Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Induatry roed ridera ford • awollen ItnNlm. Tarantino tops Pros at DeAnza MX By Kit Palmer SUNNYMEAD, CA, DEC. 6 LOP's Jim "I:"arantino (Hon) used a 2-1 score to top Malcolm Smith's Don Griewe (Hus), who placed 1-2, in the 250cc Pro class last 56 Sunday at DeAnza Cycle Park. But it wasn't as simple as it sounds. .When the gate dropped for moto one it was Griewe who roosted into the lead with Tarantino, Paul Sedler (Kaw), Rob Tolleson (Yam) and Scott Wilkinson (Hon) in pursuit. During the hectic first couple of turns Tarantino dropped back a few posi· tions but forced his way up to second by the end of the first lap. Griewe felt the pressure of Tarantino early in the race but never gave an inch to the ago gressive Honda rider. As the two lead· ers fought, the battle over third was in high gear. Sedler managed to hold back Tolleson until the ninth lap when Tolleson muck past, taking over the third spot. For the remaining few laps Tarantino was able to get alongside Griewe but never in front. When the checkered flag appeared Griewe had a half-bikelength lead over the second place finisher Tarantino. Third went to Tolleson while Sedler settled for fourth. Knowing he had to win the second moto to take first overall, Tarantino quickly jumped into the lead ahead of Griewe, ToUeson and Wilkinson. Griewe put some pressure on TarAlntino early in the moto but lost some distance in the later laps, unable to match the leader's pace. At the finish Tarantino took the win and overall while Griewe settled for second. Wilkinson took third but Tolleson's 3-4 score topped the 5·3 tally of Wilkinson. In the Open Pro class it was Griewe who completely dominated, winning both motos with ease. Second went to Michael Curry (Hon) while Arden Hadley took third. Kevin Montgomery (Suz) jammed into the lead of the first mota in the 125cc Novice class with rival John Cushingham (Suz) hot on his trac.ks. In third was John Bonacci (Hon) with Mark Wiedeman (Suz) in fourth. The battle over the lead was yerce but as the moto progressed Montgomery found himself with a farily comfortable lead. Wiedema.n took over the third spot just before Bonacci dropped ou t on the sixth lap. Montgomery went on to take the win while Cushingham and Wiedeman followed. At the start of moto two it was Cush· ingham who grabbed the lead ahead of Montgomery, Jeff Smith (Suz) and Wiedeman. Montgomery began to challenge Cushingham for the lead, soon taking over the top spot on the third lap. But Cushingham never gave up by pressuring Montgomery throughout the .1!19~0: .I!l.the en,d. ~t.Wl!S_ ~.o!ltgomery who crossed the finish line first with only a narrow margin over second. Wiedeman managed to slip past Smith on the last lap, taking third. Results PEE WEE: 1. Troy Tenmson (Varni; 2. Wayne Smith IHonl; 3. Sheila Siemon IVaml. JR CYCLE: 1. Bubba Erickson (Vam); 2. Buddy Antunez IVam); 3. Adam Fitzgerald IVaml. MINI BEG: 1. Bubba Erickson (Varni; 2. Tim Voung (Vam); 3. Robert Codwall (Vam). MINI NOV: 1. Mike FotzgeraId (Yam); 2. Gene Beldwin (Vam); 3. Roy Chambers (Vam). 125 BEG: 1. Jim Owen ISuz); 2. Alex Lopez (Suzl; 3. Ken Coleman (Suz). 125 NOV: 1. Kevin Montgomery (Suz); 2. John CUshingham (Suzl; 3. Mark Wiedeman (Suz). 1251NT: 1. Jake Roach (Suz); 2. Jim Kohora (Suz); 3. Mike Roberts IVaml. 125 PRO: 1. Randy Vena (Vaml; 2. Chris Scott (Suz); 3. Donnie S;grist (Sull. 250 BEG: 1. John Gable (Suz); 2. Danny Moroles (Y_I; 3. S _ Chrislensen (Hen). 250 NOV: 1. Dave Jones IVam); 2. Rick Hughes; 3. Roger Kollos IHen). 