Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Western hotline ·C Q.. < MIce o.m.on (1m won the Junior m11ln over Chris cannon. Hank Scott captures Ascot HMopener By Maureen Lee Photos by Dan Mahony and Bill Dell GARDENA, CA, MAR. 27 The Ascot half mile opener had more than its share of red flags, get-offs, etc., (none serious) with the Novices being the only group 28 to keep it going long enough to get a time for their mainl That was won by Pete Hames who darn near cruised home on his Kawasaki over the solidest looking fteld of Novices we've had in a few yean. If you're wondering, no, it wasn't the Kawasaki featured in eN last year that Pete won ?t the end of his sportsman career... he has two. Big winner was Hank Scon, smooth as ever aboard a Shell Racing Specialties Yamaha. "It's greasy out there," he said afterwards, and with a smile, "And you know how a Yamaha can get ... " It's a new din surface and with more decomposed granite being worked in this coming week it will be in tip top shape for the Gardena Gold Cup and the TT National. Scott set fastest time, 22.50, then won the fastest Expen heat, the Trophy Dash and the main. He came powering out of tum two ftnt in the ftrst heat and behind were Rich Arnaiz, Steve Oon and Jeff Allison. Arnaiz kept second until the near end when Oon slid by in a lower groove. This season, if the Expen turnout is scant, the top Junior time trialen get the chance to move up a class and ride with the Experts. One, Ross Klatt, came as close to getting off in tum one as you can without actually doing it, at the stan of the second Expert heat. Bob Sanden got one of his famous starts and had the lead until Mike Inderbitzin took it away. Klatt was third and another Junior, Mike Hale, took founh. The Expert semi had a Testan and again Klatt got into trouble, but didn't unload. He and fellow Junior Craig Scroggins were busy chasing the lead man, Jeff Allison. The bobble slowed him a bit but he got it back under control and got around Rich Volk to ftnish third behind Scroggins. Three riden ended on the penalty row before the stan of the Expen main. Away they went with Scott, Arnaiz and from the third row, Sanden, all arriving at tum one ftnt. Out they came with Scott evenly in front of Amaiz, Oon, Allison and Sanden. Oon had just passed Arnaiz when Mike Hale fell off in tum two. With some fast work Hale was able to get his bike back running again in the alloted time and they were away again in a single file stin. Rich Volk was the next to tumble but he was clear of the groove and the race continued. Scott, still easy and smooth out front, led Oon, Arnaiz, Allison and Inderbitzin. Scon was still sailing along out front as the laps ran down, once peeking back to see just where second place Oon was. Right at the end Oon slid out without damage in tum three, leaving Arnaiz second ahead of A1lisot! and Inderbitzin. In the Junior division fastest ones ot" the heau were Chris Cannon and Mike Garrison with Chris earning the pole for himself in the main; he and Garrison really went at it. Bill Scott and Derek Land, Tommy Walton and Jeff Johnson were the other pain of direct transfen. Their semi got underway on the third try with Jim Keener leading Dennis Camp and Bobby Garabedian. Then the announcer said, "Look at that guy go for third" as a Harley literally shot down the back chute. The stands cheered wildly and Roxy Rockwood had a second look at the bike number plate, correcting himself. It was Dorothy Rowe. After having clutch problems in her heat, she was flat going for it. Go for it she did, the semi with a nice lead over Garabedian, Keener and Camp. Walton and Cannon arrived at tum one ftrst in the main, but out came the red flag because Keener had jumped on the back line. The next start saw Garrison leading Cannon, Scott, Garabedian and Land. It looked like the race would ftnish that way but Scott fell down and Camp whacked into the fallen bike's rear wheel. The riders weren't hurt but Camp's bike was mangled. The restan was single ftle with everyone barely getting into full throttle before Garabedian's bike quit on