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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126749
L _ Valley - Red Mounbln _ PbI.ter City _ S..rchl....t - Sidewinder Rolld - Superstition Mounbln - J. .n - Rand Mounbl. - Lucerne Valley - Red Mounbl Desert Hotline McCall takes Nevada C'ship H&H By Wayne Gales/ Nevada Motorsports News EL DORADO DRY LAKE, NV, DEC. 4 Larry McCall muscled his way toa first overall in the Gamblers M.C. Nevada State Championship Hare and Hound. McCall, who powered his Al's Cycle-sponsored Yamaha 490 to the win, had his work cut out for him, as the fight for the lead and the victory was tremendously intense from the start, and the lead changed hands literally dozens of times in the 140-mile-plus event. Troy Fitch was one of the early leaders, pitting his 250 Husky against the big bore machines of McCall and 1983-84 Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada Number One Open Expert Anthony Pasqualotto. Kevin Welch was also in the thick of the hunt early until a rear flat took him off the pace. David Hoesch, aboard a Honda 125, was also up there until he succumbed to a similar fate. Coming into the first gas, the leaders could be seen for several miles across a broad valley, and it actually looked like there was only one rider with a tremendous lead. When that "one rider" reached the first gas, it turned out to be no less than six motorcycles in a tight pack, including Fitch, Pasqualotto, McCall, Welch, Hoesch, and Chuck Rush. To say the -least, pitting was crucial, and also a madhouse! After the first gas, Pasqualotto briefly took the lead, but Fitch got back by and was leading by the narrowest of margins. By the third gas, it was Fitch, Pasqualotto and McCall virtually in a tie for the overall. Pasqualotto surrendered his front-running position at the third gas, after having problems with his shifter. "I couldn't shift into second or first," said Pasqualotto at the finish, "it was really tough up in the mountains. I had to get off and push the bike up the big hills." With Pasqualotto out of the picture it became a battle between Fitch and McCall. Larry came out on top, bringing his bright bl ue IT across the finish line in first place with Fitch taking a close second and a creditable first 25Occ. Rush, riding in his everconsistent way, moved his Sportsman Cycle KTM into the third-place spot when Pasqualotto missed a stop check and had to return for his mark, slipping him down to 20th overa]) and fifth in class. Daryl Folks, who had a good dice with Rush all day, slipped his 250 Husky into the fourth overall spot, third 250cc. In the I25cc class, it was a battle royale for both the class win, and for the 125cc points championship. David Hoesch and Paul Kline, both on Hondas, were virtually in a tie for the MRAN l25cc championship, the only title that was still undecided. Hoesch took an early lead with Kline not far behind. Then both riders suffered flat tires and, ended up in an intense, if wobbly, bar-banging session that lasted for over 50 miles. Kline finally got by when Hoesch suffered mechanical problems, limping into the finish line in 27th place, far behind the fifth overall win put in by Nevada Yamaha's Bobby Davidson, butfar enough ahead of Hoesch to take the 1983 125cc points title. Sixth overall and first in Class 38 was Utah's Joe Freedom (Hon). Class 38 was also a good four-way battle between Freedom, 'Tmjust gonna cruise" Max Switzer, Casey Folks and Dave Wood. Everybody in the group went over the bars at least once during the day except Switzer, who doesn't seem to ever put his feet down. First Amateur went to Jim Wischmeyer and first Novice was Lee Pearson. Stems grabs Sled Riders H&H By Shirley Upp LUCERNE VALLEY, CA, JAN. 8 Chuck Stearns and new 500 Honda took the overall win in the Sled Riders annual Larry Pfutzenreuter and Dave Doney Memorial in Lucerne Valley. It took Stearns only one hour and 46 minutes to cover the approximately 80mile course that the Sled Riders had marked out for the close to 300 riders that signed up. At 9:00 a.m. the Experts and Amateurs were on their way with Ted Hunnicutt pulling the lead out past the bomb. Steams was nursing his Honda along, trying to keep it from seizing. Kevin Hopkins and Mike Alexander were up with the leaders as well. In the 250cc race Derrick Pa iement had the lead until he went too far to the right. Ed Ogden was right there to move in to take the lead. Taking the lead in the 250cc Amateur class was Greg Winters. In the Novice/Beginner start it was Jeff Loftman and Robert Wethem, both Open Novice riders, out in the lead. Senior rider Hal Bankhead was starting to build a nice lead in the Beginner