Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

-I NORTHERN DATEUNE ~ E "'d'l 1""""4 I-< ~ ..c e ~ :> o ... Z Mark Homchlck (291. Eddie Lawson 1211 and Gennady Lulblmsky put on a . fantastic two wheeled balancing act at Sears Point. Lawson blitzes AFM 250cc GP at Sears Point By Karl Okamoto SONOMA, CA, OCT. 14 " Eddie Lawson returned to Sears .Point International Raceway today with a new sponsor and won the 250cc GP event over a talentladen field. Eddie, on the comeback trail after crashing hard at Riverside two months ago, is now part of the Hunt Racing Team, which, augmenting the talented Gennady Liubimslty, made it a one-two finish for Harry Hunt. Mark Homchick (Haynes Manuals Yamaha TZ 250) led the opening laps of the race with Lawson (Yam TZ 250) and Liubimsky (TZ 250) right on his tail. AI Collins (Valley Cycles TZ) trailed the frontrunners with Dave Garoutte (DKG TZ), Glen Shoper (Shoei/Farm House Rest. TZ) and Fred Winteri'(Bel Ray/NO TZ) trailing Collins. On the fifth lap of the eight-lap race Lawson "went for it," as he put it, and passed Mark in the turn seven hairpin. Eddie then set his own pace, averaging better than 80 mph while pulling away from Homchick and Liubimsky. Gennady passed Mark a lap later, also at turn seven, and held on for second place at the flag. Lawson. who also credited Bell Helmets as a sponsor, turned to his tuner, Roland Cushway after the race, and said, "The steering dampener could be a little tighter; in the bumps. if you get the front end light (under acceleration) you'd get a wobble. Other than that, it was great." Homchick was philosophical. yet jazzed about the race. "You don't learn anything by leading a race. They (Lawson and Liubimsky) both passed me in .tum seven, and the same thing happened in the National (1979 Sears Expert-Lightweight). I couldn't get a good enough drive out of nine to catch Gennady in turn 10, but it was really fun - good clean riding," said Mark. Vance Breese (Euromart M-G Le Mans) returned to winning form and led points leader Lee Fleming (Champion Cycles Duc 900SS) the entire race to win Open Production. "The only reason I did as well as I did was that I wiped some oil off the rear tire just before the race bellan. He . Jr l •. erlll(F\I,'r,: (·1) Chris Benincasa kicks up the dust at Lamoore's Tumbleweed Park. (Fleming) has low speed acceleration but his top speed is about the same as mine." While ~reese and Fleming were enjoying a tight race. further back (in the 750cc wave) John Williams (Barong Kaw KZ 650) had his hands full trying to stay ahead of Paul Ritter (Duc 750 Sport), who brought his Ed Brooks/Euromart· sponsored mount out of retirement for a little fun racing. "The Duck is back'" exclaimed Paul (not to be confused with SoCal's Phantom Duck). "This is my own motorcycle; I do the work. and I do the riding. I passed him (Williams) in tum 10, then," he chuckled, "he stuffed it under me in tum 11." Ritter was obviously enjoying the close racing. Williams held on to win at the flag, with Champion Cycle's Mike Spencer (Kaw KZ650) in third. 550cc Production run at the same time as Open and 750cc, was won by Team Sunarise's Jim Boeckl (Yam XT 500). James Dagan (Suz) was second, and golden· throat Curt Relick (:ream Sunarise Yam XT500) salvaged third. Jeff Little (S & S Kawasaki/C-A 175) took the lead after the second tum and placed first in the Featherweight (125200cc Prod) race. "John Che~ak (Berkeley Yam 200) got the holeshot up to tum two but he went inside to avoid some oil and I went outside," said Little. Little then stretched out his lead with Chermak in second and Christine Baur (S & S Kawasaki/C·A 175) in third. On the last lap Baur caught Chermak in tum seven. "I'ran out of brakes and had to dump it in under him," said Chris, who stuffed her Can-Am by John and held on for second. Chermak, however, was happy just to stay ahead of Marc Salvisberg (Moto-X Fox/C-A 125), who finished fourth overall and first 125cc Prod. "I finally beat Salvisberg - he's a good rider'" exclaimed John later. Harry Klinzmann (Mr. AL's Rest'! Yam TZ 750) won Open C;;P, which was marred at the finish 'by .Gill Martin's high-speed crash_' .Bruce Hammer (Kal Gard/Yam TZ 750) ~t the holeshot at the green flag but was quickly passed by Klinzmann and Martin. Bruce dropped out one "lap later leaving Harry and Gill (TZ 750) to dice it out. AI Collins (Valley Cycle TZ 375) moved up to third overall. Martin tailed Klinzmann the entire race then made his move on the last As they approached the lap. checkered, Gill elected to try the outside line around Harry at the finish . Ilci\Jlr)" ... t, OPEN PROO: 1. Yonce Br...... (M-G); 2. Lee Reming IDuel; 3. Kurt KnoIIenberg (KIWI. . 600cc SUPERSTREET: 1. Bob Runyon (Voml; 2. Don Gr-.. lVoml; 3. More ~ (Yaml. 250cc GP: 1. Eddie Lawoon lVaml; 2. GonnIldy Uubimsky IYam); 3. Mork Homchick IYaml. OPEN SUPERSTREET: 1. Chuck Porme (KIWI; 2. SIeve Epstein (Suz1; 3. Korry IIryont (KIWI. ().41Occ BOX STOCK: 1. Mork IngoIlllVaml; 2. Laty TheoboId lVoml; 3. Ed Dioderka 1Hon1. 550cc BOX STOCK: 1. Jam.. Dagan (Suzl; 2. Devid Nowrnon (Suz1: 3. Allen V _ (Vaml. 750ce BOX STOCK: 1. Rich Oliver IKlWI; 2. Fronk Mozur IHanI; 3. Wlh Andrews IBMW!. OPEN BOX STOCK: 1. Kurt KnoUlnb..g (KIWI; 2. Smylie Kinne IM·O); 3. Mort< Byors IKIWI. but was five feet short. Gill, from his hospital bed, recalled, "I think I was trying to pass Harry right at the line and it took a real wide arc to do that. When I got to where the road narrows going up to (tum) two, I was still on his outside and we were still going pretty fast. .. 1 just ran out of room. It wasn't his fault - it's just one of those things that happen." Martin ran straight off the road into the hill, cracking his pelvis, breaking a few ribs, and incurring other internal injuries as a result. He'll be okay and is already planning for next season. Box Stock has been growing in popularity all season and 55 racers comprised the 0-410cc, 550cc, 750cc, and Open classes. The Open class marked the return of 1974-75 350cc Production Champ Bob Tigert, this time on a silver 1979 Honda CBX equipped with 1980 FVQ.shocks. Kurt Knollenberg, on a Grand Prix Kawasaki-sponsored KZ 1000 Mk. II, barely held off Rich Oliver on a Kawasaki of Monterey-sponsored KZ 650 for the overall win. In other action, Fred Winters (Bel Ray/NO Honda MT 125 R) took 125cc GP after Danny Cae (Schilling/ C- A 125) experienced ignition problems and faded to second place. Thad Wolff (Yam 350) burned everyone again to register the victory in 410ccProduction (Malcolm Hill crashed again in practice). Chuck Parme (Kaw Z-I) squeezed by Steve Epstein (Suz GS 1000) to take Open Superstreet, and Roberts/Langford (Spoooge Kaw Z-I) took Sidecars. The AFM National Board has fmally ruled that the smog butterfly valve in 410cc Box Stock Yamahas may be removed (except for the pivot shaft). The next and final 1979 nanpoints AFM roadrace at Sears Point will be the Endurance Race, on Nov. 18. Chapman and Ellis earn top scores at Tumbleweed Park By Jerry Parsons LEMOORE, CA, OCT. 21 Chip Chapman welcomed Lemoore's Tumbleweed motocrOss track (located on the airbase) back onto the CMC schedule bV winning the 125cc Pro class. Results 12Scc PROD: 1. Marc ~ IC-A); 2. Grog Owrmon lVaml; 3. Ron Swart (C-A). 200cc PROO: 1. Jell Little (C-A); 2. Christine Ilaw (CA); 3. John Chermak lVaml. SIDECARS: 1. RobertoILangford !KIWI; 2. Rowel James ISIll); 3. E_lHerrold~. OPEN GP: 1. Harry Klinzmonn 1Yaml; 2. GUI Martin IVaml; 3. Tom Reineck.. (Voml. 500cc GP: 1. AI Collins IVlml: 2. Tom Chew IVoml: 3. Jock Boker IVoml. . 41OccPROD: 1. ThodWoIffIVaml;2. DoIeAlelllnder IVaml; 3. John Chermak (Vim). 12Scc GP: 1. Frod Win'"", (Han); 2. DanIlV Cae IC·A); 3. Frod Mort

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