Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Gordon Ward (173) leads Don Griewe (596). Mark Ellis (22) and Eddie Michetti at the start of the first Open Pro moto at DeAnza Cycle Park. Griswold unstoppable at Phoenix RR By John A. Burrus PHOENIX, AZ, NOV. 6 Still without sponsors, but with talent that seems to overcome every handicap, youngster Todd Griswold piloted a four-year old, eight-valve 10000c Suzuki to seemingly easy win, in four consecutive heats of GP and Super Street racing. Griswold again dominated the twisty road circuit at Phoenix International Raceway in this the last points race of 1983 for Phoenix Road Racing Organization. From his half track wheelie into the first turn at the modified LeMans start, Griswold led all the way to the checkers. Griswold's bike performed as if it were glued to the tarmac and belied the fact that its sole engine modifications were external (smooth bore carbs, headers and an oil cooler). The only competitors close to Todd was those he lapped. Mean looking scooter-ace Mike Williams also turned in four brilliant rides on a box stock 750cc Suzuki sponsored by Sun Suzuki and MOlO Pro Lucribants. Williams rode away with convincing wins in the B size, Box-Stocker category and grabbed overall trophy in B Super Street by swapping first and second places wi th Shawn Leipold on a 750cc Kaw that Taft Wheel sponsors. Strictly out of the crate and very fast was the 550cc Kawasaki sponsored by Kelly's Kawasaki and Performance Consultants, riden by Eddie • "Red" Wright for C-size wins in the Box Stock and second in Super Street. Red's encouragement came from PRRO 1982 points champ Eugene Coward on Street Machines' hard ,charging and, good sounding early _. 24i1;~odeI55Ckd~"'I J-~{i·.·f··1 ~ _ .~ Although nobody actually got close lO Todd Griswold, PRRO Pre ident Kevin "Porky" Elliott did a little inspiring on a new IOOR Kawasaki sacrificed to racing fever by Motorcycle Marine of Glendale, Arizona. EIliotltook clear wins and the trophy in Class A (that's big) Box Stock but got passed on the last turn of his last race by Mike Williams on that scorchin 750cc Suzi. MOlOrcycle Marine also hel ped pay the bills for Jeff Anderson's 900cc Honda that took an overall second in A Super Street and traded the number two and three spots with Richard Kohn's 10000c Suzuki from the-stable of Sun Suzuki and MOlO Pro Lubricants. Results BOX STK A: 1. Kevin Elliott (Kewt; 2. Jeff Anderson (Hon). BOX STK B: 1. Mike Williems (Suzt; 2. Victor Berber (Suz). BOX STK C: ,. Eddie "Red" Wright (Kaw); 2. Roben E81an (Vern). BOX STK D: 1. Torn Kreuse (Vern). SUPER STREET A: 1. Todd Griewold(Suz); 2. Jeff oI\nderwon (Hanl. SUPER STREET B: 1. Mike Williems (Suzt; 2. Shewn Leipold (Kew). SUPER STREET C: ,. Eddie "Red" Wright (Kew); 2. Eugene Cowerd (Han). SUPER STREET D: 1. Brion Poul Sonden (Yem). GPFORMULA 1: 1. Todd Gri_(Suz). GP FORMULA 1: 1. Brien Poul Sonders (Yem). Griewe dominates DeAnza motocross By Michael Gillies SUNNYMEAD, CA, NOV. 6 Fox's Don Griewe (Hon) out foxed Riverside Honda's Gordon Ward today by winning the Open Pro class with a 2-1 score, Griewe and Ward were as evenly matched as their bikes, (both rode 1984 CR500 Hondas) an4 spent most of their time not more than a wheel length from each other. When the gate dropped for the first moto, Griewe and Ward grabbed the first two positions followed by Malcolm Smith's Mark Ellis (Yam) and I Eddie Michetti-' (M~i); Tl!