Smiles all around for lIeft to right) Suzuki Enduro team manager John Morgan. Cowbell winner Drew Smith and mechanic Gus Blakely.
AMA National Enduro Series
Smithdraw5
Cowbell win
ByAetionOZ
BELLINGHAM, WA, OCT. 21
(Above) This water crossing created a rrttle trouble for riders. (Below) Mike
Hannon dropped 10 points. finished fifth.
10
The Mount Baker Motorcycle Club has been
putting on the Cowbell Enduro for 49 years.
But it was not until last year that it attained
AMA National Status. Last year, as was to be
expected, they made a few mistakes. But, in this writer's opin.
h 1 b h I'
lon, t e c u t at Istens, and
then goes out and makes the suggested changes, is a professional club
in every way. This club qualifies for
the huge listening trophy. Upon ques·
tioning, all the AA riders who were at
the Cowbell last year, said to a man
that this was a well-run, well·executed
event.
The day itself started with a few
low, foggy clouds and then began to
clear. It had rained for a week prior
tot he race and the trails were damp.
The creek crossings were full of water
and like Maico's Don Sanford said,
"The famous Washington State tree
roots were chrome plated and vaseline
covered." Mike Hannon rode it like a
desert race and bailed off more than
once over the 125·mile cou~. He sti~
was able ~o m~nage a IO-pomter on his
Kawasaki. This was good enough for a
fifth overall.
The course ranged from roughly
500' to 4,000' above sea level. It had
snowed the night before in the
Cascade Range, but by the time the
riders hit the snowline, it had mosdrmelted. Anyway, they got to see it if
not really play in it. Rick Munyon on
his 250 Honda thumper was really
c1icIting along until check three, where
almost everyone had their worst luck,
and was on time to the second. He got
Lost for a short time and had to double
back and go for it. As it was, he zeroed
the rest of the course after losing five
on check three, and took second
overall.
Don Sanford had to have had the
worst luck of all the AA riders. First,
