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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126486
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COO. M-*' C3I got the Open win at the AIMt8ur TT NIItionBk.
1980 AMA Amateur TT Scrambles National
Championship
Brooks takes two
as locals sh.ine
By Dick Ainsworth
LAKE KANOPOLIS STATE PARK, KS, AUG. 17
"We don't care how the hell they do it in California" bumper stickers and T-shirts graced
bodies, bumpers and hearts as racers from all
over America flocked to the beautiful and well
conditioned Lake Kanopolis TT
Scrambles track to battle for national amateur championship
honors in nine classes. The Salinas Coyotes M.C., who also hosted the
national in 1977, did an excellent job
of p~omoting this event and the day's
activities were nearly flawless.
Heau and semis narrowed the field
down for the national finals. A couple
of the more interesting heau, included
the first 125cc heat which had Joe
Peterson grab an early lead over Mike
Clarke and Jerry Hill. Peterson had a
big lead but on the second lap he fell
in the switchback giving the lead to
Clarke. Steve Bromley moved into
third ahead of Roger Thompson and it
was now a four-way battle for the lead
with all four under the proverbial
blanket. At the white flag Thompson
took the lead and held on to win.
Todd Ratliff and Danny Moore
fought for the lead in the second 250cc
heat. Ratliff had sawed off the cast
protecting his broken wrist and many
were concerned if he had the strength
to race. But he dispelled any disbelief
by taking the lead in the south sweeper
and won by two lengths over Moore.
"Motivated" is the word to describe
Danny Brooks in the 360cc heat! He
took the lead for two laps but fell in
the north end and got up in last place.
He went on to pass everyone and took
the lead again on the white flag lap at
the edge of the infield pond that has a
sign proclaiming iu name as "Lake
Brooks·' after Danny missed that tum
in 1978 and totally submerged his
500cc Yamaha. He was then nicknamed "The Wet Head," presented a
special "water-logged trophy" during
intermission and he was seen to race
with a seuba snorkle attached to his
Bell Star. Needless to say, the local
fans really like Danny so they were
especially whooping it up when he won
this heat.
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Rnals
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Chris Carr took the 100cc lead over
Todd Beecher and Steve Hill. Carr
buih _up a good. ~ea.d while Beecher
and Hill battled eaCh otlier for second.
On lap four Hill passed Beecher on the
ouuide coming out of the switchback.
Two laps later Shayne Steinauer horsepowered Charlie Mitchell on the back
chute for founh. But nobody was
going to catch Carr today.
Dan Hollingsworth was gone like a
rocket in' the 125cc Championship
ahead of Roger Thompson and Zeb
Morton while Mike Clarke crashed. It
appeared that Hollingsworth had it in
the bag, a fantastic lead and breezing
on to victory. The crossed flags were
out at the halfway mark and Hollingsworth's Suzuki coasted to a quiet halt
at the end of the front straightaway. '
When asked what happened, he said,
"I don't know. It was running real
strong one minute and then just quit
the next."
Thompson inherited the lead and
went on to win over Morton and John
Barricklow.
Dallas Babcock took an early and
quick lead in the 200cc final with Jon
Bomberger and Danny Clarke close
behind. But Babcock began to open it
up as Bomberger and Clarke were preoccupied with the runner-up spot.
They went at it the entire race. With
two laps to go Clarke got by on the inside in the switchback but on the last
lap Bomberger got it back on the
uphill to end up second.
Chad Bettencourt took the 250cc
lead with Todd Ratliff, Danny Moore
and Aaron Hill in close pursuit. Ratliff
was making his move for the lead on
the front straight but coasted off the
track with a dead motor. At the
midway mark Bettencourt still led
Moore, Hill and Brian Yocum. A lap
later Gary Rosh moved past Yocum as
Hill got around Moore only to lose it
back immediately. This is how it
stayed until the checkers.
Danny Brooks jumped out to a
quick lead in the 360cc final and led it
the entire distance. Midway through
the race John McC,!1l got by Del
Callsen for third while John Bishop
stayed a good distance ahead of both
for second.
Danny Moore took the lead in the
500cc final with Anthony Urias,
Danny Brooks and Todd Ratliff freighttraining behind. Next lap Brooks
moved into second while Ratliff took
third. But Ratliff got knocked down
in the north end and it ended his day.
All he had to do now was have his
doctor put a new cast on his arm. On
lap five Brooks took the lead but
Moore got it right back. At the
halfway mark Brooks got it back again
while Scott Saunders moYed into third
from a back row start. By the seventh
lap Saunders was in second and be·
gan to close on Brooks. But the 10th
lap and the checkered flag came with
Brooks a good 10 lengths abead for his
second win of the day. He made his
victory lap with the checkered flag
waving wildly in the air but wouldn't
ride off the track and into "Lake
Brooks" no matter how much urging
he got from the crowd.
For the second day in a row, the best
race of the day was the last race of the
day. Two rows of big motors thundered
off the line in the Open final with
Raymond Garrett in front of C.D.
Martin and Tim Lindfors. But coming
down the downhill sweeper Martin
power·slid the Culver Harley into the
lead on the inside. But Garrett came
right back and pulled up alongside
Martin at the end of the front chute.
But Martin stayed in front. At the end
of lap five the flTSt five places were in a
tight swarm with Ron Bell and Randy
Rexroad holding fourth and fifth.
Garrett tried again to pass Martin in
tum three but got a wheel into him,
resulting in Martin bobbling and
Garrett falling. Lindfors tried for the
lead but Manin held him off. Garrett
got going again but near the back of
the pack. Now it was Lindfors and
Martin side by side on the front
straight but Martin again held him 'I
off. The crowd was on iu feet and
going crazy as the two raced shoulder
to shoulder. The white flag came out
and Garrett was now back up to fifth
place. Martin held Lindfors off to win
by two bikelengths and in typical Mike
Gerald-Astrodome style, threw his
gloves to the crowd in the front grandstands.
Results
500cc SIDECAR: 1, Mike leValley/Mike Krebs ICZI
KS); 2. Dwight DledericklPaul Di_uale IRokonlKSI.
OPEN SIDECAR: 1. Mike KrebIIMlke LeValley IVam/
KSI; 2. Ralph Pringle/Dan Kate lKawlMII,
100cc: 1. Chris Carr ISuzlCAI: 2. Ste.. HiIIIVam/CAI;
3, Todd 8eechar IVam/CA); 4. Shayne Steinauer ISuzi
NY!; 5, Charlie M~chelIIVam/ORI,
125cc: 1. Roger Thompson !Yam/CA); 2. Zab Morton
IVam/KS): 3. John Barricklow IVamlCA!; 4. Charles
Verse IVam/CAl; 5, Tom Sterott IVam/PAI; 6. Todd
Williemen ISuziORI; 7. Joe Peterson !Yam/CA); 8.
Steve Bromley ISuziPAI; 9. Jim KIlO. (VamnU; 10.
Jerry Hill IHoniKSI; 11. Mika CllIl1