Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

CeDll'a) ~peliae Smokey Joe flies in Whitney Over 30 llCtion. (File photo.) Cordova captures Whitney GNC MX By Joe Milian WHITENY, TX, AUG. 28 Qualifying races for the eighth annual Grand National Championship Final next March got underway in eight states today, • 42 with Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch hosting one of the events to be held at 10 di(ferent tracks in Texas. Thought by many.1.O be the pre· mier motocross course in Texas, the cycle ranch regularly attracts Texas' best riders in all classes. Today was no exception as Nick Cordova proved why he is rated highly in the ranks of area Professionals, dominating a strong field of 250cc Experts. Cordova got ample competition from Bo Stegall, Tony Nielsen, Joey Hardin, Marty Layland and others, but superior conditioning and experience permilled the DeSoto pilot to pocket the overall cash. Stegall and David Wilson got the jump on the rest of the pack to open the first moto, but they were quickly joined by Cordova. Cordova dispatched Wilson and began working on Stegall. Stegall held his ground for the first four laps, finally yielding to Cordova on the fifth circuit. Nielsen did some workmanlike riding of his own to move up 1.0 third, with Wilson the final obstacle in his path. At the flag, Cordova had slowed considerably due to his lead, and Stegall's closing charge gave him a considerable cushion over Nielsen. joey Hardin put his Kaw,!saki out front at the beginning of moto two but fell about 50 feet short of leading the entire first loop' as he plopped over in the turn just before the scoring tower. Cordova then took over and Stegall had to contend with Wilson, who stubbornly maintained his second-place position for a few more laps before falling to Stegall. The e(fort to get around Wilson used up a lot of time and energy on Stegall's pan and by the time he accomplished this, Cordova was too far ahead to catch. Nielsen had once again pushed his way up to third and began to reel in Stegall in the closing laps of the moto. "Yeah, I knew I was getting closer and closer to Stegall there for awhile, but I've been having such rotten luck lately that finishing in one piece was the most important thing for me I.Oward the end and I just backed off," was the way Nielsen described his final laps. Marty Layland and Don McCoy generat~ some excitement in the closing moments of the moto with their duel for fourth place. The struggle went right down to the checkered flag, with Layland only inches ahead of McCoy. Overall cash for the day was paid out to Cordova, Stegall, and Nielsen. Wendell Triggdominated the I25cc Intermediate today in a way that no other rider in any division could match, laughing his way to runaway victories in both motos. Aaron Branch and Midland's ScOll Foster provided the opposition and they in turn were challenged by Robby Van Winkle and Chris Hance in some spirited racing. Van Winkleattimesappeared to be the fastest rider on the track and certainly had the best form over "MaIone's Mountain," but inconsistencies put him well out of overall contention. Branch and Foster fought right to the flag, with Branch in front. The second mol.O was another yawner for Trigg as he gave himself his only difficult moments on the fourth lap. Trigg was so far in front that he was probably just doing a lillIe practicing. In any event, he came blazing out of "Banzai Gulch" and got up on the rear wheel in a big way. With the front wheel crossed up a La Doug Domokos, Trigg mowed down a line of tires bordering the track and very narrowly averted disaster on his return to earth. He saved it and proceeded onward but promptly fell in the ensuing turn. It was just a mild slip and he quickly got up and rode on. Foster lost the chase to Branch again and they finished second and third overall. Results MINIBIKE BEG: 1. Jon C,oufKawl: 2. BillyJoneI 3. Ch,is Pagus (Kawl. MINI MINI: 1. Dennis Ric:tulrds (Kaw); 2. Chari.. Wlnn fKaw~ 3. DIYid F _ (Kaw). MINI JR: 1. SI_ Hooo lHan~ 2. C'lig _ n (Han~ 3. Dsnnia R i _ (Kawl. MINI SR: 1. Jsff Lang lKaw~ 2. _ _ (Han~ 3. .II-. Schultz~. 