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/126426
I I Mike G8rris0n gets it sideW8yS on his waY to winning two AMA National Amateur titles. the 12Scc ancI2IiOcc cia... , urbett, Garr·is By Bill Spencer PORTERVILLE, CA, AUG. 18 Sportsman riders from across the nation converged on the Porterville Spinners club grourids for the AMA National Amateur Short. Track Championships. The outcome showed 'truly that the best are in the West, but also that a lot of the youth division riders are making themselves k.nown from the Midwest and South. Saturday night was for the minibike and schoolboy crew. and over I!)() entries made for an arduous evening that didn't end until way past bedtime for all con~. Opening the main events at about 11 p.m. was the 0-5Icc, or Pee-Wee class, and it was a big win for Jason Festavan from Shrevepon. Louisiana on his RM50 built by Wayne Ebarb and sponsored by the Red River Corp and Moore's Firestone along with Bultaco Sales. Taking second on an ltaljet from Monroeville, Ohio was Jess Roeder. Yes indeed, folks, this is one of the sons of big George, 194, who used to dazzle the folks back in the early and mid 60's. George Roeder doesn't look that much older, but feels that backing the kids is tougher than riding the Sacramento mile! Making the first National of the night an all East-of-the-Mississippi show was third placer Larrx PegramLq,( Baltimore while ADen Walton and Tom Knight duked it out for foum over Chris Blackwell. Rocket Randy Turbett picked up· his first National win of the night in the 0-65cc. 7-11 class on an E.C. Binbuilt, Viper-framed RM60 Suzuki in another thriller. leading from stan to checkered over Scottie Scherb. Turbett is from Peoria, lIIinois, white Scherb hails from San Antonio, TX. John Kocinski and Troy Savers finished third and fourth. In the 85cc 7-II year oid Stock class, Californians Kun Chandler and Aaron Hill dominated the front spots for the entire show with Hill passing "Tooter" only once and then having to settle for a distant second over George Roeder, Jr. The 10-year-old younger brother to National champ Doug Chandler had his own race and won it handily on the Kawasaki of Salinas KXSO. Randy Turbett took home his second National championship in the 85cc. 7-11 Modified on a Woody Kyle tuned RM80 moving away from Cunis Cannon and Aaron Hill. Hill led the firosf Ian on )'"'-; Snine ti KX but hi. • JIl -:it( • • Ji-tt Turbett got around and left town with Cannon moving up to take second making it three lI-year-olds. Nickie Fontana took the founh and Kun Chandler rode his Yamaha to fifth. Mike Macedo was the surprise winner in the 85cc Stock Il!-14 class coming from behind. catching and then passing Mike Lawrence for that great win on the Macedo Construction special. The big one for the minibike class is the 85cc, Il!-I4 Modif'1ed. and it was a real thriller. With three full heats, it was a California show for the top four spots with only Shawn Parker breaking in for fifth. Shawn's a junior member of the Michigan mafia as well as a member of the family that lays claim to Scotty Parker, Rookie Pro on the Winston Pro tour. Doug Chandler was the defending National chatnp. having won this ciall and three others in New York last year. He led things off with a heat win but it was to be two seconds slower than the fast heat time from Bobby Land. a local boy from PonerviUe and a club member. In the 10 lap main, young Bob rode the Visalia Yamaha to the win over the other heat winner, Rick Hollenbeck who rode the Sumner's Suzuki to a close second. The top-three freight train was caboosed by Chandler on the Kawasaki of Salinas KX80_ Steve Hill of Fresno was the founh rider while Parker did a great job in coming off a heat race crash to make it out of the semi and take ~~e f1ftft 1 I JI' I " J J It was near I a.m. when the l00cc Schoolboy class lined up, and Chad Bettencoun rode his Yamaha to the win. A I4-year-old from Hanford, he is the D-S5 class champion and proved why with a good one over Greg Wagenknecht from Freeport, Illinois and Danny Bennett from Oregon. . The National Amateur Athelete, Doug Chandler had also won his heat race in this class but in passing from fifth to lIeCond in third comer on the outside. the four time D-S6 chatnp slid ow of contention and chance to claim any title. The last event of the night was the 1l!5cc Schoolboy class, and Bob Land . put a good pass on Danny Moore and 'rode off to another big win for the ~ troopI. Moore, from Cannel. had a big heat win but wasn't quite geared for the change in the track from a cushion to a hard pack. and like many othen. was a little surprised from heat race to main event. Mike Weuon from Balr.enfield made it a three-from-Californja show while Dave Durelle from Zimmerman. Minnesota. swapped the founh and fifth spot with Vance Sherfield on the Yamaha Sports Center from Seaside, California. PORTERVILLE, CA, AUG. 19 Having events in the evening is very wise thinking, since this time of the year temperatures usually range around the 105110° level. This panicular week staned out hot with thunder showe~ c.i .; s t , 1 J i!