Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

. . . . .dco'COI_ ,. ·._ ·.~...... • .·IE_ _ 011 dco'CO "1' ,.. . . CeDI..al Pipeline preparation, called a riders' meeting to give the 'crossers a chance to chicken out, but much to their chagrin, they elected to race! The track was not as bad as it first appeared, but it was pretty slimy and the Austin spectators found out who could really ride the mud, The 125cc Novice and Open Intermediate classes ran together, and in the first go round, it was Van Kirk (125) and Bill Effinger (Open) taILing the wins. In the second Open Intermediate moto, Brendon Prado was leading followed by 125cc Novice Van Kirk, when another Novice, Scott Weaver, came charging through the pack and put the pass on Van Kirk. That wasn't too surprising but "Wild" Weaver proceeded to put the move on Prado's Open bike and just kept leaving. Weaver won one batde but Van Kirk won the war with two more overall wins and the series win in two classes. Van Kirk was followed in the 250cc class by Gary Wolf and Gary Kriese. Prado topped a three·way tie for flTSt in the Open Intermediate class, followed by David Huerta and Effinger. All the riders did some fine racing under conditions that would keep most guys at home in front of the flTe. Hope to see'them all next spring. o 00 0') ...-4 Results OPENING RACE Moe Van Kirk put aU other 125 and 250cc Novices away in the Frostbite Series. Centex Frostbite Series wrap·up By Karel Kramer AUSTIN, TX, DEC., 1979 November brings an end to regular night MX at the Capitol City night track and brings the beginning of the aptly named 26 Frostbite Series. The Frostbite Series is the boon of the hard-core, fun-loving Centex 'crosser who drags his trusty, rusty scoot out for the three final muddy, nasty and cold races of the season in hopes of becoming one of the elite: a "Frostbite Series Survivor!" This year the brave were faced with rain and cold in various forms all three weeks of the series with sometimes surprising results. The first week brought a hint of things to come as Moe Van Kirk won both the 125cc and 250cc Novice classes. Moe was the only rider to win a 125cc or 250cc Novice race in the whole series! He rode 12 motos and garnered seven wins, took home six weekly trophies and two series overall trophies_ Van Kirk qualifies as a Frostbite Series Survivor for sure, as the Kerrville resident traveled for several hours each way to ride every week. He's making his comeback from bad injuries at the Astrodome last year. There were Experts at only the first race of the series. and they delivered some of the most memorable racing. Billy "Popgun" Harrison grabbed the first start but an on-the-gas Russell Powers blasted by him and pulled a huge lead, followed by Harrison, Frank Tella, Keith Davis and Jack . .. "",," . Beckham. Any of these riders could win on any given night, and it was a rare treat to see them all tearing up the track together. Tella made his move, banzaied past Harrison and began a charge to catch Powers. Davis and Beckham inherited third and fourth through a Billy Harrison bobble, while Tella got inside of Powers in the first turn. Tella began to extend his lead as Davis started pressuring Powers. Beckham was right there all the time but got tired of waiting and rocketed down the back straight, going over the big jump considerably faster than Davis and blasting by in the sweeper only to find no place to go, with Russell's 4.10 Dunlop about to gobble his front Meueler. Still going too fast, Jack smacked Russell's back tire and did a nying highside taking Davis down also_ Davis was up immediately and still in third. Beckham was up soon but just rode the rest of the race slowly. Tella (Suz) took the checkered first with Powers (Hon) second and Davis (Hon) third. Driving rain made the second moto a mess, but TeLla got the holeshot and led most of the moto to finish second behind Davis while Powers was third. Tella took the overall win. The riders who dared to show up for the second week's event after a whole week of rain found a bunch of spectating Experts (kicking themselves for not bringing their scoots) and the finest tr'action in Texasl The water truck had broken an axle and Mother Nature provided the perfect amount of water. There were no berms and none were needed; just throw it down and gassit! Moe Van Kirk was on hand to win both the 125cc and 250cc Novice classes again but several riders definitely made him work for the wins. Scon Weaver put in some brilliant riding to charge from eighth to second in the first 125cc Novice moto. Scott looked like he had the speed but just couldn't find the hot line to make the pass on V.an Kirk and they finished in that order with David Morrison third. The second moto got away without Weaver as another rider highsided onto his front wheel. ending his hopes of breaking Van Kirk's winning streak. Rusty Burns made the best of the melee and grabbed the lead and the win, followed by Ben Lnetz and Van Kirk, whose first and third places gave him the overall. Weaver put in a game cllarge but short motos held him to sixth place. The l00cc Novice class was a fun one to watch as Hardluck Pins won both motos on his 80cc green mini meanie. The Open Intermediates got away with David Huerta running away with the moto followed by Billy Effinger and Karel "Krash" Kramer, both of whom had to move through traffic. The second moto got underway with Krash grabbing the lead and holding onto it. Brendon Prado pushed hard for half the moto until his footpeg broke off, hampering his charge. Everyone enjoyed the racing and praised the track; also. in most classes, there were trophies for every entrant! The final week of racing promised to be muddy, cold and nasty. and unlike the previous week, it was. A blaCk ribbon of sticky goo greeted the small turnout of the hardy. The Davises and Beckharns, who handle the track management and MINI M1N~ &ic <:.-lV..u. MIN JR: I. FIyin' _ lVom): 2. Milte Merlo lVomto 3.1C"'"" _lV..u. MINI SIl: 1. MilteIllKlcbum lVoml: 2.T.J.Tonnor lVomto 3. IIiIy Kirby lVom). 100 I«N: o.r.. Oocbr lVoml. 125 NOV: I. Moe Von ICirt< ISuzl: 2. Bon Lemz (HonI; 3. Dt"'d _lHanl. 250 I«N: 1. Moe Von ICn lSwto 2. Jomes NicholIon lVoml: 3. Gus _lVoml. 125 INT: 1. John Hem lHonI: 2. Kenneth _ (Yoml: 3. Dt"'d lloyd ISuzl. 250 INT: JerTy Farmer (Yoml. OPEN INT: I. ~ Pr8do lVoml: 2. Ricky l.Iovd lVoml: 3. Bill Effinger lVoml. OVER 30: I. Jimmy Doron IYoml: 2.. Alan Obermeyer lV..u. 125 EX: 1. Fronk Tello lSuzl: 2. ICeilh Davis lHenI: 3. RuaollPowerslHenI. 2nd RACE MINI MINI: I. eric CuivorlVoml. MINI JR: 1. FIyin' Frockle IYoml: 2. Mike Morlo IYoml: 3. Lorry Triplett lSwl. MINI SR: I. Hordtuck Pitta llCowl: 2. Mike BiockboJm IYom): 3. Glen lloxtorlSuzl. 100 NOV: I. Hordluclt Pitts lKawl: 2. nm Morris (Suz); 3. Bobby Mo

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