him. Up front it was still Garrison, Cannon, Walton and Land. For a while Land and Walton traded third around until Walton got a grip on it. No one was going to get up ahead and disturb Garrison and Cannon, but Rowe was coming on strong again, hard after Land's founh place, However, right with her was Jeff Johnson who, in the front straight drag race for the flag just managed to take ftfth away from her by a wheel. . Frank Rosa had the bad luck to fall in tum one at the stan of the Novice main, but didn't cause the othen any trouble. Pete Hames had just shot off with the lead, then came Rob Ely, Dave Rosa and Mark Cain. Fint Rosa and Cain challenged each other until up came Barry Pelrey to split them up. Pelrey kept going, taking over third behind Ely. But no one was going to get Hames, he was almost loaftng along on the ftnal laps, if one can loaf on a flat tracker, that isl Results TROPHY DASH: 1. Honk ScoIIlVemI; 2. S _ Dart (H-DI; 3. Mike Indorbitzin (H-DI; 4. Bob -.(H-D). TIME: 1:10.82 NOVICE MAIN: 1. Pete _ lK8wI; 2. Rob Ely lVlml; 3. Ila1y PoIrey lVemI; 4. Mort< Coin lVlml; 6. Dew _lVlml; 6. Mike VlleIlVeml; 7. Chudt Carroll lVlml; 8. Tony . - (KM; 9. Torry Singleton lVlml; 10. Monk _lVlml. TIME: 3:12..37 JUNIOR MAIN: 1. Mike Gorrioon lH-DI: 2. Chril Cannon lVlml; 3. Tommy Wilton fTrO; 4. Derek L.ond (H-D); 6. JoIf.lohr-. (H-DI; 6. Dorothy Rowe lH-D): 7. Jim K _ (H-O); 8. Bob ~ion IH-DI; 9. Dennio Camp (H-DI; 10. Bil ScoII (Yeml. NOllMEl_ EXPERT MAIN: 1. Honk ScoIIlVemI: 2. Rich _ (H-D); 3. JoIf _ fTnl; 4. Mike IncIIrbitzin (H-D); 6. Mike.- (H-DI; 6. Bob - . (H-DI; 7. RoD Klett (HIll; 6. Monk GIIeIple lVemI; 9. Shewn Leipold lVlml; 10. S _ Dart (H-O); 11. RicIc Volk lVemI; 12. Ctlig ~(- Ward bests SSM/ La Habra Yamaha series opener Gambetta, Kline capture CRC MX By Lee Taylor By Terry Whytel VALENCIA, CA, MAR. 15 ORANGE, CA, MAR. 21 A large flock of racers descended on Indian Dunes for the last race of winter. . Mark Gambetta. riding for Despite the threat of rain from a heavily overcast sky, 250 riders turned out for the opening race in the La Habra Yamaha Saturday Super Series. Included in thOlle numben were some top factory stan such as Yamaha's Donnie Cantaloupi and Rick Burgett, Suzuki's "Radical Ron" Turner and Kawasaki ace Jeff Ward_ Ward commanded most of the 125cc race, getting a good stan in moto one and quickly establishing his front running status. Following Ward were Yamaha riden Rick Jolmaon and Scott Burnworth with Cantaloupi and Turner both suffering mediocre starts, Turner soon began picking off slower riden and at the halfway point had moved into third behind Jolmaon. Johnson dropped off the pace as Turner moved into second and reeled in Ward. Radical Ron c10l1ed to within two bikelengths before lapped riden slowed his progress and time ran out. Cantaloupi charged into third place while Suzuki rider George Holland and Yamaha·mounted Mike Beier played tag for most of the moto and worked into ftfth and sixth places at the checken as Johnson dropped to fourth and Bumwonh faded with mechanical problems, Moto two was anti-climatic as the expected duel between Ward and Turner never materialized, as Turner was unable to ftght off a stubborn flu bug that left him too weak to ride after clinching the 250cc Pro win. Ward went on to an easy win, riding smoothly and opening a llO-second lead by the checkers. Burnwonh picked up the number two ftnishing position ahead of teammate Cantaloupi, whose ll-ll score earned him second overall. Holland picked up the third place money while Beier grabbed the founh place share of the purse. Yamaha teamster and former 500cc National Champ Rick Burgett Tan away with the fint 250cc Pro moto after early leaden Clint Hardick and Robert Reisinger went out with mechanical problems. Turner bailed off on the first lap and spent the remainder of the race ftghting back towards the front where he took the checken in second. Turner struck back in race two and showed his prowess on the Saddleback course. Burgett motored in for second place and second overall ahead of Kawasaki rider Russ Pedenen and Can-Am aceJim Holley. Results 1. JIll Jomngo lHuoI; 2. _ OPEN PAO: So.. _Ill lVemI; 3. CIorlt ~ 1HuoI. 3. 