Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

II: W u, W « :J: U Ul 5 u Ul > III ~ :J: 0.. Ronnie Lunsford (377) takes an outside line at Texas World Speedway on his way to the Superbike B Expert win. Lunsford also won Formula Two. Moen, Ever take top honors in CRRCopener By Scott Schaefer COLLEGE STATION, TX,MAR.24 Wayne Ever and Meri l Moen took tOP honors at the Central Road Racing Club (CRRC) season opener at Texas World 3_2 Speedw ay with Ever tak ing four novice class firsts and Moen winning both Formula One Expert and A P rod u ction . Ever took his novice trophies by co n sisten tly runn ing in th e top five overall in the m ixed expen and nov ice races. Moen a lso took second in A Superbike even after leading h is class severa l tim es. Weather was su n ny and mild for th e ra ces, a h h ough th e tra ck was in th e same poor condition as last yea r. A new co mp u terized gridd ing and scorin g system wa s used a nd cut down drastically on delays. The co m bi ned Formula II class was first ra ce o f th e day, an d it wa s on e o f th e best. J essie Daniel, on th e only TZ 250 lefl running after practice, worked thrugh a tough pack of In tercep tors to get within striking di stance of leader Ron n ie Lunsford. For several la p s, Daniel drafted behind Lun sford 's Honda , but co u ld n ' t get around , as the two stretched out a lead ov er the rest of th e field . Then , just two laps from the finish , Daniel's bike seized right a t the start/finish line, giving Lunsford a n easy win. In th e D Superbike class Michael Snoddy pulled out an early lead on his RZ350 with Ro y Thoma close behind. Snoddy retired on the third lap with engine problems, then shortIy after th at, Thoma seized also. Jamie James inherited the lead and was able 10 keep it. The A Superbike class ra ce p romised to be tight; class champion Ollis Lance, was favored to win, but severa l top con ten ders were th ere with n ew a nd improved m ach in es. Some drama wa s added to th e stan when SCOll Ward 's Honda died on th e seco nd row an d h e rai sed hi s hand for assista nce; the sta rter didn 't see him and flagged o ff th e expert wav e a nyway. There was a restart, but poor flaggin g a lmost sent Lance cras h ing into slower riders when th ev wer e ins tructed 10 bypass pan of th'(, track to regrid. J eff Berglund's new Suzu ki Katana was al so a casua lly o f the stan wh en h e fou led a p lug on th e line. On ce th e race got underway, it wa s busin ess as u su al for Lance, th en Moen sudde n ly p assed him on h is stoc k Ninja . La nce regain ed th e lead two laps la ter , but had 10 keep looking over h is shoulder 10 stay ahea d o f the chargi ng Moen. II a p p ea red th e Formu la One class ~ i: a ~,.~ .\ u er b i~~ ... race, but when Lan ce lost hi s ignit ion o n th e first lap, the lead was up for grabs. Moen took the lead and proceeded 10 rea lly stretch it O U I. SCOll McCutcheon took second whil e novi ce Way ne Ever was third. Results FORM 2 : 1. Ronn ie Lu nsf ord (Han); 2. Ruben Loredo (Ha n); 3. Rick Tetrick (Han) . FORM 2 NOV : 1. Wa yne Ever (Kaw); 2 . Roland McAdams (Han); 3. Mike Ryan (Han). A PROD: 1. M eril Moen (Kaw); 2 . Robert Bradlaw (Hon); 3. Bria n Graver (Hon). A PROD: 1. Robe rt Tayl or (Kaw); 2. Ernest Rade101t(Kaw); 3 . Gavin Botha (Han). o SUPERBIKE: 1. Jamie James (Kaw); 2. Sander Avam (Yaml; 3 . Harold Peters (Kaw). o SUPERBIKE NOV; 1. Kenneth Phelps (Yom); 2. Bruce