250 INT: 1. Kinney Jonas (Hon); 2. Tommy Hodgin lSuz); 3. Kelly McGuire (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Jim Tarantino IHenI; 2. Don Griewe (HuaI; 3. Rob Tolleson (Yam). OPEN NOV: 1. Bill McLawson (V_); 2. Ray _ I lHonl; 3. Allen Popoff (Vom). OPEN INT: 1. Ron Lawson tHuol; 2. Vertin V.. Zoe lMai~ 3. Teny Davis 1_). OPEN PRO: 1. Don Griewe (Hus); 2. Michael CUfry (Henl; 3. Arden Hadley (Honl. VETS JR: 1. Mike Knox IHusI; 2. Dennis Porte.. . IV_); 3. Gary Rupp ISulI. VET INT: 1. William C~ne lHuaI; 2. G_ Goodrich IKawI; 3. lan'y Lowen ISulI. VET SR: 1. Rick Sieman (Suz); 2. Jade Cocking IKaw); 3. Ed Mitchetti (Mai). Industry execs gather for road rIde By Eric Anders~n LAGUNA HILLS, CA, DEC. 6 No big cad, three· piece suits or briefcases showed up at the first Annual Industry Ride starting point in Laguna Hills. Executives , traditionally seated behind a corporate-level desk or around a Motorcycle Industry Council conference table littered with agendas, proposals and lukewarm coffee, donned their leathers, hel· mets and gloves for a 200 mile leisurely paced cruise through some virtually undiscovered backroads of southern California. An after·hours brainstorming session several months ago between Roxy Rockwood (AMCO), Tony McAndrew (Continental), and Don Graves (InterpaTt) culminated in the form of 50 decked out motorcycles and riders anxious for a well-deserved day of recreational activity. The destination was Don Graves' Valley Center ranch in north San Diego county. Activities along the way included a poker run, taste testing smoked marlin at Fallbrook's Packing House Restaurant, some scenic road riding, and watching Russ Collins surf his CBX through a little·too·deep water crossing on the De Luz Road near Temecula. Industry participants from the following companies were represented; Interpart, S&W Engineered Products, R.C. Engineering, Martek; Motorcycle Dealernews, Kawasaki Motor Corporation, Yamaha Motor Corporation, BMW North America, AMCO, Continental Products, and the Motorcycle Industry Council. Yamaha's Al Rhodes walked away $25 richer with a winning poker hand while the tialance of the $5.00 per bike donation was given to Hank Scott Get Well Fund. The Graves' staged a real chuck· wagon feed that stuffed all the vacant spots in the famished, but satisfied industry riders. It was an unusual gettogether because of its social, rather . than business atmosphere; and those bench racing stories really flew. Look for another industry ride - this time an overnighter - in April 1982. Cheers to the motorcycle industry folks. They're keeping it all together tool the second round win as Davis DNF with mechanical problems. Maico rider Bill Jewell foUowed Banning to the checkers as Vargus again placed third. Banning's 4-1 score was good enough for first over· all. "I can't believe ill" Banning exclaim· ed as he picked up his share of the purse. Vargus earned second overaU, and Wal· lingsford was third. The Vet Expert race pitted Suzuki riders Marvin Olson and Ben Wehr and T. White. Olson led most of the flJ'St moto, especially where it counts. At the checkers. White crossed the line se· cond ahead of a charging Wehr. Olson ran into problems in the second moto as did BSA rider Chuck "Feets" Minert, giving White the win and first overall ahead of Wehr. Olson fmished third and Minert grabbed fourth. Banning, HardIck, Myerscough first and fast at SSM Results By Terry Whytal ORANGE, CA, DEC. 5 Newly-signed Honda Team memo ber Brian Myerscough demon· strated his motocross mastery at this week's Saddleback Saturday MX by topping both rounds of the 125cc Pro class despite strong competition from La Habra Yamaha's Mike Beier. Suzuki test rider Clint Hardick used the latest water·cooled Floater to cap· ture the overaU win in the tough 250cc Pro race while Steve Banning powered his 465cc Suzuki to the Open Pro victory. Myerscough just flat motored away· with the first 125cc moto, opening up a 40 second lead on second placed Beier, then cruising to the checlters. Beier held a secure runner·up spot at the finish as Suzuki riders Gary Bowman and Tony Gomez battled for third place, with Bow· man getting the nod. Round two opened with a replay of the Myerscough·Beier 1-2 punch but this time Beier stayed close enough to pressure the former minibike star and actually closed near the mid·point. Myerscough was unfazed however, and danced across the finish as Beier faded