Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

riding an outdated TM Suzuki as a Novice in this Open class for a trophy. Eric Weisler also has been taking advantage of good starts. He won the 650cc Expert class, this time in front of Duane Spence, fast approaching 50, but still riding as a top rated Expert. Matt Rohr brought out his 750cc Matt's Muffler/Ron's Radiator Yamaha for third and strung along Ron Day and jeff Buckner to make a big time class. Results PEE-WEE: 1. Billy Campbell ISull; 2. Ronny Knight; 3. Tawrya Carriger ISull. . 60 NOV/JRIEX: 1. Antone Mellow (Vaml; 2. Matt DequasielVaml. 80 NOV: 1. John West IKaw); 2. Charles Venegas (Vaml. 80 EX: 1. Doug Chandler IKawl; 2. Chris Carr ISuz); 3. Aaren Hill (Kawl. 1~ JR: 1. Kevin Brelter (Vaml. 1.00 EX: 1. Doug Chandler IVaml; 2. Chris Carr ISull; J. Vance Sherfield (Vaml. 125 NOV: 1. Ray Grijalva IVaml. 125 JR: 1. Jerry Lanning ISu'l. 200 NOV/JR: 1. Mike Hayward (Vaml; 2. Don Dobler (Honl. 250 NOV: 1. Shawn Black IC-AI; 2. Mike Swartz (Henl. 250 JR: 1. Jon Eichelbaugh (Vaml; 2. Darrell Thompson (Suz); 3. Mike Cronk (PVDI. 250 EX: 1. Kim Jorgensen IC-AI; 2. Rich ArnaidC-A); J. Joe Knight (C-Al. 38O'NOV: 1. Darrell Thompson (Menl. 500 JR: 1. Kenny Burten IVam); 2. Mike Underhill IVaml. 500 EX: 1. Oenn;s Kritzer (Yam); 2. John Tavts, Jr. IVam); J. Mark Key (Vaml. OPEN NOVIJR: 1. Jim Cutts ITri); 2. Beeu Marciel ISuz). OPEN EX: 1. Eric Weisler (Vaml; 2. Duene Spence ITril; 3. Matt Rohr (Vaml. Rain dampens Hills Ferry flat track fun By Uonel Nunes NEWMAN, CA,jULY 21 The track that survived last winter's rainy season and ran all of its schedl,lled races in February and March, had its first summer event rained out: An out of season storm dumped about a quarter of an inch of rain on the track Saturday ,!11orning and it continued to sprinkle and drizzle all day long. The track was in no danger,. except that it needs about one hour before race time for preparation, and of course, it must remain clear in order to run the events. Confidence in the track (and the weather) was reinforced as riders began to arrive late in the afternoon with stories of rainy condi tions they had encountered on the way over. Track preparation was delayed until the very last moment. The reason, said the track operation, was that, "under these conditions, a wet surface and cloudy, cool conditions, it's not hard to prepare the track, so why go to all the trouble if it's going to get rained out? We will wait and see." At five, the pit area was fUling up with riders from as far away as Redding. With practice scheduled for 6;00 p.m., the moment of truth was at hand. So tlte track operator signaled the water wagon, "let's go." By the time the equipment pulled onto the track \t was raining - then it staTted to hail. But the equipment continued on with their work and by 6;00 p.m. the weather had cleared, the track was prepared, and practice started right on time. With well over 100 riders showing up, in the rain, to ride a smooth, hard surface flat track event, it's no wonder that the track owner is extremely proud of his track. Results MINI 80 NOV: Scott Casey. 80 JR: Antone Mellow. Jr. 80 EX: Aaron Hill. 100 NOV/JR: Chris Roehlk. 100 EX: Doug Chandler. GY~S SUZUKI SPORTSMEN 1()(). 1. 25 NOV: Ray Gryoiva 125 JR: Charles Pettit. 250 NOV: Don sanders. 250 JR: Ronald Murphy. 250 EX: Merk Key. J6O-5OO NOV: Jeff Huggins. 380·500 JR: Joe Mitchell. 380·500 EX: Mark Key. #~.TO ,463-2912 Key and Carr double trouble at Amateur National qualifier By w. H. Spencer LaD!, CA,jULY 29 Stockton's Mark Key put together a fine double header effort in the National Amateur Scrambles qualifier for big bikes by winning a very controversial 250cc Class and a no holds barred 500cc decision. The Loai M.C. did a great .job of organizing this Amateur only event and, despite the gas/inflation problems and the thought that Amateur racing is in i~ death throes, a spirited group put on a dynamite show. Chris Carr started out the twilight program with a great pair of wins, making him a .qualifier in four classes for the Ascot Amateur National the end of August, showing that when he's hot, he's flawless and fast. In the 100cc category, he rode the jorgy Suzuki to an easy runaway win over Vance Sherfield and Steve Mitcnell while Gary Coit held off Larry Staggs and Mike Macedo for the possible alternate spot. In the 101-125cc class, Chris had to do a lot of passing but, in classic style, picking his way through traffic, Chris made no mistakes and won out over Ray Grijalva and Vance Sherfield. He had a great time collecting his trophies from the lovelies after the races. Mike Hayward hauled out an IT 175 and won the 126-200cc event over Don Dobler's fOUT stroke Honda with Bob Kaftinow taking the third qualification spot on a Suzuki. This may be one of the classes where, if you rode, . you could qualify. The running of the 250cc main event was held up when protests started flying about semi Tiders not being apprised of their right ,to choose a pole position. So, all three of rhe semis were re-run afte,r the completion of the other events, and then finally the 250cc main. It was popular for those who hadn't done well in the regular semis but very unpopular for those that didn't stay around or couldn't repeat their efforts. Counter protests