Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

. . . . . . .co-coJ.w 708Ia dII ;. ·.···.-o·· 'I' IIIc••C w 708Ia••1 Ceamal PipeliDe Phillipsburg track proves excellent By o Mitc~.Rorabaugh PHILLIPSBURG, KS, AUG. 17 00 "Like riding on a rail," 'Just lean it and gas it," "I've never seen it so good," were just a few of the enthusiastic comments heard fol- 0') ..... .. • .., 50 lowing practice at the Phillipsburg motocross. And no wonder ... several inches of rain on the freshly disced track helped make many forget the previous ' two months of unusually dry, dusty weather. . Everyone seemed to be trying extra hard to go fast as it seemed essential not to waste such traction. Steve Ellis was one of these and did it in a very convincing manner by winning both the 250 and Open Senior classes on his Suzukis. Kevin Wagoner took the lead of the first 250cc Senior moto for half a lap before Ellis came blowing by after his runner-up stan. Phillipsburg's own Dan Hoover maintained a secure third place throughout the moto until two laps from the end when a quick soilsampling allowed Tom Kuhl by. Kuhl had himself fallen earlier in the moto and had moved back up rapidly. Kuhl wheelied his Yamaha into the lead of the second moto ahead of Hoover, Wagoner and Ellis. Hoover missed a gear coming out of the third tum and was relegated to founh as Ellis slipped past Wagoner for second. Ellis stuck to Kuhl for two laps before making his move near the double jump to take the lead that he extended to the end. Kuhl held on to his second place while a ways back a real battle was building between Wagoner and Hoover. On the last lap, Hoover was still hunting for a chance to pass Wagoner and as they emerged from the back section, Wagoner was a very dis· tant founh after experiencing a prob· able crash. Wagoner still claimed third overall behind Ellis and Kuhl. It was Dan Hoover who led the start of the Open Seniors over Ellis, Dave Emerick and Randy Johnson. Near the end of the second lap, Ellis put a hair move on Hoover for the lead by squeezing by on' the inside of a very tight switchback. The order remained the same to the checkered flag with Ellis far ahead of Hoover, who placed himself second over a distant Emerick. Ellis managed his first holeshot of the day in the last Open moto and parlayed it into another win for the overall. After some arguing on the second lap when Hoover took over second from Emerick, Emerick came back to roll his Yamaha in for second place and second overall. Craig Robl of Ellinwood, KS, overcame a fourth-place start in the 125cc Seniors to steadily move up to the lead and win in the first moto. J.D. Sanderson, who hasn't ridden a 125 for quite some time, was forced to borrow a Suzuki for this class after lunching a transmission in his 250 during practice. He went out and stole the holeshot, holding the lead until two laps from the end when Robl edged by. Erin Batman held the runner-up position for most of the moto before Robl got by, and then Jeff Bargell on the last lap. Bargell also managed to get by Sanderson just several turns from the flag, after th~ three of them had freight-trained for tfle last few laps. Sanderson got another holeshot for the second moto, but this time hung on. for the. win despite the coDatant pressures of Robl and Bargell: 'Robl had displaced Bargell for the second place slot on the second lap and the three ran the whole moto very tight, but unable to pass. Robl took the overall win over Sanderson and Bargell. Results MINI JR: 1. Brad Richards ISuzl; 2. Vince Clerk fYeml; 3. J_ad OeBoer ISuzl. MINI SR: 1. Scott Ellis ISuzl; 2. Kevin Wolf (Y_I; 3. Bert W _ lVeml. 100: 1. Corey Cope lVeml; 2. Dwein Worley lV_I. POWDER PUFF: 1. Anelt8 Goeken (Yaml; 2. Deb ;on.fSuzl. 125 JR: 1. Bert W.._IYeml; 2. _ Vogt lSuz); 3. Kurt ROI8ISuzI. 125 SR: 1. Craig Robl IY_I; 2. J.D. _ tSuzl; 3. Jell B_geIiISuzI. 250 JR: 1. Cun Eveleigh lVaml; 2. Tim Rei! lVaml; 3. Brei W88_IKew). 250 SR: 1. Steve EllislSuzl; 2. Tom Kuhl lVaml; 3. Kevin Wagoner fYeml. OPEN JR: 1. ;'ry CI8eon lVaml; 2. Tom Bahl lVaml; 3. Peul Schertz fYeml. OPEN SR: 1. Steve Ellis tSuz); 2. 