Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

> W ~ ~ ..J t:l Z ~ > a: a: ~ 0 z « 0 a: ~ 0 ... 00 O"l ~ ..... a: u z z ~ O"l ..... « ~ > al en ..0 l- V 0 0 E V :I: lL U v 0 Dan Ashcraft (above) and Ted Hunnicutt (below) spent 100 miles only a few seconds apart while dueling for the lead. Ashcraft won. Motocrosser Eric Hallgath and his CR250 Honda captured the 250cc Expert class win. Hallgath spent most of the race third overall. but in the confusion of the near-miss, he missed the turn banners and had to circle back allowing Hunnicuu to pick himself up and take oH on Ashcraft's tail. Hallgath was third (first 250) and was trying to keep the twO leaders in sight. Fourth outof gas one was Bar LOw-to-Vegas winner Chris Crandall (ATK) who was making up for a horrible start. Crandall thundered his four-stroke after the leaders, but had a five-minute deficit to make up. Duane Summers was first l75cc in at eighth overall on his screaming Cagiva trying to maintain his lead over Yamaha Support/Duralube rider Mike Downhill Alexander. Th~ second loop crossed the rail• road tracks and headed into the Spangler Hills making a loop around Charlie's Place before loo'ping back to the same railroad crossing and gas two. Ashcraft and Hunnicuu were still within towing distance of each other as the spectators cheered them on. Hallgath held on to third overall with Crandall moving within suiking distance. Summers moved up to fifth overall and Cagiva teammate John Rudder also moved passc:d Alexander to sixth overall. Checkers M.e. rider Bill Saltzman (KTM) tried to extend his lead over So Cal M.C. rider Art Knapp in their duel for the Senior number one plate. ride ~nded shortly after the bomb ovice leader Mike McDonald when he crashed into a bush trying to crashed into a bush and went over the pass Hallgatli and kinked his cables. bars injuring his shoulder. Jim Fowler Shuler seized his 490 Yamaha twice (KTM) took advantage of McDonald's and decided to hang it up. While the crash and moved into the Novice lead Expert/Amateurs were on the first with JeU Mass (Suz) slipping into loop, the Novice/Beginners started second. The Jackrabbits did not have their bomb run. Novice Mike McDonthe Beginners finish very well organald (Hon) took the lead JUSt past the ized at the end of loop twO; a number bomb and quickly extended his adof Beginners were sent out on the vantage. Veteran Novice rider tewis third IOQp. There were some very Wright was on McDonald's tail foltired Beginners along with some scorlowed by Greg Moyer, Wade Tripp ing confusion that will have LO be and James Brown. Meanwhile, Hunnicuu passed a sorted out. As the spectators anxiously awaitslew of riders LO challenge Ashcraft ed the outcome of the Ashcraft/Huninto the first gas SLOp. Ashcraft's pits nicuu duel, the first bike that came were down at the end, while Hunniinto .view was Ashcraft closely folcutt piued first and gassed itdown pit ' lowed by Hunnicutt. The next in was lane in an eHortto beat Ashcraft out. Crandall who made up twO minAshcraft - also trying to beat Hunutes on the leaders passing Hallgath nicuu out- pulled out, and Hunnion the third loop. Hallgath hung in cuu had to lay his bike down to avoid for fourth overall (first 250), while hiuing Ashcraft. Ashcraft now had Summers (Cagiva N•. Apierica/ an opportunity LO ex~end pis lead, 0-37 Jaekrab.blts bare and bound Ashera't wins duel By