Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126660
0(") - 00 0') (Left) Johnny O'Mara took his factory Honda into first overall in the 125cc, but he had to hold off strong challenges from Danny Chandl•• (Rigtrtt Chandler led O'Mara throughout most of the first moto, however With two laps to go, "Magoo" went off the course and let O'Mara by for the win. (Left) John Whelchel rode amooth and conaistentforthe 500ccwin. Hiaonly threat was Phil Larson. but Larson fell three times throughout the day. (Right) Jeff Hicks, here ahead of Mike Tripes. finished third in the first 250cc moto and led more than half ofthe second moto. He finished second overall. Trans-Cal Series: Round 1 O'Mara, Myerscough, Whelchel win big at Trans-Cal opener By Kit Palmer SANTA MARIA, CA, SEPT. 25 Spillway Cycle Park hosted the first round of the Continental Motosports Club Trans-Cal Series, and it looks as though Johnny O'Mara, Brian Myerscough and John Whelchel are going to be the ones to beat throughout the seven-race seris. All three of these riders emerged with com- 8 manding victories. Factory Honda pilot and current 125cc National Champion Johnny O'Mara captured the overall win in the I25cc Pro class but not without a hard-fought battle with teammate Danny "Magoo" Chandler. Chandler put his Honda into the .Lc:alU.r..~u.At.molQOm~ Yamaha-mounted Jim Anderson, Suzuki's George Holland, Mike Larson, aboard a Honda, and Yamahaarmed Rodney Smith. A couple more places back was O'Mara. Chandler quickly began to stretch his lead while O'Mara started to pick off riders. By the third lap, O'Mara had taken over the third spot and a few laps later O'Mara ovenook second. The distance between Chandler and O'Mara began to get slimmer and ~;;limmer. O'Mara, who had a six- -- --_ .. ---------- ,--_. __ ~ second margin to make up on Chandler, was gaining One second per lapon the leader. With only a few laps remaining, O'Mara stuffed his front wheel underneath Chandler at every opponunity. There was one section of the track, though, where Magoo had a definite advantage over O'Mara - a series of five large jumps. Both riders could double jump the first set, but Chandler was the on Iy rider who could, or would, double jump the next two. So, when it came down to the final lap Chandler gained about a second over O'Mara through this section. "It doesn 'ttake nerve to double jump them; it takes speed and timing," Magoo later said. "I think I gained about 10 feet over O'Mara there." However, O'Mara quickly made up for the lost 10 feet through the next couple of turns. The climax of the moto came with only two turns to go. After a lon~, .~ r t \. c; sandy and bumpy straight, Magoo went into the next turn a bit too hot and overshot the turn. He went wide of a tire used for a course marker. Chandler turned around and re-entered the track on the correct side of the tire, which cost him the lead and win. Some thought that Chandler's move was questionable because the tire where he re-entered the track was in a different spot just about every lap since many of the riders ran into it, causing the tire to move. Although he probably could have gotten back on the course immediately, Chandler played it safe and settled for second. "I went a little too deep into the berm and I went off the course," Chandler recalled. "Then 1 got stuck in the sand while in third gear." Third-place Holland was just a little bit too far back to take advantage of Chandler's mishap. Fourth weent t •Suzuki-mounted Gary .Bowt 4 ... ., ;11 ~ .J~J.