were reported to be offered and the AMA will have to satisfy these problems. Dan Malfatti rode the Cycle Works Honda to the S60cc main event win and was properly rewaTdedat trophy presentation by a bottle of !bubbly. Danny had been working toward this ride and despite having been chased by a couple of great Experts the junior rated rider prevailed. jim Mahoney took his own Honda creation to second over Dave Boyles on the Spinetti Honda. Darrell Thompson took a fine fourth over Kenny Burton and semi winning Dan Armstrong. Dennis Kritzer appeared to be the man to beat in the 500cc class, being the only Black Plate Expert in the race. He was surrounded by kids and it was the kids that proved to be his undoing as 15-year-old Mark Key took the checkered with some fancy riding on the McGill's ~500. Kritzer held Mark Key slides the McGill Yamaha YZ250 to victory at Lodi. off the charges of IS-year-old Doug Chandler and Danny Moore on the Cal Cycle Supply XR500 Honda, after an altercation with Phil Vitale that left that XR500 in last. Another rule dispute may follow. Steve Hall was one of the big heat race winners on the Glen Hall BSA in big bike competition, with Matt Rohr winning the other heat. Eric Weisler, who didn't fare too well in his heat, after suffering the loss of coils, put it all back together and won the main with ease on·his 750cc Yamaha. Rohr rode to second place on the Matt's Muffier/Ron's Radiator Yamaha while Hall held on for third and a place in the National runoffs on the ancient BSA. In two of the re-started 250cc semis, new winne.rs made for the aforementioned protests with Bill Arbogast making ·the main along with Doug Chandler, both of whom were out on their first tries. Mark Key was really hot as they all got through the first corner and around the tum with Teddy Davidson doing some hot and heavy passing after a poor start. Davidson's problem came in staying on the track and he was later dropped to last over that area of difficulty. Key ran off on the McGill Yamaha YZ 250 Champion while Freddie Crabaugh and joe Knight moved up for second and third after Davidson's problems. Doug Chandler rode the Salinas Kawasaki KX 250 to a fine fourth place, and the fourth qualifying position, with Danny Moore in for fifth over Dave Holland and Chuck Kole. Results l00cc: 1. Chris Carr ISull; 2. Vance Sherfield IVaml; 3. Steve Mrtchell ISuzl. • 125cc: 1. Chris Carr (Vaml; 2. Ray Grijalva (Vam); 3. Vance Sherfield (Vam). 126-2OOcc: 1. Mike Hayward IVaml; 2. Don Dobler . IHenl; 3. Bob KBftinow ISull. 250cc: 1. M ...k Key (Vaml; 2. Freddie Crebaugh (Vaml; 3. Joe Knight (Vaml. 360cc: 1. Danny Malletti (Henl;. 2. Jim Mahoney (Henl; J. Dave Bovtes (Henl. 500cc: 1. Mark Key IVaml; 2. Dennis Kritzer (Yaml; 3. Doug Chandler (Yam). 501 cc.()I'EN: 1. Eric Weoiler (Yaml; 2. Matt Rohr (Vam); J. Steve Hall IBSAl. MMAstages showdown at Sacto By Ron Martin SACRAMENTO, CA,jULY 22 One hundred degree weather has a funny effect on the patch of rubber tire that mee~ the drag strip. This was certainly the case at Sacramento Raceway when the Modified Motorcycle Association held their season's second round of all bike competition; The traction just wasn't there. Slippery conditions prevailed as the ra.eers with the big horsepower couldn't put it all on the ground. However, 50-plus riders gave it their all, and the meet ticked on like a Swiss watch. Eliminations went through the rounds and finally came down to the semis. Bracket 7-A brought Charles Lord all the way up from Redwood City to put his Honda on the line with "Jaws" of Sacramento. 'Jaws," well known locally, put his Harley out front with an E.T. of 14.04, to Lord's losing 14.19. Neil Hourihan, piloting this author's own S05 "killer Honda" railer, streaked out a 14.09 to bI'ast john Murillo's Harley with a 14.47. . Bracket 6 semi paired up Gary Ogletree from Castroville on a Hog with Fresno's own Will Puckett on a Ducati. At the finish, it was the Italian .machine barely aceing out the iron from Milwaukee, B.50 to IS ..57. Alan Mahan out of Sacramento completed the round on h~arley with a single. Bracket 5 semi had San jose rider jeff Boddie on a Norton showing the way to Larry Rile on a Kawasaki from Santa Rosa. Jeffs holeshot did the job for him even though he had the slower E.T. at 12.98 to Rile's 12.79. jim Clark completed the round on his Honda with a single. Bracket 4 semi ,racers put on a great show with Bob Marchbanks, from Clovis, on a Honda. getting there first with an E.T. of12.26 over Dean Ayers' San jose Kawasaki with a 12.10. However, Marchbanks jumped out of his dial-in, making Ayers the victor. Brad Bosworth out of Fresno trailered local rider Gary Fernandez, 12.50 to 12.19. Both racers were Kawasaki mounted. In Bracket S, it was Honda vs. Suzuki as Bob Trussel's rail Suzie dusted the Honda of Gary Whittmier from Fresno, 1l.41 to 11.51. Mike McCart, another Fresno rider (they must have chartered a bus) put his Suzuki out in front of jim Hands on a Honda from Saclo n.79_ to 11.99. However, McCart also went a little fast for his dial-in, mak.ing the Honda rider a little !tappier. Bracket 2 semi was a short round as Terry Henry's Sacramento Kawasaki breezed to an easy solo win when his competition couldn't fire. \ • • 37

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