Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Costa Mesa - San Bernardino - V.nmra - A••ara - Na. . - Coeta M_ - San Bernardino - V.ntDra - A••nrn - Na. . - Cona M_ - . . . 1 SPEEDWAY WEEK Pieper, Steele snag Denver wins By Sam Slideways and JoAnne Mills DENVER, CO, MAY 14 After winning their heats and semis, both Ken Pieper and Rick Steele defeated all challengers tonight to score main event wins on one of the roughest tracks this year at the Western Show Stock Arena. First Division action was as hot as ever with several top riders being eliminated the first heat race. After several very fast semis, the stage was set for an exciting Handicap main. Ken Pieper (Music 80's, Copyboy, Flash M/C and Colo. Concept Hair Design) was the first out o n the track. He was followed by Gary Promrnel, in for the season from South Africa on one of Gene PI ues' Jawas. Pulling out after Prommel was Dave Pieper followed by Mark Borgman on his third motorcycle for the night, Fred Martin's four-valve. When the tapes went up, Mayberry got the lead followed by Steele, Dave Pieper and Prommel. On the second lap Borgman dove in deep and passed Prommel. By the third lap, Ken Pieper had passed Prornmel, Borgman and brother Dave Pieper to take over third place. On the fourth lap, Ken Pieper passed Steele and began closing in on the leader, Mayberry. Steele tried to pass Pieper but was unable to on the last lap. Pieper dove in hard and passed Mayberry in tum two to take over the lead and win. After an exciting Scratch consy,the line-up for the Scratch main pulled onto the track. Mark Borgman on Fred Martin's Jawa took the outside. Scott Ormiston took the number three slot on the EEO Co. Racing/Burmah Castrol Jawa. In the n umber two slot Rick Steele (Senti Yamaha), and on the pole was Handicap main winner Ken Pieper. Pieper and Borgman got the best starts, running in the comer side by side. When they came out Pieper had a slight lead over Borgman, Steele and Ormiston followed. On the third lap, after several attempts by Borgman to pass Pieper, Borgman got by him on the front straight. Borgman went into tum one too hot and had to lay it down. This caused Pieper, who was right on his tail, to go wide and lose it in the cushion. This gave the lead to Steele who held on despite a great deal of pressure from Ormiston for the win. Results HANDICAPCONSY: 1. Bill Walsh; 2. SCott OrmisIon; 3. Mark Corbett; 4 . Larry Larson. SCRATCHCONSY; 1. DonMa,I>eny. 2. JimTroudt; 3. Bill Walsh. SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Rick5~ 2. Scott OrmiSlon. HANOICAPMAlN: 1. Ken ~ 2. Don Mayberry; 3. Rick 5 .....e; 4 . Mark Borgman; 5. Gary Prommel; 6.D.... ~. Bast, Gilbertson share Auburn opener By Jann Houston AUBURN, CA, MAY 14 An extra long and wet winter finally came to an end tonight, when northern California opened its 1982 speedway sea- 20 son at the Auburn Fairgrounds. The attendance almost doubled the 1981 opener, resulting in purse overage, a first in recent northern Cali- fornia speedway history for a regular race night, bringing joy to the racers and a great amount of pride to the promoter, John Houston, who hopes more than anyone that this is just the beginning of much more to cornel Andy Gilbertson, like all other Junior Speedway riders, dreamed of the day he'd ride the big bikes, the day he'd win the Handicap main, and the ultimate dream, the day he'd heat Mike Bast ! It all came true for the l7-year-old tonight as he kicked off the 1982 season in a style that will be hard to equal. More importantly, he did it with professional style and skill making it a well deserved victory. Wearing lucky number 13 for the first time this season, Andy took the lead out of the gate and held a two bikelength lead for the first three laps. Pat Linn was second, really feeling the pressure from Buddy Robinson, who was leaving him no room for error. In the Scratch main event, Mike Bast, who always makes it a special night of speedway when he comes to town, was on the pole; Buddy Robinson was second, Tom Ferris was third, and Duane Yarrow was on the wall. Bast was well into the lead by turn two on the first lap, and there was no getting close; that was the finish - Bast, Robinson, Ferris and Yarrow. Results SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Mike Best; 2. Buddy Robinson: 3. Tom ferris; 4 . Duene Verrow. HANDICAP MAIN; 1. Andv Gilbertson; 2. Buddy Robinson; 3. Pat Unn; 4. Dennis Robinson; 5. Mike Best; 6. Charlie Morse. DIY TWO: 1. Raben Curry; 2. Dan S _ n ; 3. 