Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Rodney Smith (20) and Jim Holley battle in Calgary. With first place disappearing in the distance, the crowd turned its' attention to the duel for second. Smith managed to pass Holley, but Holley was reluctant to stay passed. The battle for second intensified until the last few laps when Smith crashed and left Holley to take the position unchallenged. The checkered flag saw Denton with a big lead over Holley, while third went to Cantaloupi who had to work his way up from a poor start, but he raised a few eyebrows by slicing to fourth on a track that other riders said was hard to pass on. After the event there were mutterings in the pits regarding Denton's bike. The machine seemed too powerfulto be a legal I25cc, especially a two-year-old 125 c. "I hope they prote t me," Denton shrugged. "I can u e the 50 buck. The bike's fast because Paul Thede at ST Racing had two years to figure out how to make it that way but it's legal." No onecameupwith the 50requiredto make a CMC protest. CalgaryIWednesday When lhe riders showed up at the Saddledome in Calgary they found a track thai was much more spread out than Ihe one in Edmonton, even though the two cour e had basically the same layout. In points, Denton held a slight edge over Tarantino, who could only manage a fifth the previous night. The pre-race favoritcs, Cantaloupi and Holley, were well down in the points due to consistent, but unspectacular performances. Cantaloupi's problem centered around horsepower, or a lack of it. Both Donnie and Cory Cantaloupi were supplied with bikes [rom Western Yamaha, a local dealer that planned on elling the machines after the event. And even though Donnie brought some parts up from California, his machine just wasn't strong enough to run bikes like Denton's. That's why it was 0 impressive when Donnie Cantaloupi took the holeshot in Wedne day's main. Tarantino found himself in second place after the stan, and he set out after Cantaloupi in what was to be the closest race of the series. The two were side-by-side and wheel-to-wheel throughout the main event. Denton was out of the dice, having crashed on the first lap. That left Russ Wageman all alone in third while Jon Nelson defended fourth from Holley. Aftcr a few laps it was clear that there were two races on the track. Camaloupi and Tarantino were going for the lead while Nelson and Holley were racing every bit as hard for the twO points that separated fourth from fifth. The two battles came to a climax in Wageman leads Cantaloupi (1) at the start of a qualifier in Calgary. Only 125cc machines were used in the series. the middle of the race when Tarantino slipped by Cantaloupi and Holley bulled past elson. Tarantino, however, couldn 'I make h i pass stick, and soon he was back in second. That' how they crossed the fini h line, with Cantaloupi in front of Tarantino, and Wageman in third, obliviou to the ballie ahead and behind him. Holley managed to pull a small lead over elson by the last lap. Denton finished eighth after dicing with Cory Cantaloupi most of the race. CalgaryIThursday Tarantino had a narrow point lead when he lined up for the final night of racing. It was important to get a good finish, but it was vital to beat Cantaloupi if he was to win the series. And Cantaloupi finally seemed to have learned how to get the best out of his Canadian YZ. Denton had even more pressure. He had to win while Tarantino and Cantaloupi did no beller than sixth. But it was Holley who was mo t determined. Afterthree nightof cra hes and poor starts, he was in fifth place with no chance of winning the series, and he had yet to prove himself on the tight Hockeycross track. When the final race of the series started, Denton and Holley jumped out front and set a pace that no one else could match. Wageman once again wa all alone in third while another ballie raged behind him between Cantaloupi and Tarantino. The two battles continued until lap 18, when Denton gOt sideways through a eries of double jumps. Holley tried to move into the lead, but Denton slammed the door. Two turns later, Holley retaliated with a kamikazi move that resulted in Denton bailing off. Holley Slayed up and raised a victorious fist in the air as he took the lead. Denton remounted in fifth, where he remained for the rest of the race. The battle between Cantaloupi and Tarantino seemed tame by comparison, with Cantaloupi staying in front all the way. The finish order was set at Holley, Wageman, Camaloupi, Tarantino and Denton. Holley had the race, Cantaloupi had the series, and Denton and Tarantino had a long trip home. Denton wasn't content with that. Russ Wageman finished the series in fourth. His best finish was atthelast round in Calgary with second behind Jim Holley. "It·s one thing to move over to keep from being passed, but Holley ~as two bikelength.s back and he just rammed me." Holley didn't see it that way. "Denton messed up in the whoops, and when I tried to pass him overthe next double jump, he kicked it ideways, straight into me. I still wasn't mad when I passed him, that bit with the fist in the air was just for the crowd. Results • MONDAV: 1. Jim Taramino (Suz); 2. Rodney Smith (Yam); 3. Gary Denton (Suz); 4. Donnie Cantaloupi (Vam); 5. Jon Nelson (Vam): 6. Russ Wageman (Vam); 7. Eric Hall (Hon); B. Mike larson (Hon); 9. Jim Holley (Yam); 10. Louie Franco (Hon). TUESDAV: ,. Gary Denton (Suz); 2. Jim Holley (Vam); 3. Donnie Camaloupi (Vam); 4. Russ Wage· man (Vam): 5. Jim Tarantino (Suz); 6. Rodney Smith (Yam); 7. Mike Larson (Hon); B. Mike Brown (Hon); 9. Jon Nelson (Yam); 10. Tim Michlitsch (Vam). WEDNESDAV: 1. Donnie Camaloopi (Vam); 2. Jim Tarantino (Suz); 3. Russ Wageman (Yaml; 4. Jim Holley (Vam); 5. Jon Nelson (Vam); 6. Rodney Smith (Vam); 7. Tim Michlitsch (Vam); B. Gary Den· ton (Suz); 9. Cory Cant810upi (Yam); 10. Jim Simons (Kaw). THURSDAV: ,. Jim Holley (Yam); 2. Russ Wage· man (Yam); 3. Donnie Cantaloupi (VIm); 4. Jim Tarantino (Suz); 5. Gary Denton (Suz); 6. Rodney Smith (Vam); 7. Rick Maki (Vam); B. Mike Brown (Hon); 9. Mike Larson (Hon); 10. Jon Nelson (Vam). OVERAll: ,. Donnie Camaloupi (120); 2. Jim Tarantino (120); 3. Gary Denton (108); 4. Russ Wageman (107); 5. Jim Holley (103); 6. Rodney Smith (103): 7. Jon Nelson (83); B. Mike Larson (61 ); 9. Mike Brown 144); 10. Cory Cantaloupi (43). 13

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