Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ 00 Joe Solis (356) passed Steve Colucci and David Morgan (960) for an Open Production win at Willow. is 1 INT: 1. Bin AV8fY (Kaw); 2. Mike Tha",her (Hon); 3. Ty Earl (Yam~ 250 NOV: 1. Paul Midson (Suz); 2. Clive Belair (Mai); 3. Tim Murren (Hon); 4. Rich Batteglia (Han). 250 JR: 1. Joe W8lI1 (Vam); 2. SIeve Mellock (Hus); 3. Don Kuhn (Yem); 4. Mark Anzalone (Han). 250 INT: 1. Greg Spilman (Suz). 500 NOV: 1. Layne Castner (Han); 2. Paul Rott (Hon). 500 JR: 1. Randy Gayron (Han); 2. Todd Radech (Han). VET SPORTSMAN: 1. Riel< Souza (Han); 2. Benny Neva (Hon). VET MASTER: 1. Mike Lane (Han); 2. Deve Bur· gess(Vam). OT SPORTSMAN: 1. Slen Woods (Han). OT MASTER: 1. Gary Estes (Suz). EX: 1. Sam Nava Jr. (Han); 2. Randy Law (Han); 3. John Dauth (Hen). Vreeke wins, Brubaker breaks record at Willow By Lori Tyson RO AMOND, <;A, JULY I Jim Vreeke added yet another victory to his string of win in the American Road Racing Association/Willow Springs 34 Superbike Series, making it five in a row. Vreeke piloted his Ontario Moto Tech/ND/Arai/Dunlop-sponsored Kawasaki to a wire-LO-wire win, challenged only by GPz550-mounted Todd Brubaker. As Vreeke rode to a trouble-free victory, Brubaker was the one to watch: He took his Champion Moriwaki/ Starfire Racing/Castre/Lockhart Kawasaki LO second place in the 750cc event. Putting in fast lap times in the I:33s, he unofficially broke the 550cc track record - even with most of turn one coned off. Brubaker carne within two seconds of catching Vreeke, but Vreeke looked back at Brubaker and picked up his pace. At the flag, Vreeke finished six seconds ahead of Brubaker with the rest of the pack a considerable distance behind. There was one heck of a fight for third between Jim Poet, Chris Mencher, and the only non-Kawasaki rider of the bunch, Honda-mounted Denny "Freeway" Fryer. After a race-long duel Mencher took the number-three spot. Brubaker won the annual 600cc Superstreet Silver Cup race; slickng his way through traffic like a New York taxi driver. Brubaker took home a $3000 bottle of brandy for his efforts. "I got a lousy start; the close-ratio tranny in my bike takes some getting used to," said Brubaker. "But the bike was running good and I was running good, so that was that." Brubaker sLOle the lead in the second lap from Hesh Bohrer and was never threatened from that point on. Bohrer dropped back LO baule George Gereau, Pete Carroll, Poet and Tony Ma thews for second, with Gereau taking it. Poet, who hasn't raced much this year, had to settle for third ahead of Bohrer. In the 750cc Box Stock, Marry Sharpe defeated rival Chris Crowell in a close match that included Kenny Kopecky and Nigel Gale. It turned into a game of intimidation as they raced so closely they frequently bumped each other. In the end, Sharpe was the vicLOr over Crowell. In the last lap, Kopecky lost some time after he slid off the track in turn two. He din-tracked it back LO the pavement, but could only sal vage a fourth beh ind Gale. Results 750 PROD: 1. Bob Reinen (Kaw); 2. Marty Sharpe (Suz); 3. Chris Crowell (Suz). OPEN PROD: 1. Joe Salls (Kaw); 2. Bill Cain (Han); 3. Craig Huber (Kaw). 250 55: 1. Frank Callinicos. 500 SINGLE: 1. Tony Murphy (Nor); 2. Eric son (Han); 3. Bill Bunon (Han). 600 BOX STK: 1. Scott Johnson (Vam); 2. Gary Tatsumi (Suz); 3. Barry Smallwood (Kaw). F2: 1. Steve Raynosa(Vam); 2. Bob DeWitt (Vam); 3. Tom Sera (Vam). OPEN 55: 1. Bob Reinen (Kaw); 2. Ken Greene (Suz); 3. Tom Fowler (Han). 600 55: 1. Todd Brubaker (Kaw); 2. George Gereau (Hon); 3. Jim Poet (Kaw). 