Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

".t•••• Calif•••I t•••• N••" ' . ".t.er. Callfor.I..ArI t N ".t••r. Callf•••la-.Arboa. Western hotline ~ ...... I-< Q.I ..c o ... u o Only 'three other riders in the history of Saddleback Park have done so. Having won the 250cc and Open classes, Turner was leading the 125cc Pros to victory, when in the last quarter of the track on the final lap, Rick Maki, riding for DG and Yamaha, snaked by to take the class win and force Turner to second. The first moto for the 125cc Pros saw Turner take the lead with Mike Tripes in second, Maki running third, Doug Dubach in fourth and Tim Hines rounding out the top five. Turner had Tripes and Maki on the gas and not letting off at all. Maki, pushing hard, moved on by Tripes and took on Turner neck and neck with Tripes close behind. At the halfway mark, Maki took control and built a five second lead for himself over Turner. With only a few laps remaining, the battle between Turner and Tripes for second was furious. When the checkered flag brought the moto to an end, Maki led the way across with Turner in second and Tripes holding down third. The start of the second round saw Maki leading and Turner moving into second. Tripes flew by, taking over the lead and left Turner to hold Maki in third. Dubach in fourth, found himself fighting back Hines. The top three pulled away and into their own race with Maki going wild, trying to get around Turner. Turner couldn't touch Tripes and Maki almost bailed. Turner then moved up and took command away from Tripes. If Turner were to win this moto he'd have the grandslam. Maki was on the gas and closing the gap. Maki had Tripes in his sights and was setting him up for the kill. Turner now, had a four second lead and Maki was going mad, and on top of Tripes. Maki was trying every conceivable line to get around Tripes. Now, right on top of Tripes' rear tire, Maki made his pass and went after Turner. At this point it was a tie, a battle to the death between Turner and Maki for the overall. Maki was absolutely mad! He had to close a five second gap to catch Turner. Tim Shelton fell in front of the finish line, almost taking Maki out with him. Maki slipped on by as Shelton was trapped. In the tightest corner on the track and on the last quarter of the last lap, Turner and Maki bumped elbows and Maki moved on by. Turner's Suzuki wanted a fight and Turner kept fighting down to the last second but had to settle for second overall as he watched Maki take the class win. Tripes came on home to third place money with a solid 3-3 ride. Results BOce BEG: 1. Ken Clifton (SUlt; 2. Eric Bellwood lYam); 3. Steve Stewart (Yam), BOce NOV: 1. B.J. Hahn (Yam): 2. Tim Schoos IHon); 3. Eric Dickerhoff (!(awl. 80cc INT: 1. James McManus (SUl); 2. Dan Hammack ISuz); 3. Mitch Palmer ISuzl. 80cc EX: 1. Terry Murrav (Suz). l00cc BEG: 1, John Kish (Yam); 2. Glenn Delatorre ISuz); 3. Aiel( Krause ISuz). l00cc NOV: 1. Johnnv Mize ISuzl. 28 125cc BEG OIV 1: ,. Brian Bates (Vam); 2. K.C. Maddox (Vam): 3. Mark Gibson (Yam). 125cc BEG OIV 2: 1. Jeff Sherrill (Vam); 2. Scott Gordon ISuz); 3. Rusty Taflinger (Yaml. 125 NOV OIV 1: 1. Ross Hahu (Mug); 2. Mike Hanley (Hon); 3. Lane Steeber (Vam). 125 NOV OIV 2: 1. Bobby Voorhees (R&D); 2. Bill Thiebert (Kjiw); 3. John Spar (Yam). 125cc INT: 1. Tony Tetone (TCW); 2. Vaun Butler (Yam I; 3. Ruben Torres (Yaml. 125cc PRO: 1. Rick Maki (OG): 2. Ron Turner (Sull: 3. Mike Tripes (TCW). 250cc BEG: 1. John Barnes (VarnI; 2. Gregg Bayor (Hen); 3. Vincent Phillippi (Suzl. 250 NOV OIV 1: 1. Bill Olsen (Mai); 2. Steve Aanon (Kaw); 3. Kenny Meeks (Sull. 250cc NOV OIV 2: 1. Steve Taylor (Su,); 2. Mike Harrison (Sull: 3. Bront Sherman (Hen). 250cc tNT OIV 1: 1. Tim Hammer (Yam); 2. Brvan Holdren (Vam); 3. Mike Blake (Hon). 250cc INT OIV 2: 1. Tom Makowski (Vam); 2. Greg Tavto< (Vam); 3. Doug Jacobs (Vam). 