51.... Crewford. DIV THREE: 1. Glenn Da.is; 2. Rick Stephens; 3. Jim Brenner. JUNIOR: 1. Bert Best; 2. Mika Parsons; 3. John Houston. Jr. Linn, Orlandi awesome in Auburn By Jann Houston AUBURN, CA, MAY 21 Perfect weather and perfect track conditions aided in making the second night of the 1982northern California speedway season a big success for everyone concerned. The Handicap main gave the . charged up Pat Linn fan club something to cheer about. After a red £lag restart, caused when Dennis Robinson and John Volk went down on the first lap, Linn took the lead riding on the outside with Buddy Robinson, Dennis Robinson and Andy Gilbertson in a side-by-side battle for second. According to the riders, it was a "fast track" and this race was proof posi ti vel In turn three on lap one. Linn crashed Gilbertson, leaving tire marks on his leathers, causing John Volk to meet the track as well. Popular opinion is that another red £lag was in order; however, the referee did not see it that way. Fact is, he probably didn't see it at all, and the race continued with Linn holding the lead, as Buddy Robinson came on the outside in a last minute drive which allowed Linn the checkered Ilag by inches. For Buddy Robinson, it was a second place replay of opening night when Gilbertson took the win. Hang in there Buddy, your day will cornel Dennis Robinson took third. Controversy or not, what a race. In the Scratch main, newly wed Paul Orlandi showed the crowd why he holds the northern California record in Scratch main wins (1980, nine in a row) and why he 's the only northern California rider qualified for the June 12 World Qualifier in Long Beach. Taking the lead out of the gate, it was Duane Yarrow threatening in every turn, waiting for his chance. Buddy Robinson was third, and Ron McGill fourth . In turn two on lap four, Yarrow lost control and went into the wall , causing McGill to go down hard right behind him. Results SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Paul Orlandi; 2 . Buddy Robin. son; 3. Ron McGill; 4. Duane Varrow. HANDICAP MAIN; 1. Pet Unn; 2. Buddy Robinson; 3. Dennis Robineon; 4. Ron McGill; 5. John Volle 6. Andv Gilbertson. SECOND DIY; 1. Da. . Norman; 2. Kevin Hugill; 3. Robert Curry. THIRD DIV ; 1. Kevin Franch; 2. Tom Brenner; 3. Dennis Phillips. JUNIOR; 1. Scon Brant: 2. John Houston, Jr.; 3. Ban Bast . Invisi ble M orans don't get in M iller's way at Ventura By William R. Locey. M.A. VENTURA, CA, MAY 25 The Morans, two of the best speedway riders around, were not around, unless they were so fast they were invisible tonight at the Ventura Raceway. Actually, as you may have guessed, the program cover boys failed to show up, but plenty of others did. Mike Faria, already a dominant force in SoCaI speedway, won the Scratch main for the fourth time in only eight tries. And young Rick Miller celebrated his initial month in D-l by avoiding earlier bummers, such as flat tires or falling down, and won his first Handicap main off the zero-yard line. His mentor and pal, Lance King, was on hand to cheer him on but did not ride. A familiar pattern has begun to emerge in Scratch racing - Mike Faria is much better than everyone else. Although Fillmore's Bobby McLain applied the heat in a semi before crashing, Faria won all of his rides comfortably, including the main by about 10 lengths. Shawn McConnell, going for it on the outside (where else?), was second. Last year's hot rookie, Rob Pfetzing, had his pfastest night of the year here and was third. While the Invisible Morans are becoming something of a Ventura tradition , some things never change, such as the scores of young girls who strut their stuff through the grandstands, convincingly pretending they don 't see or hear the scores of energetic male patrons still intent on profecring the Animal Approach. After all, it's the Commotion By The Ocean... Next week, direct from England: Nobody. Honest. Results SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Mik.Faria; 2. Shewn McConnell; 3. Rob P1etzing; 4 . 