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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126909
(Above) Ogilvie takes the checkered flag . (Below) Eric Hallgath gets his t rophy from Senorita Primavera. Diana Monica Martinez. Greg Fountain pits his Yamaha YZ250 in ROSarita Beach; Fountain finished third in the 250cc Expert class rid ing for Orange County Cycle. 'victories in Rosa rito Beach on his Husky 247, coming back after th e "La Pl aya " win in October to ta ke th e ch eckered flag in this Gran Prix . Mark Vanscourt, on a Honda 250, was second, while 1984 Gran Prix wi nner Greg Fo un tain fi nis hed third o n a Yam aha 250. I '/ 12th Annual Hilltoppers M.C. R~sarito Beach SRA Gran Prix: Ogilvie mDS at Rosarito By Greg N iemann R O SAR IT O BEACH, BAJA CALIFO RN IA, MEXICO, APR. 20 Bruce Ogilvie and h is Honda XR600 averaged better than 35 minutes for each 26- mile lap to w in the l Zth Annual Hilltoppers Rosarito Beach Baja 100 Gran Prix. T'his year's race was extended to five la ps, or 130 miles, which Ogilvie dominated by winning in two hours, 54 minutes, less th an 30 seconds 18 ahead of seco nd-p lace finisher Cr aig Adams. The Rosa ri to Beach Gran Prix started at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Rosarito Beach, as part of that Baja California town's Spring Festival activities. Entrants to the popular race were cut off this year at a record 550, up from 450 last year. In all, 330 riders finished the grueling race which, after leaving tow n , covered the h ills and canyons .east of Rosarito Beach. Ogilvie, of Ri verside, California, is no stranger to winning bike races in Mexico. O ver the past decade he has won the Baja 500 and the prestigious Baja 1000 severa l times each . This was h is second attempt at the Rosarito Beach Gran Prix; he finished third .Iast year. Ogilvie is sponsored by American Honda, Scott Goggles, and K & N Air Filters. " I took the lead about midway through the first lap," Ogi lvie said. " T h ere were ' two guys ahead of me; on e of them got a flat 't ire, and an other, Randy Blevins, fouled a plug. After that I led all the way. I knew Craig was right beh ind me, and he started gai ning, but I just poured it on to win." T he win ner added, "It's rea ll y a ' fun course, lo ts of rocks and hills. I'm g lad it was five laps this year - it made it that much more challenging." Second-place finisher Craig Adams, riding a Honda C R500 : is sponsored by North County Honda a nd challen ged Ogi lvie, closing cons iderable ground on the last lap , bu t still fall ing short. Adams won the 20l-25Occ-Open division of the 1980 Rosarito Beach Gran Prix, and the 250cc-Open at last year 's first Hil l ro p p er 's Ro sa ri to Bea ch " L a Playa " Gran P rix in October. Wayne Martin, on a H usky 400, sn ared third p lace -in th e Open Division. Martin is a three-time Rosarito Beach Gran Prix champion, win ning the 25Occ-Open division in 1981, 1983 and 1984. He is sponsored by Malcolm Smith Motorcycles. In the Expert 201-250cc division, Eri c Hallgath has scored back-to-back Duane Summers, sponsored by Cagiva of North America and O'Neal, won th e 8 l -200cc Expert race on his Cagiva 125. Keith Sen n placed second on a KTM 125, and Ka rl Da vis on a Yamaha YZI25 placed third. In th e small bi kes, 0-80cc division , R ya n Lamb on a Suzuki 80 edged out Steve O lde nbrook on a H usky 80 for the wi n. Denise DeVines was the top wo ma n fin isher an d wo n th e Woman's 250cc race on h er Suzuki RM250. DeVi nes, sponsored by Pasaden a Suzuki and Scott, fin ished 231st overa ll. Stepha nie Neesby on a H usky 250 finished second. Amateur O pen winner wa s Ron Mowry on a Yamaha YZ490. Second was Rick Burnsid e on a H o nda 500, while Ph il Tignor took third place, a lso on a H onda 500. The Amateur 250cc wi n ner was Don n ie Dearm an on a H onda 250. Second place was Bo bby Kaiser on a Yamaha YZ250, w hi le Brad Williams p laced th ird on a Husky 250. All of th e 330 finishers must regard themselves as winne rs . It was a hot , d us ty day a nd the eleme nts took th eir to ll of me n and mach ines. Even those who di d not fini sh wo n respe ct for the co urse and o thers, and they won pride for h a vin g challenged the co urse. Among the biggest win ners were the Hill toppers Mo to rcycle Club of L on g Bea ch , w ho spo nsored