Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126466
o 00 en 1""""4 Ted leimbach wes held to.. bronze medelshowing. 18 (Continued from page 16) the wOods at dawn rerouting areas where problems were likely to occur. The special test had also been altered to eliminate the flooded areas. By the time the second special test was run, all low ground had been eliminated, making it an approximately two mile run through a watermelon field and pine trees bordering the field/pasture. "It will be a test of survival," noted Dane Leimbach. Staning from the 46th row astride a Kawasaki l25cc, Leimbsch knew what he was talking about. He crashed, injuring his left arm, and withdrew. The same maladies plagued everyone: Stretched or thrown chains, front and rear brakes that didn't work, carbs that sucked in grit, grit in throttle cables and slides and rear sprocket teeth that wore away to nubs. No rider was immune although a few, like Lojak, Gallo and Stacy said their day was basically trouble free. By the third of three gas stops it was evident that there would be few finishers at the end of the day. Riders helped each other get unstuck. Coming into gas three Larry Roeseler got in a deep mudhole. Gallo, right behind, saw his problem and back· tracked to help him out so Rosseler would stay on time. Greg Davis, 125cc class winner in Tennessee, and Dan Dillon did the same. "We helped each other up hills trying to make it back to impound before houring out," said Davis. "We almost made it. " The atmosphere at the final check before impound was charged as everyone checked watches and official time against when their rider was due. It was bitter disappointment for Roesder as he got to the check no more than 10 seconds out of his grace period - add 60 points. Being a checker turned out to be a dangerous job as most, if not all, incoming riders had little or no brakes left. Vic Ely scattered people everywhere with his lay-it·down-and.siide· into-impound charge. "The trail was ridable if you picked the right lines," said a smiling Frank Stacy. "I had a ~ ti~e." Gallo ~as grinning and bnmmmg over WIth confidence about his first ride for Husky. "No problems," said Frank. Lojak agreed it was a good day. The run for overall was between Lojak and Gallo with Lojak holding an 11 second advantage. Rick Munyon was third 17 seconds farther back. Ron Riblozi held a 59 second lead over Rod Bush for the 175cc lead. OeyTwo An entire new loop (run twice) had been arrowed with the special test still limited to high ground and a final test area staked out in a new field. Key time came and so did rain. "Somebody up there evidently doesn't like us," mumbled one rider, half soaked before even staning. Gallo had a time consuming spill on the special test which cost him 10 seconds. Lojak held steady and went into the final test with 21 seconds in hand. Gallo wailed around the one mile final test. It was run MX style with eight (or less) riders in five heats. Gallo, . pitted against Van Watermeulen, led the Maico rider to the fmish as the pair turned the fastest times of the day with Gallo at 50S seconds. Lojak won his heat turning in a 515 time which was good enough for a nine second advantage over Gallo in total time and his first overall win in TwoDay competition. Lojak garnered a silver medal in the 1979 ISDT while riding with a broken collarbone. "I had no problems," said Lojak who rides out of Lojak Cycle in Tarrentum, PA. "My forearms tightened up a bit at the end, but that was all." "I'm happy," said Gallo. "It was a close event and that's what it's about. "Sure, the conditions were bad. If you want to ride the ISDT then this was a good test to see if you've got what it takes. Luckily, it was rather warm because if it had been colder and the wind was blowing we would have all frozen." "Mike (Rosso) got me in Tennessee. I paid him back here," said 175cc winner Ron Ribolzi. "It's going to be an interesting series." "We learned a lot," said Tommy Seales of Perry Mountain M.C. "Wait until next year." Resuhs . BEST UASCORE: 1. Ed Lojok IHue) 1505. 17!icc Uk 1. Ron Ribolzi IVam) 1642; 2. Rod Buah IKTMI 1691 ; 3. Mlka Roao ISuzi 1778. BRONZE: 1. BMI Betroth (KTM); 2. Man Collins IYam); 3. Mark Hyde IKaw); 4. Jem.. S....".IYeml. 250cc UA: 1. Ed Lojek (Hue) 1505; 2. Frenk Steey IKTM) 15116; 3. Rid< Munyon IYeml 1576; 4. Mike Melton IHue) 1595. SILVER: 1. John Foro IYoml; 2. Jeff Fredette ISuzl; 3. Kevin Pieeecki IKTMI; 4. Berry Avery ICoA); 5. Alen Zite IHuol; 6. Ron L e _ IKTM); 7. Tom BuekIelIKTM); B.llerryt K _ (KTMI. BRONZE: 1. Draw Smith ISuzI; 2. Teddy Leimbech IKTMI; Rich Jung IKTMI; Jock (Kawl; 3. HenI _ KimuralYernl. OPEN Uk 1. Fronk Gallo (Huol1514; 2. Steve Ven Wet"""""lein (Moi) 1572. SILVER: 1. Fronk Pieeecki IKTMI; 2. Joe Lojok IHue); 3. Jerry _ (Kaw); 4. Lorry _IVernl. BRONZE: 1. J.C. ~ IHuel; 2. Kevin Levoie IKawl; 3. Gory ChIIpIin IHuel; 4. Cart AA8 IKTM). (Above) Lerry RoeHl., had his trouble•• cerdlng e silver medel. (Below) Mike Rosso _mecle gold. finishing third In the175cc IIA cIess.