450 BOX STK: 1. Chris Grabau (Suz); 2. Bill OeBere; 3. Chuck Wallace (Suz). 450 LC: 1. John Thornton (Vam); 2. Alex White (Yam): 3. Willy Sarzi (Vam). 750 BOX 5Th: 1. Manin Sharpe (SUl): 2. Chris Crowell (Suz): 3. Nigel Gale. OPEN BOX STK: 1. Joe Solis (Kaw); 2. Craig Huber (Kaw); 3. Brent Ross (Vam). 450 PROD: 1. Andy Leisner (yam); 2. Mark Capell (Vam); 3. SIeve Dilallo (Vam). 750 SUPERBIKE: 1. Jim Vreeke (Kaw); 2. Todd Brubaker (Kaw); 3. Chris Mencher (Kaw). 600 PROD A: 1. Jim Poet (Kaw); 2. Nigel Gaie (Yam). 600 PROD B: 1. Pete Carroll (Vam); 2. Dan Brown; 3. Henry Rodarte (Kaw). TWINS: 1. Fred Eiker (Nor); 2. Bob Reinen (M·G); 3. Mick Ofield (Nor). Fl: 1. Jim Vreeke(Kaw); 2. Chris Mencher (Kaw); 3. SIeve Reynosa (Yam). 450 55: 1. Richard Davis (Han): 2. Sle.. Dough· e". (Yam); 3. John Thornton (Vam). rAn- VCMMraises $5000 lor leukemia victim By Wretched Racer TONOPAH/VIRGI IACITY, NV, JUNE 20 Three-year-old Dylan Wiggins is a victim of leukemia and needs a $50,000 bone marrow transplant to survive. The Virginia City Motorcycle Marathoners club is doing something about it. Every year since 1977 the VCMM has promoted a lil!le 01' trail ride halfway across the state of Nevada as a benefit for a good cau e. This year Wiggins was seleaed a the beneficiary of the VCMM's eventh Annual Tonopah-to-Virginia CityTrail Ride. Of all the folks who think they might like LO cover 201 miles of hot rocks and alkali dust in nine hours during the middle of a Nevada summer, the VCMM picks 30 to invite to the trail ride. This keeps the group LO a manageable size and make it possible LO run the evem on Wednesdays LO minimize conflicts with LTaHic at highway crossings. Of the 25 that showed up, one was legendary Phantom Duck of the Desert Louis McKey. Also appearing was KTM dealer Jesse Goldberg with a couple of his AMA District 36 cross country team riders. The day before this ride, the Goldberg gang rode 277 miles cross-country from Gardnerville LO Tonopah for the start. No sissy bike transporters for those guys! Goldberghim elf was wringingout a prototype ATK featuring a 600cc Rotax and single shock on one ide of the swing arm. An awesome machine! And then there was the youngest T-VC participant ever: 10-year-old icky Prater who not only finished but raised $550 in pledges a well. Even a descendam of the famou desert dog Kookiewas there: making it to the half-way point clinging to the tank of Ben immons' KDX 200. Even 01' Wretched his elf got invited. Therideislaidoutin rage witha checkpoint/gas stop every 30 to 40 miles. Club four-wheel-drive trucks follow with ga and support. Every tarter eventually finished. The riders were e oned through LOwn in a parade by Sheriff Bob Del Carlo (himself an Old Timer moLOcrosser) and greeted by a bras band and TV cameras. Then, it was free eats and drinks for the tired riders from the Bucket of Blood Saloon. Virginia City treats its dirt bikers right! Between the riders' pledges, raffles, auctions, and food/bar sales; the VCMM raised over $5000 LO help Dylan Wiggins. A sad note LO the day: one of the Trail Ride originaLOrs and prime organizers, Katie Kick, diedonly four days before this year's ride. Her husband Doug rode the last stage in honor of Katie's memory. The VCMM hopes it can carry on with the good work started by Katie Kick. Firestine keeps the lead in Colorado C'ship By Larry Johnson PUEBLO, CO, JUNE 24 Albert Firestine went into today's event leading Randy Warren by one point in the chase for the 250cc Pro state championship. Warren was ready for the challenge as he holeshot moto one and, despite Firestine's constant pressure, held the lead LO the