Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

" . t••r. Call.......ArI.oa. . . .t.~1"D H . . . . . "'t.era CalII. . . .A....oa.....t.era H. . . . . . . .t ....a CaIIl. . . .Arl.. Western hotline of their short tracks at Saddle- 00 C') Roger Thompson 166xl leads Curtis Cannon in the Ughtweights short track. (Continu!dfrom page..J6) 18 king. Hames rode three and won three while Thompson picked up the 250cc Money TT and second in the half mile Money. The 250cc Money TT saw Randy Bird out in front with Thompson second and Jim Rosa third. Bird seemed to have a solid lock on the number one position but he didn't count on a tenacious Thompson chipping away with each lap. ~oss Klatt, who was fourth off the line, got by Rosa on the fourth lap but found Thompson to be an immovable object. With the white flag out Thompson made his move and took Bird and held him at bay to the checkered flag. Bird had enough for second with Klatt in for the new spot, Hames went wire to wire in the Open Money TT. Chris Cannon, Ross Klatt and Jim Rosa battled for the second slot with Cannon dropping out early with mechanical problems, allowing Klatt to lock into second. Rosa had a pretty solid third until Robert Land made a surprise move on him on the last lap and was there at the finish behind Hames and Klatt for the third. Win number two for the "Simi Flash"' was the 250cc Money half mile where he again romped wire to wire. Ross Klatt and Roger Thompson got off in the 2-!I spots with Bobby Beer fourth. Thompson got by Klatt one lap into the race and had a shake up in the sixth lap when a red flag caused a single file restart and Klatt again got the second spot. It was short lived as Thompson came right back to take. over second and Klatt went out with mechanical problems, allowing Brad Holt to take over third. With one lap to go Beer let it all hang out and got Holt to claim the show spot in the 11rider field. Hames was right back on the line for the l5-lap Open Money half mile 'and Jeff Johnson and Mike Minnig both had visions of bringing his win record to a halt. Hames got his usual super start and was out on top with Johoson second and Rick Reed third. The order remained the same with Reed putting on one fine display of defensive riding, holding Mike Minnig at bay for II laps before fatigue took over. Johnson was running a close second to Hames but just wasn't able to get through the comers as quick as Hames and at the checkered bad to settle for second with Minnig third. Joe Steffen, who finished fourth in the Open Moucy. IIIalf mile. had no trouble at all holding off all comers in the Open Expert half mile. Steffen led from the start and never looked back. Mario Ayers was out second but lost it to Dean Sykes on the tbird lap, regained it on the fourth and lost it again to Sykes on the sixth and then was dropped one more spot by Bill Matherson. Matherson had a surprise for Sykes as well as he took over second on the white flag lap and was still there at the end when it counted. Ayers was much more at home in the Open Expert TT where he had to hold off a l2-man field. Robert Pfetzing was off to a roaring lead but with only two laps down he went out, leaving the door open for Ayers. Ayers was more than happy to take over and show Robert Little and Keith Guthery the way home. Results TT 125 NOV: 1. Rex Wessels (Voml; 2. Bob DiehiIHonl' 3. HOfTY Leitner (Han). • 250 NOV: ,. Ken Brown (Voml; 2. Jim Stentz (Voml; 3. Donny Perez (Suz). . 250 AM: 1. Derrick Von'IVoml; 2. J. Word McKee IKow); 3. Bob Gobler (Voml. 250 EX: 1. Keith Guthery (Vom); 2. John Bonicldow IVom); 3. Bobby B_IVom). NS.O.T.H..G.: 1. Bob Huntomen (KTM); 2. Jim Chopmon IVom); 3. 80b Schneider (Voml. OPEN NOV: 1. Don Sheld IVom); 2. Ken Brown IVom); 3. _ Voung (Out). OPEN EX: 1. Moria Avon (Vom); 2. Robert Little (Voml; 3. Keith Guthery (Vom). 