Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Cycle News 1979 08 15

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Bob Balentine labove/and Bruce Ogilvielbelow/split Heavyweight Expen wins at the Shamrocks' dual European scrambles. Winners abound In Shamrocks' dual European scrambles By Joyce May FREMONT VALLEY, CA, JULY 28-29 22 With competition spread over two days of racing, it was anybody's win. In the Expert classes, there were only five two-day winnen: Trudy Beck (Women's DivisioJl), George Zuber (2SOcc Senior), Morris Norman (Heavyweight Senior), Jim Bringhurst (2~Occ Veleran) and Lynn McGraw (Heavyweight Veteran). The Sunland Shamrocks were the hosts for the two-day' AMA D-S7 European Scrambles and the crowd , was fairly' large. The schedule of races was the same for both days, except that the racing started at 9 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. On Saturday evening the big, friendly battle between the Shamrocks and the Four Aces was 'expected to take place. The Shamrocks started the evening out with a big watermelon feed for everybody. At around 9 p.m. a signal shot of firecrackers heralded a water and melon attack on the Shamrocks. More oulsiders than Shamrocks got doused however, because -many of the Shamrocks retreated into their campen. The racing schedule started with the Trailbikes. The ambulance managed to make it for the Saturday start, but arrived 4~ minutes aft(l" the banner dropped on Sunday. On Saturday it was Oren Beck who took the Trail Expert win, followed by fast Amateur Bill Mattox, Expert Jeff Robbins and pie plate Amateur Doug Darrow. On the Novice/Beginner side, the lead went fl'Qm Bobby Charters to Jimmie Fries and finally settled with Novice Scott Sewell, who built up a very big lead over the rest of the pack. Dave Morrison earned the second Novice spot, while Dave Earll andJim Morrison took fint and second Beginner positions. On Sunday the Trail Expert win went to Checker Cliff Thomas, followed by Expert Oren Beck and Amateur David Wilson, all on Yamahas. Second Amateur went to Scott Sewell. who had won the Novice class the day before. First Trail Novice went to Chris McDonald while Dave Morrison once again, took second. Andy Co:aio and Mike Nuse finished 1-2 in the Beginner class. The second race of each day was the 17~cc "C" class, and included the Veleran C class. The dominant machine in the Amateur and Expert C race, by over 75%, was Yamaha. Expert Charlie Hamill, on his factory Yamaha, prevailed over the Saturday race, but Sled Rider Paul Krause steadily threatened Hamill through the ,whole race on his Suzuki. Amateur Scott Atchison (Yam) earned third overall, fint Amateur. Pete Postel of the Desert Knights rode his Yamaha to fmish second Amateur. The Novices were led by Paul Palmer .and Roy Harris while Bob Sherwood and Bryan Statham nabbed the top two Beginner spots.. The Sunday race found Amateur Scott Atchison taking the top honon, with Yamaha-mounted Tom Kelly finishing second without ever seeing the leader after the bombl The two Yamaha riden who took second and third Amateur w.ere Mike Smith and Tom Elias. . The Sunday Novice win went to Paul Palmer while Prospector Chris Crandall took second. Bryan Statham moved into the top Beginner spot with • an excellent lead over Bryon Van. The 2~Occ Amateur/Expert race on Saturday was a tight one with Chuck Miller taking the win followed by Mike Eckardt (riding out of Benny Padilla's shop) and Amateur Kenny Upp. Chuck Hermansen earned second Amateur honon. an the Novice side, twO riders for Al Baker's shop, Mike Easley and Greg Johnson, took first and second. First Beginner John Read had a healthy lead over second-place Ray Bowman. On Sunday, Amateur Kenny Upp overpowered the Experts and took the win with Kem Park and Dan Ashcraft finishing first and second Expert behind him. ,Recently-transferred Jeff Hylton took home 'second Amateurhonors. The 2~Occ Novice win went to Stan Hermoss followed by Brent Needham. Once again, John Read dominated the Beginner class with a big lead over Mike Cantrall. In the Heavyweight division on Saturday Bob Balentine was caught napping as' Bruce Ogilvie took a shorter route to the bomb on the second loop and got past him for the lead. At the checkered it was Yamahamounted Ogilvie and then Balentine. Dick Harris and pie plater MyrOll White . finished 1-2 among the Amateurs. Dan Smith dominated the Heavyweight Novice class. followed by Ken Hansing. First Beginnrr was DaJ) Cotton with Dee Phillips takiDa second. On Sunday Balentine (KTM) haIi learned his lesson well as he fmisheil the race with, a nice lead. It wu Ogilvie's turn to talte second. The fira Amateur spot was taken by Dick HarriS of the Desert Vipers with Heavyweight Steward Bud Wheeler in the second Amateur slot. The women rode the Novice) Beginner course both races. Trudy Beck earned the win both da,. but Kelly Kline gave her a run for her money on both occasions, and Kathy Hopkins took a pair of Amateur wins. First Novice on Saturday was Sandy Love followed by Deanna Jenkins. On Sunday they swapped positions. Tricia Farmer and Kim Cain fmished fint and second in the Beginner class both days. The Seniors, who rode on tbe Amateur/Expert course, had a IarF turnout. The C class saw Gal' Charters winning on Saturday abe of AI Guzman. On Sunday Guzmllll took. over the number one positioD with Bob Tamer second. Fira Amateur C on Saturday was ValUil Morris and on Sunday Paul De Latorre. The 2~Occ Senior class saw the battle continue (as it has this entire year) with George Zuber taking the first Expert spot followed by ap everthreatening Dick Burley. First ~Occ Senior Amateur honon ent to the "Queen of Clubs" (OI7x) ol the Four Aces followed, by Cli. Perdue of the Dirtflyers. On Sunday it 'was Jim Thompson and Ray Wil1iama who reaped the honors. The Senior Heavyweight daIS continues to be dominated by Husky rider "Doc" Morris Norman as be tucked two more wins under his belt. Jack Froelich finished second 011 Saturday while Red Sanders took over diat spot on Sunday. Terrill Cotton and Slizuki Art took the checkered in the first and second Amateur spots on Saturday, while Charlie Goodbar and AI Torkko led the Amateun on Sunday. John Logan was the first Novice , Senior Heavyweight on Saturday with Lowell Milton taking that spot 011 Sunday. Neal Johnson took second both days. The newly formed Veterans daIS had a fairly good showing widl Amateur Jerry Bailey earning top C honors on Saturday and the "amazing" Gary Charters running away with it 011 Sunday. The 2~Occ VelS class top Expert fill' both days was Jim Bringhurst with Bill Carr talting second overall, first Amateur in both outings. It was the Sodbusters' Tom Mitchell who earned the second Expert spot on Saturday and Ron Guthre of the' Los Coyotes on Sunday. The Veteran Heavyweight winner was problem-plagued Expert LyDlIo McGraw. who won even with a flar tire. The Amateur win (second overall) went to Jim Morrison both days. Gary Swindill took the Vereran Novice win on Saturday but relinquished the honon to Dennis Lanski on Sunday. •

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