Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Terry Cunninghllm won the White River Netlonel Enduro with • two-pOlnt edge on three other rid... A.A National ChamRlonshl~·Enduro S.rl••: Round 7 Cunningham shines at White River National By Tom Kolnowski WHITE CLOUD, MI. JULY 26 Team Husqvarna's Terry Cunningham put his 420 Automatic to work on the tight woods sections of the nearly 160 mile White River National Enduro and claimed the overall win in the process, besting teammates Dick Burleson and Mike Melton by two points. Team Husky looked good in the woods 20 as well as on the result sheets. with Burleson topping the AA class and Melton taking A High Point. Another Husky rider. Brian Lohman, rode a 250XC to the B High Point award. "It was a good run. but a little too dry. and very tight. The Automatic has a slight advantage in this kind of stuff," said Cunningham after his win. There was a flurry of activiry in the pits as Cunningham came into the pits after the second loop and proceeded to pull the transmission. A spring had broken. and the Team Husky van didn't have the part, forcing him to "steal" one from another bike. Cunningham still managed to zero the next check going back into the woods. Dick Burleson discussed his AA win afterwards. "I planned to ride a conservative race, but I rode too conservative," said Burleson. "\ broke a big toe two weeks ago, and there are a lot of stumps out there. It was tighter than \ like, and I couldn't use the 430's power. .. Burleson came out on the short end of a three-way tie· breaker behind Melton and Fritz Kadlec for fourth overall. The White River Enduro Riders laid out a cloverleaf type course with three loops. The staging area served as the gas stops. Approximately 25 percent of the trail used was virgin. In an effort to make the event as fair as possible for all riders White River's Neil Scharphom elected to place all A and B class riders on the first 70 rows. followed by the AA riders placed one on a minute, two minutes apart. The AA riders were happy to see a run organized with them in mind. but more than a few B riders were unhappy about having to break trail for later riders. Resets were used after each of the six woods sections, preYenting road racing and giving sufficient time to gas and do maintenance. Course marking was excellent, with virgin sections marked extremely well. Team Suzuki was out in force with Gus Blakely filling in for vacationing John Morgan, Drew Smith is back on the National circuit after a lengthy recovery from injuries. "I've been riding a few local runs the past few weeks." said Smith. "It's been a long time, and it will take a while to regain my speed, but it sure felt good out there today ... Swuki's Ray Cosgrove rode a Full· floater modified RM465 to third in Open A. Jeff Fredette was ninth overall on his PE250. still using conventional suspension. Randy Martin had a good day, losing only 28 points for eighth overall. Can-Am's factory team, John Martin, turned in an excellent score of 26. placing him sixth overall. He is making his comeback felt after recovering from early season injuries. Fritz Kadlec was gunning for overall from the start on his Can-Am. but had a few problems. "I lost my front brake in a section. and I "kept hitting those trees at speed. I fell off a few times" said Kadlec. Kadlec must have done something right. as he turned the fastest time in that section. A few mistakes in the early sections could have made the difference for Kadlec. who ended up winning the 250cc A class on his 1979 vintage MX'er. John Fero, who left Yamaha earlier this year. showed up with a Husky l!50XC resplendent with a Yamaha IT 250 rear fender and tail light. Fero didn't enjoy one of his better days and dropped 45 points. Team True Sport had a hot/cold day. Jackie Penton was flying on his Kawasaki KDX175, losing 26 points. Penton said he should have shaved a point in the first section, but he still finished fifth overall. Vic Ely lost part of his front end and DNF. The top Michigan rider·in the event was Mike Keen and his Husky 450XC. Keen said he, "had a good day and could've shaved two points." His score of 27 was good for seventh overall and first in Open A. Ed Keen was the second best Michigan rider, losing 52 poinu on his Husky 250. Dick Burleson still has a hold on first in the point standings, with Mike Melton in second nine points behind· (167-158). Terry Cunningham remains in third with his win, making the series look very good for Husky. With five events remaining, either Melton or Cunningham could pull off the win should Burleson falter a bit. "If I'm going to lose, it might as well be one of our own guys," said Burleson after the event. Riders were checked in and out of each woods section, keeping everyone honest. KTM's Darryl Kuenzer was one second early gaining two points on his scorecard as he came into the fifth check. "I think tbeir mileage was off a tenth," said Kuenzer. He had planned to win the event in his bome state, but had problems stand in his way. The rest of the KTM team didn't fare too well either, with Kevin Lavoie finishing tenth overall and Rod Bush seventeenth on his 125. The event was well organized, with scores posted within 50 minutes after completion of the event. The 250 riders and pit crews were on their way ~6p.m. • Results OVERALL: Terry Cunningh8m (Husl23. AA: Dick Ilurte.ln (HuoI25. A High Point: Mike Mellon lHusl25. B High Point: Brian Lollmon IHusl45. AA: 1. Dick Ilurte.ln IHuo) 25; 2..... _ 1~1 28; 3. John - . . , IC·A) 28; 4. Rondy _ 1Suzl28; 5. Jell _ ISuzI 29; 6. Kevin ~ IKTM) 30; 7. Drew Smith lSuzl 33; 6. DerYvt K _ IKTMI 34; 9. Rod _ tKTM) 34; 10. FlDn _1"-134. 125cc A: 1. Ken _lY.ml 35; 2.lAmy ~ lHusI39; 3.l8o Gr*e lY.ml 49; 4. Jell EngeIlHusI51. 2OOa: A: 1. Tam ~ lY.ml 43; 2. Dew Pflum lY....I45; 3. Dew PIerce lKIWI47; 4. - . Henry lKIWI 46; 5. Dew Margon lKIWI48. 250cc A: 1. Fritz K.dIec CC-Al 25; 2. Ed K_ IHuol 32; 3. S_ . - IKTMl 33; 4. BilIIlerToth IKTMl 33; 5. A1_IHusl33. OPEN A: 1. Mike K_IHusl27; 2. ChucI<_ (Hual 35; 3. Rev Coogrow ISuzI 42; 4. Kevin M _ (Hual43;5. Tom-....lHusI43. 4-STROKE A: 1. Tam Boyd IHonI 51; 2. Dick Coy IHonI59; 3. Fronk Abney (HonI67. SR A: 1. Dick Nolle lHusl 45; 2. Cor1 Sdwphom IHual46; 3. Ted ProIf... lKowl 46. SUPER SR: 1. Oiclc l.en

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