Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Desert Ho!.-· Balentine cops win at Badgers HS By Joyce May RED MOUNTAIN, CA, MAR. 30 The first loop battle between Bob Balentine, Ed Pierce, Jr., and Bruce Ogilvie ended on the second loop as Balentine stretdied .... M ~ <: "CouIln" Ch.... Howard took the 250cc honors lit the MRAN hare scrambles. Harden howls to MRANhare scrambles honors By Dr. Gonzo ELDORADO DRY LAKE. NV, MAR. 23 In his last tune-up before the Las Vegas "400," Team Husky/ Sportsman Cycle star Scot Harden screamed his Randy Chambers- 22 prepped Husqvarna 390 CR to victory in the Southern Nevada Jackrabbits, Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada, 100-mile hare scrambles at Eldorado Dry Lake. It was a fitting victory for Harden, the only person to post overall wins in the past six MRAN desert events. Maico West/Vegas Cycle·sponsored Kevin Davis timed the drop·of·thebanner best and put his Maico 440cc Megaform 1 ahead of the pack at the bomb. Team Valley Cycle's on.again/ off· again Leroy Kyger tucked his 425cc killed, Yamaha YZ F behind Davis and was looking like the Leroy of old. Harden came by in sixth, no doubt checking things out and looking for a spot to make his move. Team Valley Cycle's "Cousin" Cllris Howard rocketed his Yamaha YZ 250G into the quarter litre Expert lead leaving, Nevada Yamaha's Troy Fitch, Valley Cycle teammate Kevin Gashler and Team Husky/Sportsman Cycle rider Chuck Rush to battle for runner· up positions. "Beserko" Benny Brown moved by Over 30 class leader Casey Folks and into the top ten with the 125cc Expert lead on his Nevada Yamaha ITframed, YZ 125G·powered machine, only to have the seat part company with the bike which allowed Darryl Folks on the Sportsman Cycle Suzuki RM 125T and Yamaha-mounted Randy Honeycull to assume the top tiddler bike positions. Various problems ultimately retired Brown for the day. Harden went by Kyger for second overall and pressured Davis unmercifully. Davis inevitably bobbled and Harden stormed by for the overall lead which he never relinquished. Kevin stayed in Scot's dust for two laps but couldn't close the gap. Chris Howard also went by Kyger to command third overall, first 250cc and was never challenged. Chuck Rush moved by Gashler, Fitch and a deteriorating Kyger who were slowed by a bottleneck and was estatic that he wasn't snagged as was the case a month ago at the Gamblers race which ruined his chances for a top placing there. Davis was giving it all he had to catch Scot on the third lap and paid the price when he wedged his foot bet· ween a rock and his foot peg. The resultant broken toe detuned him for the day and Kevin finished the race a lap down. Hard·charging Anthony Pasqualotto surfaced his Vegas Cycle Maico 400cc Magnum is second overall and held it to the finish, but failed to dent Harden's lead. Chris Howard took the checkered third overall, first 250cc Expert and made it four wins in six tries in MRAN 250cc competition this season. Chuck Rush finished fourth overall, second 250cc Expert followed by Mel Chapman continuing his return·toform with a fifth overall, third Open Expert ride on his Team Valley Cycle Yamaha YZ465 G. Troy Fitch bested Kevin Gashler for third 250cc Expert honors while finishing sixth overall one spot ahead of Gashler. Sportsman Cycle owner and Las Vegas 400 organizer Casey Folks brought his Husqvarna 390 CR in 10th overall, first Over 30 class after roosting away from second place Over 30 finisher George Antill. Darryl Folks held it on and together to finish first 125cc Expert, 11th overall. Results OPEN EX: 1. Scot _ lHus); 2. Tooy ~ lMoIil; 3. Mel Chopmon IYam). 125 EX: 1. Chris _ d lVaml; 2. Chuck Ruoh IHus!; 3. Troy Fitch IYaml. 125 EX: 1. 00rryI Folks (SuzI; 2. Johnny IC-AI; 3. Randy Honeycutt lVam). OVER 30 EX: 1. e-v Folks, Jr. 1Hus); 2. George AntilllVaml. OVER 38 EX: 1. John VonHoowIMaiI. OPEN AM: 1. George Bml_ IYaml; 2. Angelo Ionnua:i lMaiI; 3. K_ Colon lHus). 250 AM: 1. Donny _ IHuoI; 2. Jim WIOChmeyer ISuzI; 3. Rob W...... IYoml. 125 AM: 1. Bil Hill. Jr.lSuzl; 2. FIovd Bi.clley 1Hus); 3. Scon _ lSuz). OVER 30 AM: 1. Gory Lindloff tHuoI. OVER 38 AM: 1. SteW Fuler (KTMI; 2. Glen Hensley IHus!; 3. SteW HlImpIon lHus). OPEN NOV: 1. John Roo IYaml; 2. Jim Fik.. IHuo!; 3. St.-> fofde IHuoI. 250 NOV: 1. C _ Phillips lHus); 2. Paul "-qualono IKTM); 3. DlMd S_lVaml. 125 NOV: 1. sam' Bennett ISuzI; 2. Todd JohnlOO IYaml; 3. Eddie Bozarth IHuoI. OVER 30 NOV: 1. Ed SM>n lKaw); 2. Bill Shipmen IC· _man A); 3. Tom Toytor (Hus). OVER 38 NOV: 1. Clerke OovilOO IHuo!; 2. Ken S_IYaml. 105 EX: 1. Jahner Killill (Yam); 2. Seen S_IHoo). 105 AM: 1. Kovin Kelly ISuzI; 2. Roo Purvinos ISuzl. 105 EX: 1. Bied Andonon (Ylm); 2. Stove Fik.. IYlml. 83cc AM: 1. Chris NortIlrup (Suzl; 2. Robby PurYin.. ISuzI. 