Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

,."'&,.,.,.,,.,:.,.,.,.'.:"'.,.,.,,.,.-.,._.,:,,-..,.__,.,,.,.,.,.,.'.'•.•'.'.'.'.'•.•.•'.'.T'•.,.'"..,,:'.'.T.'.T.T.T.T.-J.T.T.T'.'.-.'.'.'•..-__.T.-.TM7"iJ?....-.-.T•.•'::.-,._..•.•.•'.'.'•.•.•__. -•. _._-,.-_-.-.-_-_-_-_~ Desert Hotline SInce retuming from Europe. a..rv Roe,,'er has won twice.IRl&photo) Roeseler takes two In the desert By Joyce May RID MOUNTAIN, CA, SEPT. 16 &23 After a triumphant showing in Europe at the Six Days Trial, Larry Roeseler returned to his original "training grounds" to test his skills once again at the art of desert racing, and came away with overall wins two weeks in a row: the first one at the Shamrocks and the other the following week at the 100's race. The Shamrocks held their hare and hound race in Fremont Valley with an official entry of only 165. Their course was 68 miles of typical Shamrock trails leading in and out, back and forth, through, over and around the Rand ~ountains. 20 It was Bruce Ogilvie aboard his 400 Yamaha who led the way through first check with Ridgecrest's claim to fame, Kern Park aboard a 250 Husky dOle behind. Bruce Jones pulled in next followed closely by Husky star L. Rae.eIer, who was trying to get back into tbe swing of things: "Must think fast, instead of st••d,," he kept reminding himself as be worked his way through the mob. Max Eddy, just back from his honeymoon, was close to Roeseler, and pushin, hard while six-foot-taU super Trailblker, Cliff Thomas was breathing down Max's neck. (Note: Cliff started out this year as a "little" guy on that Trailbike, but now he's the "big" guy on that Trailbike.) Scott Pfeiffer, East/West's super fast man, came through the check in the seventh overall slot. First Vet, "~uickDraw" Lynn McGraw came flymg by next. That "dainty" little tough gal, Kelly Kline, was running 15th overall. First "C" bike, piloted by Mojave's CRC ace Tom Kelly, was two bikes in front of Kline. Number 090x was the first Senior to get his tank marked, with Bob Doig only five places behind him. First Novice into the check was "C" biker Jim Mattox followed by Heavyweight Chuck Korhonen and 250 rider Dave Main. Ron Guthrie was the first Veteran. "Little Mite" Bobby Charters held a slim lead over Dave Morrison as they battled the big bike traffic for position. Off the first loop and across the finish, the Beginners and Novice Trails took the finish as follows: Overall win went to,Jim Mattox one more time on his 125 Yamaha, followed by "C" pie plater Steve Johnston. Jim Morrison took the 250cc Beginner 250 honors at third overall. First Heavyweight Beginner spot was filled by Steve Knapp, also Yamaha· mounted. Novice Bobby Charters was the first in his family to take a Shamrock first in this race, earning tbe Trail honors, while Dave Morrison took the Trail class lleCond with Jim Morrison earning tbe Beginner Trail win. This was not to be Ogilvie's day, however, as he broke aDd didn't make it onto the second loop. Meanwhile Roeseler had started thinking "desert" again and had moved into the lead. Park was Itill in the second SJl?t while Eddy had moved into third WIth Jones dropping back to fourth. Pfeiffer had bettered his position by flying into the fifth slot while super Trail, Thomas, held onto his sixth overall spot. "Yamaha-Charlie" Hamill had taken over the fint "C" position, but John Foster was not going to give any slack as he pushed Hamill hard. True to form, Charters had left the other Seniors far back in his dust as he moved up to the 17th slot from 29th on the first loop. Kline had dropped out and so had Trudy Beck, so Lynette Zuber slid into the "first lady" position with Kathy Hopkins not far behind. Off the second loop it was Roesder with a tremendous lead followed by Anaheim Husky's Max Eddy who had now moved up into the second overall spot. Park had dropped into the third slot but still was first 250cc Expert. B. Jones (Hwt), S. Pfeiffer (250). and Winchell (Hwt) took the checkered in the same positions they had ridden the whole second loop in, but Thomas, Dick Allen Yamaha's ace, had tired as he moved over the big-bike terrain and had dropped to ninth overall, still 26 positions ahead of the next trail bike. The battle for fmt "C" Expert was a very real conflict as Hamill and Foster were almost "kicking close" most of the way. Hamill, coming back from SotDe much less inspiring races, retained the lead for first in class, but