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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126433
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lynn Pittman (42). Geoff Ceamat 1331. Tom Marguardt 1571 and Mike
Cameron ISSI battle through the uphill sweeper at the Aspen six hour.
The
Oklahoma
Championship
ev.ent, originally scheduled for the day
before, had been postponed to today.
Eight riders started with Ronnie Jones
on his Viper Racing Frame special
leading off followed by Phil McDonald
on his CPD Lectron K&N Harley, then
David Jones and Tommy Canwright.
The third and founh lap found
McDonald closing on Jones and David
Jones in hot pursuit on Sonny Burres'
Triumph which he had borrowed for
the event. On lap five Burres'
Triumph gave up after a hard
weekend and Me Donald went into the
lead. That was the finish - Phil
McDonald, Ronnie Jones, Tommy
Canwright,
and Phil's younger
brother, Gary McDonald.
Hugo Shea, promoter of the ill fated
double rained out National at
Oltlahoma City two years ago is
working on something for this spring.
Hugo does not do things in a small
way, so stay tuned.
Results
NOV. MAIN: 1. Scott Adam&. 2. Jim Felice. 3. Taylor
White. 4. Phillip Culver.
JR. MAIN: 1. Tim Mort..... 2. Oavid Jonas. 3. Todd
Gieslck. 4. Rick R _ . 6. Tommy Cartwright. 6.
Noot Irwin.
EX. MAIN: 1. Bubba Ruah. 2. Scott Orake. 3. Joe
Wilson. 4. Chubby Armour. 5. Sonny Burros. 6. Phil
McOonatd.
Oklohoma Stata Championahip: 1. Phil McOonald. 2.
Ronnie Jonas. 3. Tommy Cartwright.• 4. Gary
McOonald.
MRA's fifth annual
Aspen six hour
By Bob Shettel
Photo by Dana Ullie
ASPEN, CO, OCT. 6
The 1979 Aspen Six Hour Endurance event was another razor
close road race this year. After
six hours and 332 miles of
racing, the top five finishers were all
within the same two lap space. It SttIIlS
that every year, more people pack themselves at the front.
The Nippon Denso sponsored event
got underway at 10:50 a.m. and Brian
Fenton immediately jumped into the
lead on a Suzuki GS 1000. Ordinarily,
the tight Aspen track does not respond
amicably to big bore machines for
endurance racing, but Brian and his
co-rider George Wallack set out to
prove that it could be done. They
stayed in the lead for the first four
hours, running a beautifully fast and
consistent race.
Behind them a lot of good tearns
struggled. Last year's winners, Charlie
McDonald and Tom Marquardt, had
a minor crash and finally dropped out
of the race with engine troubles. Team
Conehead's Ricky Orlando and Joel
Tucker rode a fast, crash free race,
but spent seven laps in the pits
replacing fried_ brake pads. Merlyn
Plumlee had a first lap, first turn crash
that just barely pulled them out of the
number one spot.
Shonly after the four-hour mark,
the battery for Fenton and Wallach's
total loss ignition died, and it took
them over five laps to diagnose the
problem, replace it, and get back on
the track. That time interval allowed
the Yamaha 500 thumper of Norm
Meyer, Vance Berg, and Bob Shettel
to gain a slim lead after running a fast,
trouble free race.
For the duration of the race the
Yamaha thumper stayed in front, but
only by a slim margin. When the
checkered flag fell, Norm, Vance and
Bob had 302 laps. Twenty-five seconds
down, and also with 502 laps, were
Merlyn Plumlee and Mike Willet on a
TT 500. Third place went to Brian
Fenton and George Wallack with 501
laps, followed in 20 seconds by Team
Conehead on all, RD 400. Fifth place,
with 500 laps, were Dennis Zickrick
and
Colorado's
first
lady
of
roadracing,
Terri
Wischhoeffer,
riding a Honda XR500.
The weather remained perfect
throughout the race and a record
number of laps were run. Another
record was set; the ambulance had to
enter the track only two times. It was a
superby safe and exciting fifth year
celebration of the Aspen annual SixHour.
Results
1).500 PROD: 1. Mika MUfPheylCUttis Kays 1325.6
mi.l; 2. Gary Amu-.tRandy Oobom 1289.3 mi.): 3.
Woody WittelNail RaynoIdoIDaw Lucas 1288.2 mi.); 4.
Mark WoodwllfdlStlMl Kindsfather 1287.1 mi.l; 6. Don
MedinWBob B..-tder 1284.9 mi.); 6. Lynn Pittman/Stelle
.e.m-ongIJim WaaaIy l209.0 mi.).
1).500 SUPEIIBIKE: 1. Bob ShettelINorm Meyer
NInCa Barg 1332.2 mi.): 2. Merlyn PlumleelMike Wdlet
1332.2 mi.); 3. Ricky OriandoIJoei Tuck. 1331.1 mi.); 4.
Dennis Zickrick/Tarri W i _ 1330.0-mi.): 5. Bob
BrowneWGeoIf ea.nat 1327.8 mi.); 6. Mike Cameron
lKen Hoogiend 1322.3 mi.); 7. RicIlard BIentonIJohn
Marka 1309.1 mi.l; 8. An _ J e f f Ka-r/J_
Portt. 1306.9 mi.l; 9. John RoddylMika DavicIoon
1297.0 mi.); 10. Milta _lOon ~ (279.4 mi.l:
11. Jim Son_IJohn Aiader l276.1 mi.l; 12. John
Gard_IMika Moclfal8i11 Mclain 11.1 mi.l.
6OHll'EN PROO: 1. Pad DonaldIonIDavid Stermer
1314.8 mi.l.
601-oPEN SUPEII8IKE: 1. ~ge WaIlockIlIrien
Nrnon 1331.1 mi.l; 2. Hugh ForC8lRay Farrow (316.8
mi.l; 3. David StoknlMiI