Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

i Northern California-Northern Nevada-Oregon-Washington-Idaho-Utah-Alaska-Canada- Northern California-Northern Nevada-Oregon-Washington-Idaho-Utah· • NORTHERN DATELINE . ~ E ...... 00 0") ...... -"...'. ' p.. <: , the lead. Bryan Wargo's Yamaha took the holeshot. Randy Blair and Dan Chandler were chasing him, but Wargo's bilte was flying around the track. Good blocking and quick thinking by,Blair kept Chandler behind him for two laps. Chandler went once around the track to get Wargo. By lap four the pace was set: Chandler fint, Wargo second and Blair third. By the second moto, the clouds had dumped about a half inch of rain on the trad thus giving way for a whole new type of race. It was impossible to wear goggles and see. If you were an unlucky sucker who got behind some guy with new l!1ud-throwing Itnobbies. you might be in serious trouble. Not so in the case of Rid Ryan. He led the 12&s for awhile. However. his front wheel took a tum for the wont and landed him in the mud. Chandler saw this as a perfect way to get away from thOle aforementioned Imobbies and won with Rodney Smith second and Blair third. The overall went to Chandler, Blair and Smith. The 80cc Novice class had the highest number of guys riding their second moto. Out of 400 riden today, only half rode their second motos. Before the second go 'round. the announcement came to monen the course. This way the Minis wouldn't have to use pontoons to get around the track. Jeff Glonini won. These Mini riders had a fine time on the track. For the ones that didn't place, they were happy just tofiniah. Moto two of the 2&Occ Expen race was fantastic. Eric McKenna rode the fint Open moto and had to be led off the trad. His eyes were so blinded and swollen from the mud he couldn't see. The good guys at the ambulance must have done a good flush job. Lap one. moto two in 250cc Expert saw Eric in the lead position. A murmur went through the crowd, "Is this the same guy?" Dan Chandler was hot on his heels with Randy Losh chasing Chandler. Lash kept his third position for the full race. Not so for McKenna and "Magoo." On lap two, Chandler's SuzuIti went around McKenna. McKenna hates mud in his eyes and fought and fought. By lap four. he had his fint place bad and Itept it to the checltered flag. 40 The Open Expen race was the last one on the program and 2!l riden blasted from the gate. Out of tum one, Allen "Superman" Berluti led the pad with Jim Ellis, McKenna, Dave Wood and Joey Schlag following. Ellis dropped bad behind Wood and McKenna. On lap three, Ellis pushed his Yamaha around Wood in the slick stuff to take third. McKenna had to be led off the trad for a DNF with Wood in third and Schlag talting founh. Berluti got a little bit excited about moto two and proceeded to jump the gate and get caught. He got penalized a lap which made him mad later. Schlag didn't mind because after lap' three. he had passed Berluti to take first. Berluti took a second at the checkered. then was put down to seventh. Ellis came out of tum one in from of Lash, but Losh surprised him in a quid low berm pass to take the checltered third. Results 125 EX: 1. Don C _ CSuz); 2.1l8ncIy Bloir lVom): 3. ~ Smilh lYoml. 125 JR: 1. _ - . 1Suz): 2. Loren Godbee CSuz); 3. Rod _ _ CSuz). OT PKN: 1. W. _ (Moi~ 2. Rabort Wood lYoml: 3. W. LnDn "-It lMoiI. OT JR: 1. IIilI S_lHuIl; 2- Philip _ lHuol: 3. S_.Jahr-. (Huol. OT EX: 1. JD (Moil; 2. R _ SchiRing !Moi); 3. Dan "SmokeY' _lVom). VETS PKN: 1. _ Fr-. Sr. lVoml; 2. Devid -.cae lMoiI; 3. Bob DeI"'(~. V£1'S JR: 1. HInt DunIwn lMoil: 2. Jim s--. (Mool. VETS EX: 1. Torry SogelY~ 2.lMTy_ (Mool: 3. IIiII Grigg (Moil. 125 N(N DIV 1: 1. Kenny Thor-. lSuzl: 2. Rich Morgen lVoml; 3. RK:t.d Weohbum (Suz). , 80 PKN: 1. _T_lVoml. 80 PKN: 1. Jeff GIorIini lYoml: 2. Devid c.n lVom): 3. John _lVoml. 80 JR: 1. Kevin Snider lVoml: 2- floenk Wilder lVom); 3. Jim Copio 1Honl. 80 EX: 1. r"" _lVoml; 2. Tv-> Vohtond lVoml. 125 PKN DIV 2: 1. S_ _ lYom): 2. Tod .Jobb (Honl: 3. V."" Demello 1Suz). 100 NOV: 1 . _ c.r lYoml. e- l00JR:l._~CSuz). POWDER PUFF: 1. KoIIy GnJlI.