Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

".thern Cailfornl.·Arlzo••.so.thern Ne.ad.·So.thern Callfor.la· Arlzon.·. . .tber. N •••d.·. . .tber. Cailfor.i•. Arlzo•• Western hotline o 00 0') ...... Curt Maddox won the 250cc GP event at ARRA's Ontario road race. Curt McCuiston leads double DeAnza winner Eric MacCracken. (Continued/Tom page 28) • tance while Walker claimed third for third overall. All that was just a warm up for Mac Cracken's ride in the 250cc class where he had a much closer race on his hands. Curt McCuistion showed his support Kawasak.i the way into the lead at the race's start, but again Mac Cracken was in second and pushing hard. For 10 laps McCuistion held on to the number one spot with Mac Cracken trying every trick in- the book to steal it. When an opportunity finally came up, MacCracken was there to take it and he went on to win the moto. Finishing third was Marino, wbo was also riding two classes, and rounding out the top five. were Fred Combs (Kaw) and Clint Carman (Yam). The second moto was a replay of the first with McCuistion and MacCracken blitzing right off the line to dominate the whole race. This time it was on the fifth lap that MacCracken took over the lead and as in the first round Marino came up to nail the number three spot. Gormley's win in the 125cc class wasn't as easy as it has been in past wee1c.s. In round one Dale's Modern Cycle rider Scott Manning hounded him all the way from the start to the finish, but a crash in t he second moto put Manning out of the running for the overall honors. It was Rodney Brand (Kaw) who was most impressive in round two, slipping by Gormley at the halfway point to take the win. His third in moto one dropped him to second overall ahead of Troy Manning (Yam). Results PEE WEE: ,. Wesley Kline (SOl); 2. Vern Reynolds (Jta). PEE WeE: ,. Tim ~ioto ISuz): 2. John Rincon ISulI: 3. Chris Lowen IVarn). MINI BEG: ,. Ronnie West (SUl); 2. Eric Fraser (Varni; 3. Ross DenoneIYam). MINI NOV: ,. Jimmy Palmer IVam); 2. Mike Th0mpson IKaw); 3. Brien Scali (SUlI. MINI INT: 1. Donnie Sigrist (SOli: 2. Jeff Schaeffer IKawl; 3. Jake Roach ISUl). 125 BEG: 1. KeVin 80lton (Kaw): 2. Greg Piala (Yaml; 3. larry Shaffer IKawi. 125 NOV: 1. Toni Siracusa (SUl); 2. Barty Brooks , 30 IHon): 3. T. SW8ftlIVaml. 125 INT: 1. lloyd Thomas (Vaml: 2. Chip Vogel IVaml; 3. Danny B_hartl(Suz). 125 PRO: 1. CraIg Gormley (Yam): 2. Rodnev Brand (KiM'): 3. TroV Manning (Yaml, 250 BEG: ,. Bren Weaver IVaml: 2. Greg Robefg IHan): 3. Doug Noves IVam). 250 NOV: 1. Butch Baker (Yaml: 2. CalVin Unefback IVam): 3. Ron Hamson IVam). 250 INT: 1. Todd Schaeffer (Kawl: 2. Ron lawson ISull: 3. Scon Quick IVam). 250 PRO: 1. Enc MacCracken (Vaml; 2. Curt McCuisdon (Kawl: 3. Robert Marino (Yaml. OPEN NOV: ,. Bill Henderson IVaml; 2. Ross Thompson IVaml; 3. Doug Clark (Vlml. OPEN INT: ,. Robert Casper IVam): 2. Alan Thompson IVaml: 3. Rollie Smith IHus). OPEN PRO: 1. Eric MacCracken IVam); 2. Robert Marino (Vaml; 3. Steve Walker IVam). SR VETS: ,. Jom O'_IC-A): 2. Jim Connolly IHon): 3. Ron Btelhm IVaml. INT VETS: ,. Rick Sieman IVam): 2. Mike BoaIISul): 3. oemi. Rosenberg (Han). WOMAN INT: ,. Myrham KubaI IVaml: 2. Oonose DeVines (Suz), WOMAN NOV: 1. Randi Ehrenberg ISul); 2. Chns Connolly IHan); 3. Cathl Connolly (Hon). SIDECAR: ,. Ralph Whitney/Scali Whitney IN"'I: 2. Peter WhitnevlTom Whitney (Yaml: 3. Robert Sannerl Gary Ca.. IHonl. Blakeslee shatters Ontario Box Stock record at ARRA RR By K. Franks Photos by Jose Gil ONTARIO, CA, MAR. 30 Champion Kawasaki's Whitney Blakeslee destroyed the Open Box Stock Lap record for Ontario's long course in an American Racing Association race that began as a duel for first place with Cycle World's John Ulrich and ended as a Blalc.eslee walkaway. The fastest anybody had ever gotten an Open Box Stock machine around Ontario in the past was 2: 19, a record Blakeslee set last year on his way to winning the ARRA Open Box Stock Championship on his incredibly-fast Kawasaki KZIOOO Mk II. (Blakeslee also won the Open Production, Open Four-Stroke GP and Overall ARRA Championships last year, riding various Kawasakis.) But at Ontario. Ulrich blasted off the Box Stock start in front and clicked off a 2: 16.7 on the second lap, followed by a 2: 17.6_ By the end of the third lap of dragging knees and pipes and flying sparks. Ulrich's Suzuki GSllOO was sliding noticeably in every turn as the tires heated up. Blackeslee made his move into first place when' Ulrich got sideways in the middle of turn six. Out in front with a clear track, Blakeslee held the pace, cutting severa) 2:16s and 2:17s as Ulrich slowed to consistent 2: 18s in a solid second place. Blakeslee's fastest lap was 2:16_2. but he ended the race turning 2:18s with a secure lead. By that time Ulrich ·had backed off to 2: 19s. Meanwhile. Mark Redmond was using his Kawasalc.i KZ750 to establish a new 750cc Box Stock record as well. Hurtling along in the wake of the Ulrich/Blakeslee battle, Redmond caught the draft to tum at least one lap at 2; 19, a full three seconds faster than the 1979 lap record of 2:22 coheld by Mark Shelton on a KZ650 and Steve Gilbert on a CB750F. Redmond came back to win 750cc Production on his box stocker. Ulrich won Open Production on his boxstock. street-tired GSllOO after Blalc.eslee's lI00cc KZIOOO with slic1c.s blew up while leading. U1rich's win was the first for a GSll00 in California. Jeff Karr of Motorcyclist magazine won 550cc Box Stock on a new Kawa, saki KZ550 after a race-long dice with Jeff Tuttohene's Laverda 500. Although down on power, Tuttobene repeatedly stuffed it inside Karr at various places around the 3.19-mile course, finally getting beaten by his own mistake at the last turn on tbe last lap, where a pass attempt didn't quite make it. Tuttobene was protested for rear-set foot pegs on his Laverda, however, and was disqualified_ David Emde ran away with Open GP cruising at 2:08 lap rimes. unchallenged by anyone on the track. Emde came back witb the modified California Suzuki GS750 to win 750cc four-stroke GP, defeating Redmond's box-stock Kawasaki. Tracy Greiger used his Kawasaki Superbike to win Open Cafe by a few 'yards after a race-long tussle with Steve Sowden, also on a Kawasaki Superbike_ The pair turned lap times ranging from 2:12 to 2:15, and pulled well in front of Steve Gilbert's CB750Fbased Superbike, which was suffering from carburetion problems. Chuck