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/126758
Dave Miller took his Husky to the Senior class win. (File photo). (Above) Marty ~mith was the overall winner of 0-38'5 "Kings" race on a 250cc Honda. (Below) Dan Ashcraft finished second overall. (File photo.). Smith flies to wireto-wire King win By Ivan Sumners Photos by Dean Kirsten and Dale Brown PLASTER cn::y, CA, FEB. 26 Displaying some' of his marvelous aerobatic moves, Marty Smith demolished a field of class desert racers in a wire-to-wire win in D-38's third King of the Desert go, on a very 30 rough,low desert course. What sometimes separates motocros - ---- - --- desert I ers, even great ones, [romor unracers is their inability willingness LO go at flat out for sustained period, however. mith does not suffer from high- peed malaise. Fudpucker and company had contriveda demanding test of skill. pluck and endurance - much of the laller. The stim had 204 racers lined across the east end of a dry lake. When the green ,,;ent down, and de pite a good breeze, the resulting du tlooked like bombs exploding. About four miles out, the racers were steered into an area called the mud hills, unlike the name, there was no mud today. Instead, where there had been, soft ground was now baked inLO sharp ridges that one guy later said were harder than Chinese arithmeticl This was demanding enough, but maybe as entertaining was the 1800 return LO the dry lake where the management had cleverly placed a genuine. bonafide motocross course. Tight turns, berms, a 10-foot high mini-mountain, a stadium type double jump and a couple more piles of earth that had acrobatic riders gelling 10-12 feet of air. Smith loved itl He led the pack returning from the mud hills and around the MX course. De en ace Dan Smith, who teams with Dan Ashcraft to have won nearly all the de en competition lately, was second by about 500 yards, while Larry Roesler and Dan Ashcraft followed close in third and fourth. From the flat lake bed the riders went we tward into a ourse engineered maybe beller for tanks and half tracks, because of deep sand: Along with the sand were miles of whoops, tricky ridges, hean- topping downhills and snaky uphill canyons. This course was 31 miles around times five! The beginning of the second loop had Many Smith leading and Dan Smith was econd. Roeseler and Ashcraft were together in the pits and left right behind Smith. Roeseler then had some rear suspen ion problems on the second lap, followed by a crash which LOok him out of the race. Dan Smith, not recovered from the flu. had breathing problems and could not continue. This teft the task of J running down Many Smith to Ashcraft. on a 500c Husky. But not (ar behind was Scot Harden on a 250cc Husky and Randy Morales on a 600cc Yamaha. A ide from Ashcraft, this didn't appear LO be a day for big bikes. Duane Summers (125cc Cagiva) and Jim Tu ker (125cc Honda) were creeping through the pack although not gaining on the leader, however, nobody was. It was becoming a question of just bow much more Smith would put on the field. Fatigue cou Idn 't even catch Smith as he made the moLO jumps with artistry and ease on the last lap. A the end of lap four Hardin was holding third. ummel'S, Morales, Tucker followed and perennial S.C.O.R.E. star .SCOll Pfeiffer, recovering from a broken wrist, and a bad start, had powered his way LO seventh on a Husky 250. Smith went on LO take the win ahead of Ashcraft and Hardin. Arizona's Super enior Dave Miller gave the King race his usual smooth and talented ride, as he easily won the class. D-38' number one Veteran rider Ed Mundy rode to tbe class win after some good racing with Racey Twggle and Bob Falkenberg. At the end it was only II guys that made the entire five laps. How does a guy who doesn't ride very much and hardly races put these kind of move on a stellar group of desenracers? "I workout with weight three times a week and I run every day," stated Smith afterwards. Asked how he rated th course [or LOugh ness on a one LO lOs ale. mith. after a moment aid, "a 10 and a haW" • Results KING CLASS OVERALL: 1. Marty Smith (Han); 2. Dan Ashcraft (Hus); 3. Scot Harden tHus); 4. Duane Summers (Cag); 5. Randy Morales{Yam); 6. Jim Rucker(Hon); 7. Scott Pfeiffer (Hus): 8. Ted Brady (Han): 9. Dave Chase (Hus). OPEN: 1. Dan Ashcraft (Hus); 2. Randy Morales (Yam); 3. Robert Pippin (Han). 250: 1. Marty Smith; 2. Scot Harden; 3. Scott Pfeiffer. 125: 1. Duane Summers; 2. Jim Rucker; 3. Kirk Hester. VET: 1. Ed Mundy(Suz); 2. Racey Tugg'e (Hus); 3. Bob Falkenberg (IT). SR: 1. Dive JIIIiller (Hus); 2. Roger Adsit (Yam); 3. Thort..on't , w.e.