Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Moore mixes it up at Monterey ST By Mike Vancil MONTEREY, CA, MAR. 1 Monterey County Fairgrounds' 1986 short track racing season began with round one of the AMA-sanctioned, R&D Enter- Mark Gruber (48) beat brother Rick (47) and Mark Vonjof to the checkers in the Pro Final at Loon Lake in Antioch. Illinois, Loon Lake Ice Race Series: Round 9 Gruber brothers groove Loon Lake ice By Linda Blum ANTIOCH, II., MAR. 2 The Koehler Scale/North Shore Racingsponsored Gruber brothers, Mark and Rick, rocked round nine of the Loon Lake Ice Race Series, claiming the Open Pro and Pabst 250 Challenge, respectively, Rotax-mounted Mark Gruber dominated the Pro class with a strong up-front performance, 30. scoring both the heat and final wins for the sweep and leaving the dice to runner-up Rick Gruber, Mark Yonjof and Tim Farrell. _ The late season, well-warn-ice effect played a role in shaping the chase and altering outcomes. Rick Gruber wrested the early lead from Pabst 250 heat winner Yonjo£, then rode relentlessly to what one observer called "an on-rus-head, semi,sensational finish" in the final. Gruber rutthe finish line and the outer snowbank slmultaneously. Yonjof, just feet from the winner, was caught up in the crash for second. The finish line was starting to look like a tight woods section to third place Jeff Fredette, who managed to sneak through as the rest of the field scattered behind. Dan Peterson was the last vicLim of the pile-up. "I had to work hard to hold a tight line," said Gruber, "then one rut just sem me flying." Larry Piekos, aboard the quick Cycle Craft Yamaha, took .concise wins in both the Open and Senior class·es. Piekos led the aggressive Steve Swatscheno/Chris Bunnell battle for second in the Open class, then held the very determined Maico-mounted Larry Holder to second in the Senior final. Honda-mounted Chris Bunnell issued firm intentions in the Super Senior class, pushing Norm Gr\!ber for the lead· to sweep it with a heat and final win. Heat winner Rich Waldbuesser finished third. '~,-FFaI1k-4egel-'.:.s<:i'eamee-eRduol-- siasti~ fans as local favorite HTIsponsored Frank Kaiser, snug in the 250cc lead, headed Je~f Fredette, Don Waldbuesser and TIm Klauser In their battle to the wire in the final. Fredette and Mark Bradley ran heads-up in the 200cc final. Fredette took control at the halfway point then led the Ml. Morris, Michigan, rider to the checkers. Tom Fosler put a runaway lead on the 80cc class to win by a straight, while heat winner Rob McGee led the charge for second over Brian Kromroy, Bill Walker and Lee Eppler. Kaner Busse led heat winner Bradley and j.C. Blum in a tJuce-way scuffle to the 60cc finish. Mike Gibson broke away from his pack of Pee Wee opponents to win big over Brad Flamem, Kye Ybema, Jeff Permanian and Justin Vanderwerf£. Suzuki-mounted Rick Holder LOpped the Frank Kaiser/Chad Bierle/ Jim Bullock dice for the l25cc class victory. Results 50 FINAL: 1. Mike Gibson (Vem): 2. Brad Flament (Vaml; 3. Kye Vbema (Vaml. 60 FINAL: 1. Karter Busse (Vaml; 2. Mark Bradley (Yam); 3. J.C. Blum (Vaml. BO FINAL: 1. Tom Fosler (Kawl; 2. Rob McGee (Kaw): 3. Brian Kromroy (Su.l. 125 FINAL: 1. Rick Holder (Su.l; 2. Frank Kaiser (Kaw); 3. Chad Bierle (Kawl. 200 FINAL: 1. Jeff Fredette (Kaw); 2. Mark Bradley (Ceg); 3. Steve Swatscheno (C-AI. 250 FINAL; 1. Frank Kaiser (Vaml; 2. Jeff Fredene (Su.l; 3. Don Waldbuesser (Yam). OPEN FINAL: 1. Larry Piekos (Vam); 2. Steve Swa1scheno (Yam); 3. Rich Bunnell (Han). SR FINAL: 1. Lorry Piekos (Yam); 2. Larry Holder (Mai): 3. Jeff Parks (Kaw). 