slightly in the final laps. Gomez crossed the line third to earn the third place share of the cash while Bowman had to settle for fourth. A four-rider battle raged throughout the 250cc Pro race as Can-Am's Juan Benavidez, Honda's Jim Tarantino, Yamaha rising star Rick Johnson and Suzuki ace Hardick dueled for the lead. Hardick edged Tarantino in round one action as Johnson motored across the line third and Benavidez blasted his way to fourth. Johnson came to the line determined to improve on his first moto performance and he quickly moved into the lead, trailed by Hardick, Tarantino and Ben· avidez. Johnson never looked back as he kept his YZ tapped out and screaming all the way to the flag. The intense battle for second place kept Hardick within striking distance of Johnson but he settled for second place for the moto since it insured the overall victory. Johnson went home with second place money, Tarantino grabbed third and Benavidez earned fourth ahead of Yamaha-mounted Gary Jones. Maico rider Kevin Davis powered to the first Open Pro win ahead of Husky loyalist Brent Wallingsford. Maico· mounted Brian Vargus dueled Suzuki pilot Steve Banning for third place at the flag with Vargus reaching the line first. Banning adjusted a bit better to his first ride on a Suzuki and motored to OPEN PRO: 1. Steve Banning (Suz); 2. Brian Vargus (Mai); 3. Brent Wallingsford (Hus). 250 PRO, 1. Clim Hardick ISuz); 2. Rick Johnson IVam); 3. Jim Tarantino (Hen). 125cc PRO: 1. Brian Myerscough IHon); 2. Mike Beier IVam); 3. Tony Gomez (Suz). OUTLAW: 1. Terry Whytal (Vam); 2. Dan Basnett IVam). OPEN INT: 1. Tibor Papp IVam); 2. Kelly Saulie IVam); 3. Jim Beltinck IMai). 250 tNT: 1. Bill Glore (Hus); 2. Steve Gilbert (Vaml; 3. Steve RusseIISuz). 125 INT: 1. ,Rudy Dickinson (Sull; 2. Mike Fischer ISuz); 3. Ryan Roberts (Yam). VET EX: 1. T. White (Suz); 2. Bert Wehr ISulI; 3. Marvin Olson ISuz). VET INT: 1. Jody Waiset (Suz); 2. Loria W _ ISuz); 3. John Tartaglia lMai). VET NOV: 1. Robert Berdyck (Mall; 2. Jemes Banning ISuzl; 3. Malk Canada (Mail. OPEN NOV: 1. Mork Hall IVaml; 2. Don Arntwo. (Mail; 3. Ed_d Hen... (Yaml. 250 NOV: 1. Mark Buchy IHuol; 2. S _ GabrielIIon (Yaml; 3. William Kelly (Yaml. 125 NOV: 1. Jimmy Palmer IV_I; 2. Kenny Clifton (SulI; 3. Rodge< McDaniollSulI. 250 BEG: 1. Mark D ~ lSuzI; 2. lan'y Labrot (Yam); 3. Gary Dennis (Yoml. 125 BEG: 1. Den... Chafe IVaml; 2. Tom Acltins 1SuzI; 3. Rick - . , (Yaml. MINI EX: 1. Rick Hemme lSulI; 2. IInJce Bunch ISuz); 3. Paul Denis (Kawl. MINI INT: 1. Jason " ' - (Y_I; 2. John Gerjes (Kaw); 3. Dave Tr_ (Y_I. MINI NOV: 1. Gordon K.... (Y_I; 2. Anthony French (Yam); 3. JeH Clifton IVaml. MINI BEG: 1. JeH Kent (Kawl; 2. Frank _ _ (Kaw); 3. Todd Thomas IKawl. North HIgh continues winnIng ways at Corona HSMX By Kit Palmer CORONA, CA, DEC. 4 Doing what they like best, Nonh High continued their winning ways by dominating the high school MX action at Corona Raceway. North gathered 288 points toward their victory ahead of second place finisher Redlands with 154. Only 16 points separated the second place school of Redlands and the third and fourth place schools of Poly and Mater Dei, 149-138. One of the more point-productive classes of the night for North came from the 125cc Novice class when Scott Mapes (Kaw) and James Conti (Hon) took a 1-2 sweep ahead of third place fmisher Charles Gurbino of Poly. Mapes won both motos while Conti took second each time out. The 175cc Senior class saw a very exciting battle between Mater Dei's Vince McMahon (Yam) and Poly's Joe Rincon (Kaw). McMahon grabbed the holeshot in both motos followed closely by Rincon and North's Phil Pia. The two leaders ran away, engaged in a duel for the top spot. But McMahon's quick pace was a bit too much for Rincon as McMahon went on to narrowly take the win in both motos. Pia finished third. Chad Barnes (Kaw) of Mater Dei took the victory in each moto of the Mini Novice. clau. .while ,jim Spu

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