Comiskey (Yam); 3. Harry Bailey (Yam). B PROD; 1. Scon McCutcheon (Han ); 2. Meril Moen (Kaw); 3. Jamie James (Kaw). B PROD NOV: 1. Troy Chr istie (Hon ); 2 . Gavin Botha (Han): 3. Phill ip Fisher (Vam ). E PROD: 1. Harol Peters (Kaw ): 2. Gene O·Day. E PROD: 1. Phil Patterson (Kaw); 2. Robert Sm ith (Hont 3. Dennie Spears (Yam). FORM 4 EX: 1. Haro ld Peters (Kaw); 2 . Kenny Traylor (Kaw); 3 . David Robison (Hon) . FORM 4 NOV: 1. Phil Patt erson (Kaw) ; 2. Dennie Spears (Yam ); 3 . Paul Eche verria (Yam). F SUPERBIKE: 1. Randal Brock (Yom). FORM 3 EX: 1. Jessie Dan iel (Yom); 2 . Keith Coons (Hont 3 . Bobby Lewallen (Han). FORM 3 NOV: 1. Michael Sig mon (Han); 2. Steve Brown (Hon) ; 3. Chris M us ick IKaw). A SUPERBIKE EX: 1. Ott is Lance (S Ul ); 2 . Meril Moen (Ka w); 3. Ronn ie Lunsford (Hon). A SUPERBIKE NOV: 1. Wayne Ever (Kaw ); 2. Pat Gill (Kaw ); 3, Nick Wa rgetz (Kaw ). o PROD EX: 1. Ja mie James (Kaw ); 2. Sander Avant (Kaw).: 3. Haro ld Peters (Kaw). o PROD NOV; 1. Gus Alvarel (Vam); 2 . Harry Bailey (Yom); 3. Kenneth Phelps (Yom). B SUPERBIKE EX: 1. Ronn ie Lun sford (Han); 2. Rick Tetr ick (Han); 3. Scott Mc Cutch eon (Han) , B SUPERBIKE NOV ; 1. W ayne Ever (Kaw); 2. Troy Christ ie (Han); 3. Jack Rose (Han). E SUPERBIKE EX; 1. Andy Robbin s (Han); 2 . Je lt Harder; 3 . Harold Peter s (Kaw). E SUPERBIKE NOV: 1. Carl Corbin (Vam); 2. Phil Patt erson (Kaw ); 3. Dick Parshall (Han). FORM 1 EX: 1. M er il M oen (Kaw ); 2. Scott McCutcheon (Hon); 3. Rube n Loredo (Han). FORM 1 NOV : 1. Wa~ne Ever (Kaw); 2 . Pot Tharp (Yom); 3 . Scott Glov er (Kaw) . wh ich seized in th e sandwashes, It w as a cou rse which favored th e big machines, a nd times o n Gerber had him completing each loop in o ne hour and 10 minutes. Considering each lap included stopping for checkpoints and a few mi les of tight canyon s. Gerber was going at least 60 mph most of the time. Arni e Gonzales (Ka w) had a good start with only a doz en or so other riders in from of him at th e smoke bomb. Gonzales threatened th e lead br iefl y until a couple of trips o ver th e bars an d a seized motor for ced h is retirem ent. Also DNFing was SIDRA (So u thern Idaho Desert Racing Associa tio n) number one 250cc plate-holder Howard Pickell (Yam) . Winner of th e Vet cla ss was Bob Sward (KT M) who h as won this race tw ice in yea rs previous. H e showed th e yo u ng guys he' s still has what it takes by motoring to l l th overall. Results OVERAll,; 1. Show n Gerbe r (KTM ); 2 . J ock Str ut hers (Kaw); 3 . Curt Harpham (Hus) ; 4. Darr in Farnham (Yom); 5. Todd Hennemen (Hu s); 6. 51eve Oual a (Yom ); 7. Eddy Drexler (Kaw ); B. Nick Tellena (Yam ); 9 . Stephan Moore (Yam); 10. Bruce Quale (Yom); 11. Bob Sword (KTM); 12 . M ike Holl ings · wo rt h (Yam); 13. Rick Doom s (Han); 14 . Edsel Stat · li ngs (Yom); 15 . Tim Boeh lke (Han ); 16. Jelt Miller (Han): 17 . Dee Cli ne (Yom); 1B. Tyle r Brown (Han ); 19 . Ron Fossett (Yemt 20 . M ike Ma tt hews (Yom) . PRO: 1. Shown Gerber . MI Nt BEG: 1. Travis Arba ugh; 2. J ohn Verd un; 3 . Torr Olso n. MINI A M : 1. Kevin Merrill; 2. Robert Che ndler J r.; 3 . Scon White . M INI EX: 1. Br uce Zoon . 125 BEG: 1. Ron Phill ips; 2 . Tom Cha ndler Jr.; 3. Rob Gillespie . 125 AM : 1. Tyler Brown; 2 . Tom Hiler; 3 . Jim Bough. 12 5 EX: r. Lawrence Zoon; 2. Ritch Thu rston . 200: 1. Rick Davey; 2. Henry Reiman; 3. John Bish op. 250 BEG; 1. Rocky Fullerton; 2 . Travis Upson ; 3. Casey Durst . 