won by Doug Archibald. Doug looked.great in those whoop·de·doos. Breezy Allen did all the right things at the right time and as a result came out in first in the Expert division. The key name in the' Amateur division was Said. John Said clearly took both the first and second moto victories which entitled ~m to firs.t overall. AI Close found a smooth line and just flew over all·those rough spots to take second overall. For the Novice division it was Dave Collins_ putting his Maico into the winner's circle' for first in moto one. Bob Anderson certainly knew what to do in those whoop·de·doos and came through with a nice secon~i. Taking third place honors was Bob Klatt. Moto two saw Klatt quickly moved up through the pack to take the first place. Collins came in second, and following Collins was Anderson. Results· MASTERS: 1. Blackie LewillVaml. SR-EX: 1. Ray Sanchez lV....I; 2. Doug Archibald IMai). EX: 1. Breezy Allen. AM: 1. John Saicfl~l; 2. f'J ClaM lV.... l. NOV: 1. OlIve Coli.. IMal1: 2. Bob KlalllHuol; 3. Bob _ l V....I. the 250cc Pro class over local rivals Andy Kirker (Yam) and Ron Blanton (Hon). "Mad Man Mark" Lawrence topped the Open Pro field with two outstanding rides and SCOtt Burnworth put his Suzuki into the winner's circle with the 125cc Pro overall win. Ed Amet put his Suzuki out front at the start of the first 250cc Pro moto with Yamaha. rider Jim Domann close behind. Sofka came around at the end of the flTSt lap in third followed by Maico·mounted Arden Hadley and Kirker. Hadley passed Sofka on the second lap but then went out wit~ mechanical problems. Domann slipped off the pace and Sofka moved into second and Kirker into third. On lap six Sofka found the way into the lead, dropping Arnet back to contend. with Kirker. Kirker kept the pressure.. on until Arnet fell and lost two positions. Kawasaki rider Matt Devich inherited third and held it to the fiiiish while Kirker had to settle for second behind the smooth-looking Sofka. Sofka was really pu.mped for the second moto and quickly jumped into the lead ahead of Amet and Devich. Matt l!geler had his Suzuki up in fourth with ,Kirker pushing from behind. Sofka wasted no time in establishing a good sized lead with Arnet trying desperately to keep within striking distance. Meanwhile the battle for third was getting furious with Devich and Zigeler trading the lead back and forth several times a lap and Kirker sticking a wheel in whenever possible. The fast pace soon began to tire Devich and ligeler and they began to slow, giving Blanton time to close and pass, moving into third. Blanton quickly moved up to challenge Amet, getting by a lap later and setting out to reel in Sofka. With three laps to go Blanton moved within striking distance but Sofka was really flying after seeing Blanton close and when the checkers came out Sofka was there first. Amet finished third ahead of Kirker and Zigeler. Sofka was the overall winner taking home the lion's . share of the purse while Kirker finished second and Blanton third. Lawrence won both motos of the Open Pros with big leads and a lot of style. Brent Wallingsford rode his Husky to third place finishes in both motos to earn the second overall money ahead of Dale Lewis on a Maico. . Despite the tremendous charge put on by. Suzuki rider Tony Gomez in the second 125cc Pro moto Scott Bumworth kept his Suzuki in front to collect the overall win with two firsts. Results OPEN PRO: 1. ~k .......... lVom!; 2. Brent Wlllingoford lHUIl; 3. 00Ie LewillMoiI. . 2IiO PRO: 1. Kurt Sofka IC-Al; 2. Anav Kirker lV....l; 3. Ron'B_lHonI. 125 PRO: 1. Scott BurnworthlSuzl; 2. Tony GooNz lSuzl; 3. Tim Hm.lV....l. OPEN INT: 1. AllIn Kent lV.."l: 2. Jim (Moil; 3. Dennis Cox (V....I. 250 INT: 1. Mike Eddy IMaiI; 2. Craig Durfee (Suzl; 3. David Chevez (Mell. 125 INT: 1. Doug Dubach lV.."l; 2. Rick Nelson lKewI; 3. Lyle IIebi l'i'am). . OPEN JR: 1. Craig L.ouerte

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