~ee£ !..4ms,., later, Michetti's chain came ofr. leaving founh place lO Pomona Valley's Tom Combs (Kaw). MeanwhiJe, Ward passed Griewe for first, while Ellis was keeping pace with the leaders. who were only 25 feet in front of him. Michetti reentered the race one lap down behind Combs and began to give the young Kawasaki pilot some serious pressure. The Ward/Griewe batLie settled down around lap eight with Ward in the lead. Ellis was running a comfortable third, while Combs held down fourth and was still dicing with Michetti. The checkered flag saw Ward first. Griewe second and Ellis third. Ward holeshot the second molO, with Ellis and Griewe in tight formation. Combs was running a strong fourth place and holding on lo today's 250cc Pro class winner Greg Nash (Hon). Michetti was having chain problems again, so he rode cautiously to prevent a DNF. Ward and Griewe were out in front, riding so fast, and bumping handlebars so often, it didn't seem possible that both machines would stay upright through the whole race. On the 10th lap, Ellis blew his motor up, leaving it up to the Hondas. Griewe blasted by Ward for first, but the race was £ar [rom over. Ward didn't let Griewe get more than five feet away through the end of the race, and he almost got by Griewe several times. Com bs held on forthird overall, Michetti was fourth. Results PEE WEE: 1. Lee Ford (Vomt; 2. Merk Nelson (Suz); 3. DeYid Cooke (Yem). MINI BEG: 1. Pierre LeOuerre (Kaw); 2. DeNl Wiggins (Hont; 3. Peter Stermen (Kew). MINI NOV: 1. Jeff Stone (Yem); 2. Jerry Litterel (Vern); 3. Micheel Brooks (yem). 125 BEG: 1. Trecy Leye (Vern); 2. Mike Leguconne (Cog); 3. Mitch Meede (Vern). 125 NOV: 1. Donald P. Feeley; 2. Ron McColl (Suz); 3. Dennis Bruns (Yam). 125 INT: 1. Alex Lopez (Vern); 2. Alex Mensfield (Kew); 3. Trevis Roberson (Kew). 125 PRO: 1. Rendy Vetto (Yemt; 2. Ken Campbell (Ceg). 250 BEG: 1. Fry Fiehrentz (Mei); 2. Greg Trever (Hont; 3. Jeck Endre. (Han). 250 NOV: 1. Tom Thomsen (Vern); 2. Greg Pirolo (Honl; 3. Robbie Dunhem (Suz). 250 INT: 1. Tony Speor (Suzt; 2. Ron Lewson (Suz); 3. Jim Cogley (Vomt. 250 PRO: 1. Greg Nosh (Han); 2. Keith Williem, son (Vam); 3. Jon Friesen (Suz). OPEN BEG: ,. Mike Michetti (Hont; 2. Reid Skellenud (Vern). OPEN NOV: ,. Bill Mehoney(Hon); 2. Brien Fleming (Vern); 3. Deve Brown (Vern). OPEN INT: ,. Jim Caspio (Suzt. OPEN PRO: 1. Don Griewe (Han); 2. Gordon Werd (Han); 3. Tom Combs (Kewt. VET JR: 1. Billy Trever (Han); 2. Richerd Beeler (Ysml; 3. Robert Cooke (Vern). VET INT: 1. Mike Brooks (Hus). VET EX: 1. John A. Hall (Han); 2. Ron Dugan (Vern); 3. Lerry u.-n (Suz). Micklos makes it dose at Corona MJC Micklos finally forced his way into the lead and pulled away. Hanson held second and was the first Beginner to cross the finish line followed by Mahoney. Mahoney grabbed the holeshot in moto two but was passed a few turns later by rival Brian FremJing (Gonor Racing/Yam). Micklos nearly over w shot the first tum and stalled, restart- rlJ ing dead last as the rest of the pack _ cleared the second tum. By the second C! lap, Hanson had displaced Mahoney lo third and was going for the lead. Ii Fremling held him off for a lap before succumbing to his challenges. Micklos was on the gas and had 1 moved to third by this time. By catch- I ing Frernling and moving into second, J Micklos could have just held his position and taken the overall in his class bUl chose to make a