83cc NOV: 1. Vincent NebbiI ISuzl; 2. Ted _eng ISuzI. POWOER PUFF: 1. Undo Lan,er IYoml; 2. C. Moyer IY"",I. MIN~MINI JR BAMBINO: 1. Oustin WhitelYlml. out well ahead of the other two and took the overall win. As usual for this time of year the BLM gave out permits to both the sheepherders and the Badgers M.C. for the simultaneous use of the same area of desert. Saturday the sponsoring club had a talk with the sheepherders about keeping their animals off the course, and then awakened Sunday morning to find three double trailer loads of sheep peacefully grazing on the start areal The sheperds were contacted, the semi rigs were recalled, and the sheep were moved to the other side of Hwy. 395, but not before Dick Postma, and some of the other club members had rounded up the herd, using their motorized steeds, of course, and moved them onto the other. side of the pipe line road. There were over 350 entries, with numerous riders coming from Arizona and Las Vegas. On the start line also sat a young man by the name of Haruo Kimura from Iwata City, Kanagawa, Japan. He is a Yamaha factory Trials rider. He had ridden one previous desert race last year. The banner dropped and the speeding Amateurs and Experts headed· for the knoll where the standard with fluttering streamers set. This "bomb" directed the riders into the washes and ridges at the bottom of the mountains where the trail finally led down a super fast jeep road. Because of several factors, dust being the primary element, one of the largest pile-ups in a long time occured, scattering bikes and bodies everywhere. No sooner had a rider gotten up than he was hit and knocked down again. Don Ogilvie hit Ron Hall and then flew over him, landing about 20 feet beyond as other riders were also getting airborne left and right. Who was the first to go down, no one seemed to know. There were over 15 riders and machines involved in the mess. Meanwhile Ogilvie had a good lead, but it definitely was not his day. He'd brake too soon on comers, take the roughest line, etc. Pierce caught him about 12 miles out and passed him, doing "hand stands" and other "exciting" things. By the time Ogilvie had reached the first railroad crossing Balentine had pulled into the lead. The trio were within twenty yards of each other. The Novice and'Beginner start had been delayed because of injuries on the bomb run and the pile·up on the road. The jeep road was the scene of a duplicate pile·up with this group. This time, however, it was not as severe, nor were there as many riden involved. Balentine had the lead into the pits for gas with Ogilvie and Pierce not Ear behind. Ken Upp was in the fourth spot followed by Terry Clark (still riding behind a pie plate). First Amateur was the very consistent speedster, Dan Smith, in the fifth spot followed by Darren Prichett, Bill Saltzman, Mark Zoller, and Dan Ashcraft. In the lith slot was Mike Sixbery followed by Cliff Thomas and Rich Varner who were having a battle royall In the next slot was Amateur Mike Smith, Rich Zajic, Doug Beisner, Chris Austin, Amateur Chris Crandall, Amateur Brett Howell, and, closing out the top 20, Gary Charters, Sr. Off the fi rst loop and past the checkered came the Beginners, led by 250cc rider John Decoure on a Yamaha, followed by C biker Dirk Davidow, also Yamaha-mounted, and Andy Courtney, making it a trio, on a 250cc Yamaha. In the fourth and fifth slots were two more C riders, Darrell Palmer, Jr. and Laird Schweikart. Pie plate heavy· weight Ken Carlise was next followed by two more C'ers, Mike Mahurin and pie plater Dennis Popp. Pie plate 250cc Mark Zela and Senior Open Emmons Brown finished out the top 10 Beginners. Jow Jaszarowski, in the lith slot, earned first district Open Beginner honors. Robert Smith of the Desert Rats was the first Novice Trail with Dave Morrison of the Prospectors taking second Novice Trail. J. Pinkerton (250cc) was the first Beginner Veteran to take the checkered with Beginner Vet Open rider Fred Jackson right behind him. Patrice Payne was the first Beginner gal, while David Van Beveren earned flTSt Trailbike honors, followed several bikes back by Andy Cossio. Once onto the second loop Balentine began streching his lead and left the "battling" to Ogilvie and Clark. These two riders battled back and forth for almost the entire second loop until Ogilvie finally held the lead he got over Clark in the last five miles before the checkered. Clark finished in the third spot with Pierce taking fourth, first 25Occ. Upp (250cc) finished fifth on a flat, followed by first Vet Saltzman, Prichett (250cc), Amateur Open D. Smith, Zoller (250cc) and Ed Zarp (Open) who had moved into the top 10 on the second loop. Mike Smith (250cc Yam) earned the first Amateur honors in his class while Amateur rider Varner (125cc Yam) was also the first overall Crider. George Jaggard was the first Open Amateur Vet. Novice 250cc speedster Geoffrey Niles had a very healthy lead over second Novice Paul Palmer. Palmer had to hold off Steve Anderson (Open) and Jim Rapp (250cc). Jim McGrath took the fint C Novice honors followed by Kurt Hylton (250cc). Veteran Sterling Varner (Open) held a slim lead over Vet 250cc rider, Joe Penoncello. First Trailbike was piloted by Pete Andelman who had an impressive lead over the next Trail, Amateur Duane Summen. Senior Novice leaders were Gene Burgdorf (Open), John Van (250cc), and S.N. Purser (C). It was Trudy Beck leading the gals and finishing 50th overall. Next gal to take the checkered was Lori Farmer. First Amateur gal was Lorni Vincent with Jolene Payne (Amateur) three bikes back. Novice gal honors went to Jeanette Lang. The Badgers want everyone to know that without the support of the Pepsi Corporation there would not be the distinctive belt buckles and trophies. They have also picked up a new sponsor, Good Sprot Shampoo, which provided shampoo samples for every· one. •

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