125 BEG: 1. Dlnny _ _ (Ylml; 2. lsnce Vouu (Suzj; 3. lonn.. _ (Yaml. 250 OPEN BEG: 1. JoI F _ (Suzt 2. DIdo HII,~ (Hanl. . , (Ylmt 3. _ 25 NOV: 1. Tony.....,. (Kawl; 2. _ _ (Ylmt 3. Johnny _llMonI. Z50 NOV: 1. R-" Taylor lSuzl; 2. RodnIyWest lVlml; 3. CUrl lsnd (Ylml. OPEN NOV: 1. C'liiI Stephanson lHan); 2. B,ucI Dugsn (Suz); 3. Tom Hood (Hon). 1251NT: 1. Wendlil T,illll(Vlml; 2. AII,on B'lnch (Vlml; 3. Scott Fost. (ylml. 250 INT: 1. Jsrry Zuchl (Han); 2. Mitch HulNY lHon~ 3. Scott FOIl., (Ylm). OPEN INT: 1. De..." McDonsId lHont 2. Desrl Croft (Ylm); 3. DIVid _man tHanl. OVER 30 INT: 1. Del Rice (KTM~ 2. AMn KephI" (C-AI; 3. Tommy _ (Yaml. OVER 30 EX: 1...... ....., (Suzl: 2. Bill Kason (Yamt 3. SmoUy Joe (Yam). 125 EX: 1. Ronnie Prado (Ylm); 2. DIYid Jones (Kaw~ 3. Phil WHhbum (Yam). 250 EX: 1. Nick ~ (Hon); Z. Bo SlIpll (Hanl; 3. Tony N _ (Yaml. OPEN EX: 1. Ron Dum. . (Hanl; 2. R....n Chep",.n (Hon); 3. Marly t.sylsnd/HUlI. (Ylm~ Simmons super at Austin night MX By Joe Milian AUSTIN, TX, AUG. 26 San Antonio's Keith Simmons put on a crowd-pleasing exhibition of determined riding tonight, fending off the efforts of a number of other competitors in the process. The gritty young Kawasaki pilot had a 2-1 moto score to finish top 250cc Expert. With Brent Hill the only one signed up to ride I25cc Expert, and only four riders on big-bore bikes, all the Experts were run together, with the two big classes being scored separately. The regular Friday night lineup was reduced somewhat due to the GNC qualifier scheduled for the following Sunday at Lake Whitney. The quality of the contest was not diminished in the least, however, as some of the summer's best racing unfolded this evening. Ron Dunfee and Russell Chapman broke from the pack to open the first molO, with Jerry Farmer and Simmon.s not far behind. Steve Cardwell and Lee DuBose moved up 10 join Simmons and Farmer on lap three, initiating a four-way scrap for third place. By the sixth lap, Simmons was putting the heat on Chapman, and Frank Tello had worked his way up to fourth behind Farmer as Dunfee cruised with the lead. With two circuits remaining, Simmons, Farmer, and Tello all got past Chapman, pushing him back to fifth at the end of the moto. jerry Farmer, one of the best at the bump-and-c1utch style start necessitated by the excruciatingly tight first turn at Austin Motosport Park, had his push-and-shove routine down pat in the second moto, snatching the lead away from Simmons and Chapman. Farmer's lead lasted only a little past lap one as he dumped it in a back-section turn. Simmons, unable to take evasive action because of his proximity to Farmer, motored over the prostrate Yamaha and rider, but the lumpy traction allowed Dunfee to seize first place. Dunfee proceeded to race at his own pace for the next several laps, with Simmons and Chaprnan close, but not threatening. Then, with only a bit over a lap left, Dunfee fell victim to a big sandy berm and went down sliding. With Dunfee disabled, both Simmons and Chapman increased their velocity in the wild dash for the flag. Simmons would not yield to Chapman, even though the Honda 480 was all over him through the final turns. Dunfee got up and got by Farmer, hut could only muster a third-place finish. The final tally of results showed Simmons taking the 250cc overall ahead of Farmer and Tello, with Dunfee topping Chapman and Tommy Pavelka in the Open Experts. Tim Hodes, getting bigger and stronger with age, outran some older and more experienced competition tonight, sconng back-to-back wins in the combined Minibike class. His older brother Hank, not to be out· done, took his KX250 to the head of the 250cc Novice aggregation, coming from behind 10 beat Andy Thompson and Aaron Thomison. Matt Raby wore down Robert Tiemann and B0bby Lewallen in the l25cc Novices and Rocky French led all Open Novice riders. Results MINIBIKE: 1. Tim Hodel (Kawl: 2. Joey Slone (ylml; 3. Ch,il OeM (Ylml. 125 BEG: 1. Shawn CII.engl' (Ylm); 2. Hill (Ylml; 3. Flaggil Norflset (HUll. 250 BEG: 1. Killin Brown (HUll; 2. Bobby Honan (Han~ 3. Cha,lil Johnson (Suz). 125 NOV: 1. MItt Rlby (Suz); Z. Robe" Tie",.nn (Ylm); 3. Bobby ~Ilen (Ylm). 