250 A M : 1. Br uce Ouale; 2. Dee Cline; 3 . Steve Gower. 250 EX: t . J ack Str ut hers; 2 . Todd Henneman; 3 . Steve Ouol e. OPEN BEG; 1. Wayne Du rt schi; 2. David Turner; 3. Ron Fossett. OPEN AM : 1. Darrin Farnham; 2. M ike Mat· thews; 3 . Russ Boyd. OPEN EX: 1. Curt Harpham; 2. Nick Tellena; 3 . Rick Dooms. SR BEG: 1. carl Engle ; 2 . Tom Page; 3 . Mark Mc Atee . SR AM ; 1. Tom Harris; 2 . Chuck Wrigh t; 3. Dick Smart. . SR EX: 1. Willy M edley; 2. Kevin M agenis; 3 . Leroy Sm ith. \lET: 1. Bob Sw ard; 2 . Dorr ell Lankford; 3 . M onte Dennen . FOUR·S TROKE; 1. George Peacock; 2. Todd Reninger; 3. Warren Atkin s. WOM EN: 1. Kath y Cli mer; 2. M elva Lees; 3 . Cora l Sm it h. Pederson cashes in at Carlsbad By John Bethea CARLS BAD. CA, MAR. 17 Gerbergreatest at Jackrabbit 100 By Marty Gregory BR UNEAU,ID, MAR. 17 Shawn Gerber (Rapid Transit/ KTM ) streaked to a convincing 12-minute wi n in th e grueling Jackrabbit 100. H e follows his dad. Preston G erb er , who a lso w on th e Jackrabbit back in 1973. Second place finish er wa s J a ck Struthers (Kaw), whose father, Ca rl , won the first Jackrabbit 100 in 1970. Gerberlauncedhis 500ccKTMwaterpumper a t th e stan a nd was di cing with Daniel Huskey (Suz) for th e lead at th e smoke bomb. Huskey's engin e seized short ly th ereaft er an d Gerber began 10 put miles a nd minutes between himself and his pursuers. By th e en d o f th e first of th e 1w 0 50-m ile loops, G erber was a so lid th ree min ut es a head o f seco nd place Str u thers; thi rd was C urt H ar pha m aboard a n O pen class H usk y. Th e rela tivelv flat terra in on th e so u th side o f the Snake River made h igh spee ds possib le, bUI there were . ,ui e .. ~ Ir. . r... " r .ba bving ..moto rs J _ _ (e\\; ide -. . .. . :...~ In its first big money event since the Golden Stat e Na tionals, the Continental Motosport Club (CMC) laid out $3000 for th e Pros and a nother S1000 worth of co n tin gencie s for a ma teu r riders. Walking away with most of the Pro purse was Suzuki Canada's Ross PI'derson , who won th e 250cc Pro class. Pederson probably w ould have had a bigger pay day, except that a flat rear tir e spoiled hi s chances of .....inning th e I 25cc P ro s; the Suzuki pilot ca me in second overall instead. The first 250cc P ro rnoto was all in favor of Willie Surratt (Han ). After momentari ly trailing Mike Healey 's S uzu ki through th e first few turns, Surratt pointed h is bike at th e lead a nd went for it. Pederson quickly mov ed into third with Don Turk (H on) fou rth and Ya ma ha of Canada rider Doug Hoover in fifl h. By th e en d of lap IWO, Ped erson and Heal ey traded places. Lee Ram age (Ya m ) th en moved around Hoover on lap three, sell in g th e stage for th e fini shing o rder o f th e top five for th e remainder o f th e race . T his still lefl a terrifi c figh t for fourt h tha t involved Tu rk a nd Ra m. ~ _. age. Ramage br iefl y h eld an advantage over Turk on th e n inth lap ofthe 12-1ap mota. but soon lost it. In th e final sprint to the finish li ne, T urk was in fourth as he came 10 the Devil's Drop aft er Surrau, Pederson and H eal ey had a lready taken th e checkered flag. Then Ra mage shoe-horned his front tire 10 th e inside of Turk in th e last tum . Turk swerved left on Ra m age, and the two riders went dow n only 10 feet from th e finish. Turk got up and fired first to get fourth pl ace. Ramage finished fifth. In moto two , Pederson held down