250cc PRO: 1. Ron Turner (Suzl; 2. Pete Snorteland (Yam); 3. Jeff Jennings (Hoo). OPEN BEG: 1. Alan Lipsky (Kawl; 2. Glenn Harris IVam); 3. Jim Carter IVam). OPEN NOV: 1. Marc Crider (Mai); 2. Ed Rea (Husl; 3. Mike English (Yaml. OPEN INT: 1. Larry Flint (Yaml: 2. Craig Robenson (Su,); 3, Bob Casper (Vaml. OPEN PRO: 1. Ron Turner (Suzl; 2. Pele Snorteland (Yam); 3. Robert Marino (Yaml. VETS JR: I, Roger Plaskey (Vam); 2. Jack McCafferty (Yam I. VETS INT: 1. Charles Smith (Yaml; 2. Marino Bastionell (Mail. VETS SR: 1. John McManaway (Vaml; 2. Bob Haves; 3. Dan Moore (Mail. Speedway bikes join Lightweights D-37ST By Maureen Lee ORANGE, CA, SEPT. 14 Again, the Lightweights are keeping the faith with the flat track aficianados and threw another race for us at Saddleback, This time it was short track and to see what would happen, they invited speedway riders too and a small group of them showed up. Everyone for the day got to run two races, a heat and a main, all longer. than usual SO there could be no griping, and it looked like most everyone was having a good time. One of the speedway group helped the hosts to tell who was who in their bunch so there'd be no cherry picking because most of them were unfamiliar names to the sign-up crew. The first grQup, the A's, were not as experienced as the B's, who really got around faster on that neat oval. In the A main, Rob Bourgeois and Ed Thurman came hauling through four on the last lap, went down the straight OK but overcooked the first turn and both of them got in the soft stuff and got slung off. In the B group Jon Pavano won the heat over Vic Robledo and got the lead in the main only to lose it to Robledo who had the track pretty well wired, and let's fact it, it's not a well manicured surface like they are used to running on all the time. There were 10 Seniors, including some names like Chuck Minert, Larry. Geese and Chuck Berry who've been around since, .. well, we've all been to lots of places together over the years. Bill Bartels took the lead in the heat only to have his bike let go on the third lap on the back straight. That left "Feets" Minert chasing Larry Bird to a first place finish, with Bobby Johnson in third after taking that place away from Larry Geese. In the main Minert on his trusty BSA and Bird on his Triumph arrived at turn one first and diced it out in no uncertain fashion. Bird again took the lead and hung on to it, while "Feets" lost his second to a very determined Bill Bartels who had managed to fix his scoot between races. This time Bobby Johnson ended up fourth. Tommy Walton won the 250cc Pro heat in great shape with Jeff Springman and Ross Klatt going at it for second and third (Klatt got it). In the main Walton had the early lead but had problems after Jeff Johnson got by on the inside and tOok off to win it followed in again by Klatt and Springman with Rob Pfetzing fourth. Dan Kane had his jollies in the 500cc Novice class, making some tripes up the side of the bank 'and finally unloading in turn one right after he took the flag in the main for his third place behind Ron Bartels and winner Don Meiner. That's always an action filled class! For the rest of the wins see the results because some space here must go to the upcoming benefit for Steve Polson that the Lightweights are having at Ascot on October 17. If you don't' be- lieve pu~ting this thing together and getting It at the most famous dirt track in the U.S. of A., Ascot hasn't been some work ... ' Right now thanks go to Ed Carroll and hiS Lightweights, and J.C. Agajanian and Ben Foote of Ascot. Those of us who watched Steve grow up on District 37 tracks to where he lost the number one plate one year by a whisker, to turning Pro and making his move up the ladder are still mourning him, but as always races go on. Here's your chance to come on out whether you ride the TT as a sportsman or in one of the Pro classes or sit in the stands, we need you to make this thing- go, Everyone that night will be paying their fair share to help ... Steve was one of ours and he would have done no less for any of us ... so let's get with it people. We want to see a big turnout, the racing will be great, and Steve's parents will be there so let's show the world what ou r Dist rict is made of. Results MINI COMB: 1. Curtis Cannon (Yam); 2. Mike Kirby (Vam); 3. Jason Bell (Vam!. 125cc COMB: 1. Roger Thompson (Vam); 2. Mark Ladbetter (Vam); 3. Tad Thompson (Vam). 250cc NOV: 1. Jimmy Snow (Yam); 2. Stephen Smith (Yaml; 3. Lee Lindquist (Yam). 