51ev. Lucero. HANDICAP MAIN; 1. Rick Miller; 2 . SI.... Lucero; 3. Mike Faria; 4 . Tom Hugh. .; 5. Steve Bauer; 6. Shewn McConnell. SECOND DIY : 1. Anav Northrup; 2 . Chris Reichardt; 3. Tim McCasland; 4 . Bob Ott; 5. George Armas; 6. Jim O·Dall. THIRD DIY; 1. Keith Rylance; 2. Chris Smart; 3. Carlos Ca rdo Ni; 4 . GuyHelderlein; 5. SIeve McFar· land; 6. Pal Smith. M ATCH RACE: Charlie Moree del . Guy Ermolenko. It took Kelly Moran three dif- ferent motorcycles, but he edged "Flyin' Mike"Faria by a hair to win the Scratch main at John LaDouceur's Inland Motorcycle Speedway tonight. Moran (Rovezzini Electric/Vera's) started the night on a Weslake. After the bike sputtered around in the preliminaries he switched to a Jawa for his pole position start in the Scratch main. Faria (Cycle Gear Jawa) got oui first from the number four spot on the original start over the Moran brothers and Alan Christian (STP/ Carlisle Godden). Christian tried to take the entire field on the inside in tum three, but he got a piece of Kelly on his way by. Kelly went down, throwing his machine away in the process. Shawn Moran then had nowhere to go and nailed Kelly's bike, sending himself to the dirt and causing a red flag, As the Morans comprised half of the field and it was the first lap. a complete restart was in order. On the restart Shawn Moran got out first aboard the Vera's Leathers/ PJ-I Godden. Faria. who has been so close to winning his first IMS Scratch main of the season anum ber of times, took the lead in tum four on the opening circuit. Christian moved by Shawn for second on lap two with Kelly , who couldn't get the jawa to fire for the restart, now on Mike Curoso's Weslake, taking Christian for second and moving up to challenge Faria. Faria held a slight lead over Kelly who was trying to take the lead away running along the pole. As they took the checkered flag. it took the judges a few seconds to compare notes and give the victory to Kelly. Faria thought he had taken the win in the close finish and was dismayed by the decision but registered no protest. Denny Scopellite (Hot Moves Weslake) continued to show he still has it as he scored his first IMS Handicap victory of the season. Scopellite lined up on the zero with Tuesday's Ventura Handicap winner Rick Miller (Eclipse/Off Shore Weslake). Miller reacted first to the gate with Scopellite forging by for the lead on the backchute, Shawn Moran. coming from the 40. immediately started to move and found himself breathing down the neck of Charlie Morse (FOMlTaylor Construction Jawa) in turn three. Moran took Morse for third on lap two and moved inside Miller for second on the third go 'round. Moran's job of catching Scopellite proved to be impossible as the 22year-old had opened up a big lead and rode a £lawless race to starter Sid Sutton's checkered £lag. Results SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Kally Moran; 2. Mika Faria ; 3. Alan Christian; 4 . Shawn Moran. HANDICAP MAIN; 1. Denny Scopellile; 2 . Shewn Moran; 3. Rick Miller; 4 . Cherlia Morse; 5. Eddi. Ingels; 6 . John Sandone. SECOND DIY ; 1. Randy Blevins; 2. SI.... Murrey; 3. Ron Blenton; 4. Mark Wea. .r; 5. Mark Milazzo; 6. Tim McCasland. THIRD DIY; 1. Brian Speaks; 2. Mark Dwyer; 3. Chris Mistreela; 4 . SI.... Fla~n; 5. "Crnhwell" Cardone; 6. Darcy Johnson. JUNIOR; 1. Ronnie Corey; 2. Da. . Busby; 3. Jamia Fin ch ; 4 . Scott Cor ey; 5. Grog Hancock; 6. Bobby Cody. NO MATCH RACE. By Scott Daloisio l'The Miracle Worker" mesmerizes Harry's Place SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 26 By ~i~li.m R . Locey. M .A. K. Moran t akes three to win one at IMS

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