Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

George Holland was unstoppable. He led from start to finish during each outing. Holland's main concern. Chris Hei...... finbhed second. Holland leeds Heisser by 30 points with one reee left. CMC/diet Coke Trans-Cal Series: Round 5 Holland, Johnson, Whelchel capture Trans-Cal ""ins at Carlsbad By Kit Palmer CARLSBAD, CA, OCT. 2!l The fifth round of the California Motorsports Club's diet Coke Trans-Cal Series moved down south and the riders were "treated" to Carlsbad Raceway, considered by many as the roughest track in California. After competing up north on relatively smooth and sandy courses many found Carlsbad . . '. qUltedlfftcult. However, George Holland, Rick Johnson and John Whelchel all conquered the tough track as well as their competition. 1 Qualifiers The only qualifying of the day took place in the 250cc class. In the first qualifying heat, it was Yamaha ace Rick Johnson who easily took top honors. Johnson, making a comeback after dislocating his hip earlier in the year during the Nationals, was aboard a production '84 YZ250 as he led from start to finish. In the second qualifier, Brian Maloney took advantage of a first-turn pile-up; after a fair start, he picked his way through the downed riders and went on to take the win on his . Honda. 250 main Team Tamm's JeH "J.D." Hicks put his Honda out in front allhestart of th~ first 250cc moto, inches ahe~d of Bnan Myerscough, local favonte Jim Tarantino Johnson and Todd Harrell. By the'second lap, Johnson found a way around Tarantino for third while Myerscough tried to discover a way around Hicks. Johnson soon reeled in Myerscough and the three leaders pulled away from the pack. Myerscough was the first of the three to make a move when he sli pped by Hicks. A few turns later Johnson did the same. Johnson then set out after the new leader while Hicks started to drop back a bit. Myerscough and Johnson kept within whispering distance for the next couple of goarounds. Finally, Myerscough gave in to Johnson's fast pace and dropped to second. But Myerscough wasn't about to bow out so easily. The Honda pilot stayed close to Johnson's rear fender. Ev though Jo nson is ot in points contention for the series, he wanted the win badly to prove he's back to top form after his injury. ear the end of the moto, Johnson began to develop a slight cushion on "Flyin' Brian." Things got a bit tougher for Myerscough when he had to pull orr his goggles due to the mud kicked up by Johnson. After the race he said he did not put on enough tear-orrs and, with his goggles of£. dust became a hinderance. Still, Myerscough was sitting comfortably in second; 10 seconds ahead of Hicks. The win went to Johnson followed by Myerscough, Hicks and Tarantino. Myerscough captured the holeshot at the start of the second moto, inches ahead of Johnson, Tarantino and Hicks. Only a few turns into the moto, Hicks slipped by Tarantino and settled into the third spot. Myerscough and Johnson are very familiar with the Carlsbad track and had a definite advantage over Hicks, who had only one previous ride here. The two leaders started to pull away from Hicks while engaged in a dog-fight battle. For the next three laps, Johnson put heavy pressure on Myerscough, but the Honda rider would not give even an inch to Johnson. But the Team Yamaha pilot wanted to take that inch and a lot more, which is what he did during the fourth lap. For the rest of the race, Myerscough stayed close to Johnson but couldn't dose the gap. Team Husky's Micky Dymond put in a good show after getting orr to a so-so start and moved into the fifth position'with only a few laps remaining. Up front, Johnson went on to take the win while Myerscough settled with second. Hicks finished thiTd. Even though Hicks finished third overall, his lowest finish of the series, he still maintains a comfortable lead going into the final day-round of the series at Saddleback. Tarantino finished fourth while Dymond rounded out the top five. Rick Johnson was very confideat between winning both motos. 125cc class, shot to the front of the pack at the start of the first moto. while Honda-mounted Larry Brooks closely pursued. In third followed Mike rlesia, on a Yamaha, then Ta lor Marcell and Michael Preston. It only took Holland a few turns to gather a three-second advantage over Brooks. Holland's main concern, Team Tamm's Chris Heisser, on a Honda, was found back in 10th. Yamaha-mounted Mike Beier, after a fair start, picked his way through a couple of turns and zapped the Honda pilot for second. But, a lap later, Brooks re-captured the second spot, dropping Beier back to third. Heisser was on the gas and caught up to Beier with only one lap remaining. Beier just couldn't keep Heisser bay and the Team Tamm rider moved by third. Holland took the checkered flag first, 12 seconds ahead oLBrooks. Heisser settled in third ahead of Beier and Don Griewe, who was piloting a new '84 production RM125. ''I'm going to try to stretch out a big lead and try not to break my bike," said Holland before the start of the second moto. "Heisser and Gary Bowman are going to be my rnai;n 'comp' out there." Bowman, at o.ne point, was running up with the lead,ers in the first moto, but a crash and a flat tire dropped him out of conten~ tion. Holland's plans got orr to a great start after he stole the second-moto holeshot, while Kawasaki-mounted Bader Manneh, Brooks and Heisser followed. By the end of the first lap, Holland already had a thr~e-second margin over Manneh; but a couple of laps later, Manneh reeled in Holland and on the long uphill, the two were side by side. Holland held him off and put some distance on Manneh on the following downhill. From that point on, Hol1and's lead grew larger and larger. By the halfway point, Heisser had slipped by Brooks and was closing on Manneh. By the time Heisser snuck by Manneh, it was too late to catch Holland. Holland went on to take the win ahead of Heisser, IV"WlTt;ln nA, Y a ii, o\,l,~. "i It

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