charge and go for the win. He caught up lO Han- n son on the final lap, then squeezed underneath him a few turns from the l finish to win. In 250cc Intermediate action, Stan Salvez (Suz), Phillip Thorstensen (SuzukiCountry/Spectro)andGeoffPitts ) came out fighting in the first moto. All three stayed within a few bikelengths of each other for the first few laps until Galvez made a mid-air pass for the lead. After the lead change, they all spread out and held their positions to the finish. Thorstensen got the holeshot the second lime out with Galvez close behind and the two immediately pulled away from the rest of the pack. A small mistake by Thorstensen in the stadium whoops was all Galvez needed to move inlO the lead on the second lap. Galvez pulled out a comfortable lead and cruised to the finish for the overall. Results PEE WEE 9-UNDER: 1. Vern Reynolds (Yemt. PEE WEE 10-0VER: 1. DONI Wiggins (Han); 2. Beau McMinn (Yam). MINI BEG 12-UNDER: 1. Jomio Morebito (Vern); 2. Jacob Swein (Kew); 3. Chorles Vice (Suz). MINI BEG 13-0VER: 1. Lestor Hele; 2. Chris Christiansen (VIm); 3. David Wodlszewski (Kaw). MINI NOV: 1. Philip Gould (Kaw); 2. Chri.Winkler (Kew); 3. Jerry Litterel(Vem). MINI INT: 1. Anthony French (Kew); 2. Mike Burdette (Kew). MINI EX: 1. Scott Brown. 125 BEG: ,. Donny Gre_ (Kew); 2. Chris Lester (KTM); 3. Tim Pass (Han). 125 NOV: 1. Rino Nevere (Suz); 2. Mike Nell (Hont; 3. Brylln Petrie (Cog). 125 INT: 1. We'er Schaeffer (Han); 2. Alex Mensfield (Kew); 3. Merk Decker (Yem). 250 BEG: 1. Joe RichiOltino (Kawt; 2. Anthony Gernice (Han); 3. Joel Mohr (KTM). 250 NOV: 1. Jon Ellenberger (Vern); 2. Brent Leuhe (Suz); 3. Rendy Sclerre (Suz). 250 INT: 1. Sten Gelvez (Suz); 2. Phillip Thorstensen (Suz); 3. Jewv Coe (Hon). OPEN BEG: 1. Sheun Henson (Hon); 2. Tony Foldheus (Meit 3. Roben u.-rs {Suzl. OPEN NOV: 1. Chris Micldos (Suzt 2. Brion Fromling (Vom); 3. Bill Mehoney (Han). OPEN INT: 1. Bob Tippit (Kewl. By Nate Rauba CORONA, CA, NOV. 4 Chris Micklos (Suz) could have won the Open Novice class at Corona Raceway tonight by playing it safe. Instead, he gambled by dicing for the lead with a rider that wasn't even in his class to win both motos. Both the Open Novices and Beginners started on the same line, and it was Beginner Shaun Hanson (Hon) who led the way in the first moto with CycleSop's Bill Mahoney (Hon) and Micklos close behind. Micklos followed Mahoney for a lap before moving by him and selling OUl after Hanson_ It didn't take long for Mick· los to close in on Hanson, but his charge was stopped short by the Honda pilol. For two laps, the pair battled for the lead. Micklos would pull alongside Hanson, only lO be shut off in the lurns or at the end of lhe straights. W.ifh -two 1ap5.replai.Dia~. Johnson captures Dunes 125 Intermediates By Tom Corley VALENCIA, CA, OCT. 30 In the last opportunity toqualify for the San Diego Amateur Supercross. hundreds joined the California Racing Club day of motocross on the Indian DWles, Shadow Glen course. Riding on a Cagiva, Lance Johnson pulled off lhe overall victory in the 125cc Intermediate class. Tony Toste has been traveling all over the state for the Trans-Cal Series. After wrapping up a fine fourth overalI in that contest, Toste returned to his usual racin~ grounds. The O'Neal/R&D Raong Engines rider P laced fifth in the first round but ret~lcsad.ilir.tDtftl~c{. I:~ ) i

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