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checkers. Immediately after the race Kehoe rushed to a nearby comer of the track where ambulance attendants were aiding his father, struck earlier in the moto by an out· of-control bike and rider. The elder Kehoe was rushed to the hospital, returning later with his entire midseCtion wrapped tightly in gauze. An hour later, Kehoe nailed down the 83cc Modified Expert division as Holland sat in the pits. But George Holland had one more chance, and that was in the final race of the five·day motocross-marathon. The race was the 105cc Expert class and it turned out to be the hottest race of the entire week. Holland was the favorite, but nobody bothered to tell Kehoe. Again, Erik rammed the holeshot, but this time Holland was smack·dab on his exhaust pipe. Kehoe screamed into the first mile of the course. Holland played shadow. Kehoe felt the pressure. "I knew he was behind me," Erik said after the race. "I just concentrated and went for it." Kehoe pumped his YZ and was suddenly turning the fastest laps of the five days of racing - faster than the 125cc or 250cc Experts. But Holland was still threatening and late in the race began to close on the leader. "The last lap he was on my butt," said Kehoe. Again Kehoe hit the- gas and this time he took the momentum all the way to the checkered flag, comfortably ahead of a disappointed George Holland. Kehoe shook a few hands, then headed for the pits where his family and their friends were popping a bottle of champagne. The Ponca City NMA Nationals are not supposed to be a professional racing event but you would never know it by the money and prizes that were awarded this year. Kawasaki had $15,000 in prize money up for grabs for any rider winning his class on a green machine. Three riders did it. Hardluck Pitts (Medina, TX), Keith Turpin (Forest Park, GA) and Billy Brister (Kentwood, LA) all took home checks for $2,500 each. Yamaha gave away one brand new YZ50 as well as five YZ80s. Pitts and Turpin both took home one of the new minis in addition to their Kawasaki checks. ''I'm going to buy me a bicycle and put the rest down on a new car." said 10·year-old Turpin. "Not now," he added, "but when I'm old." He said he would spend a few dollars to fix up his motorcycle. The background heroes of the .NMA Nationals are the 132 members of Ponca City's American Business Club (AMBUCs), the public service club that sponsors the event. The club worked for several months in preparation for this year's races. Along with the city, the group put thousands of hours into preparing the track, publicizing the race and handling most of the track operations during the exhaustive five· day championship. The AMBUC organization has spent over $12,000 improving the racing facility since they built it five years agao. When they are not investing in racing projects they are helping various charities. After last year's first NMA National Championships, the AMBUCs contributed $4,885 to a scholarship fund for students studying in the fields of speech, hearing and physical therapy. This was only the second year that N~A promoters Ron Hendricksen and Ted Moorewood have brought their biggest annual event to Ponca City. Keep your eyes out for next year's race. Around Ponca City they're already talking about it. • (Above) Charles Briere (348) and Brant McCoy 11OIl lead the 83cc Stock Novices. (Below left) The trophy girl. (Below rightl Ron Hendrickson. the ultimate KTM . .. now at KTM dealers 13