Larry Langley RED MOUNTAIN, CA, DEC. 9 Team Husqvarna's Dan Ashcraft came out on top of a 100-mile duel against Yamaha support rider Ted Hunnicutt to win the last D-37 desert race of 1984. The two riders swapPed the lead back and forth with Ashcraft leading at the end of loop one and Hunnicutt taking the lead out of gas two. "It all depended on who made the 10 last mistake," said Hunnicuu...About 15 miles from the finish, I went into a turn a litLie wide and Ashcraft gOt inside of me. He didn't make another mistake so I had to seule for second." "It was a great race, not more than 20 feet separated us for the last 100 miles it seemed," saip Ashcraft. "It was juSt like BarsLOw-to-Vegas - fast and wet with no dust." The bomb run drew mixed criticism as most riders deemed it a oneline path and with no trails LO pass. The first Expert!Amateur start had motocrosser Eric Hallgath on a CR250 Honda first to the bomb followed by Chuck Peuigrew (C-A), Brian Harris, Ashcraft and Ron Shuler (Yam); Hunnicuu was about 10th. Peuigrew;S O'Neal/Sidewinder/Pro-Gas/Oury) edged teammate Rudder out for filth overall. Alexander finished seventh overall but said he clinched the number three plate. Nimh overall was Ken Parry (Granada Yamaha) just ahead of first Amateur Greg Winters (Hon), who wanted to mention Win· ters Foam Systems for their support. First Open Amateur was Nick Young (YamiGrazianos Pizza). Saltzman fin. ished first Open Senior and waited for competitor Art Kn~pp. Knapp nabbed second Open Senior so the points are going to be dose for the number one plate. First overall Novice went to Jim Fowler (KTM) of the 100's M.e. followed by JeH Maas (Suz). Injured McDonald (Hon) limped in for third Novice and a trip to the hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder. Mike Horne (Yam) nailed down fourth Novice. American Honda's Keith Reeves piued for son Brandin (XR500 Honda). It was the younger Reeves' first ever desert race. • Unofficial Results OVERALL: 1. Dan Ashcreft (Husl; 2. Ted Hunnicun (Vem~ 3. Chris Crendell(ATK~ 4. Eric Hellgeth (Hon~ 5. Due". Summers (Cog); 6. John R'-r (Ceg); 7. Mike Alexander (Yem); 8. Kenny PerTy (Yeml; 9. Gr"ll Wlnt,,", (Hon); 10. ""ul Kreuse. OI'EN EX: 1. DenAshcrelt(Hus~ 2. Ted Hunnicun (Yem); 3. Chris Crendell (ATKI. 250 EX: 1. Eric Hellgeth (Hon); 2. John Ru_ (Cog); 3. Kenny (Veml. 175 EX: 1. Due". Summers (Cog); 2. Tom Elin. SR 175 EX: 1. Robert Torgerson. SR 250 EX: 1. Jim Bringhurst; 2. AI Guzmen; 3. Wendell Repp. SR OPEN EX: 1. Bill Seltzmen (KTMI; 2. Art Knepp. 250 SR EX: 1. Don Whitehorn lSuz). VET OPEN EX: 1. W69; 2. Mik. Condit. WOMEN EX: 1. Joenne N..dhem; 2. Dien. Holeman (Hual. OPEN AM: 1. Nick Voung; 2. Alex Long; 3. Gr"ll Cord. 250 AM: 1. Gr"ll Winter. (Hon); 2. De.. Petti· grew (C-A); 3. Dennis Torverson. 175 AM: 1. Roben Sch".ider. SR OPEN AM: 1. John He..ick; 2. Don Bunch; 3. ""rry Ron Burski. VET 250 AM: 1. Gerry JoneslKTMI. VET OPEN AM: 1. Jim O'Connor; 2. Tom Hensen; 3. Chuck Wehl. OPEN NOV: 1. Roben DeSoto; 2. J.ff Mees; 3. Mike MeDon.hi 250 NOV: 1. Mike Horne; 2. Tim Alkire; 3. Robert Hendhoft. • 175 NOV: 1. 2190; 2. Pete Dobrotin; 3. Mill. Koncur, SR OPEN NOV: 1. Herold Danning; 2. Richerd Hugh••. SR 250 NOV: 1. Ed Heyne. VET OPEN NOV: 1. Fred Bi8COll; 2. John Mersh; 3. Ricehrd Br_l. VET 250 NOV: 1. R.". R_; 2. Mille R_n; 3. Word UInclia. I

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