250 NOV: 1. HI" _IKlwl; 2. Andy Thompson (Ylm~ 3. Allton Thomison lHanI. OPEN NOV: 1. Roclty French (Hanl: 2. Michael DlnNuit (Suz); 3. _ BurIl (Ylml. 250 INT: 1. John _ . (Han~ 2. Joe Grsgory lKawl; 3......, Hor1on lHanI. OPEN INT: 1. DIYid _ham (Han); Z. _ Gillena (Hanl; 3. Bryln B"- (Ylm). OVER 30: 1. Uoyd Longmi,e lHIIS); 2. G _ . . - lHUI); 3. Denny Atllinl (Ylml. 250 EX: 1. Keith Simmonl (KIwI; 2. Jsrry FI'ms, (VIm); 3. F'I" Tllio (Hanl. OPEN EX: 1. Ran Dum.. (Monl; 2. R_I ChIp",.n (Hanl; 3. Tommy""""" (KTMI. es""' Herndon, Stovall split Pro-Am at Hillside By M. Orr BOYD, TX, AUG. I~ Bill Herndon claimed the first 250cc Pro heat followed by David Fisher, while Shon tovall lied Don Hamilton in for the second-heat win. All four riders moved into the Trophy Dash, along with SCOll Scherb, winner of the 250cc Senior heal. SlOvallled off the line, followed by Hamilton and Herndon. Hamilton got into a tankslapper on the back straight and took Herndon into the wall. Both racers recovered, but Fisher went past to take over second. Herndon managed to get by Fisher on the inside on the third lap, but Stovall wasn't waiting for him to catch up, so Herndon had to settle for second while Stovall took the win. Herndon led the 250cc Pro main all the way on his jack Sizemore Honda. Gary Kidd held onto second for two laps ahead of Stovall and john Gladwill. Stovall took over second place from Kidd at the start of lap three 1.0 follow Herndon hOIlle for the finish. Stovall did it again in the Open Pro main. Gladwill was first inl.O tbe corner, but Stovall took over on the back straight. Herndon passed Gladwill right at the start/finish line at the end of lap two. Herndon was gaining on Stovall but time ran out and he had to follow Stovall home, while Gladwill settled for third pia«. Herndon came back to win again in the Open Senior IT main. Rusty Pattillo and Eldon Hultgren finished in second and third place respectively. In the 80cc Senior flat track event, Mike Hale got the holeshot into tbe comer leading Trace Polson, Scott Williams, Tim Kay and Greg Teague. Teague put his Yamaha to the outside down the back chute to pass Williams and Kay, and take over third place on the first lap. Polson held onto second place until the fifth lap, when Teague passed coming down the front straight and held on to finish in second behind Hale. Alan Powers held off Jack Yost to win the first 250cc Junior heat while Willie McCoy led home the second heat on his Richard Bates Honda. McCoy got the holeshot for the main and led Todd Haas, Powers and Yost into the first lap. Haas slipped high off the groove in the number four corner and Yost slipped under both Powers and Haas to take over second on his Motorcycle Specialties-sponsored Yamaha to the finish. • Results SHORT TRACK TROPHV DASH: 1. Shan S..",.II (Ylm). BUDDY RACE: 1. JIclt Yost/Eddia McCoy (Han). 50: 1. G,1Oll T_us (Vlml; 2. Scon Willialms (Honl; 3. Tim Kly (Ylm). 80 JR: 1. Bill Richlrds (Han); 2. Ed Meys, (Vlml; 3. Reedy Wlrd (Ylm). 8OSR: 1. Mike Hlle (Vlml; 2. G,1OllT_us(Vlml; 3. T,ace Polson (Honl. 125: 1: Scon Schlrb lHanl; 2. Will.. McCO¥ (ylm); 3. T,... Polson (Hon). 250JR: 1. Will.. McCoy lHan~ 2. JIclt Yost (ylm); 3. Todd Hul lHonl. 250SR: 1. Scott Schlrb(Honl; 2. Mille ~ge; 3. Eldon HuI1gren. OPEN JR: 1. JIclt VOSI fT,il; 2. Jlmn Huddleston (Yaml· OPEN SR: 1. Scott Scherb lHon); 2. Gary Kidd (Han); 3. Alln _ r s (Yaml. 250 PRO: 1. Bill Hsrnclon (Hon~ 2. Shan S _ I (Ylml; 3. Dodd Dyson (Han). 5DO PRO: 1. Shan StoVIIlI (Ylml; 2. Bill Hsrnclon (Hanl: 3. John GI_II (Hon). n 50: 1. Joe Gilben J,. (VIm); 2. Jlson _ (ylm); 3. Lalh Richards (Hanl. 50: Tim Kly (Ylm); 2. Jlmel Geddie; 3. Stacey Wright. 8OJR: 1. Bill RichlrdslHon); 2. Ed MeysrlSuz); 3. Rodney Dickerson (Suzl. SO SR: 1. Scott Scherb (KIwI; 2. DI,ian Shi,1ey (Yom); 3. Mike HIlle (Ylml. 125: 1. Bobby ShawlSuzl; 2. ShIne Jolly (KIwI; 3. Kevin Switze, lSUZ). 250 JR: 1. Kevin Switze, (Suz); 2. La,ry Ebe,tut" (Suzl; 3. Danny Wolf (Kaw). 250 SR: 1. Gary Kidd (Han); 2. Tine Jlrvis Rheinlender. In the second Pro-Am of the season at Mike Kidd's HiHside, , . OPEN JR: 1. Bobby Shaw (Suzt 2. John Tucker (Ylmt 3. JIclt Yost (VIm). OPEN SR:.1. Bill HII,nclon IHan I; 2. Ruat'( Plnillo (Han~ 3. Eldon Hultgrln (KTM).

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