- lVom): 2. Metci Micholec 1Suz): 3. PIm WohI(Suzl. 250 EX: 1. Eric _ _ (Mool; 2. Don C _ CSuz); 3. Jim EIiIlVoml. 250 JR: 1. _ ~ lVoml:'2- GIonn DoviI lVom); 3. Ron T~ (Honl. 250 PKN 0tV 1: 1. _ _ CSuzl; 2. Ron _ _ ae-t. 250 PKN 0tV 2: 1. lMTy _ lVoml: 2. Mike FUdge lK8wl; 3. Kevin G100peII CSuzl. OPEN EX: 1. Joey Sc:hlog 11CTM); 2- Jim E11io lVlm): 3. 0... Wood lYoml. OPEN JR: 1. _ _ (Moil; 2. Cliff e lYoml: 3. IIilI Mc:D.vIU lVom). OPEN NOV: 1.. Kurt Mozingo lSuzl; 2. Ronnie .Jahr-. CSuz); 3. Brion Moody (Han). ~lYoml;3. Mud makes It tough at ,Watsonville By Gerry Reagan WATSONVILLE, CA. MAR. 22 While most of the race tracks in northern California were cancelling their events because of the heavy rains, ,the Ridge Runners of Santa Cruz decided to go for it. After all, one of their furmest races had been their famous Mud-O-Cross a couple of years ago. and besides, motocross is supposed to be tough. The ram let up on Saturday morning as the club memben began the work of laying out the course and set· ting up the mow fencing. The track was a quagmire in spots and some places had to be rero~ted around the more treacherous mud holes. The Veterans class was the first to test the track and all but one rider made it through the fint moto. Bob Bowen (Hus) took the win after a short battle with Bruce Kelly (Hus) and former National Champion Bob Grossi made a return to the sport, finishing third. Grossi. who has not raced for a number of yean, got the holeshot but slipped in the first turn, having to fight his way back to third through the 15·rider field. Bowers took the win in the second moto followed by Rich Laltlte (Yam) with Kelly talting third. Grossi's bike quit on him and he was unable to finish. Perhaps the most exciting race of the day was the 12&cc Expen's second moto. Rick Ryan, the Yamaha factory suppon rider whom only a year ago was riding as a junior, had a hardfought battle with Suzuki-mounted Mike Sprenger. Sprenger got the holeshot with Ryan moving into the lead on the second lap. Sprenger dropped bad a little ways but was soon hound· ing Ryan around the muddy track. Sprenger shot to the lead on the main straightaway when Ryan had trouble maintaining his speed on the slippery surface. Ryan followed for a lap and slipped back into the lead on an off-camber uphill. Sprenger once again shot past on the same straight and Ryan had to work hard to get the lead away again. By now though, Ryan had figured out the right line on the straight and when Sprenger tried to make his move again Ryan held him off, winning the moto to make it two for two. Jim Stewan of Anchorage, AK summed it all up regarding the mud. He had heard about the race on his way back from the Florida Series and decided to try out a nonhero California track. At the beginning of the day, he was looking over the track and talIting about the different courses he has ridden during his travels. I told him this was not really typical of the traw in this area, especially since it was so muddy. "That's okay." he replied, "I like riding in the mud. 1 think I'll do okay. " Well. Jim did okay, .finishing fifth in the Open Expen class, but when he came back after his second race it was apparent he had learned something about natural terrain motocross at the Watsonville track. "I thought I'd ridden in mud beforel" he exclaimed. Results \lET PKN: 1. Lorry 11II<. (KIwI; 2. .lick "McMuffin" _IHonl. \lET JR: 1. ~ Yom (Suz): 2. Art Mc:OIde (Moi). \lET EX: 1. Bob - . (Hull: 2- Ilruce KIIIy (Hull: 3. Rich Loltke lVoml. OT NOV: 1. MIx Goode lVom); 2. frId Wilcox lVoml. OT JR: 1. J.- GIIIo (Moi~ 2- frId _ (Huol. OT EX: 1. Rich Schilling _1. 125 NOV I: 1. - . . .Jor.- lVernl: 2. HilIry MUIC8lIII (Suzl; 3."'" CIruIItDpini lYoml. 125 PKN R: 1. Doug GiIIenI (Suzl; 2. Scott PhiHp CSuz): 3. _lloI1lIMrIlYoml. 125 AM: 1. MIke _ (Hanl; 2- _ _ (~; 3. Scott K_lHonI. 125 EX: 1. Rid< Ryon lYoml: 2. MikI Sprenger (Suzl; 3. Jan Morgen 1Suz). _ 250 NOV: 1. Jim S1UCky lVoml: 2- Milul GIuKh lVernl; 3. Clwtie Lozier lVom). 