Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

o 00 (j') CN CN ~ Q,) .J:J o ... u o Marland Whaley clinched his fifth AMAINATC Championship title in Colorado. AMA/NATC National Championship Observed Trials Series: Round five Whaley wraps up fifth title By len Weed Photos by Keela and Wick Wicker BEULAH, co, OCT. 4 Marland Whaley's second WIn of the year, coupled with a pair of seconds, enabled him to clinch his fifth National Observed Trials title in the past six years. His only miss came in 1978, the year he switched from Honda back to Montesa in mid-series. The four to two-stroke switch saw him finish third as Bernie Schreiber edged Lane Leavitt for top honors, 14 Normally, Marland tums in a devastatingly mark-free final loop score. But in Colorado he used reverse psychology, dropping just three marks over the first loop's 18 sections. Then he added a seven on the final loop to finish the day with 10. Curt Comer, Jr., rebounding from three straight crash-marred Nationals, put together the best second loop score, a four. That earned him second place with a 15-point total. Comer led a quintet of Rocky Moun· tain high-altitude experts who deep· lunged into the top 10 while the visitors gasped and bogged onward and upward. Dave Burke, winner of the Oregon National last year, took third, drop- ping 18 points. Four marks behind him was current Colorado champion Morgan Kavanaugh. Lane Leavitt edged former Colorado champion Bill Burgener by two marks for fifth place. Rounding out the top 10 were Jack Stites, Keith Adams (on a brand new Ossa America backed bike), Scott Head and the fifth Colorado rider, Eric Barber. The placings moved Kavanaugh up to second behind Whaley on the year with H points, trailed by Brad Skreen 32, Lane Leavitt 31, Scott Head 30, and Curt Comer 27.9. The trial site was the Christmas Ranch, southwest of Pueblo. The onemile·square property was also used for last year's well received U.S. World Round. Last June's World event saw plenty of water, but this year's National tussle was dry except for a puddle in one of the numerous rocky gully sections. The ranch was deeded to the Boy Scouts of America by E.M. Christmas, .with the provision that it be made available for motorcycle events. Mr. Christmas, now in his 80s, still rides. Major organizational duties for the event were shared by the quartet of Ron Gardner, Eric Barber, Bill (Mr. Ute Cup) Brokaw, and ATC coordiBator Wiltz Wagner. The trial, two loops of 18 sections (14 for support), attracted 75 starters. Despite being the lowest turnout of the year, the figure was still significantly higher than the average number of starters for the 1979 series. Those who couldn't make it missed the "changing of the aspen," an annual October color extravaganza that covers many of the Rocky Mountain hillsides in various hues of yellow, gold, and rust. High schooler Steve McNeal of Alabama turned in the best ride among the four support classes. He dropped just H points to clinch his class cham· pionship with is fourth win of the year. McNeal's closest competition was Colorado rider Rod Ashmore, 32 points off the pace. Local rider Gary Baughman dropped 41 to top the Seniors while the Webster family headed the remaining two sup· port classes. Dave Webster's 42 gave him his third Sportsman win of the year and the class championship. And his dad, Art, topped the Super Seniors. Norm Sayler's fourth was good enough to assure him the Super Senior championship. Baughman's win in Senior action ended Bud Mylerberg's win string at three, but Bud's second place was enough to clinch the championship. So all five classes saw their champions crowned in Colorado. No series showdowns were left for the following day, just the resolution of who-finisheswhere behind Marland and the four support champions. But that was more than enough motivation to send the trapsters tooling down the highway on a 330 mile jaunt to wrap things up the following day in Amarillo. Results CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Marland Whaley IMonl 10; 2. Cun Comer (Monl 15; 3. Dave Burke (Bull lB; 4. Moo-gan Kavanaugh IBu1l23; 5. Lane leavin IBull 26; 6. Bill Burgener IBull28; 7. Jack Sti.esISWMI31 ; 8. K";!h Adams 10ss1; 9. Scon Hoed IBul) 33; 10. Er;c Barbe< (Monl 38; 11, Bradd Skraen (Monl 40; 12. Wayne Galvin IBu1l41. SPORTSMAN: 1. Dave Webster IBul) 42; 2. Ke;th Mclaughlin IBull 48; 3. Dwaine Walters (Hon) 55; 4. Dave Willson 55; 5. Dan Williams (Bull 60; 6. TEd Feland IBull 70; 7. Ron Saum ISWMI 72; 8. Dave Cole IHanI 74; 9. Joe Alswonh IBul1 74.B; 10. Ted Armen. (Man) 78; 11. N;ls Montzoros IMonI78.2. SENIOR: 1. GlI

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