Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

------------------ ----- -_. - .- Dan Chivington (63) leads Don Gray-Wheeler and Terry Hampton (43) in A .Production action during a WERA road race in Grattan, Michigan. Warren Diem leada Kurt Stromme, in Handicap racing action from Speedway USA in Victorville, California; Diem fini~hed third. _ r s (Yam); 3. Ed Strohm (Yem). o PROD EX: 1. Andy Fenwick (Yam); 2. John Gotta (Yamt, 3.John Nalson. o Alan Pizzino (69) grabs the holeshot in the Senior 1 cia.. at OIR's MX Spring Series. Ken Frankenberry (020) closely follows. • Series and bagging $700 for his efforts, while $200 went to Knipp for winn ing the first round of Gra ttan's Michigan Cup Series. Chivington grabbed the pole position for both of his Production races by winning Saturday's heat races. At the start of tbe A Production race Chivington and Canadian GrayWheeler rocketed away from the field on their GSXR II OOs. The remainder of the field consisted mainly of Suzuki GSXR750s and Yamaha FZ750s. FZ750 pilot Hampton stayed close to the leaders' II OOs but the horsepower advantage was evident on the main straight and the Chivington/ Gray-Wheeler battle left Hampton all alone for third. Wheeler-Gray led on the white £lag lap but overshot the first turn just enough for Chivington to get by for the win. . The B Production final again saw Chivington on the pole but this time Hampton wouldn't be down on horsepower. Mark Tanner and Mike Shilts both showed they could run with Chivington in the heat race. Tim Monisey also figured to be near the front but crashed in an earlier race, . iniurin~ his collarbone. Chivington got another one of his great launches at the start.and pulled away from the fairing-banging battle between Hampton and Tanner. Shilts and Ralph johnston were running fourth and fifth but couldn't gain on the leaders. By lap four of the eight-lap race, Hampton broke away from Tanner and set his sights on Chivington. Hampton did catch Chivington and the two ran side-by-side at several points on the track but Hampton couldn't find the opportunity to pass. Chivington crossed the line with Hampton on his back wheel. Tanner took an uncontested third and Shilts held off johnston for fourth. "Terry kept me honest," said Chivington. "I looked ba€k early in the race and didn't see him so I figured I'd save my tires in case he made a run on me. 60' "When he i)ulreaalori~siaemeTk'n-ew he wouldn't pass unless he could do it cleanly. I feel a lot better about winning $2000 instead of $1000," said Chivington, referring to his second-place finishes to Doug Polen the week before at Rockingham. "We're going to spoil the Suzuki party yet," said Yamaha-mounted Hampton. "Give me a few races to get the FZ dialed in and I'll go GSXR hunting." "He's so smooth and consistent it's a pleasure to race against him." That's what Chris Thomas had to say about Kurt Hall after Thomas finished second to Hall in the C Superbike race. In addition to the C Superbike race Hall completely dominated the C Production and the Honda 500 Interceptor race on his Greenrose Honda/ EBC/Klotz/Herr's Signs Honda 500 Interceptor. Hall was running consistently in the 1.:34 range. By comparison Chivington ran mid I :33s on his GSXRlIOO. WERA created the Michigan Cup mainly for racers with machines like TZ750 and 500s and big superbikes. "Let's give these guys a race of their own where they can make a little money," said WERA's C.E. Pritz. Greenwood Honda's jim Knipp got orr to a slow start on his Yamaha TZ500. The TZ's power valve was stuck open making it a tempermental beast to ride on the twisty sections of Grattan. Knipp passed Fritz Kling's Honda 750 Interceptor Superbike ami Mark Tanner's Suzuki GSXR750 about halfway through the race. With an open track in front of him Knipp could concentrate on going fast instead of dodging the slower four strokes. Knipp was given the $200 cash prize at the awards ceremony. Results A PROD EX: 1. Dan Chivinglon (Suzl; 2. Don Gray·Whealer (Suzl; 3. R.T. Hampton (Vam). A PROD NOV: 1. Greg Conser (Suzl; 2. Duane Dreyer (Veml; 3. David BOOlh (Suz). B PROD EX: 1. Dan Chivinglon (Suz); 2. R.T. Hampton (Yam); 3. Mark Tanner ISuz). B PROD NOV: 1. Greg Conser (Suz); 2. Duane Dreyer (Vem); 3.Gary JeNies (Varni. C PROD .EX: 1. Kurl Hall (Hon); 2. Fritz Kling (Vam]; 3. Chris Thoma. (Vam). •• - C' PFlOo NOV: '1. R.T. Hamplon (Yam); 2. Tim PROD NOV; 1. Jerry Washburn (Vam); 2. Hugh Melling (Yamt, 3. Richerd Koenig (Yam). A SUPBK: 1. Dan Gray-Wheeler /Suz); 2. Mark Tanner (Suzl; 3. Scott