250 MONEY: 1. Roga- Thompoon IVom); 2. Rondy Bird lVom!; 3. R_ Klott (Kowl. OPEN MONEY: 1. "-te Homes (Voml; 2. R_ Klott IVom); 3. _ Lend lVom). HALF MILE 125 NOV: 1. Bob Diehl (Honl; 2. Rex WesseIsIVom); 3.Chipa.-(HonI. 250 NOV: 1. Jeff Con_ (Bull; 2. Jim Stentz IVom!; 3. Donny P.erez (Suz). 250 AM: 1. Derrick Von (Vom); 2. J. Word McKee (Kowl; 3. Bob Gobler (Vam). 250 EX: 1. Keith Guthery (Vom); 2. John Berricklow (Vom); 3. Oovid e-Iero lVoml. OPEN NOV: 1. Dove _ (Hon); 2. Den Sheld IVom); 3. Trevis W _ (Voml. N.S.O.T.H.G.: 1. DIM! Peters (Tril; 2. Jerry Peters (Vam); 3. Jim C'-> lVoml. OPEN AM: 1. Bob G..- lVom); 2. Robert Le Chence (Hon); 3. Pot McConn (Voml. OPEN EX: 1. Joe Steffen (Voml; 2. Bill Matherson IVoml; 3. Doen SykeslVom). 250 MONEY: 1. Pete Homes (KoWl; 2. Roger Thompson (Vam); 3. Bobby B_lVom). OPEN MONEY; 1. "-te Homes (Voml; 2. Jeff' Johll8On (H-DI; 3. Mike Minnig (Voml. Snow'alls, comes back to win at Llg~twelghts' Saddleback ST \ By Maureen Lee Photo by Dan MahonylWizard ORANGE, CA, NOV. 15 Riders rode two seven-lap motos and one 10-lapper when the Lightweights tht:ew another one back. As usual the surface got slippery as short traclts always do but no one dumped it badly even though there were some excursions off the track and some wild ovenlides. The Minis took a few spills and had some restarts. Kevin Ambrose came off in tum one in the fint moto causing a single file restart. Jason Bell won it over Brent Bowen. By their next two races it was slick enough that whoever got off the lin~ first and into the lead just about had it won, Bell won the second one but lost the third to Bowen. Brian Barrick took third overall inspite of a get off. The 125s had a super time, at least the front two did. Curtis Cannon and Brent Bowers zapped the rest of the class each time out. The first two went to Cannon and the third to Bowen; they really had at it. The second moto in particular had the pair of them dragging to the finish flag, with Curtis half a wheel over Brent with both of them going off the track at the end of the chute but with no damage done. The 250cc Juniro class had some very close racing. Brian Barricklow won with a 2-2-1 over Jimmy Snow's 1I-!l, butJim Morris had a lot of eyes on him in his attempts to get around them. Barricklow and Snow really bad a thing going, with Jimmy winning th fint two but sliding out and dropping it in the third one. He got going again but finished third hehind Morris. Number one 250cc Expert Randy Bird was having traction troubles all day. Even cutting his tires between motos didn't help too much.. .it was one of those days all racers get_ He finished third with a 2-2-4 and just couldn't keep it controlled enough to get Roger Thompson with his three straight wins or Curtis Cannon's second overall with !I-!l-2, even though he led the second race for quite a while. . . Dean Sykes won the 500cc combined JuniorIExpert class with a 2-1·1 over Larry Bird (I-2-!l) and Allen Swett (!I!I-4) with some of the closest racing all day. Every time they all came off the line they stayed in a crowd looking like they'd never get sorted out a bit. Vince Landy, Ron Bartels and Clyde Dennen were. all in the running too. while Larry Bird looked almost intimidating ~t times. He and his Triumph were skating around all over the track. It wa whoopee time. especially in the 10lapper when he and Dennen got into some close stuff with Clyde hanging onto second by a whislter. They may be "senion"' but mOllt of them go like the jelly bean brigade. Bill Bartels on a Kawasaki gave Larry Bird a fight 'several times while Irwin Moon kept both of them glancing backwards. In the second race Bird fell in the fourth tum while he was leading, with Moon and Bartels having an almost equal shot at the checkered flag right in front of them as Bartels got it. In the last one Bartels had the