55 FINAL: 1. Rich Bunnall (Han); 2. Norm Gruber (Vam); 3. Rich Weldbuesser (Vam). PABST 250 CHALLENGE: 1. Ricky Gruber (Han): 2. Mark Vonjo' (Kaw): 3. Jeff Fradette (Su.). PRO FINAL: 1. Mark Gruber (Rtx); 2. Rick Gruber lHon);.3. _j64Kawj.-- - - - - - - - - -- prises/Pepsi Cola/Stroh's Beer-sponsored seven-event Hi-Point series, where Dan Moore rode his Greg Soter-sponsored Honda over the 1/8mile oval to the Pro-Am final victory. In the 500cc Expen division, Ken Nella took the top honors with a lastlap pass on Paul Iwanaga. The Pro-Am final was shortened due LO a red-flag brought out when three riders went down along the shan front straight, leaving no safe path for anyone. Moore worked up from a midpack start and led th~ race until the red flag. Following on the back wheel of 19Ioore was hard-charging Craig Johnson on a Kawasaki, who worked up from the penalty line to take second place honors. Yamahamounted Paul Iwanaga also started at the penalty line and followed Johnson's .Jines through the pack LO take third. Honda-mounted Iwanaga holeshot the 500cc Expen final with Netto, aboard a Can-Am, in tow. For all eight laps, the two rode close enough to touch each other. Iwanaga took the inside line in turn one on lap seven, and Netto rode an out ide line to the lead and held his advantage to the checkers. Holding the rest of the field at bay was third-place finisher Moore on a Honda. Result$ PEE WEE (5 years old): 1. Ely Huerta (Han). ' PEE WEE (6 & older): 1. Brian Sgheiza (Yam); 2. A. J. Kirkpatrick (Yam); 3. Gary Miller (Yam). 60: 1. William luker (Kaw). 80: 1. William Lukar (Kaw). 125: 1. Daven Marasco (Yam); 2. James J. Luker (Vaml. 250 NOV I: 1. Kandel Grove (Kaw); 2. Allan Maim (Vam); 3. Joe Kamm (Yam), 250 NOV II: 1. Jeff Holgate (Bul); 2. Pete Ghiglione (Mai); 3. Gary Ritchie (Vam). 250 JR: 1. Todd Bridges IKaw); 2. Kerry Puccio (Hon); 3. Perri Turner (Yam). 250 EX: 1. Chad Felicia (Kaw); 2, Kenneth Nona (C-A); 3. Robert Damron (Vam). 500 NOV DIV I: 1. Jim Tucker (Vam); 2. Steve Stewart (Yam); 3. Frank Macias (Vam). 500 NOV DIV II; 1. Pete Ghiglione (Yam); 2. William Rogers (Suz); 3. Roben Stevenson (Yam). 500 JR: 1. Billy Gon.ales (HanI; 2. Kerry Puccio (Han); 3. Joe Carrera (Su.). 500 EX: 1. Ken Neno (C-A); 2. Paul Iwanaga (Honl; 3. Dan Moore (Han). Pro-Am: 1. Dan Moore (Han); 2. Craig Johnson (Kaw); 3. Paul Iwanaga (Han). Nason flies to Fernley Lions win By Moto Depo FERNLEY, NV, MAR. 2 Mark ason riding a Reno KawasakilHi- Poin t/Sierrasponsored KX125 totally dominated today's 125cc Pro class, over Ricky De Carlo on a Carson City Kawasaki-sponsored KX125. Reno Honda rider Dave McCombs finished third. Nason took the holeshot in both moLOS; De Carlo couldn't get in striking distance of the fast Nason. Jeff Cloutier, 250 Pro, look his Michaels Cycle Works Suzuki down the same lane Nason went. Cloutier dominated both motos'while the rest of the field raced for second place. Rick Woodson on another Michaels Cycle Works Suzuki diced throughout both motos with Husqvarna White's Cycle-sponsored Butch Stillmock. These riders provided the drama in this race and finished second and third overall. In Open Pro action, Carson Honda ~-iEi DaR-f>essey-lOOk- the hele-shet,- but by the third