Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ Western hotline "ath.r. Ca1Iforai.ArI. . . . . .ath.r. M. . . . . . . . .th.... C..lforal.·Arlzo. . . . . .ther. Me. . . . . . . .th.... Ca1Ifor.I.Arlzo. e 0(") 00 Sunday 0') ...... ......"' C\I ~ lU ..c e .... lU 0.. lU " V':J Denny Senchez. here splashing through the Sente Clarita River. led the Hopetown GP Veterens c:Iess until he stalled lit • weter crossing. Smith, Segale smoke Hopefown GP By Cherleen Ho Photo by David Edwards VALENCIA, CA, SEPT. ~-4 The 25th annual Dirt Diggers Hopetown Grand Prix held at the Indian Dunes Shadow Glen area utilized a flat-track first-turn sweeper, bridge crossings, a mountainous h I h f t e sp as 0 n ver crossmgs and the grandeur of the tight motocross course and a haybale chute. The two~avement. roo d , day event featured a full racing schedule of 50-minute races, lots of sun, spectators and neat silver finisher pins by the men in red-and.white stripes . Saturday , 34 nine years, he hadn't lost his edge. They both moved up closer to Griffin but 10 and behold the checkers came too soon for Hutton and apoltiano as Griffin look top honors. The program got underway with the Women's class and the Minis. Karen Leitinger sel the pace as Tam Tracy and Denise Engstrom followed to top the Women's ranks. In the Minis, Beginner Terry Davis led Expert Jeff Reynolds and Beginners Casey Hallahan and Mike Evans. On the fourth lap, however, Reynolds dove past Davi~ while Novice Ronnie Densford surpassed Callahan and Evans. Reynolds crossed the finish first, followed by Davis and Densford. The Senior division brought forth some 70 weB-known racers. Lynn McGraw displayed his smooth riding style as he led from start to finish while Terry Davis showed Gary Charters Sr., Dennis Rosenberg and Jim Bringhurst the way. Davis ran into traffic problems with lapped riders and Charters and Rosenberg took advantage of it. Although McGraw finished some distance in front of Davis, Charters and Rosen· berg, the trio showed their stuff. The Unclassified race set quite a stage as ace enduro rider Tom Webb showed how persistence and timing paid off. Kenny Parry led the field of Ted Hunnicutt, Danny Westergard, Jeff Blix. and Webb early on. As the laps flew by, Westergard moved into second followed by Webb and Blix. Webb overtook WeSlergard as Blix • stuck close. With the checkers came Webb over Parry, followed by Blix.. The 175cc division was packed as Experts, Intermediates, Novices and Beginners made the field. John Rudder, Duane Summer.s, and ~anny Sanchez led Intermediate RIchard Arnold, James Lawrenc~, and Tom Ehas. On la~ three Ehas overtook Lawrence whIle Arnold moved past Summers. Battles ensued as Rudder, Summers, Arnold and Elias topped the first four places. The Veterans blasted the silence as some 90 engines broke Ihe sound barrier. Competition was not lacking as Danny Sanchez, Jon Miller, Jimmy Weinert, Dan Ayers and Terry Davis put on quite a show. Miller overtook Sanchez when Sanchez stalled at a water crossing. Weinert moved into second followed by Ayers and Davis. Sanchez appeared to be catching Davis when he got caught in a pile-up. Meanwhile Gary Charters Sr., Michael Goodwin and Rick Shirey stayed close behind. At the checkers it was Miller, Weinert, Ayers, Davis and Sanchez. The 250cc Novice/Beginner class was commanded by Kris Wilcox, who built his advantage as each lap passed. Steve BebeckandJim Schmidt dueled until Schmidt pressed for second and convinced Bebeck he deserved it. Meanwhile Dennis Nuckles, first Beginners Dan Dalton and Ken Peters rounded the top runners. At the finish it was Wilcox, Schmidt and Bebeck followed by Nuckles, Dalton and Peters. In the 500cc Novice/Beginners, Mike Hutton led Chris Napoltiano, Steve Miller and Greg Griffin. Griffin took the lead, but Napoltiano held onto second in front of Hutton. Then it was Hutton ahead of Napoltiano. Although Napoltiano hadn't raced in I As the Old Timers lined up and the nag nipped up it was Master Dennis Rosenberg commandeering the lead on his Honda followed by Junior Master Danny Drew, Ray anchez and Dan Sanchez. Among the Experts Jim Learnihan walked away on his