Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

I Desert Hotline ~ I! o 00 0') ..... 8N1 Saltzman ruled the Veterans c.... finishing third avera•• Ogilvie busts brush to win By Joyce May LUCERNE VALLEY, CA, FEB. 24 After battling more than his share of flat tires, Team Yamaha's Bruce Ogilvie moved past the checkered, gaining a well- (Above) Chuck Miller flew through the air. styling to second overall behind teammate Bruce Ogilvie (below). who's turning In his tank card. 36 deserved flTSt overall at the Brush Busters hare scrambles. The Brush Busters drew a big entry, including several riders that have been "strangers" to the cycle scene in recent years, like Bob Maynard, now better known as a dune buggy ace. The banner dropped and the thundering herd, led by Ogilvie, headed for the bomb. Wes Anderson, Jr. had a good start for a change, reaching the bomb in' third overall with Bob Balentine back in about sixth. The course was rocky and much longer than expected by riden. AI· though the race had originally contained a 59-mile loop, because of changes required by the BLM, the loop was extended to 51 miles. At the third check Ogilvie still had the lead with Cory Timms only a soon distance behind, fonowed by Chuck Miller, Terry Clark, Balentine, Mike Sixbery, IM7x, Bill Saluman, Kenny Upp and Chuck Stearns. With 10 miles to go to the pits, a few riders began to drop out of the race, out of gas. Soon the trail south across the valley from Vietor's Pass looked like a string of huge, colorful flowers; each flower being another rider with a dry gas tank. Sixbery was only 500 yards from his pits, but out of sight behind the hill from them, when he ran out. Ogilvie, taking the shonest way through each comer and curve, limped. into. the pits,. still at a pretty good clip, Wlth a flat tire. . Clark, mounted on his Hwky, once again looked exceptionally good as he came into the pits second overall. Miller was close behind in the third spot followed by Timms. It was a long wait before the next group of riders hit the bottom of the "whoop-de-hill" just before the pits. This group was led by 1M7x and Saluman, who were having a battle royale. Balentim: was next with Steama hot on his heels. Chris Austin foUowed this pair while a short distance behind him another battle was being waged between Rick Burns and Ken Upp. First "C" bike was 15th overall with pilot Kevin Hopkins, fonner Trailbike II, keeping a breath ahead of highly skilled Senior C rider Gary Chaners. "Doc" Morris Nonnan was the Senior Heavyweight leader, just om: bike in front of Chaners. Amateur hOT led the Trailbikes with the next Trail rider a long way behind him. Tim Foster and Pete Postel, both Amateur C'ers, were challenging each other for the lead in their class. George Zuber had the 250cc Senior Expen lead one more time. First Amateur Veteran spot was held by IV47 with IVI9 close behind. Trudy Beck was a lot fanher back than usual, but was still leading the ladies by a big margin. Second Trail was piloted by Bill Mattox being followed by 15T who kept him close in sight. Novice Troy Moore (250cc) had a comfonable lead over the m:xt two overall Novices who were Brad Baum and John Dey, fighting a neck-to-neck battle. First Heavyweight Novice was Joe Turnbaugh with Chris Crandall moving into the pits as the first Novice C. The Beginners' checkered flag came out as 1475 came flying down the trail. He had a very strong lead over the m:xt Beginner 1125. Number 254c was the next Beginner followed by Veteran IVI42. Out of the pits Clark took his home check and looked down the trail, but· saw no Ogilvie. After checking over his shoulder he flew out across the desen onto the second lap of the 51-mile loop. Ogilvie was still in his pit, changing his wheel when Miller blasted out after Clark. Finally Ogilvie was ready and the big chase was on. Clark opened it up, taking advantage of having the lead, but ended up seizing as he reached the sand. Ogilvie passed him as Clark was coasting off to the side, looking down at his engine. Balentine, too, had headed out of the pits onto the second loop, and had gotten only a 1000 yards or so when his engine went completely sour. The course had become well-worked by the second loop with the narrow jeep trail ("death-to-the-Ieft," as it is so fondly called by the racers) becoming a bit hairier with first loop stragglers still on it. Ed Zarp had been one of the first loopers to run out of gas. After he had finally been brought gas, he rode in on the trail awaiting the leaders. This time Ogilvie had built up a nice lead, even though he had gotten another flat tire. Miller trailed him in the second spot while Timms was third. Just as Timms reached Zarp, he ran out of gas. Zarp fed Timms' thirsty machine some gas from his tank. After lolling his countenhaft sprocket and one overall position to veteran Bill . Saltzman, he took off and made it to the checkered founh overall, second in class. The next three finiahen were mounted on 2501: IM7x, Austin, and Steams. Heavyweight Expert Mike Eckardt was sandwiched between those 250s and two more piloted by Ken Upp and Paul Christenson. Hopkins held his C lead and also stayed in front of Senior C biker Charters by only a bare few seconds. Charters had also moved up into the first overall Senior spot. Norman led the Senior Hea~ with An Knapp once again finishing well, in the aecond spot in that cIaa.

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