Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Cona Mesa - San Ber.nlU'dlno - V.ntara - A....rn - Napa - C.... M_ - San Bernardino - V.ntara - A....rn - Napa - CoRa M_ - San SPEEDWAY WEEK main event win after having won both the semi and heat race. Mike Curoso won the other semi, but in the main event he and his bike went flying into the wall. After a restart, Curoso, obviously shaken, took a third place behind Alan Christian. Handicap racing was nothing less than an upset. All four heat races were won by reserve riders, Tim McCastland, Dennis Briggs, Ed Castro, and Mark Dwyer. The semi-final races were won by Alan Christian and Sam Ermolenko, who both came from the outside at the last minute and had the crowd on its feet. The main event was taken by Dennis Briggs in a good ride where none could catch him or even come close. Bri~, sponsored by Tricks by Windy, Jim Busby Racing and Bell helmets has been doing well in Handicap racing thus Car and seems 10 be just get·ting beuer. OC") 00 (j') (Above) Ed M.rah.11 uke•• soli ..mple at Ridgecrest. (Below) Bobby MeCI.in w ....I•• out of a Ventura tum with Rob Pfotzing in elo.. pursuit. Results SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Mike Ferie; 2. Alan Christian; 3. Mike CurolO: 4. Jim Lawson. HANDICAP MAIN; 1. Denni. Brigg.; 2. Merk Dwyer; 3, Ed Castro; 4. Alan Christian; 5. Mike Faria; 6. Sam Ermolenko. SECOND DIV; 1. Mike Golightly; 2. Chris Min· strettll; 3. Dennis Hell; 4. Ronnie Cory; 5. Robert Buono; 6. Russell Romero. THIRD DIV; 1. John Mazzacane; 2. Jimmy 0 Dell; 3. Frank Steiner; 4. Kevin Krugh; 5. Rick Farron; 6. Randy R""""mp. JR; 1. Triono Cirello; 2. David Busby; 3. Greg Busby; 4. Kelcey Gorden; 5. Jason Chism; 6. Jessie Finch. Ermolenko the champ at Hemet By Jim Brown HEMET, CA, AUG II Mazzacane on rampage at Ridgecrest By Scott Daloisio RIDGECREST, CA, AUG 13 For the second time in less than a month, Mike Mazzacane captured both the Scratch and Handicap mains at Ridgecrest Speedway. The scratch win was the third of the year for Mazzacane, the most by any rider at the new desert raceway. The 18-year-old from Riverside had no problems in his Scratch heat and semi and immediately jumped into a commanding lead at the start of the Scratch main over Mark Weaver, Ed Castro and Joe Kreisberg. Mazzacane (Part's Plus/Oakley/Hair by Rev Jaw) put a sound whipping on the field and had no problem lengtherting it, forcing the crowd to watch the action for the minor pLacings. CrowdCavorite Castro pulled off the only passin the main when he took Weaver for second on lap three. Castro's pass came far to late to put any kind of a dent in Mazzacane's margin, which was half the straigh taway a t the checkered flag. Castro maintained second followed by Weaver and Kreisberg. Newcomer Steve Bauer was the initialleader in the Handicap main over' Mazzacane'solder brother John. Bauer held the top spot until "Flying" Dave Wendlandt blasted by for the lead coming out of turn four on lap two. Wendlandt occupied the point position for one lap until Mike Mazzacane and Northrup shot by. Mazzacane was able to hold off Northrup until the final comer when Northrur. .... pu lIed a Iongsl'de, b ut end ed up Ca • ling short by inches at the checlc.ered flag. Wendlandt stuck in the third spot with Bart Onasch taking fourth. Ql! After a controversial call in a ~V-' St• •It....'J'1ft4iMlti'.,il·!ie· Castro were involved in a special grudge match race. The hat was passed through the crowd and $100 was collected for the winner-Lake-all event. On the first go, Northrup jumped out front and opened up an insurmountable lead only to have his motor seize on lap two, giving Castro the $100. Not quite; in a true show of sportsmanship Castro informed the officials that if Northrup could get another bike, he would do it again. Northrup got the use of Onasch's bike and again jumped out front on the restart. Near the end of lap two, Northrup bobbled, with Castro making contact with his back tire and going over the handlebars. Bringinng out the red flag. Northrup now seemingly had thewin. To show you what Northrup is made of, as the medical crew was helping Castro back to his feet, Northrup walked over and said to forget another rerun and split the $100 with Camo. With a fair in progress, the stands were easily filled as the Hemet Speedway Championship got underway. Mike Bast and Sam Ermolenko were scheduled 10 be on the program as main contenders for the points championship. Bast was not able to show, but Ermolenko was there and ready as he took the championship. Jim Lawson and Ermolenko tied in points with 14 each, which put them both in the main event. John Sandona had 12 points, even after pulling a wheelie and sending his bike head on into the wall. Sandona was running very close in total points, but Ermolenko's performance made him untouchable. Buddy Robinson