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- -AMA National Championship Enduro Series: Round six Kuenzer wins o Jack Pine 00 (j') .-4 By Bill Moss MOORESTOWN .-MI , AUG. 17 The 54th Annual Jack Pine National Championship Enduro belongs to Darryl Kuenzer. The KTM America sponsored IAbove) KTM's Darryl Kuenzer was prepped to win the Jack Pine. • (Below) Larry Roeseler took the 200cc A win. 22 enduro/ISDT rider topped a field that included the ·best riders and factory teams in the entire country, It was Keunzer's day and he seemed to have everything going for him. He drew the last number to leave the start line the later the number the better for J~ck Pine - and, being a Michigan rider, he was more or less in his home territory. . Kuenzer was pumped higher than a kite. He has worked all summer toward the goal of winning Jack Pine. In the process he won five Michigan Enduro Series runs prior to Jack Pine. Cooled down after his ride, but flushed with the knowledge of victory, Kuenzer said, " I did it. I've always wanted to win this. I wish it was still a two-day event, though. It seemed like it could have been rougher. There were quite a few sections where they didn't check us." Husqvarna's Dick Burleson was second to Kuenzer, winning the AA class. Burleson was well aware that Kuenzer was the competition to beat, havin~ lost to Dar~1 by very close margtns the two preVIous weekends in local Michigan endures. After the ac;rion was finished Burleson agreed with Kuenzer on the difficulty of the course. He said, "It wasn't nearly as tough as I expected. " Third overall and first in the AA class ~hampionship Can-Am was John Mamn. Fourth overall and listed as High Point A was Terry Cunningham on a Husqvama. . The top five was completed by John Fero on a Yamaha. Grant Martin took his High Point B win pretty much in stride. Asked if he had had any speciaJ plan, the Lansing Cycle sponsored Husky rider said, "No, not really - just to go out and ride," Grant wasn 't at all excited about having become an A rider asa result of his B class win. "I really didn't want to (be an A rider) , but I guess I'm stuck there. " The Lansing M.C. departed from tradition in this year's Jack Pine by having only a one day event, It has always been a 300 to 500 mile enduro over a two day period. 1·1t was explained that the one day sanction had been requested to go along with the AMA's preference for one day Nationals. This year's 178 mile course was the usual mix of single track trails, fast , sandy two trackers, some road to hook sections together, and a little virgin territory here and there to keep the knuckles in and the interest up. On the way to the noon rest at Frederick, the . 300 starters visited such familiar spots as Old Baldy and the Fletcher Road sand pit and experienced the spectacular rider straight down the face of the old sand quarry just east of the Down River grocery. The trip to the finish was not as descriptive, but there were plenty of fast woods trails and two trackers as the riders headed for gas at the CCC bridge, across Fletcher Road and on toward the final check. ' A weather system which threatened rain most of the day served to keep the sky overcast and the temperature cool. Except for some minor dust, the riding conditions were nearly ideal. As a rwo day event, there were only two women to ever finish Jack Pine·· Dot Robinson and Sue Richardson. This year Richardson, Erika Raidel, Cathy Minor, and Gail VandeWater made up the ladies' entry list and they . all finished. Sue Richardson won the class. She said, "I had a real nice ride and my husband took care of me when Ibusted my front wheel." Sue rode 7ll . miles with a broken front hub and 9 spokes missing after bashing a tree. Four writer/riders from southern California based magazines where the trees are few and very far between were present to do some bike testing and enjoy an eastern enduro. Steve Kimball and Ron Griewe represented Cycle World, with Paul Clipper from Dirt Bike and Paul Dean of Cycle Guide. Clipper commented after the run . "I've never seen so many trees in ~y life. They don't slap at you, they Jump right out at you . It (the riding) was really great. " Noteable among the missing at the finish were two-time winner Bob Popiel and ISDT rider Ted Leimbach. Popiel's Husky suffered electronic failure before the first hour was over. Leimbach 's Kawasaki threw its chain. He dropped the bike down alongside the trail to spin it back on-vrighr on t?P of a bee nest. He was stung several times on the hands and face, but aside from some swelling suffered no ill effects, With the second half of the National Championship Enduro Series schedule getting underway, Dick Burleson is apparently headed for title number seven. Dick wasn't sure of the point standings, but is confident of his ability to repeat. Regarding his chances for not winning .. another championship he made a statement to the effect that he would have to lose a bunch and someone would have to win a bunch. • Results Overall: DarrylKuenzer IKTMI9. High f'o;n1 AA : DK:k BurlISOn IHus!12. High Point A: TorryCunningham CHuslt5. High f'o;n1 B: Grant Martin IHual23. AA: 1. John Martin IC-AI 14: 2. John N!ro(YarnlI6 . 125cc A: 1. Rod Buah CKTMI24: 2. Brian Mull(Yaml 32. 200cc A: 1. Larry 11-.0101 (YomI18: 2. Jacl< Penton IKaw) 23; 3. Jell Hun, (Yom) 24; 4. Jim MitehelllKiwl 29: 5. Mike RoeooCSuzl31 . 250cc A: 1. Rid< ScIlerp/lofn IHual 19; 2. JotI Frodette CSuz) 19; 3. 011\IO Upovoky CKTM) 20; 4. Stove SmoigoIlHua) Z2; 5. Pete Welch (Yern) 29. ()pon A: 1. Ray Coogrove (Suzl19; 2. Kevin laVoie lKawI 21; 3. Scott Ely CSuzl 23; 4. Randy Moron ISuzI ; • 24; 5. Fritz KodIoc IC-A) ZS. 4-5"ok. A: 1. Clwtio Burl< IKawI52. 51 A: 1. Cor! Schorp"o," IHual 38; 2. Ted Prolfor lKaw)41: 3. Jorry S _ d lSWM)42. Super 51: 1. Dick L _ ISuzI 84; 2. John Bullalo (Yam) 85. Ladies: 1. Sue Richardson (Yam) 73. Teem A: 1. Over the Hill Gang: Bob Burns (Yomll Fred Thompaon CKiwl1 Jim MitehelltKawI. 125cc B: 1. Alan Randt CHull 37; 2. Jim Maurer IHusl 60. 200cc B: 1. Richard Buottnor lYam} 43' 2. CIoi< Porlin lSuz149; 3. Mike Gutshall (Kaw} 52; 4. Bill Toth IYaml 61; 5. Tom SwoIIow(YamI61. • • Z50cc B: 1. 80b Rugg IHusl 24; 2. Galen Voss tHusl 29: 3. John Hollman IYom) 37; 4. John Hollman IKTMI 38: 5. Brad Myer. IHu.I39. Open B: 1. Howard Johnson CHusl 30; 2. Dick Ward IHus) 32; 3. Bill Ruocke.. IYaml 39; 4 . Keith LO\/O tHus) 40: 5. Brad Barns (Yaml44. 4-;Stroke 8 : 1. Ounni. Chester IHon) 46 ; 2. Maynard TraVIS lHan) 79. Sr B: 1. Terry Miner IYam) 66; 2. Louie WOfmer (Yaml68; 3. John Shofar IHuI I n . Team B: I.JIrry t . Enduro Spec'alities: Tom Swallow IYam)1 Barlage tYamli JIm Richcreek IKaw).