heckers. Firestine stole the second moLO holeshot, the race and the overall. Warren tailgated him the whole race, but could nOl make the necessary pas . Dave Newell grabbed the early lead in the Open Pro first moto followed by Chris Sundstrom and Terry Kyle. He suffered several get-offs, but man- aged a third behind Kyle and Sundstrom. He pulled his second holeshot in moLO two and made it stick this time. Sundstrom gated third behind jim Eckert but worked his way LO second where he stayed. Kyle crashed in the first turn and never made it back into serious contention. Newell's 3-1 tally earned him the overall ahead of Sund trom's 2-2 count. Wayne Balliett made his 2-2 day good enough for the overall win in the 80cc Novice class. He came out behind Steve Collins in moLO one and the twosome roared away LO a big lead. Collins held Balliett off for the distance as they were joined in the late going by David Beavers. Balliett led Collins through the first turn in moLO two, but both were passed by eventual winner Craig Vigil. Balliett stayed close to Vigil, but knew he was in the driver's seat as long as he stayed ahead of Collins. Vigil had only managed a 13th in moLO one. Collins, who had LO stuff inside Mike Koskovich in the last turn LO maintain third, took the TUnner-up spot overall. Beavers finished high enough in moLO two for third overall. Results 60 NOV: ,. Scott Applebaum (Han); 2. David Madril (Kaw). 60 NOV: 1. Wayne Balliett (Vam); 2. SIeve Collins (Kaw); 3. David Beavers (Han). BO AM: 1. Chad Wollaston (Kaw); 2. Tom Lukas (Yam). 250 NOV: 1. Tim Heckman (Vam); 2. Scott Neil (Vam); 3. Raben Moorho.... (Vam). 250 AM: 1. Kevin Shelburne (Han); 2. Kevin Swisher (Vam); 3. Mike Trejo (Vam). 250 PRO: 1. Alben Firestine (Yam); 2. Randy Warren (Han): 3. Terry Kyle (Vam). OPEN AM: 1. Bruce Sylll8ster (Kaw); 2. Mike Morrison (Honl. OPEN PRO: 1. Dave Newell (Han): 2. Chris Sundstrom (Han); 3. Jim Thompson (tag). VET NOV: 1. Les Wagner (Mai); 2. Paul Braleler (Hus): 3. Rob Bruce (KTM). VET AM: 1. Garry Podoll (KTM): 2. Vic Ziemer (KTM). VET EX: 1. Dan Greenwood (Yam); 2. Monty Kyle (Vam); 3. Richard Dostal (Han). SR EX: 1. Vic Barlish (Mai). "Kamikaze" strikes again in Sacramento By "Nuclear" Neukam SACRAMENTO, CA, JUNE 22 RCSuzuki-pilotJimmy"Kamikaze" Robertson flew to another overall win in the 250cc Pro class at Saramento Raceway Park's Friday night races, while Randy Pockrandt topped the Open Pros, over Tom Sweeney. Robertson had to deal with Chip Venderford at the start of each 250cc Pro moLO as Vanderford pulled the holeshot each time on his ultra-quick Honda. Robertson took control of the lead in the first lap and styled to the win both times out. Vanderford finished a strong second in moto one, but a DNF in the second go-'round kept him out of the money. Hondamounted Bill O'Donnell combined a 3-2 score for second overall while Mega Motorcycle/Honda-mounted Curtis Dias secured third overall. Woody Russell continued his winning ways by putting his Honda on top of the highly competitive 125cc Pro class with a first in the opening moLO and a second behind Yamahamounted Tommy SiedeJ in the final moto. Siedel's 3-1 wa good for second overall. Hi-PoinLiHonda of Oroville-supported Bill Connelly scored the Vet Expert overall winning both motos. Honda-mounted jack Coulombe went 3-2 fOT se ond overall while Ed Santin thumped his way LO third overall on his XR250. Karl Butler ended the night with the 60cc overall, the 80cc Novice Division I overall ahead of Brian Roth and second overall to Ricky Lutz in Division II.

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