lead, then went into tum two a bit hard and skated out sideways, leaving room (or Bird to take over and Moon to grab second. The 250cc Money Race went to Jimmy Snow (!I-I-I) over Roger Thompson and his three straight seconds. Acting as the "spoiler"' was super smooth Steve Kanten who finished I-!l-5. He'd have done much better but early on the lecond race his bike just wouldn't catch a workable gear most of the time and the othen didn't hang around waiting for him. . I~ was great to see Rex Hailey out agam. He had a new piston in his bike tbat kept tightening up and you know how that feels... it finally seized for real in the last race. Dean Sykes (1-2-1) won overall over Clyde Dennen with a 2-!l-2. Third overaIl was Roben ~ Little, another one of those riden who rode two cLaues malting it a six race day for himself. Results MINt 1. . - BellVomI; 2. Brent _ _ lVom)' 3- an.n _lVoml. • 125 COMB: 1. CunIo Connon lVom)' 2. Brent _ _ lVomI; 3. an.n _ (Honl. • 250 NOV: 1. Jeff lVom); 3. Jim ~ lVom); s-.z lVom). 250 JR: 1. John _ 2. Lee Undquiol lVemI; 2. Jim Snow lVom); 3. Jomoe _lVom). 250 EX: 1. Roga- Thompoon lVom); 2. Cunia Connon lVom); 3. Rondy Bird lVomI. 500 NOV: 1. R~ UttIe lVoml; 2. Tim W _ lVoml; 3. Den Sheld lVom). 500 JRJEX: 1. Ooen SyIceo lVom); 2. Lerrv Bird (TriI; 3. AJIen s - t lVomI. SR: 1. Lerrv Bird (Tri); 2. Bill _ (Kow); 3. , . MoonlVoml. . 250 MONEY: 1. Jim Snow lVom); 2. Roger Thompoon lVom); 3. 5 _ Keral8n IVoml. 500 MONEY; 1. Deen Sykeo lVoml; 2. Clyde Dennen (Suz); 3.1lex Holley lVem!. PRROcloses '81 season By Kris Aaron·Benedum PHOENIX, AZ, NOV. 15 With the top 10 numbers for the 1982 season on the line, Phoenix Road Racing Organization riders were wearing their most seriour race faces for the last points race of 1981. No one's position was secure enou~h to allow a-ny kind of mistake. and nden who knew they bad a shot at ~t magic "top 10"' were positively gnm. Therefore, the heartbreak story of the day has to go to Jerry Cline. Cline w:as in line for.the number one plate by VIrtUTe of havmg the most consecutive wins, since he was tied for highest number of points with Norm Benedum. In practice. however, Cline drifted his II oq Suzuki through tum one, a decreasing radius sweeper, and unloaded woefully bard onto PIR's high banked oval. This unexpected (and most unappreciated) dump took him out of the running for first and left him with two broken ribs, a punctured lung and a demolished Suzuki. It was a hell of alOugh break for a good racer who h~worked hard for that number one plate all year. In the first race of the Gran Prix class, 1981 GP class winner Willie Adams pulled a tremendous lead on his II00 Suzuki by the end of the fint lap and held onto it for the entire race. Adams' only problem seemed to be picking his way through a pack of slower riders when he attempted to lap them. Back behind Adams was the !ISO Yamaha of Brian O'Neill, and right behind him was Kevin "'Pork"' Elliott on his 1050 Kawasaki. Since the PIR Layout seems to slightly favor the smaller, more nimble bikes, O'Neill and Elliott held their respective positions throughout the enitre IO-Iap race. Unfortunately, the race bad to be stopped during lap five when Ed "Wheelie King"' Hileman, mounted on a Behn Suzuki, attempted a crowdpleasing stunt by taking the stretch of track between turns one and two on one wheel. Both Hileman and the Behn looped over backwards and slid down the track for more than 100 feet, but this time the Behn decided it had had enough of this foolishness and climbed on top 'of Hileman for protection. When the dust had settled, the Behn suffered a bent front rim and Hileman was the one with massive dings and scrapes, sporting a broken forearm and a badly tom foot. Suffering from a case of greviously wounded _ (Continued Co pa,ge 20)

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