Foster took the checkered right behind him. Tom Kelly. who had gotten lost as well as having bike problems, never gave up, however, as he finished right behind Foster, making it a trio of "C"s. McGraw, in the Uth overall spot earned first Veteran honon. First Amateur pilot, Rob Poznoff, came in 17th overall with Veteran Jan Morrison taking lleCond Amateur, lint in class. Chris Harris (250) earned the third Amateur spot with Bill Poatel ("C") taking fourth, first in class. Jack Froelich. coming back to the desert as a virtual "unknown" to many of the newer riden, earned the top Senior Expert honors. Young Tom Elias finished well ahead of his "Senior" dad (Lee) aDd earned the second "C" Amateur spot with Luck Merritt, ,m}.Jtnown in the early '70's for his "hairy" helmet (which he is still wearing) and determined way of riding, was back on the scene to take the third Amateur "C" spot riRbt behind Tom. First gal was Kathy Hopkins on her trusty Yamaha IT. Chuck Stearns (250), in the !14th overall slot, earned the first Novice spot again. Where this total "unknown" came from this writer does not know, but where he's going is obvious - to the top, and fast. His goal was to make it to Expert before the end of the year, but with races being cancelled left and right, he won't be able to make it. But there's no doubt he'll be a threat to the Amateun and Experts next year. In the 50th overall spot was the second Novice, David Main. on a 250 also, followed in the 55ni slot by Novice Gram Colbert (250). Ed Whisenant was fust Novice Heavyweight, while Ron Guthrie earned the fint Novice Veteran spot. John Bauman took Novice "C" honors, while first Novice Senior laurels were heaped on Vil'Jil French. There Wfte 121 finishers ill tile event. On the following week at Charlie's Place off Trona Road. the l00's M.C. held their hare and hound. Roeseler was out again to take on the desert. As he pre·rode the boinb Saturday, he was confronted with another rider coming straight at him. Larry chose a bush instead of a head· on crash and went "tail-over teaItettIe," bruising his "unbruised" knee and pulling muscles in his back, so he wasn't feeling too chipper on the start line. The banner was dropped and the thundering herd was off. Ogilvie moved into the lead and started stretching it as he knew his old adversary was not far behind him. By second check, however, he had developed a rear flat, slowing him down considerably. His five minute lead soon dwindled down to nothing as Roeseler once again worked his way up through tbe pack and moved in on Ogilvie. They came into fourth check sideby-side with Ogilvie pulling out first. But it didn't take Roeseler long to take the lead away from Ogilvie. From there on it was Itrictly Larry's race, finishing eight minutes before lleCond place rider, Cory Timms. Anaheim Husky's Mark Zoller (250) was third overall, while Ogilvie had pulled up into fourth again after having a comedy of errors in the pits as he changed his flat tire before beadi!1g out onto the 1leC0nd loop. Kern Park earned lleCond l!5Occ, fifth overall. John Foster had left Charlie Hamill in the dust with a rear flat early on the fint loop, and earned first "C" honors without too much hass1e. Fint Amateur honon went to Chris Harris (250), 11th overall, followed once again by hot Trial rider, Cliff ThotnaS. Gary Charters added another first to hjs long list as he took fmt Senior again. First Veteran honors went to Rich Jackson (250). otherwise known as the "Laramie Kid. " Ttm Fagg (250) earned the second Amateur spot followed closely by Amateur Darin Cartwright (first "e"). Bill Carr (first Amateur Veteran), Craig WolfsOn (first Amateur Heavyweight). and Bill Mattoll: (first Amateur Trail). Trudy Beck earned the first tady honors followed by Kelly KJiDeo :mil Kathy Hopkins. Top NO¥ice hoaon _t to Chuck Steams, one more time (in the 64th overall spot). while Ttm Burley earned 1leC0nd 25Oc:c. I.- 0rteIi was first Novice Vet. It was Rich ROle taking the first Novice Heavyweight spot while Jim Mattox finished in the top of the Novice "C" class once more. The Beginners were led by Steven Knapp (Hwt) and pie-plater Dave Sweeney (Hwt). Duane Summers earned the Novice Trail honors while Dan Williams finished first 25Occ. Top "C" Novice was Darrell Palmer while Laura Hubbard was the ooIy Beginner in the Women's Division to take the checkered. •

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