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/126671
Left to right. the champs: Ross Dhayer (Pee Wee). Hank Moree (65cc 7-111. Damon Brads!.1aw (85cc 7-11). Ronnie TIchenor (12-13). Bobby Moore (14·15). Mark Crozier (Novice) and Eddie Warren (Expert). All competed in short track. TT scrambles. hare scrambles and MX events. J.2th Annual Florida Winter National Mini O~m~ics Bradshaw grabs Olympic gold By Mike and Anne 'Adair GAINESVILLE, FL, NOV. 23·27 North Carolina's Damon Bradshaw outrode over 400 riders from 29 states to earn the Trim Bronze Boot Award in the 12th Ann ual Florida Mini Olympics and Winter Nationals at Gatorback Cycle Park. Ross Dhayer Hank Moree Ronnie Tichen~r BobbyM~re Mark .' .' CroZIer and Eddie Warren 8 shared the spotlight with Bradshaw as each was crowned champion in his age division. Twenty-one other riders were awarded championships in shon track, "IT, hare scrambles and motocros competition. Bradshaw said, "This is the first time that I have really had my act together. I had the equipment and suppon before, but this time I had the determination." Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha added prestige to the event by sending support teams and by providing savings bonds for the ehampion in each age division; $500 'was given to the Pee Wee class winner, and $1,000 to the other division winners. In addition, each recipient was awarded a complete riding outfit counesy of Hi-Point, Answer, Trim, Gold Belt, KR W, SCOll, and Hannah Racing. The long-running success of the Mini Olympics is in pan due to its flexibility. This year the program waseflhanced by an additional day of. competition and expansion of the age groups. Competitors raced in Pee Wee,65cc(7-11):85.-r (7-11),(12-13), (14-15), Novice Amateur and Expen Amateur divisions. The three new groups narrow the age span, reducing qualifyin/i: heats. But the most significant change wasthe relocation of the final three days of events to Gainesville's Gatorback Park. Promoter Bill West of SuperSpons Promotions said, "This event deserves a National caliberfacility, and at Gatorback we have more room, beller ter· rain, beller control and closer access to medical facilitie ." Short Track Eleven-time Mini Olympic competitor N ickie Fontana ended his Amateur career with complete domination of the 125 and 250cc Expert classes on the smooth 1/4 mile Ocala Speedway oval. The Hatfield and jones Machine Works-sponsored rider rode his WKR bikes flawlessly. "On january I, I get my Pro ticket," said the Louisiana speedster. ''The Olympic's have been a great experience, but it's time to move up." As referee Freddie Ephrem herded the Pee WeI; "gang" to the grid like members of his own family, he grinned and explained, "these lillie guys asked for a full ei~ht laps like the big boys. They're really tough." Kentucky's joel Barrow had to get around Kenny Yoho and Lenny Sauer in the fihal to make it two winning years in a row for his sponsor, Beauty Shack. In a topsy-turvy 65cc division, Michigan's Brian Swink took the Stock win, and Larry Pegram took the Modified win, but New Hampshire's Roben Beach claimed the overall trophy with 2-3 finishes. Pegram, an Amateur National Champion shon tracker, returned to outclass the 85cc (7-11) Modified class aboard his Glenn jordan/Riley Cycle Yamaha. "Larry will have to wait until next year, when he can reach the ground on a stock frame," said his father. Scoll/Hi-Point/Maximal Yamaha-sponsored Damon Bradshaw scored a 1-2 punch for the overall win in the Stock class. "Cliff Lell and the Yamaha Suppon guys were a big help," said the Nonh Carolina rider. Idaho's Lowell Thomson repaid his trip sponsor, Specialty Insulation, by earning two wins in the 85cc (1213) division. "I had two worries," said Thomson. "First, I was afraid Ronnie Tichenor would catch me at the flag in the Modified class, and second, that someone would make a protest. David Meyers built the bike. It's stock, but no one believes that it can outrun the Kawsakis." In the Stock class, Thomson had to pass two former Bronze Boot winners, Larry Ward and Tichenor, for the win. "Flyin'" Brian-Thomson, Lowell's cousin, nearly made ita family sweep, winning the 85cc (14-15) Stock class, but Thomson tangled with Bobby Moore and went down in turn two after leading the Modified division. "It was all my fault," said Thomson. Moore, who raced for the title down to the final event in the '82 Olympics with Tichenor was off and running for the '83 crown. Mounted on a Danny Brown-tuned Team Green Kawasaki, Moore's Pro Trac/JTI P J-I/Scoll effort will be hard to beat. Vince DeVane, who is always a Mini contender, scored two seconds. Fontana, who really had no competition in the Expen ranks, satisfied the fans instead with "feet on the pegs" sliding and a wheelie for each of his checkered flags. Kentucky's Brian Duncan and Michigan's Eddie Warren took the runner-up' spots. TT Scrambles The SuperSports Promotions suppon team carved another thrilling TT circuit in Ocala Speedway's infield and as cloudy skies threatened, the staff worked against an 80 percent chance of rain, completing the program with time to spare. Honda-mounted Brell Melton opened the 65cc (7-11) division with a Stock class lead, but Kawasaki Team Green's Hank Moree and Many Vaughn ganged up on him. Moree took the Modified trophy and Vaughn walked away with the Stock and overall awards. Damon Bradshaw's Yamaha roosted the 85cc (7 -11) Stock class, then put a