the So uthla nd Racing Association sanctioned point event. Hilltop pers-sp onsored races are fast becoming classics for so u thern Ca li fornia racing fans. Steve Buckl ey is this year's Presid ent; Dave O akleaf was Race Chairm an ; Dave Alva rez and Gary Baco n were co ur se cap tai ns, a nd Bob Bacon was the sta rt m arshall. T he Hill toppers exte nded sincere than ks to th e City o f Rosarito Beach for their cooperation . O n hand to start the race was Mayor H u go T orres, a nd Bern abe (Bernie) H ern andez, 1985 President of the Tou rism and Conven tio n Co m m ittee, and th is year's Rosarit o Spring Festival coordi nator. Other tow nspeople directly in vol ved incl ud ed Pa nch o Frijo an d Ped ro Arias , who served as race faci litators: Senorita Primavera (Miss Sp ri ng Festival ), th e lovely Dia na Mon ica Ma rti nez, was on hand to present awards [0 the class winners from th e City of Rosarito Beach . - Rosarita Beach ' was another big winner, according to Bernie. "T h e 550 people in this race meant a bout 3000 people in [o wn th is weeke nd . It's good for business; I u nderstand all the hotels were packed." Bern ie added, '.'We a lso appreciate the Hilltoppers Mo to rcycle Club. Each time th e club dona tes some of its proceeds to our city. T his time we were h ap py to get eq u ipme nt for o ur Rosari to Fire De, p art ment, th in gs like h oses, boots an d jackets. So we were win ners too . Besides, I know a lot of people in to wn who enjoy watching the race. " . Results OPEN EX: 1. Bruce Ogilvie (Han): 2. Creig Adams (Han) ; 3 . Wayne Martin fHus ). OPEN VET EX: 1. Mike Bast (Hus); 2. Danny San· chez (Han); 3, Elmer Woolard (Mai). OPEN SR EX: 1. J im Ellanbarger (Han); 2, Lars Larson . . 250 EX: 1, Er ic Hallg ath (Hus); 2. Mark Vanscourt (Han); 3, Greg Founta in (Vam), . 250 VET EX: 1. Larry Thompson (Kaw); 2, Dennis Briggs (Yam); 3. Marty Moa tes (KTM), 250 SR EX: 1. Malcolm McCa..y (Yam); 2. Ed Duncan (Yam), 125 EX: 1. Duane Summers (Cag); 2, Keith Senn (KTM); 3, Karl Davis (Yam), 125 VET EX: 1, Danny Ashc raft (Kaw); 2. Paul • Vogelsang (Kaw); 3, Steve Woolley (Vam), 125 SR EX: 1. Vern Heth ; 2, Ken Kendrick (Vam). OPEN AM : 1. Ron Mowry(Vam): 2. Rick Burnlide (Han); 3. Phil Tignor (Han), OPEN VET AM: 1. John Rogers (Han): 2. Roy Burton (lion); 3. Roy Westcott (Hus). OPEN SR AM : 1. Ed Denbow (Vam); 2, Dennil Duke (Yam); 3, Bob WIlling (KTM). 250 AM : 1, Donnie Dearman (Han); 2, Bobby Kaiser (Yam); 3. Brad Williams (Hus). 250 VET AM : t. Sheldon Hower (KTM); 2. DIve Kribell(Honl; 3. Tom Conrad (Yaml, 250 SR AM : 1. Ray Wr ight (Kaw l; 2. Larry M . Owens (Suz); 3. Clive Cheffins. 125 AM : 1. James Hinson (Hon) ; 2. J im W entz (y am), OPEN NOV: 1. Paul Rankin (Vam); 2, Alan D. Rica (Han); 3, John Stroud (Han), OPEN VET NOV: 1, Bruce A ll ison (Ylm); 2. Glenn Miller (Hus); 3. Frede rick Deane (Hon) . OPEN SR NOV: 1. Jack Bongiovanni (Han); 2. Doug Funderburg (Suz); 3, Br ian Stevens (Kaw ), 250 NOV: 1. Jlck Bongiovanni (Honl ; 2. Doug Funderburg (Suz); 3 . Br ian Stevens (Klw). 250 VET NOV: 1. Dean Dlouhy (Yam); 2. Alln Megenity (Hus);.3 . Richard St uelke (Han). 250 SR NOV: 1, AI Lyons (Kaw) ; 2. Joe Cra ine (Kaw); 3. Phil Mooney (Ylm). 125 NOV: 1, Kelly Moore (Han); 2, Matt Zlck (Han); 3. Strople Matthevv (Ka\Oll, 125 VET NOV: 1. Richlrd L W ilson (VI m): 2, Eddie M , Vaughn Jr. (Han I, 125 SR NOV: 1, Larry Hodges (Vam). OPEN BEG: 1. James Davis (yam) ; 2, Joh n Flynn (Han ); 3, Bob Flrnham (Han). OPEN VET BEG: 1. Richard Glass (Han); 2. Hal Wild..y (Ma i); 3. Glenn Koukal (Han). OPEN SR BEG: 1. John R. Underhill (Hus); 2. Jack Lindsay (Han); 3. Ed Billings (Kaw). 250 BEG: 1. Mike Martin (Vam): 2. Drew Castro (Varni; 3. James Corn ing (Husl , 250 VET BEG: 1, Holkar Escobar (Husl: 2. Frank Benacke (Kaw) ; 3. Mike Niegsch (Kaw). 250 SR BEG: 1. Barry Simon (Ma i); 2. Hoy Mit· chell (Han). 125 BEG: 1. AI Gueiros (Han): 2, Ed Moore (han); 3, Eddie Metro (Honl , • 125 VET BEG: 1, Gregory S, Lavoie (Kaw). 125 SR BEG: 1. Richard Lamb. OPEN UNCLASS: 1. Steven Morris (Hus); 2. Robert Miller (Han); 3, Dan Breeding (Han), 250 UNCLASS : 1, Steve McCas lin (Vam); 2. Dennis Smith (Vam); 3. Doug Smith (Yam), 12 5 UNCLASS: 1. Alfredo Blanco (Han), 250 WOMEN: 1, Den ise DeVine s (Suz); 2. St e. phanie Neesby (Hus). OTO 80 : 1. Ryan Lamb (Suz); 2. Steve Oldenbrook (Husl.