0ev8 Emerid< tYeml; 3. Den Hoover lVem). Over 80 race Ross Downs' ST and MX By Michael S. Lussem COLLEYVILLE, TX, AUG. 16 Ross Downs saw the entry of over 80 racers in motocross and short track making it truly the place of north Texas this Saturday night. The 80cc motocross main event featured 16 Junior and Senior riders lining up for five trophies. Last week's double short track winner showed he could still do it on the stadium track. Young Ross Duncan went from green flag to checkered flag with little or no competition. While Duncan's Yamaha YZ was outpowering the field, there was a heavy contest going on in the pack between Shawn Brassfield (Suz) and Mike Davis (Yam) with Davis eventually taking the second position. The most exciting motocross race of the evening found the 250/0pen Amateurs do battle as 14 riders made it to the starting line. When the dust had settled, only figuratively, at the first tum, Bobby Tate on a Kawasaki was the leader. Tate's big KX was hot· ly pursued by Danny Ball (Kaw) and Mike Watkins (Yam) for the entire distance with the contest for second being the most exciting as Watkins and Ball changed places more than five times. At the checkers it was Mike Watkins by less than a wheel over BaD as Bobby Tate never looked back and took the win. Though the I25/0pen Expen class was fairly small, considering the 150% payback, it was a dynamite race with David Jones (Suz), David Myers (Hon), and David Mootz (Hon) finishing one, two, three. The final outcome was not decided until lap seven of the eight lapper asJones turned on the power to the standing ovation of the Ross Downs crowd. The Mini bike and smaller classes of shon trackers were poorly represented with the highlight of the events being in the 801l00cc combined. Tubby Dotson, out of Dallas Yamaha, had the field for six and a half laps when disaster struck! Coming down the front straight, Dotson's exhaust pipe came unglued and risking a seized motor, he continued. Dotson was quickly passed by Jimmy Thompson on a Caner's Yamaha and 80cc rider Duane DuVall (Yam). Young Dotson has been trying all year for a-convincing win in the 100cc class, but it will have to be another time_ The 250cc Trophy class saw a real upset as DuVall, on a 125cc Yamaha, stuck it to the field. Thirteen-year-old DuVall showed racers more than three times his age that he is a power to be reckoned with. In what DuVall con-sidered a tune-up to the Nationals in Topeka, KS, next week, he led the class from start to finish with only an occasional assault by 250cc-mounted Craig Louis (Yam) and Pat Kennedy (Bul). Again the contest was for second place as Louis and Kennedy swapped places severa1 times in the eight Iapper. Louis was eVentually second-place trophy winner as Kenndy's Bultaco kept the rest of the field at bay. The final event of the evenings, 250cc Expert saw 11 Pros competing for four payback positions. Two National number holders, Braddy and Steve Gulledgf, we~e in the contest but only Braddy filaced as the Ross Downs regulars took the other three positions. Ector, TX, native Bill White on a Jack White-prepared Yamaha showed why he switched from Can-Am halfway through the season. White powered his machine through 10 tough laps to hold off Braddy and take. the win. Steve Pendergraft of Ft. Worth, aboard a Big "D" Yamaha, just couldn't catch the leaders, but did stave off competition from Bultaco-mounted Rusty Patillo for third place money. Patillo, though, did well for the evening as he won the Trophy Dash from Braddy and Pendergraft. Results MOTOCROSS 80 JRlSR: 1. ROIl Duncen (Y~I; 2. Mike Oevis (Yeml; 3. Shewn Ilt_oeld (Suzl. . 125 AM: 1. Ed Cook tSuzl; 2. Zoke Brock (Yeml; 3. Gary Keel tYaml. 25OIOPEN TROPHY: 1. Bobby Tete IKIw); 2. Mike WlIlkins IYaml; 3. Denny Bell tKIWI. 125/OPEN EX: 1. Devid Jones tSuzI; 2. Devid Myers IHenI; 3. Devid Mootz tHonl. "DASH FOR CASH:" 1. Devid JDMI fSuzl; 2. Devid Myers fHenI; 3. LMry Eber~dt lSuzI. SHORT TRACK MICRO MINI: 1. Greg Teague ISuz); 2. Tim Key (Suzl; 3. Kris WooeISuzI. 60: 1. M _ Hale fYeml; 2. Chrilse 00ugIes lVem); 3. Tr8C8 Polson (Yeml. 80: 1. Duene DuVII' tYaml; 2. Greg DuVIII fYaml. 100: 1. Jimmy Thompson fYaml; 2. Tubby Do!lDn fYaml. 250 TROPHY: 1. Duane DuVall tYaml; 2. Craig louis !Yaml; 3. Pet Kennedy (Bull. OPEN: 1. Bret Braddy (Yaml; 2. T.J. Houghton fYeml; 3. Sieve Pendergr8ft ITril. 