Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

"'t.era CalU.ral.Arlz.a.·Sout.era Ke••d.·Sout.era C.Uf.ral•. Arlz.a....ut.era Ke••de·S.ut.era Call1.ral. ArIZ. Western hotline MacCracken takes two at Sunrise o Cycle D·37 MX 00 O"l By Helen Ajay ADELANTO, CA,jAN. 13 It was raining in L.A. but in the high desen near Adelanto the air was sunny and clear. The clouds over the mountains to the west only made a scenic backdrop for the first AMA District 37 motocross event of the year, held at Sunrise Cycle Park on Route 595. Over 150 ambitious riders escaped the city and raced: A number of wellknown D-57 desert racers showed up for the event. including 1979 Heavyweight number one. Bob Balentine, and the number one woman desert rider, Trudy Beck. Riders had much praise for the wellprepared sandy loam course, which was run counterclockwise. The nearly mile-long course featured a sizeable hill, an over-and-under bridge, a reasonable set of whoop·de-doos, and lots of big berms. Hero of the day was Eric Mac Cracken. In the 250cc Expert race, Eric guided his Yamaha to a win. repeating his performance of last month at Sunrise. Craig Adams (KTM) just managed to beat out Mark Denning (Yam) for second in this Expert tourney. MacCracken then went on to finish first in the Open Expert event. After the two 12-lap motos, Bill Hagen (Mai) had captured second place; Ronny Gibson (Suz) was third, and Bob Balentine (KTM) fourth. The 125cc Expert class put on a great race with some nice dicing, especially in the second moto. A_J. Whiting (Yam) took the nag in both motos for first overall. Rodney Brand (Hon) - back on a 125cc after a long time racing 2505 - almost lost it on the first moto, but managed to come in third. His second-place finish in the second moto gave him second overall. A.J.'s brother Matt (Yam) was third. Curt Dubach (Yam) was fourth and Dennis Vetter, a Novice Pro from Bishop who hasn't been down here to race in awhile was fifth. In the women's event Trudy Beck motored easily to a win in both motos, followed by newcomer Tam Tracy (Suz) and Wendy McGraw (Suz). 22 Ray Eberlin (Yam) was first place lOOcc Novice. Curt Malins was first l00cc Beginner. First 80cc Novice was Steve Valenzuela (Suz). Daryl Welsh (Suz) was first 60cc Beginner. In the women's event, Trudy Beck motored easily to a win in both motos, followed by newcomer Tam Tracy (Suz) and Wendy McGraw (Suz). Race three had the 125cc Intermediates out on the course with the Experts. Danny Bookhan (Suz) took both motos for first 125cc Intermediate. Chris Scott (Suz) grabbed second. John Condon (Yam) was third. The battle for first 1l!5cc Novice was won in race four by Bill Clontz (Yam), edging out Don Cordie (Suz). Mike Oliver (Yam) placed third. The close 125cc Beginner race was won by Otis Cecil (Kaw), followed by james Amman (Yam) and Brad Fay (Hon). The fifth sta rt consisted of a horde of Veterans, including returned racing celebrities Jim O'Neal and Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman. O'Neal (Mai) walked away with the Expert victory. joe Brown (Yam) was second Expert; Nate Sciacqua (Yam) was third. Layman Gattis (Mai) captured first Amateur Vet honors. leading Sieman and Mid Boal (Suz). The 250cc Amateur race gave Greg Winters (Hon) his chance to score two firsts in twO motos.joe Miller, who was fourth in the first molO. ended the day with a fine race 10 pull down second overall. Jeff Austin (Yam) was third. The Open Amateurs, racing with the Experts in the ninth stan. were headed by Paul Huffman (KTM)_ Bob Cronkite, D-57 Heavyweight Desert Steward. was second. This motocross was the first regular District 57 event at which riders could take advantage of AMA's new Progressive Pro motocross program. The program is designed for the amateur Expen (class A) rider who wants to try his skill against the Pros. Any motocross rider. 