new machine while AI Smith and Roland Thompson tried desperately to catch him. The Amateur action found Bob Smart, AI Edrington and Sam Jones in close connict while Novices Skip Skinner, George McCauley and Tom Cooper hung close by. Rosenberg mastered the course and with his smooth pace developed a one-minute lead by the checkers. What a ridel In the Sidehack event Bob Schnoor and Randy Langosh rode consistently before the John and Victor Palfreyman team surpassed them and then disappeared from the action. Burbank Yamaha's team of Gwen Ridyard and Ian Mitchell started OUI slow but pushed hard to draw attention. At the finish it was Schnoor/ Langosh, Ridyard/Mitchell and Mizrahi/Danielsen. The Unclassifieds brought forth quite an array of riders. Jeff Blix, who had just competed in the Sidehack race, was leading Scott Creager, John Reeve and William Decker. Howard McCasland moved up to overtake Reeve for third, and then Creager for second. McCasland was was out for the numero uno position. However, Blix displayed his edge and at the finish it was Blix, McCasland, Creager and Reeve. With the four-strokes came a rumble of strength and magnitude as Scott Sampson, Mark Nation and Rick Sieman pushed for the glory. Charles Caspary (Nov) and rider #11 applied their pressure to Sieman to overtake him. Nation pressed Sampson and grabbed the lead while #11, Greg Griffin and Sieman also advanced. Nation topped the race, followed by Sampson, #11 and Griffin. The Over The Hill Gang opened up the afternoon action. Experts RollOver Rick and David Wilson departed from the pack as their battle ensued. Intermediates Lehcer Leon, Chokeit Chuck and Wet Willy stuck close together as Amateurs Mike Middleton, Runover Ron and Gringo Glen held a tight clan. In the Novices Luscious Linda was pursed by Bill Newman and Tiny Tim. The 250cc Amateur/Experts roared their way around the tight GP course. John Rudder grabbed ihe lead from Brad McLeod through ·the river bed while Andy Segale, Craig Adams, Tim Sinclair and Scott Stearns drew a tight line. Howard McCasland was pushing for Stearns when he fell on the back side of the motocross course and was seriously injured. McLeod ran into problems while Segale overtook Rudder for the lead. It was Segale and Rudder neck to neck at each turn. It was easy to see both were motocrossers as they drew one another deeper and deeper into the turns. Rudder rode like a wild man in an attempt to pass Segale, but Segale showed his stuff as Rudder finished second over Adams. Scott Sampson, Sinclair and Robb Mesecher went for 4-5-6. The 500cc Amateur/Expert riders were lined up or battle. It was O'Neal rider Danny Sanchez charging for the lead through the river bed and over the bridge before Dan Smith took command in the sand wash. Craig Adams, Dan Ashcraft, Ted Hunnicutt and John Drury juggled po itions behind them. Adams held a firm second as Hunnicutt, Drury and Chuck Stearns rounded the top five: Drury pressed past Hunnicutt withe. one lap to go as Stearns, Chris Cran: dall and Ashcraft maintained. Drury ned as he caught Adams on the la lap. At the checkers it was Smith;; Drury and Adams ahead of Stearns, Crandall and Ashcraft. Troy Hollis took top Intermediate honors. Unofficial Results MINI EX: I. Jeff Raynoldo. MINI NOV: I. Ronnie Densford: 2. Brock Suter. MINI BEG: I. Terry De.is: 2. M.n W.lIs: 3. Ricky Sieman. - WOMEN EX: I. K.r.n Laiting.r; 2. T.m Tr.cy: 3, Denise Engstrom. WOMAN INT: I. Lincla Smart; 2. P.tric. Payne. WOMAN NOV: 1. D.na Bell; 2. M.rlena Sci.... qua: 3. Joanna _ham. WOMAN BEG: 1. Li.. Pet• .....,; 2. C."i. Young. SR EX: ,. Lynn McGraw; 2. T.rry D••is: 3. Gary Chan.sS,. SR INT: 1. ROIl T.rmin; 2. D••id Neal: 3. Ron Grey. SR NOV: ,. Robert Sm.rt;. 2. Ed Heyna: 3. F.... Danielsen. SR BEG: 1. Loran Andrua: 2. James Kn.h.ns. UNCLASS 5OD: ,. K.nny Perry: 2. John Ferro: 3. Mik.Ferro. UNCLASS 250: 1. Tom Webb: 2. D.nnyW....r· gard: 3. Jell B1ix. UNCLASS 125: ,. Fred HeacocI<; 2. Jim 5 _ 3. Anthony Bejar.no. 175 EX: 1. John R _ ; 2. Duane Summers; 3. Tom Elias. 1751NT: 1. Ric:hardArnold; 2. Stirling Hopoon; 3. Tr_Lave· 175 NOV: 1. Geo

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