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athern Heyada- Soathern California-Arizona-Southern Heyad
for the Motorcycle Racing Association of Neva9-a-sanctioned.
Yucca Chuckers·sponsored MX. The
day pitted the riders against the
elements as much as other riders. High
winds, and temperatures that never
got above the mid 40s made for miserable riding and absolutely dismal spectating. And of course the water truck
broke down.
The 250cc Expert class saw Yamahamounted Kevin Steele dominate the day
with an effortless I-I firusli, his first of
two overall wins for the day. Steele has
been making raids into the southern
California MX scene -and has shown
that he's aefmitely able to run with the
best of them. Chris Howard, us.ually a
formidable opponent in the 250cc
class, suffered a first turn bail in the
first moto, leaving the· Yamaha
mounted ace out of the picture for the
day. Troy Fitch rode consistently and
kept pressure on Steele all day, netting
himself second.
The Open Expert class was a walkover for superbiker Kevin Davis, who
breezed his big-bore Maico to a I-I
finish, while receiving only mild
.pressure from Can·Am . mounted
Kevin Welch along with Anthony
Pasqualotte and Mel Chapmaf). Davis is
becoming almost untouchable in the
Open class, especially on an MX
course.
The I25cc Experts saw Kevin Steele
salt away his second win of the day
with a I-I ¥ictory, and despite some
pressure from David Saxton and Jim
Krumme, his I25cc victory was as
decisive as the 250cc win. Sportsman
Cycle sponsored Daryl Folks finished
well down in the pack but earned
enough points to virtl~ally assure him
of the number one plate in the MRAN
125cc class for 1981. This was one of
Folks' final rides on a Suzuki, having
landed a Husky support ride following
a respectable second in class finish in
this year's Baja 1000 while riding a 125
Husky.
'Hames 2, Lawson
J., Volk J. at
Corona TT/HM
BV Elaine Jones
CORONA, CA, NOV. 15
Corona Raceway officials were
in doubt about racing Saturday
night because of the high winds
but were glad they opted to go
when 157 riders turned out for TT and
half mile racing.
The 250cc Money TT turned out to
be the survival of the fittest as five
started and two finished. Off the line it
was Jimmy Rosa with Ben Meyer and
Rich Volk in the 2-3 spots. Rosa has
really been coming into his own and
more than proved his ability as he set
the pace and Volk moved by Meyer to
take over second. The first one out
with attrition problems was Ken Corpe
who went no further than the first lap.
On the third lap Meyer fell by the
wayside and Jimmy Snow moved into
third. One lap later and still leading the
race, Rosa was felled with mechanical
difficulties and it was clear sailing for
.. Volk and Snow as they finished 1-2.
The Open Money TT was a game of
cat and meuse between Eddie Lawson
and Pete Hames, who have been
staging some excellent duels at
Corona. It was Lawson who got the
edge eff the line with Hames right
behind him and Tommy Walton in
the third slot. With one lap down it
was Chris Cannon who felt the bite of
mechanical problems and retired to
the pits. Back at the front Lawson and
Hames were battling 'back and forth
for the lead with Lawson continuing to
hold the upper hand. Walton was
holding Ross Klatt at bay until the
sixth lap and again it was mechanical
problems that did him in. The white
nag came out and Lawson was still in
'the lead with Hames second and Klatt
third when it hOlppened. On the final
time around the fickle finger pointed
itself at Lawson and he was out leaving
the way clear for Hames and Klatt to
.
collect the dough.
The oval Money goes were not without breakdowns but the percentages
were much smaller. Nine came to the
line for the 250cc Money half mile and
the race had Pete Hames written all
over it. Joe Steffen went out second
with Jimmy Rosa in third and Jimmy
Snow fourth. Barry O'Brien swapped
places with Snow on the second lap
and one lap later Garabedian was out
with. a sick engine. Up front Hames
was still holding school with Steffen
and Rosa trying to best teacher .. It
wasn't going to happen and at the
checkered it was Hames with Steffen
and Rosa in the place/show Spots.
Twelve signed up and II made it to
the line in the Open Money half mile
with a two row start determined by
their finish in the heat. Mike Minnig,
back after a lay-off, went out on top
with Chris Cannon second and Eddie
Lawson third. Rich Volk: Tommy
Walton and Shawn Leipold rounded
out the top six. Lawson moved by
Cannon on the second lap but Minnig
was not going to be such an easy task,
especially with Cannon looking to
repeat his upset victory over Rainey
and Lawson a few weeks ago. The
three continued to freight' train
around as the laps ran out. The win
looked to be a certainty for Minnig but
on the white nag lap Lawson made his
move and caught Minnig with his
socks down. Cannon wasn't able to
follow in Lawson's tire tracks and had
to settle for third.
•
Results
n
MINI NOV: 1. Jason Bell (Varni; 2. Bill Beerse (Kawl;
3. Timmy Walton (Yam),
MINI EX: 1. Mike Kirby (HonJ.
125cc NOV: 1. Dennis Turner (Yam); 2. Brian Barrick
lHan); 3. Jeff Runyan (Yaml.
125cc AM/EX: 1, Jimmy Snow (Yam); 2. Roger
Thompson IYacnl.
250cc NOV DIV 1: 1. John Barricklow (Varni; 2. Don
Griewe IVaml; 3. Bobby Beer IYam).
250cc NOV DIV 2: 1. Rick Morton (Yam); 2. 1 Ward
McKee IKawl; 3. H.C. Mevers (Bull.
250cc AM: 1. John Perez (Vam); 2. Greg Nelson
(Yam); 3. Bruce Windham (Suzl.
250cc EX: 1. Ron Bell (Yam); 2. Jimmy Snow (Yam);
3. Shawn Pettis IBuli.
.
OPEN NOV DIV 1: 1. James Steet IVaml; 2. Bob
West ISuzl; 3. Michael Hart (Vam).
OPEN NOV DIV 2: 1_ Keith Gutherv IYam); 2. Keith
Bradford (Hon); 3. Mike Yarbrough (Yaml.
NSOTHG: 1. Mike Mockbee IH-D); 2. Bill BelIIVam);
3. Ron Ferguson IH·DI.
OPEN AM: 1. John Perez (Yam); 2. Don Meiner
IYaml.
.
OPEN EX: 1. Eddie Lawson IKawl; 2. Shawn leipold
IYaml; 3. Jerry Greer IYaml.
.
250cc MONEY: 1. Rich Volk IYaml; 2. Jimmy Snow
(Yam); 3. Jimmy Rosa (Yam).
OPEN MONEY: 1. Pete Hames IYaml; 2. Ross Klan
IYam); 3. Eddie Lawson (Yam).
HALF MilE
MINI NOV: 1. John Garrison ISuzl; 2. Jason Bell
(Yam); 3. Timmy Walton (Yaml.
MINI EX: 1. Mike Kirby IHonl.
125cc NOV: 1. Tim Titus Jr. (Hon); 2. Brian Barrick
(Hon).
125cc AM/EX: ,. Roger Thompson (Varni; 2. Jimmy
SnowIVamJ..
250cc NOV DIV 1: 1. J. Wa