250 JRIEX: 1. Rob Pfatzing (Vaml; 2. Ron BelIIVam); 3. Greg Nelson (Yaml. 500 NOV: 1. Don Meiner (Vam); 2. Ron Bartels (Vam); 3. Dan Kane (Vam), 500cc JRIEX: 1, Vince Landry (Vaml; 2. Bill Bartels (Hon); 3. Robert LaChance (Vam!. OPEN: 1. larry Bird (Tril; 2. Ron Bell (Yam): 3. Tommy Walton. A SPEEOWAV: 1. Rob Bourgeois; 2. Tom Conrad; 3. Dave Miller. B SPEEOWAV: 1, Vietor Roblado; 2. Jon Pavano; 3. Dan Braviroff. SENIOR: 1. LarrV Bird lTd); 2. Bill Bartels (Hon); 3. Chuck Minert IBSA). SIDEHACKS: 1. Les Ketchum/John Mcintyre; 2. James Mitton/James Oiebolt. MONEV COMB: " Curtis Cannon (Vam); 2. Roger Thompson (Yam I: 3. Jimmy Snow (Yaml. 250cc PRO: 1. Jeff Johnson (Vam); 2. Ross Klatt (Yam): 3. Rob Pfetling (Yam). SOOcc PRO: 1. Rex Hailey (Yaml; 2. Jay lewis (Yaml. Orange County Dragbike! Classic to Davis, Johnson Photo by Drew "Drag bike" Davis IRVINE, CA, SEPT. 14 Wayne Davis turned the tables in 1980 and reversed the 1979 outcome of the Top Fuel Eliminator racing at that year's event, taking the '80 edition in a battle of Kawasakis. Last year, Pee Wee Gleason beat Davis on the final, but this year it was Davis victorious on the America Performance Engineering-RC aided fueler over Gleason's Nitrous Oxide Injectil>n entry. In Pro Stock Cedric Johnson outlasted a stellar field with a final round win over the Z of Elvin Goveia. Super Eliminator went for the third time this season to the turbo Kawasaki of Norris Bruce of Performance Fours in Phoenix, AZ. Russ Glashan of Las Vegas was runner-up on his injected •nitro Z dragster. Jeff Anderson of the Performance Fours shop in Phoenix notched his first major event win at Dragbike! OCIR '80 with a Pro Dragster victory over the Bill Biggs Harley. In the Sportsman divisions, Harley.' Davidson knocked off the Competition Eliminator racing as the Carl's Speed Shop Sportster ridden by Randy Snyder outrode the field and knocked off the upstart BI Altered Yamaha XS 1100 ridden by Dave Dodge on the final. Side note; ~n the opinion of this reporter, Snyder's riding and gate-job string at OCIR was the most impressive seen this season anywhere. In Modified Eliminator, Marc Walker marched to a victory in the eliminator on his record-smashing AIMod Kawasaki with a final win over the CIMod Suzuki of Ed Malekwicz. Roger McPhail capped a successful season on his BISS Z1 winning Stock at OCIR over the Suzuki AAIS of Jesse Gatlin. A superb bracket racing turnout saw Pro ET won by the Honda CBX of Cap'n Queeg over Leo Mathieu on a turbo Kawasaki, while Steve Cox on a Yamal\a 250 MX took Street ET honors over Mike Chase's Yamaha 750 . Three exhibition runs were made at the event by Russ Collins' Sorcerer. The hands-down technological dazzler of the decade managed two top speed runs of 188 and 189 mph plus. More than 1500 fans thrilled to the second annual Dragbikel Orange County Classic as the guests aQd through the sponsorship of participating Orange County Yamaha dealers; Fairway Yamaha-Ford, Yamaha Mission Viejo, Premier Yamaha, Orange County Cycle and LaHabra Yamaha. The thanks of our racers, fans and the sport in general go to these sponsors and to Ron Knapp, engineer of the cooperative effort, and Gene Schroeder, executor of the deal. Pros split dough four ways at Corona TT/HM By Elaine Jones CORONA, CA, SEPT_ 10 The Money races were up for grabs at Corona Raceway as the big guns of flat track were on hand to vie for the top honors_ The duel between Chris Cannon and Ross Klatt never materialized in the 250cc Money TT when Chris was unable to make the start. It was far from over because Joe Steffen was very much in evidence. It was Ross Klatt who exploded off the line and proceeded to run away with it. Steffen dogged him all the way but Klatt was wired in and the win was his. The Open Money TT had eight heavy duty dudes show up and it was a new face that made an impression along with a lot of attrition problems. Off the line it was the "Simi Flasb," Pete Hames, usually much more at home on the ovals than the TT. Behind him came Mike Hale, Craig Williams and John Wincewicz. Hames and Hale diced back and forth with Hames leading for two, then Hale taking over for three. Hames came back again on the sixth lap but as he did his chain came off, throwing metal in all directions and pulling him up short. Wincewicz had moved his way past Williams and with Hames' demise found himself running second. Now he really went to work and found the hole he was looking for, went on by and collected the gold. Hale was second and Williams third. The 250cc Money half mile saw a fu II field of Pros roll to the line with Terry Singleton, Ken Corpe, Jim Rose, Mike Paulson, Mike Montgomery, Ross Klatt, Darren Hulber, Chris Cannon and Pete Hames all looking for a piece of the pot. Cannon got t,he jump off the line with Hames, Klan and Montgomery close enough to throw a blanket over. With two laps down Hames slipped under Cannon and took over the lead. Montgomery moved by Klatt and then Klatt returned the favor on the next lap. Darren Hulbert moved into strong contention on the eighth lap

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