15 years or older, who has received enough amateur points to become an amateur Expert rider. is eligible to obtain a Progressive Motocross ("Progressive Pro") card. With this card. the rider competes for one-half advancement points toward Professional Expert rating. The rider can accumulate up to 40 points in this manner. (The remaining 40 points needed for Expert Pro rating must be earned after obtaining a regular Pro license.) The program allows riders who want to tum Pro to gam points, money, and experience competing with the Pros without having to buy a Pro license and race in Pro meets. A number of sportsmen Experts at the event took advantage of this new plan, which is available in the L.A. area only through AMA District 57. The event was the first in a series of District 57 motocrosses to be held at Sunrise Cycle this year. They are scheduled for the second Sunday of the month through Dec. 14. May 11, however, will see Sunrise hosting a TT scrambles. Haugh hauls at AME Indian Dunes MX By Judy Greenberg VALENCIA, CA,jAN. 13 Despite the storms that raged through southern California all week, the International course and sandwash at Indian Dunes was ready for American Motocross Enterprises MX racing. Occasional showers during the day slickened the already saturated ground and mud berms, adding challenge and interest to the day's events. Dave Haugh, mounted on a Maico for Simi Valley Cycles, took back to back wins in the 500cc Pro class. Tom Kelly (Duralube/Malcolm Smith) charged through the pack to finish second, with jerry Shore (Yam) moving from seventh to third. Haugh left the second gate 10 pick up a 12 second lead over Kelly early in the molO. Shore was steady in third, while a battle brewed in fourth between Nick Athans (GVI) and Track and Travels' Lynn Dennis. It wasn't until the seventh lap that Kelly started closing ground on Haugh, picking up about two seconds a lap. In a final effon. he powered down the back sand straight. taking the inside of Haugh in a comer. only to find a slick patch of water and mud staring him in the eye while Haugh took the dry edge to keep his wheel in front to the nag. Shore finished with a safe third, with Alhans picking up a lillie ground from Dennis to hold fou rt h. Mark Bledsoe brought his Yamaha out on tOP of the 125cc Pro class with a 1-2 ride. Luft Racing's Mark Moscrop held the lead for the first few laps. until Tom Kelly's Yamaha moved to his side at the top of I he drop, taking over on the downhill. A few turns later Moscrop went down as he tried to regain his lead, putting Biedloe in second. In the final laps, Kelly took a fall, but was quick to recover, finishing second behind Bledsoe. The second time, Moscrop went wire to wire. Bledsoe took second. which was all he needed for the overall. The 250cc Pro class was won by Wayne Broste, riding a Maico out of Anchorage, AK. Ventura Suzuki's jerry Martinez gave Broste a run for his money. and finished second. Eric Dallola finished with a pair of wins in the 500cc juniors. Jesse james' Maico holeshot the first moto. as Dattola battled it out with Bob Dunham's Dick Allen Yamaha for second. In the same lap. Dattola put the pass on both Dunham and james, to take the lead and the win. Dattola took command out of the second gate, while James rode shotgun in the rear. Dunham controlled second, being shadowed by Steve Argibright's Honda. as james worked his way to fourth. Tension mounted for the second place battle during the final laps, wiht both Dunham and Argibright going down, putting james in for second. Argibright was up in time for third. It was U.S. Yamaha·sponsored Eddie Hicks with the first molO win in the 83cc Intermediates. Charles Osterday (Nippondenso) and Cindy Dumo finished second and third. The second time, Mouse McCoy (U.S. Yam) holeshot, while Hicks clung to his rear wheel looking for a way around. Osterday studied their lines waiting for his move, which came when a lappee separated McCoy from Hicks, breaking Hicks' momentum long enough for Osterday to slip into second. His 2-2 ride gave him the overall, over Hicks'l-5 and McCoy's 4-1. Results 500 PRo: 1. Dave Haugh (Maol; 2. Tom Kelly (KTMI; 3 Jerry Shore (Yarnl. 250 PRO: 1. Wayne Broste (Maol; 2. ,Jeny Martinel ISuzI. 125 PRO: 1. Marl< Bledsoe IYarnl; 2. Mark Moscrop (Yaml; 3 Tom Kelty (Yaml. 500 INT: 1. Dor1 cossey IYarnl; 2. _ Coisoo IHusl. 2SO INT: 1. Bill Harry IYarnl; 2. 8

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