Parme had turned several 2:08 laps in practice but his Kawasaki blew up in an earlier race. Ulric.h borrowed a box-stock Kawasaki KZ750 to win 750cc Cafe, defeating Charlie Hennekam, who was riding the Suzuki Emde used to win 750cc four-stroke GP_ This was Hennekam's first race at Ontario. Altbough he has a full season of Belgian National Championship road racing and an lltb place finish in a 24-hour Coup de Endurance race under his belt, Hennelc.am went through the new rider's program and ran the Beginner's race for practice on the unfamilar course. Hennekam won the Beginner's race rather convincingly. Results OPEN PROD: ,. John Ulrich (SOl); 2. Mike Krolick ISOl): 3. Keith Miller IKaw). 750 PROO: 1. Merk Redmond IKaw): 2. Tom Chestain IHan); 3. John Aguiler IHan). 5!iO PROO: ,. Jeff Kerr IKaw): 2. Rob Selvy (Yam); 3. Wol Puckett lVam). 410 PROO: ,. Rob Selvy (Ylml; 2. 0lNe Behrendt (Vam): 3. Oaniet Sotelo (Yam). 250 PROO:'. Tom Sharp IC-A); 2. Dan Diaz (Vam); 3. Eri<: Hodges (Ylm). 200 PROO: 1. Tetry Nelson (Vam); 2. Jim Colins IVam); 3. Mike Hedrick (C·Al. , 25 PROO: ,. Robert Gregor (Bull: 2. Greg Bush ISOl). 50 GP: 1. Franco Garl_lie IMoi): 2. Sergio Piva I~ J); 3. Oonnis Steene II-J). 100 GP: , . Ousty Bermon (Han): 2_ Earl Smith (Han). 125 GP: 1. Robert oeWin (Hanl: 2. Christine Baur IVam); 3. Steve Reynosa IHanI. 200 GP: 1. David James IC-A); 2. Tom Shanahan IVaml; 3. Jim Collins (VIm). 250 GP: ,. CUrl Meddox (Vaml: 2. Roger Glickman IVam); 3. John Siobom IVlml. 500 GP: ,. CUrl Maddox IVaml: 2. Ken Vreeke IVam): 3. Craig Tarwater IVaml. OPEN GP: 1. David Emde IVaml; 2. Steve Gilbert IHon): 3. Terry Nelson IKaw). SIDECAR: ,. Garnan/James IKawl: 2. Spears/Daniel IM-GI. QPEN CAFE: ,. Tracy Grieger (Kaw): 2. Steve Sowden IKaw): 3. Steve Gilbert IHoni. 750 CAFE: ,. John Ulrich IKawl: 2. Charlie Hennekam (Suzl: 3. Lvn McClure tHonl. 5!iO CAFE: ,. Ken Vreeke (Vaml: 2. Dan Cashew (Yam): 3. Steve Gerki (Yaml. OPEN 4-STROKE GP: ,. Steve Sowden IKawl; 2. Whitney Blakeslee IKaw); 3. Tom Ballantyne ISUl). 750 4-STROKE GP: 1. Davod Emde ISOlI; 2. Mark Redmond (Kaw): 3. Petry Stein IKaw). 5!iO 4-STROKE GP: ,. Mika M",so (Vam); 2. Andy Cadotte (502); 3. Jim Labine (Hon!. OPEN BOX STOCK: ,. Whitney Blakeslee IKawl: 2. John Ulrich (502); 3. Mike Krolick (Sull. 750 BOX STOCK: ,. Mark Redmond IKawl: 2. Tom Chastain IHon): 3. John Richards ISull. 5!iO BOX STOCK: ,. Jeff Karr (Kaw); 2. Robert Radel IKawl: 3. Martin Anderson (Suzl. 410 BOX STOCK: 1. Conrad Brooks IVam); 2. Dave Behrendt IVam): 3. Georga Marston (Yam). POSTWAR VINTAGE GP: 1. Buddy Parrion INOf). PREWAR VINTAGE: ,. Eddie Arnold (Vel): 2. Richard Ong (Vel). POSTWAR CLUB MAN: ,. Dave Bteetwor IBSA): 2. Henry Costales IBSAI: 3. Jack Butson IBSAl. BEGINNERS: 1. Charlie Hennekam ISUlI: 2. Eric Van Nona; 3. Lyn McClure IHon). Fleming, Spencer star at AFM Willow Springs RR By Patrick Behar ROSAMOND, CA. MAR_ 23 The first point' race of the 1980 American Federation of Motorcyclists season got underway at Willow Springs Raceway with 316 entries and some 1500 spectators. It was also the first of the three races sponsored by Bates Leathers of Long Beach. CA.

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