race. After the first 45 miles it was Stearns coming into homecheck first. Kevin Hopkins had moved up to second overall as he came through. Hunnicutt, after having his troubles staying upright on this first loop, came through at third. Staying a consistant fourth was Tom Willis. Alexander had decided to back off a little after his bike started to feel like it was going to seize and just settle for a good finish today. It was Chuck Pettigrew coming by next at sixth overall. In the 250cc race it was Ed Ogden in the lead wi th Paiement second and Paul Krause third in this close race. Wintersstill had the lead in the 250cc Amateur class. This elite group came through 7-8-9-10. Jack Trotter moved up to take the lead in the Open Amateur class. In the C bike race it was Tom Elias on his new hot Cagiva out in the lead. Bobby Charters came through second. Despite a J4-inch incision and 30 stitches in his leg up to his hip, it was Bill Saltzman leading the Open Vet class. Ron Surber was leading Larry Nicholson in the Open Senior class. As always the 250cc Senior 250 race was a cliffhanger. Jim Bringhurst moved up to pass Wayne Goodman and took the lead for awhile. But just out from the pits it was Dick Postma taking the lead, so it was Postma with Bringhurst and Goodman second and third. Monte Lee was leading Jeff Robbins in the 250cc Vet class. Larry Gordon was out in front in theC bike Senior class. In the women's class, Lori Farmer was showing her style with a nice lead built up over Jolene Payne and Victoria Scott. Joanna Needham was leading the women's Amateur class. In the Novice race Robert Wethern Daryl Folks pushed his Husky across the Nevada desert to finish fourth overall in the State Championship. (File photo.) was out in front and had his 490 Yamaha almost flying as he came through homecheck. Jess Loftman was second overall. Leading the 250cc Novices at third overall was Dan Dalton. Lonnie Lawrence came through at fourth overall and second in the 250cc class. Stearns kept his Honda out in the lead the last loop and just enjoyed his ride. The weather is perfect for racing this time of year and Stearns said the course was fun so he just enjoyed it all. Chuck wanted to thank his dad Joe for helping him get his new Honda, plus sponsors Mid City Honda, O'Neal, Kal-Gard, DRS, Scott Goggles and "Suzuki" Art. Hunnicutt moved up to pass Hopkins to take the second overal I. Hopkins pulled in [or a third overall. He really tried to catch Stearns and Hunnicutt but just couldn't do it, saying, "I would get close to Hunnicutt in the tight stuff but pretty soon he would pull away." Tom Willis pulled in for a fourth overall with Mike Alexander fifth. Taking sixth and first 250cc was Ed Ogden. Chuck Pettigrew took the lucky seventh overall. Recovering from a bad start when someone clipped his handlebars on the bomb run, it was Ron Shuler tak. ing a well-deserved eighth. Second 250cc at ninth overall was Paiement. Rounding out the top 10 was Winters, who took a first in the 250cc Amateur class. First overall Novice was Robert Wethern. Taking top Beginner today was senior rider Bankhead on Dallas Baker's 600 Yamaha. e Unofficial Results OPEN EX: 1. C. Steerns: 2. T. Hunnicull Jr.; 3. K. Hopkins. OPEN AM: 1. J. Troner: 2. C. Bonham: 3. R. McCabe. OPEN NOV: 1. R. Wethern: 2. J. Loftman; 3. G. Tamura. OPEN BEG: 2. K. Smith; 3. R. Bylsma. 250 EX: 1. E. Ogden; 2. D. Paiement; 3. C. Barney. 250 AM: 1. G. Winters; 2. A. Mallhews: 3. D. Duke. 250 NOV: 1. L. Lawrence; 2. K. Miles; 3. R. Hundtopt. 250 BEG: 1. A. Queircls; 2. J. Cole: 3. M. Scott. C EX: 1. T. Elias: 2. B. Chaners: 3. J. Braasch. CAM: 1:G. Brown; 2. M. Day; 3. A. Guzman. C NOV: 1. J. Osteen; 2. P. Wood; 3. L. Smith. C BEG: 1. J. Covture; 2. J. Crowe; 3. S. Bradley. VET OP EX: 1. B. Saltzman; 2. G. Ames: 3. M. Martin. VET O~ EX AM: 1. R. Pallerson; 2. K. Bunting; 3.. J. Flynn. VET OP NOV: 1. L. Mitchell; 2. G. Lyles: 3. R. Johnson. VET OP BEG: 1. J. Hammons; 2. D. Procida: 3. R. Hammack. VET 250 EX: 1. Monte Lee; 2. J. Robbins; 3. R. Waldbaum. VET 250AM: 1. C. Loonsfoot; 2. L. Stiffler: 3. M. Villanueva. VET 250 NOV: 1. R. Vaughn; 2. J. Gilpin: 3. D. Alexander. VET 250 BEG: 1. J. Cowgill. SR OP EX: 1. R. Surber; 2. L. Nicholson; 3. B. Torgerson Sr. SR OP AM: 1. C. Willis; 2.0163; 3. B. Healy. SR OP NOV: 1. B. Hannah: 2. A. Schug: 3. O. Wilcox, SR OP BEG: 1. H. Bankhead; 2. 0134: 3. 0141. SR 250 EX: 1. D. Poslma: 2. J. Bringhurst: 3. R. Hall. SR 250 AM: 1. T. Estep: 2. J. Br.asch Sr; 3. M. Farms. SR C EX: 1. L. Gorden; 2. 037c; 3. 036c. SR CAM: 1. J. Leholan: 2. 011 c. WOMEN EX: 1. L. F.rmer; 2. O. Holeman; 3. V. Scali. WOM AM: 1. J. Needham. WOM NOV: 1. C. Sain; 2. T. Brush. 15