and Dave DeTemple had to have a run-off to seule their tie of 10 points each. It SlaTted out being a good, close race, but DeTemple, who hadn't planned on riding due 10 a recently broken collar bone, had to pull off. His injury just hadn't healed up enough after only a few weeks. Results SCRATCH MAIN; 1. Mike Mazacane (Jaw); 2. Ed e-ro (Jaw); 3. Mark W_r (Godd); 4. Joe Krais· berg (Jaw). HANDICAP: 1. Mille M _ n e (Jaw); 2. Andy Northrup (Jaw); 3. Dave we""andt (Jawl; 4. Bart 0 _ (Wea); 5. Steve Bower (Jaw); 6. John Mmzacane (Jaw). JR; 1. John Ileamea; 2. Jesse Finch; 3. Jordan Duncan; 4. Billy Felts; 5. Jayme Finch; 6. Kelcey Gordon; 7. Steve lson. MATCH RACE; 1. Andy Northrup del. Ed castro. Results POINTS; 1. (TIE) Sam ErrnotenkolJim Lawson (14t 2. John Sandon (12); 3. mE) Buddy Robinson/0 _ Detampla (10); 4. mE) Steve Lucero lDenny Scopellite (9); 5. Mark Dwyer (81; 6. (TIE) Tim McCastland/Gary Ford (7); 7. Wayne Leutz (6); 8. (TIE) Mike DwyerIMike Mazzacane (4); 9. Dave Sims (3); , O. Robert Pletzing (1 ). MAIN EVENT: 1. Sam Ermolanko; 2. Buddy Robinson; 3. Jim Lawson; 4. John Sando".. Faria, Briggs top the show at Costa Mesa Budman, Ermolenko provide the commotion th by e ocean By Jim Brown COSTA ¥ESA, CA, AUG 12 The Costa Mesa stands were packed for the last race before f qua l'f' 1 ymg or the Nationals next week. The hot August night of racing was full of crashes resulting from some fast and furiow racin M!ke. Faria. s. ~sor~ b .·t.,... _H...~U..;."lM1t.i1i1tlPl ....·• . By Bill Locey VENTURA,CA,AUG9 The ocean got a bit closer to the commotion than usual _ ' the dirt parking lot behind the Ventura Raceway was closed It •..•. ~Wi»hle Pacific. But on the track, it was business as usual for "Sudden Sam" Ermolenko who won his fourth Handicap main and seventh trophy overall. And Buddy Robinson, who usually makes both mains every week, won his first Scratch main. Mike Faria, always near the front at Ventura, didn't win, but he did make both mains. Ermolenko blew everyone away, having it under control after but two laps, to win his semi convincingly, iI without drama. The other semi, however, was the best race of the year. It was a six-man, wheel-to-wheel mindsnapper for two laps until Kun Strommer and Denny SoopeHite faded, leaving the other four inches apart, passing and being passed every foot or so. Faria found a beller way through traffic where there was no room, unless, of course, you're Faria. Robinson and Pfetzing did the next best thing - they foHowed Faria around. And young Joe Kreisberg, with the ride of his life, hung right in there with the heavies until he went down in a cloud of dust around turn one on the last lap. All the hot guys made it to the Handicap main. With the exception of Andy Northrup on the 20, everyone else started on the 40 or 50. After a lap, Steve Lucero passed Northrup, and a lap later Ermolenko blew by Lucero on the outside, and that was the race. Robinson, who logs more miles and rides more tracks than anybody. won only one Scratch race, but he., made sure it was the Big One. Pfeuing won his heat by miles, but Robinson was right there for second. The main was still undecided around turn one, then Robinson blocked Faria around tum two even as Pfetzing wheelied temporarily and the Budman blasted by, and that was that. Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Buddy Robinson; 2. Mike Ferie; 3. Bobby McLein; 4. Rob Plotzing. HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Sam Ermolanko; 2. St_ Lucero; 3. Robin.cn; 4. Faria; 5. Pfetzing; 6. Arwty Northrup. SECOND DIV: 1. Rendy Blevin.; 2. Pat Hawley; 3. Donny Butler; 4. Jim·Bob Kuhr; 5. Randy Beddow; 6. Guy Helderlein. THIRD DIV: 1. Peter Conroy; 2. John Aitken; 3. Cave Smith; 4. Tim Parsonl; 5, Joe Bishop; 6. PIll Smith. MATCH RACE: 1. Pletzing del. Ermolenko. Robinson roosts to perfect score at Visalia By Bill Locey VISALlA, CA, AUG 6 Buddy Robinson, consistent night after night, was perfect on this night as he won the, Visalia Track Championship on a humid, sweaty Saturday night. Valvoline's two-wheeled hero, Roh Pfetzing, finished a heartbeat away from the glory with I4 points. Let's get rijitht to the good stuff the 20th and final heat. In a masterpiece of planning, check out the lineup for the race: Robinson and Pfeuing went in unbeaten, and their competition -Gary Ford and Randy Griffith were only off the pace by a paltry point. To use a well-worn cliche, this was anybody's race. At least for a minute, because a heartbeat later, it was Robinson's race as he got a great gate and was gone - a familiar story in these parts Soon enough, Ford fell, along with his chances. Meanwhile, bacle. at the race, it took Pfeuing two laps to finally get around Griffith. and by the beginning of tbe third go-round. Pfeuing srt off after Robinson. PfftY-"

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