I NOR11IERN DATEUNE
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Randy Skiver blasted to yet enother Open Cafe win at Seattle Int'l Raceway.
40
Into the first turn it was Ke'lley
WeIchel, riding for Fred's Cycle City,.
who had the clean jersey and readable
plates. By lap two Mark Gregson again
managed the top position and held it
to the finish, 30 minutes later, for the
first moto win. Poor Kelley DNF after
his best start of the year. It was Rick
Benelt, on a Honda from Tacoma,
who really put on a display of power
and concentration to come across the
line in second spot while Don Harding
and Skeet Hise, fought a close duel for
third and fourth.
Gregson didn't make the starting
line for the second go-round. The
mechanical toll was high because of
the conditions. Only 17 250cc Pros
came to the line after a first moto
count of38.
Rick Benek took the lead off the line
and smoothly motored. Ron Sun,
riding for the Swedish Husky team,
was close at hand until a get-off and
finally mechanical problems forced
him out of contention. Don Harding.
came up to second and mudded it to
the flag and second overall.
Kevin Jansen (Kaw) rode two classes
and made a battle of it, but had to
settle for a fourth overall after the
whoop-dee-doos got to him. Skeet Hise
had to labor his way to third. Hise, two
years ago, beat the best for the Open
class overall - not this time.
The Open Pro class put on a real
show, thanks to Mark Hambleton and
Dave Wood. Hambleton has been
around for awhile; he's usually up nea.r
the top but not at the top. Guys like
Ron Sun, Tim Michletseh, Clay Azar
and a few others usually take home the
money. Today Mark put on the show.
He led most of both motos which got
the locals excited. His only problem?
Concentration. He bungled both
motos near the end and let the overall
go away. Mark still rode well enough
for second overall. Dave Wood got the
volume green as he went 3-5 for the
day.
Barney Newman (Country Yamaha)
rode to third spot, a far piece behind
the leaders. Randy Pockrandt (Mai)
pulled off a win to make up for a first
moto disaster and took home fourth
place money.
Rocky Phoenix 1101 leads by a big margin to a 750 Production win.
Tom Pearson (Suz), over from
Missoula, Montana, did very well in
the mud for a respectable fifth overall.
We always like the Montana boys to
come over, they always have a superneat attitude.
The Northwest Challenge, weatherwise, held no surprises; the track itself
did. It was better than the first Northwest Challenge by a mud-slide.
Results
100 NOV: 1. Ron Vandehey ISuz); 2. Kevin
Hofenb