250 JR: 1. _ Miller lVoml; 2. Glen DoviIlVoml; 3. ChriI Mom (Honl. 250 EX: 1. Bill GrOIIi tHuol: 2. Troy o.tton-. . lYoml: 3. J.H Nicholl. OPEN NOV: 1. Joe W. . lYoml: 2. Williem GrIhIm lVoml; 3. Soon 0mIiIw lVoml. OPEN AM: 1. Eric Von Urff lVoml; 2- Coin HIm lMoiI; 3. Scott _lHuIl. OPEN EX: 1. Jerome ~ IC-Al: 2. Bill GrOIIi (Huol; 3. ~ ZIck lVoml. Sun snag. Eugene MXwln. By Suanne Light EUGENE. OR, MAR. 22 Ron Sun took advantage of good track conditions here at Territorial Raceway by taking the 250cc Pro class wins but not without a battle from Steve Williams who won the fmt moto. Jim Wiant of Springfield won both I2&cc Pro motas for the over· all as did Mitch Kirkpatrick in the Open Pro class. Moto one, the 12&cc Pros had a muddy track to face. being quite slimy. Joe Spangler (Eugene Suz) pulled the holeshot and led on lap one followed by Rod Keller (Eugene Suz) and Loch Names (Yam of Springfield) pres· suring for the lead. Wiant went by Names and went after Keller. Wiant took Keller by midway for second. When Spangler slid into the slithery slime. Wiant took the lead with Keller, Spangler and Names staying close. At the flag it was Wiant, Keller, Spangler, Rick Burkinshaw (Suz) and Kevin White (Yamhill Yam). Moto two saw Spangler, Wiant, Kel· ler, Clay Light (Gresham Suz). Burltinshaw. White and Kent Egli (Yam) hold down top spots on lap one. Second time around had it Wiant, Spangler. Names. Light and Burltinshaw in front spots. The fint three had a gap then came a Lightl Burkinshaw dice (bringing back a grudge match of mid· '70s 125cc Expen dices) while a KellerIEgli race for fifth developed be.hind them. At the flag. it was Wiant (1-1). Names (4· 2) and Spangler (!l-!l) taltin~ first. second and third as well as fmlShing that way overall. In 2&Occ Pro mud-o-crossing. Steve Williams (Herb's Yam) took the scratch followed by Skeet Hise (Eastside Kaw), Kevin Jansen (Beaverton Kaw) and Ron Sun (Hon support). Sun went down while Williams walked aW;ly froni the othen. Open Pros were also there as Mitch Kirkpatrick (Gresham Suz/Hus) followed. Jansen and Hise swapped spots many times while Sun made up lost time. Williams had everything under control taking the win while Hise and Jansen collided. opening the door for Sun to snag a second. Kirkpatrick took the Open win followed by Dave Shepard (Yam) of Bend. OR. Moto two saw a drier track as Wil· Iiams again took the lead with Sun, Jansen and Hise following. Williams went down on the doubles. biting it hard and losing the lead which Sun inherited. Sun did some trick one· handen off the tower jump. Sun took the win and overall with his 2·1, Jansen slid out and Hise took a second and second overall with a !l-2 while Jansen took third with 4-!l finishes. Kirkpatrick took the second moto for the Open wins as Sh~ard went 2-2. In I2&cc Intermediate racing, Terry Balter (Yam) took the first moto win with Duane Taylor (Hon) taking second and Mark Esterberg (Yam) third. Moto two. Balter again led the troops only to lose it on the white flag lap talting second behind Loren Erick· son (Yam). Baker took the overall with a 1-2. Results PEE WEE: 1. .JeIf Doily lVlm~ 2. Jimmy Row lVlfTI). MINI NOV: 1. Tony V_lVom); 2. JIff DIlly (Yoml; 3. Todd K _ (KIw). MINI INT: 1. Billy _ lVoml: 2. llIron Fleming (Suzl; 3. CounnIy Shiffer lVoml. 100 NOVAIIIT: 1. Dow _ I lVoml: 2. Greg flo_lVoml: 3. Rid< GundIIon (Suzl. 125 NOV: 1. John Woodley lHon); 2. Lorry HenIon lVlfTIl; 3. John MimllSuzl. 125 IIIIT: 1. Torry _ . lV"",); 2. Loren Erickson IYoml; 3. Duone T~ lHonI. '25 PRo: 1. Jim WlII1tlVoml; 2. Loch _IYoml; 3. Joe Spengler lSuzl. 250 NOV: 1. Don S~g lVam}: 2. Mike Hill IHonI; 3. Draw B.nav (Han). 250 IIIIT: 1. JIff Tllbol (Honl; 2. Mika 5molhars IKIw): 3. BiN Row lVom}. 25OIPRO: 1. Ron Sun IHanI; 2. Skeat HiM (KIWI: 3. Kevin J..,..., IKlwI. OPEN PRO: 1. Mitch Kirkpotrid< (Hus); 2. Dave ~dlVom). OPEN NOV: 1. Dow !lick (Yom); 2. Derek Louring lVlfTI); 3. Mork Cogbufn IYIfTI). OPEN INT: 1. Rick Havil lVlm): 2. RIndy Simplon lVoml; 3. Devid S_lVom). OT: 1. &ic _ I M o i ) ; 2. 1 I I _ (Yoml; 3. Dow Kribe (Suzl.

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