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
Southern California-Arizona-Southern Nevada- Southern California-Arizona-Southern Nevada- Southern Callfornla-Arlzona-8 Western hotline excursion, Chris Crowell showed up with a brand new Suzy and took on Marty Sharpe in the 750cc Box Stock. Crowell, armed with the knowledge that Sharpe was running a stock shock against his own aftermarket model, just "held to his tail until his shock got hot and stopped working" to take the victory. In 450cc Production the lead was claimed early on by another Suzy rider, Pete Carroll, who had a lonely ride to the flag for the win. Second place was hOlly contested by a whole pile of riders, among them Kirby Real, Bruce Mangels (on a bike borrowed from Clint Whitehouse), John Thornton, Steve Dilalo and Andy Leisner. After a race-long encounter they finished tightly in that respective order. Youngster Dylan Code (son of Keith) and Gary Pendergrass fought a tough battle in the l25cc GP with Code styling to the win, (Above) Jim Vreeke (3) held off long-time rival Earl Roloff (2) long enough for the 750cc Superbike win. (Below) Jim Vreeke. Vreeke wails at ARRA at Willow By Lori Tyson ROSAMOND, CA, MAR. 4 It was a toss up among knowledgeable observers before the second American Road Racing Association's Willow Springs ~ 48 750cc Superbike race as to who the eventual winner might be, but most agreed that it would go between Jim Vreeke and Earl Roloff. And that's exactly the way the race went. Vreeke took the holeshot, but Roloff was on Vreeke's tail keeping his dust from hitting the trail. Vreeke piloted his Ontario Moto Tech-sponsored Kawasaki GPz750 with the only mods having been improved brakes, CR carbs, slicks and wheels. Roloff had Yoshimura engine work, but rode on street Dunlop Elites and stock' brakes. After eight laps Vreeke and Roloff were no further apart than' at the beginning, despite Roloff's tires having melted by the end of the race. With consistent one minute, 33-second lap times, Vreeke took the trophy (and the $300 prize money) from Roloff's grasp. "I knew he was breathing down my neck," Vreeke commented afterwards. "I can't believe he was going that fast on street tires." Roloff remarked "I thought I had him at the end, but I was jn fourth gear at eleven grand and it hesitated a bit. I think I might have nicked a valve." Secure in third, after 55Occ-mounted Frank Mazur retIred with a flat tire in the fourth lap, was 42-year-old crazy man Denny "Freeway" Fryer riding his ancient Advance Machine-sponsored Honda to the last paying position. "I wish I could have gotten closer to them (Vreeke and Roloff) and gone to college" stated Fryer. "Following them is an education." Fourth place was debated between Jay Tanner, piloting Harry Klinzmann's '83 Suzy Superbike, Ken "Applesauce" Aplanalp, Tom Chastain and Bob Reinen: Tanner crossed only slightly ahead of Applesauce, Reinen and Chastain, respectively. Roloff was out again in the next race, the 750cc-Open Production, (on his other 750cc Kawasaki) and after grabbing the lead, downshifted to first going into turn three instead of third, and went off in the dirt. But, due to his many years of dirt track experience, he just wai ted until all was clear and gassed it, although, by that time, he rejoined the race in last place. But he then put on the most dazzling display of riding as he passed eight riders in the next half-lap, and continued in that pace to move up to fourth place by the fifth lap. Each lap he moved closer to the leaders Mark Shelton, Bob Reinen and Bill Davidson. But at the end, he was still in fourth, and, when Shelton was disqualified for illegal machinery, Roloff took home the third-place trophy behind winner Reinen and se, cond-place Davidson. Roloff jumped out again in the 600cc Super ~treet riding the Yoshimura Yamaha, but was plain outhorsepowered by the Curt Jordantuned Honda of Frank Mazur and took second. Suzuki-mounted Nigel Gale took third. "I've never worked so hard for so little," quipped Roloff as he went home without a single first-place trophy. The 600cc Box Stock class is becomingone of the most exciting to watch, even though there are no longer points awarded toward the overall championship. John Penner and Gary Tatsumi al'e quickly becoming the new stars of the class. Suzuki pilot Tatsumi and Kawasaki-mounted Penner played cat and mouse the entire ten-lap race and with a side-byside, photo-finish, Tatsumi took the nod. John Littau, Shawn Leipold and Scott Johnson went at it for third, but when Leipold decided to take soil samples in turn two, Johnson stole the trophy, After destroying his machine two weeks ago in an unscheduled dirt Results FORMULA 2: 1. Dylan code (HanI: 2. Gary Pendergrass (Han): 3. Sonya Gilbert (Kaw). 600cc BOX STOCK: 1. Gary Tatsumi (SUl): 2. John Penner (Kaw); 3. Scott Johnson (Suz). 45Dec BOX STOCK: 1, Keith McKibbon (Sull; 2. Charles Wallace (SUl): 3. Matt Smith (Vam). 25Dec SUPER STREET: 1. Frank Callinicos (Varni: 2. Earl Smith (Kaw). TWINS: 1. Fred Eiker (Nor): 2. Frank Malur (MG): 3. Jim Schmidt. 75Dec BOX STOCK: 1. Chris Crowell (Sull; 2. Marty Sharpe (SUl); 3. Kenny Kopecky (Kawl. OPEN BOX STOCK: 1. Thomas Fowler (HanI. 45Dec PROD: 1. Pete Carroll (SUl): 2. Kirby Real (Vam); 3. Bruce Mangels (Vam). 75Dec SUPERBIKE: ,. Jim Vreeke (Kawl: 2. Earl Roloff (Kawl; 3. Denny Fryer (Honl. F1: 1. Mark Shelton (Kawl: 2. Steve Bigansl