the lead with Surratt second. Even though Surratt stayed relativel y close all the way, he was n ever able 10 overtake Pederso n and th e overall went to the Canadian. Both riders were tied on money and th e purse was p aid by rnoto, Healey a nd Canadian Darren Sharuga (Yam) finished third and fourth, respectivel y. and Ram age was fifth . In th e 125cc Pro class, Pederson was in con tro l most of the day as h e closed in on firs t mo to leaders Mike Beier (Kaw) and Bad er Ma nneh (Kaw) w ho was seco nd. Man neh soon took th e lead, followed by Beier, P ederson, Mike Brown (Kaw) and Do ug Dubach (Kaw) . It remai ned that way until lap four when Pederson passed Beier only 10 get re-passed by Beier on the next lap. Manneh began to fade 'with mechanical problems on lap six, and Beier regained the lead with Pederson second, Bro wn third, Du bach fourth and Larry Brooks (Han) now in fifth. It stayed that way u ntil th e next-to-last lap when Ped erson shot past Beier for th e win and Dubach passed Brown for third. H ea ley (Suz) grabbed the lead in the second faceoff. Manneh was again near th e lead, but faded away by the midway mark. Meanwhile, Broo ks had third. Dubach fourth and Pederson was barely holding back Beier in th eir race for fifth and the overall. Several laps lat er, Pederson made his move and wa s in seco nd place. leaving Beier back in fourth; as lo ng as Pederson held the advantage over Beier. the overa ll was his . But Beier got a rou n d Brooks and moved into thi rd near the end of the mota. Whe n the whi te flag carne out, it was H ea ley, Pederson, Beier. Broo ks and Bro wn - tha t's when th e rea r tire went flat o n Pederson's Suzuki. Beier had h is chance a nd passed Pederson on the downhill , moving 10 seco nd to take the overall, Pederso n still managed to fin ish third, giving him second on points. In the 500cc Pro clash, Warren Reid rode a four-stroke A-Tra k 10 the w in in both rnotos for an easy overall win. Willy Simons (Han) scored a second p lace finish in the second rnoto 10 take the runnerup spot over Ed Arnet (Ya m), since both had a second a nd third place finish to tie for third overall. Results MINI BEG: 1. David Cas'iIlo(Kow); 2.Jimmy Olson (Yam) ; 3. J ohn Montevirgen (Kaw). MINIINT; 1. Chr is Young (Yom); 2 . Craig M iller (Kaw); 3. Jo son McFarl and (Yom). 125 BEG; 1. Scott Hansen (Han) ; 2. Eddy Kell ogg (Kawl; 3. Steve Tyeit (Han). 125 JR; 1. Bobby Williams (Kaw); 2 . Charles Gon zales (Kaw); 3 . Matt Kuczkowski (Han). 1251NT: 1. M ike Youn g (Yom): 2. B.J . M illspa ug h (Kaw); 3. Ch uck Whitmore (SUl). 125 PRO; 1. M ike Beier (Kawl: 2. Ross Peder son (Sult 3 . M ika Healey (SUl). 250 BEG: 1. J im A her ns (Yom); 2. Matt Owens (Han); 3 . M ike W itkins (Han). 250 J R: 1. Doug Schweizer (Yom); 2. Ken Fought (Vam); 3. Chr is carpenter (Han). 250 INT: 1. Ruben Alvarado (SUl); 2 . A lan Olson (Kaw t 3. Jim Huizar (Kawl . 250 PRO: 1. Ross Pederson (Suz); 2. W ill ie Surr att (Han); 3. M ike Healey (Sull. 500 BEG: 1. Joe Clark (Han); 2 . M ike Fe uln er (Han); 3 . John Olson (Han). 500 J R: 1. Tom Knopp (Han); 2. Tracy Hrach (Han ); 3. John McG innis (Hon). 500 INT: 1. Jeff Healey (Hon); 2. M ike Musson (Han ); 3. Roger Guard (Han). . 500 PRO: 1. Warren Reid (ATK); 2. W illy Simo ns (Han); 3 . Ed Arnet (Yom). VET JR : 1. Steve Gabr ielson (Yam); 2. David Church (Yom ); 3 . Aldan Colb y (Han). V ET INT: 1. Dave J acob us (Hon) ; 2. J im You ng (Han).

• Cover