Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ ~ Q a: 0 u u « w ..J a: w ~ > III III ... 0 0 ~ or 00 lL O'l ~ <.0 C\I lo-; ~ ..c e ... 0.. ~ ~ CfJ (Above) High point A rider Dick Burleson. (Below) Bill GUSH was top Senior. Overall winner Cunningham (right) and top B Randy Johnson. John Martin dropped 42 for second overall behind Cunningham. Terry Cunningham took a five-point victory over John Martin and extended his points leed in the National Enduro mndings. AMA National Championship .Enduro Series: Bound 10 Cunningham talles bite out of RaUlesnaile JOO By Merle Accord WINTERSET, lA, SEPT. 2 Team Husqvarna's Terry Cunningham rode a Husky 500 Automatic through 103 miles of dense woods, corn fields, open pastures, hills and creek bottoms, dropping 37 points for his third National win and a 33-point lead in the series .. . C o~er relf?'lmg National hampion Mike Melton at the Des Moin~ 18 Riders third-annual Rattlesnake 100 National. John Martin rode his Can-Am 250 ASE to second overall, losing 42 marks and edging out Team Husky's Fritz Kadlec by two seconds at the tiebreaker checks. Eight-time National Enduro Charnpion and virtually a living legend at age 36, Dick Burleson rode a prototype Husky 500 four-stroke in the Open A class, dropping 44 points to net High Point A honors and fourth overall. "I've ridden my first and last Nationa! for '84," said Burleson, "although I wouldn't mind riding this bike in an IS DE qualifier next year." Myron Freund, parts manager for Fort Dodge (Iowa) Kawasaki, rode one of their Kawasaki 250s to fifth overall and a first in the 250cc A class. "That was a tough National. I thought I was going to die. I haven't been ridi~g very much this year a!1d I'm nOl In sha~ for a loo-mlle enduro," said Freund afterward. "We laid the course out to take away points," said Gean Ma~, first loop captain. "But we put in enough mileage r~ts, 29 miles worth, so the average rider could stay within his hour." Team Husky manager Burleson said, "I thought the run was great, tough but straightforward. Nothing tricky although they did have some technical downhill stuf£. They checked us into the woods and then checkt;d us out. I really enjoyed it." The three-way shoot-out between Cunningham, Mike Melton and Kevin Hines never came to pass: Hines withdrew because of personal reasons and Melton dropped out at the 30-mile mark. Melton, heading up a steep bank, did a get-o£( and caught his right arm between two trees and hyperextended his elbow. Aftenhe run, Melton madea point to look up Husky rider Dave Pucharich to thank him for helping him up an embankment so he could get back to the c1ubgrounds. "I couldn't have gotten back without some help,' said Melton. "My arm was almost useless. I knew it wasn't broken. I've had some broken bones before, but I haven't had anything hurt any more. I think I'll be able to ride the Black Coal National in Indiana next week. "What this means is that I don't have any more low scores that I can throw out," said a determined Melton. "There are only two Nationals left and I've got to do good in both of them. I haven't given up. Terry (Cunningham) hasn't won the title yet, not by a long shot." A relaxed and smiling Cunningham discussed his ride after the finish. "I rode good in the afternoon. Good enough to win. I had some problems with the arrows in the first loop just before the 12-mile reset. I lost a couple of minutes there. They had some really technical stu£( like steep downhills into valleys and steep embankments up the other side. At one spot I had to get in line and wait. That's not my favorite thing to do." Australian Geoff Ballard of Team Can-Am, had problems with timekeeping and dropped so many points by the end of the first loop that he decided to drop out of the run. Geoff didn't waste the day; he followed John Martin through the second loop, nodoubt hoping to pick up some timekeeping pointers. David Kerwell, riding a Husky out of Ron Ribolzi's Lawn & Sport, lost 69 points and won the Open A class. But David was happier for another reason. "I didn't fall down one time today. I usually come in all bruised up," said Kerwell. Bill Gusse dropped 71 points aboard a Bike Barn Can-Am 250 (or. top honors in the Senior class. Randy Johnson, whose total experience in enduro riding is two local events and today's National, dropped 63 points aboard a MCC Husky 250 for High Point B honors. Roben Malone, also Husky 250-mounted, was the second overall B rider with 64. Results • OYERAU: T."" Cunninghem (Husl37. HIGH POINT A: DM:I< B _ (H 44. HIGH POINT B: Rendy.Jol>..-. (H 13. M: 1. Ten-y Cunninghllm (Husj; 2. John Menin IC·A!; 3. Fritz Kacllec: (Hust 4. oe.. IIer1rem (Husj; 5. Mille Toole (HusI; 6. Jim SblnfieId (HuoI; 7. Jeff F . - (Itew); 8. Jeff Irwin (Hat 9. Jeff Henning IlCTMt 10. MIIn Cullins (1bII. 125cc A: Rendy - . . . . (Hull. 200ccA: 1. John W,"""",(Itew); 2. oe..He._· ton; 3. Dan F.flIon lKeW/; 4. Richerd Mer1eo (HUll; 5. St... S_noon (K.W/. 250cc A: 1. Myron Fr.und (KeW/; 2. Jeff Ruuell IHuII; 3. Bob SChnothorst (Kewl; 4. Hervey Whippl. IC-AI; 5. Steve V.n lerdt. OPEN A: 1. D.... Kerwell(Hul); 2. John Nielsen IHuII; 3. AI.n Rendt IHuII; 4. K.ith H.I....-son IC·A); 5. Tom Dr.t.,HuII. 4-STROKE: 1. Bruce Crony (Hon); 2. Trlce'/ FIICIder (Hon); 3. Weyne Crosby IC·A). . SUPER SR: 1. AI Berquist (Husl; Z. Phil Patterson (Yam); 3. Don Burstoro (Husl. WOMEN: Gale Vandewater (Husl. SR: 1. Bill Gusse (C·A); 2. Dick Cromm.r (Kaw); 3. John Shafer (Hus); 4. Dennis Schenk (Hus); 5. Jerry Steward. 125cc B: 1. Jerry Watkins fe-A); 2. Bill Schaffer. 200cc B: 1. Paul Breeding (Yam); 2. David Bischoff (Kaw); 3. Dave Kloetze, (Kaw); 4. Greg TI"teede (Yam); 5. Bob Brown (Yaml. . 250cc B: 1. Randy Johnson (Hus); 2. Robert Malon. (Hus); 3. Geoff M.lling.r (Hus); 4. Danny Heth.rton (Husl; 5. Scott L....rton (HUll. OPEN B: 1. Kr.y Vic (Hon); 2. Larry Mg. (HUll; 3. R.ndy Burkl. (Hon); 4. D.n Murr.y (Hon); 5. M.rk Grumke (HuI',

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