B _ n (Hon). B SUPBK EX: 1. M _ ShilUl (Yam); 2. Michael Galla_. {Yaml; 3. William Botting (Suz). B SUPBK NOV: 1. Gus Christen..n {Yamt, 2. Gregory Co_ (Suz); 3. Micheel Kattaner. C SUPBK EX: 1. Kun Hall (Hanl; 2. Chrl. Thoma. (Yam); 3. St... Campiaano (Hon). C SUPBK NOV: 1. Gus Christaneen (Vaml; 2. Nan Royer (Hon); 3. Manln MiUer (Suzl. SUPBK EX: 1. Fritz Kling (Yam); 2. Kevin Fardoux; 3. Phil Pummell (Yam). SUPBK NOV: 1. Craig Battarshall (Yam); 2. Todd K/pp; 3. Man Royer. F·l EX: 1. Jim Knipp (Yam); 2. Mark Tanner (Suz); 3. Scott Br_r (Han). F·2 EX: 1. JeH Dykahouee (Yam); 2.DalaW_ner (Yem}; 3. David Merritt (Yam). F·2 NOV: 1. Craig Battershell {Yaml; 2. Bill Redias (Kaw); 3. John Whita (Yam). CLUBMAN EX: 1. Fritz Kling (Hon); 2. Oldrich Schmuttermier (Yam); 3. JaN Dykahouse (Yam). CLUBMAN NOV: 1. Man Royer (Hon); 2. Bill Redia. (Kawl; 3. Rick Rybarsyk (Kaw). HON 500 INTERCEPTOR EX: 1. Kun Hall; 2. Fritz Kling; 3. Sl... Camp/aano. HON 50D INTERCEPTOR NOV: 1. Stave Kok. MICH CUP: 1. Jim Knipp (Vam); 2. Mark Tanner (Suz); 3. Scott Breaden (Hool· o o Sandona wins Speedway USA By Scott Daloisio a little more and rode the remaining way to his first win of the year. Hicks took a very strong second with Lucero in third. Riding the NjK/Lou's Service jawa, Louis Kossuth got on the program as a reserve and then proceeded to sweep the Handicap portion of the show. The race was al ....."st all Kossuth but there was an ir••eresting battle going on between Walt Farnum and Warren Diem for second. Diem continually charged the younger Farnum, but Farnum held his ground. On the last lap Diem made his hard· est charge at Farnum on the back chute, and, just as he was about to challenge, he wheelied and by the time he brought it back down, Farnum was gone and after Kossuth. Farnum closed on the leader but it was far to little too late and the win went to Kossuth. Warren Reid (Hallman/Rich Little jawa) came off the IO yard line in Second Division and proved that was a mistake by easily winning the main event. Don jackson chased Reid home in second with Don Butler claiming third. VICTORVILLE, CA, MAY 3 Results Licensed pilot John "Sidewinder" Sandona almost literally flew around the Speedway USA oval on a cold and breezy SCRATCH: 1. John Sandona (Wesl; 2. Gary Hicks (Wes); 3. Steve Lucero (Wesl. HANDICAP: 1. Louis Kossuth (Jaw); 2. Wall Far· num (Jaw); 3. Warren Diem (Gdn). SECOND DIV: 1. Warren Reid (Jawl; 2. Don Jeckson (Jaw); 3. Don BUller (Was). THIRD DIV: 1. Mark Brooks (Jaw); 2. Brian King (Jaw); 3. Dan Alldredge (Wes). night on his way to winning the Scratch main event. The win was the first posted by Sandona thus far in the 1986 season. Sandona (Middle Earth Video/ Malcolm Smith/Scott Goggles/Rocky Cycle Weslake) warmed up for his win on Saturday by capturing second spot behind Steve Lucero at Costa Mesa in the main on Friday night. It was a different story though on Saturday as Sandona only faced one challenge in the exciting four· lap chase. . Like Lucero the previous evenjn~, Sandona failed to transfer out of hIS Handicap heat but was unstoppable in Scratch racing as he claimed first in all three of his rides. In the main he was first from the gate ahead of Lucero, Gene Woods and Gary Hicks. Woods found a hole in turn one and momentarily bobbled sending him to the back of the four rider field. The race looked like it was going to be a Sandona/Lucero affair but Hicks, coming off three Handicap main wins earlier in the week shot by Lucero on the third go 'round. If that wasn't enough the second year rider then pulled up to Sandona's rear tire putting the crowd on their feet, but Sandona then turned the throttle over Deutschdoininafes OIR MX opener By Peggy Adamic RAVENNA, OH, MAY 4 Agalheringof312 riders descended on Ohio Inrernational Raceway in Ravenna for the track's season opener and the second round of the CRA's Gear/Hi-Pointsponsored Spring Series. Tim Deutsch took the overall win in the 250cc Open A class, scoring 3-1 moto finishes en roule to his victory. In the first moto, Deutsch led the field of 28 riders through the first turn and held onto his lead for six and one-haH laps, as Yamaha support rider Fred Andrews battled for second place with David Hand. Hand and Andrews rode a close and tight race for the first four laps when Andrews was able to overtake Hand and begin his attack on Deutsch. Deutsch, Andrews and Hand rode together through each turn with Harold Robison quickly closing in on the trio. Andrews overtook first place from Deutsch'wi'th 'ortlV '3"ta:p-al'ld''a

• Cover