2IiO PAO: 1. Ron T_lSuzI; 2. RicIc Burvott lVemI; . 125 PAO: 1. JIll _ oc-t; 2. Donnie c.-...,; lVemI; 3. ~ _1SuzI. OPEN INT: 1. Gene e:- tHuIl; 2. Bob Ken lVemI; 3. _ HoirlVemi. 2IiO INT: 1. Joe " - lVemI; 2. _ _ lVemI; 3. Gory Lowe lVemi. 1251NT: 1. ~ McMohon (KM; 2. Jim ConnoIy 1Suzl; 3. 1SuzI. OPEN JR: 1. Tam _ _ lttanI; 2. Art Gonjoo lK8wI; 3. Ron _ tHuIl. 2IiO JR: t. Theel _ _ lVemI: 2. John _ lttanI; 3. IClrt Goldie 1MIl1. 125 JR: 1. t.Ty ~ lVemI: 2. M _ _ lVeml; 3. Ton ~ lVemI, Jeck...-a 250 BEG: 1. Gory Renko (KM; 2. John Downey lVemI; 3. BiH Sytvlo (SuzI. MINI INT: 1. Mort< T _ lVaml; 2. DIn _ lVom!; 3. John Gonjoo (KM. MINI BEG: 1. Joe Cioncy lVemI; 2. Richio _ lVemI; 3. Donny Fioh lYemi. VET EX: 1..... ~ (Hull; 2. Aion llloon tMIil; 3. Kon~tMIil. VET NOV: 1. Gory IIIiIey lVemI; 2. Jody _ lMoll; 3. Milt _ lYemi. OT MASTEIlS: 1. Jim _ (Mail; 2. _ llloon IMail; 3. Bob _lVemi. Too Hip Yamaha, brought spectators one of the hottest races of the day in the Open Pro c1aII. taking down a super pair of aces. Bill Ouellette, aboard a Yamaha for International MIC, back in action after a lengthy abtence, grabbed the lead in the ftrst moto and fought tIuou,(hout to hold Gambetta at bay. Bob Shulz, aI80 Yamaha-IDOUI1ted, was burniilg up the track, a clOlle third and ready to pounce at a moment's notice. When Ouellette went down in the tum just before the wlaite ~, Gambetta took over for the moto WIn. When the big bore machines roared to life the second time, it was Shulz out in front and Itnokingl Five seconds behind him was Mike Boston, riding Sani Mount's Yamaha. Rod Richardson (Hus) rounded out the top three. Dave Haugh, back after a disappointing first moto was making tracks and now in third, going after the lead. Gambetta wasn't about to let Haugh stay ahead of him and made a slick move from fourth on into second and right on top of Shulz. Coming up on the white flag, Gambetta made his move and snared the lead for the class win, Shulz picked up second place loot and third overall went to Boston, Bob Kline, riding a Yamaha for Dick Allen and Kal Cam, fought through two hot and heavy motos for the overall win in the 250cc Pros, The ftnt round saw Kline out in front, leading the pack up the hill. He had heavy ammunition from the rear with Mike Shoemaker in second and Gary Reichenbach rounding out the top three. All men were mounted on Yamahas. A battle for fourth was shaping up between David Lynch, Todd Clark and Doug Tufy. Kline went down in the bushes, giving "The Shoe" the advantage he needed. Kline remounted in time to snare second but fought to the wire to hold off Reichenbach. When the bikes blasted off the line for the second round of action, it was "The Shoe" with the lead and Kline, one bikelength behind.Ru8s WagmlaIl, aboard a Yamaha for Van Nuys Cycle was strong in third and held fmn down to the end. One more Lynch found himself scraping for fourth with Larry Baker alongside. Shoemaker and Kline attacked the track wheel-towheel until Kline was able to slip a wheel under and take the win. Shoemaker ended the day with second place loot and third overall went 0 Lynch with a IOlid 4-4 ride. Results eo eo on. lY....; 3. T"'Y W*'t 1SuzI. eo NOV: 1. Gory M" lYemI; 2. T"'Y _ _ lY....; 3. Bna e-.tl lYemi. eo INT: 1. MIc8 ~ lVlml; 2. l1m _ lK8wI; 3. J I l l a . - lYemi. eo EX: 1, S - V. . DuNn IYZI; 2. Bob Slmora NOV: 1. Ilubbe ~ lVemI; 2. o.-e DW\mwI lYemI; 3. ...... . - . - lYemi. BEG: 1. K.,.. lYemI; 2. . - . Downport lV....; 3. AIIn LippIe lVemi. 100 BEG: 1. TIm 8lulh lYemI; 2. (SuzI; 3. _11*Io 1SuzI. ~ "..... 100 NOV: 1. Richie .-ISuzI; 2. GIl _lSuzI; 3. en- DoIe-to lSuzl. 100 INT: 1. s-t _ lYemI; 2. Jorrv _ lVemi. 125 BEG DIY 1: t. RicIc - . , lYemI; 2. Joe " lVemI; 3. w.de Whb (Honl. 125 BEG DIY 2: 1. R8ndy IlIiIeY lYlml; 2. Jim _ lYom/; 3. Mlc81Conohige lttanI. 125 NOV DIY 1: 1. Donny o..ldow lYemI; 2. Jim T_lV....;3.Donnye- IlVemI. 125 NOV DIY 2: 1. _ _ LMe lYemI; 2. Semmy A. _1SuzI: 3. _ --'lVemi.

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