turn, Robbie Hadlock, on a Honda CR500, was in the Lead and then waved bye LO the rest of the field. The second moto had an interesting turn of events when nortbern Nevada's top Pro motocrosser Allen Beluti signed up for the last moto. Riding an Allen Bray-sponsored M-Star. Beluti and Hadlock were handlebar to handlebar for the first two laps before Beluti crashed hard after taking the lead. Hadlock LOok advantage of BeluLi's crash and walked away for the win. Dossey finished second and Rich Thorwaldson came from behind with a great ride on his Jesse's Cycle KTM to finish third overall. Thorwaldson continued his domination in Vet Expert action. Only Dick BUllner, on a Honda, gave him any competition. Buttner was the top District 36 rider over 10 years ago and hasn't raced ever since, but he showed he hasn't lost any of his talent and finished second overall after taking a first moLO win over Thorwaldson. Old Timer Expen Ray Marshall showed the big bike riders the rear fender of his RMI25 and took the overall win. Michaels Cycle Works . Wylie Wilson won the first motoover Marshall but could not keep the fast moving Marshall at bay in the second moto which Marshall won with ease. Results 80 NOV: 1. Danny Ford (Kawl: 2. Matt Fulton (Kaw); 3. Harry McMahan (Yam). BO JR/EX: 1. P.J. Vacuk (Yam). 125 NOV: 1. Shawn Curtis (Kaw); 2. Wade Tiensvoid (Hon), 125 JR: 1. Brian Elder (Han). 125 EX: 1. Mark Nason IKawl. 250 NOV: 1. Dave Rumbaugh (Vam); 2. Randy Hibdon (Han); 3. Doug Cook (Suz). 250 JR: 1. Mitch Gallagher (Kaw); 2. Steve Cano (Honl· 250 EX: 1. Jeff Cloutier (Suz): 2. Rick Woodson (Su.); 3. Butch Stillmock (Hus). 500 NOV: 1. Mark Petars (Han); 2. Robert McCombs (Yam); 3. Frank Stannard (Han). 500 JR: 1. Rod Brock (Han). VET NOV: 1. Brian Spiersch (KTM): 2. Alan Tiansvoid (Han). VET JR: 1. Jim Foley (Hon); 2. Dana Branham (KTM). 500 EX: 1. Robbie Hadlock (Han); 2. Dan Dossey (Han); 3. Rich Thorwaldson (KTM). VET EX: 1. Rich Thorwaldson (KTM); 2. Richard Buttner (Hon). OT NOV: 1. Lon Remstadt (Hus). OT JR: 1. AI Bray (Mai). OT EX: 1. Ray Marshall (Su.); 2. Wylie Wison (Su'). OTH GANG CLUB RACE: 1. Rob Nichols (Hon~ 2. Mark Maninmaas (KTM); 3. Chester Martinm._ (KTM); 4. Brant Anderson (KTM). McMillen tops Pros atFL/GA MX By Gwen Millan VALDOSTA, GA, FEB. 23 Kurt McMillen from Wappinger, New York, swept two classes at round five of the Florida/ Georgia February MX Series, taking the overall victory in both the I25cc A and 250cc A classes. The first I 25cc A mota saw Hondamounted McMiIJen with the holeshot, followed by another Honda rider from New York, Raben McCullough. Mark Peterson (Kaw) pressured McCullough from third, ahead of Suzuki riders Mike Williams from Tallahassee, Florida, and Ontario, Canada's Tim Reyner. McMillen built a solid'lead as Peterson got by McCullough to set the finishing order. J McMillen charged out to a commanding lead in mota two, this time with Reyner in second, ahead of Peterson, Williams and McCullough. McCullough set out LO make up for his bad stan and quickly swept by Williams. Peterson dropped to fifth, and as McCullough closed on secondplace Reyner, Reyner dropped back three places. McCullough chased McMillen but Lime ran out, and it was McMillen going I-I for the overall. McCullough's 3-1 tally earned second overall, and third overall belonged itO lPete.I:Sori (Ql4)! H L 1 h ~. ')

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