250 EX: 1. Bill While (Yaml; 2. Brei Braddy lVeml; ~. Steve Pendergr8ft lVaml. TROPHY DASH: 1. Rusty Petillo 18ull; 2. Brei Braddy IYaml; 3. SIeve Pendergr8ft lVaml. Duncan scores double ST win at Ross Downs By Michael s. Lussem COLLEYVILLE, TX, AUG. 9 Under the threat of Hurricane Allen, Ross Downs welcomed several Houston area MXers and short trackers to its weekly double header. It was "crash-and-bash" night for the motocrouers as the Rc. Downs stadium tracIr. was run counter-clockwise. Hot contests were seen in all classes with D.L. Wood (Youth/Adult 8Occ), Ed Cook (125cc Trophy) and Dan Ball (250-0pen Trophy/Professional) showing the largest field of MXers this season how to do it on the very tight infield track. In the 125cc event, Ed Cook (Suz) showed winning form in both his heat and main as he took it to the limit over the jump', bump' and berms of the tonuous Rc. Downs track. Cook bested the field of 15 riders and when the dust settled, the winner's circle saw Bobby Hawk (Suz), Mike Frank (Hon) and Zelte Brock (Yam) getting trop~ies for second through fourth respectively. The last dUll of motOCJ'OlS for the evening, 250-0pen, was combined as only one profeuional machine was fielded and the Amateurs ruled the day. Dan Ball on his big green Kawasaki held off John Ruble on a convened Honda 250 trials bike to take the win. Also during intermission, the traditional Ross Downs "Trophy Dash" for shon-trackers was held, pitting the six fastest 250cc Experts against each other in a quick fourlapper. National number holder Steve Gulledge out of Ray-Sue Racing and Dallas Yamaha showed a prelude to the Expert main as he took the field and the purse from Royal Sherbet, ROIl Downs promoter. The Micro Mini Automatic class saw the continuing battle between 5year-old Gr~ Teague and Tim Kay end up this week with Teague on top. The 60cc shon tracIr. class saw Michael Hale do what he has done aD year by taking his little Yamaha around all class competitors in a race that was made interesting only by the outstanding style of the youngster. The lOOcc event proved to those few doubters why Ross Duncan is an AMA national champion. Duncan, on his Caner's Yamaha, stuck it to his weekly rivals of Duane Duvall and Jimmy Tarleton in an easy win as Jimmy Thompson retired with motor trouble. The 14-year-old Duncan then changed machinery and went to do battle with a large field of 250cc Sportsmen. Riding a 175cc Caner's Yamaha, Duncan scored a hard fought win over Dallas-Fon Worth Honda-sponsored Grq Harrison whose XR250 didn't have the power of Duncan's 175. This was not the first time Ross Duncan has scored a double as many Ross Downs regu1an remember several weeks ago when the young man did a triple with wins in his two regular short track classes and a victory in the 80cc MX tool The Open class shon trackers were present m force as Yamaha and Honda thumpers contested Bultacos and a lone 750cc Triumph. Young T.J. HOIIghton on a Caner's Yamaha 500 fought off attacks by Bultaco-mounted Odell Davis and the Dallas-Fon Wonh Honda 500 of Gr~ Harrison. Houghton, who is only 15-years-old, is biding his time until he can get his. Profes· sionallicenae - so watch out California! The fmal event was the 250cc Expert main which saw 12 riders compete for four payback positions_ It also saw the return of Steve Gulledge, National numer 55, to his home track. Gulledge, who had already won the "Trophy Dash," took his Ray·Sue Racing/Dallas Yamaha past the field and on to the easy win. The real contest was for second place as T.J. Houghton on his Caner's Yamaha swapped back and fonh with Rusty Patillo on his Bultaco Unlimited 250 with young Houghton just slipping by the veteran PatiDo at the checkers. Wjth the marked increases being seen in the weekly MX and shon track entries, promoter Royal Sherbet will be holding the Mid-America "Championships" over the Labor Day weekend with shon'track racing on August 29 and stadium motOCJ'Olll on August SO. Resuhs MOTOCROSS BOcc YOUTH: 1. R_ _• D. L Wood; 2. _ • ~ 3. 125 AM: 1. Ed Cook lSuzl; 2. Bobby Hawk lSuzl; 3. Miko FrInk tHon!. 250cc OPEN COMB PfIO.AM: 1. Den Bell (Kewl; 2John Ruble (Hon!; 3. lMry ~dt tSuzl. "DASH FOR CASH:" 1. lMry _lSuzl. SHORT TRACK MICRO MINI: 1. Greg T _ lSuzl; 2. Tim K.-, (Suzl; 3. Krio WIoo 1Suzl. BOcc: 1. M_ _ fYeml; 2. Chriou Doug_ fYeml; 3. M _ o.-e !Y~l. BOcc: 1. Todd _ lVaml; 2- Rock S - lVaml. l00cc: 1. ROIl Dunc:8n fYernl; 2- 0... DuV811 fYeml; 3. Jimmy T _ fYeml. 250cc TROPHY: 1. lie-. Dunc:8n fYeml; 2. Greg Herrioon tHonl; 3. Rubby Do18Dn !Yeml. OPEN: 1. T.J. HOugh1on fYeml; 2. Odell o.vio (Bull; 3. Greg Herrioon fHonI. 250cc EX: 1. S _ GuIodgo fYeml; 2. T.J. Houghal lV~~ 3. Ruoly""'" CBuD. "TROPHY DASH:" 1. S - GuIodgo fYeml.

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