Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Steve Lucero. Scratch main winner. ieads Tom Burba and Alan Christian in their heat race at southern California's Costa Mesa Speedway. 125 C DIY 1: 1. Bryan Jone.IKaw); 2. Mike Coch· ran (Yam); 3. Bill Lower (Suz). 125 C DIY 2: 1. Ed Snyder IKaw); 2. Bill Penick (Yam); 3. Dave Janik (Hon). 250 A/5OD A: ,. Tim Deutsch (Varni: 2. Fred AndrawsIVam): 3. Harold RobisOn (Suzl. 250 B: ,. Jeff Johnoon IHonl; 2. Dave Harden (Kaw): 3. Shawn Gates IKaw). 250 C: ,. Paul Knapp (Suz); 2. Bob Harrington (Yam); 3. Tom Timchal< (Yaml. EXTRA: ,. Terry Dillamon (Hon); 2. Tim Pizzute (Hon); 3. Chuck Nicholson (Hon). OPEN B: 1. Bob Bryson (Kaw); 2. Dave Happner (Hon); 3. Jay Kremm (Yam). • . SR I: ,. Kan Franitenberry(Hon); 2. Hal Dahringer (Kaw); 3. AI Pizzino (Mai). SR II: t. George Singler (Hon); 2. Joc Jacobs (Kaw); 3. Tom Ashton (Honl; Ermolenko, Brown tough at Ventura • Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Sam Ermolenko; 2. Mike F.ril; 3. All" Christien. HANDICAP: ,. Scott Brown; 2. Ermolenko; 3. Jimmy O'Dell. SECOND DIY: ,. Bobby Simons; 2. Mark Brooks; 3. Kevin Krugh. THIRD DIY: 1. Chris Land; 2. Rodd Saunders; 3. Nelson Colemln. MATCH RACE: 1. Sam Ermolenko; 2. Jim Sise· more. Lucero cleans Costa Mesa Spdwy By Scott Daloisio By Bill Locey COSTA MESA, CA, MAY 2 VENTURA, CA, MAY 6 California Slale Champion Sleve Lucero won his firsl 1986 Costa Mesa Scralch main event in front of an all Slar field lhal "Sudden Sam" Ermolenko relurned lO lhe lrack where he earned his AMA license as well as a nickname, and lhrashed an all-star field to win the Scratch Main Event at Ventura Raceway. Scott Brown, out of Massilon, Ohio, took the Handicap Main for his firstever Ventura victory, holding off Ermolenko. The riders on the track were wondering what happened .. as Ermolenko passed everyone in his handicap heat race in the first two laps. "Sudden Sam" worked on his wheelies the final three laps. The track, lengthened and widened agairr, allowed for plenty of passing and three of the four back-yardage riders transferred. The Handicap Main was vintage speedway - total thrills and total terror as six riders rode 60 mph, six inches apart for five laps. Brown, the former ice racing ... champ, didn't will - he blocked Ermolenko around the final bend and beat "Sudden Sam" to the checkered by less than a bikelength. jimmy O'Dell, geuing beuer every week, was third. Scratch racing was basic - the hot guys blew of( the not-so-hot guys in the heats and the semis, making for an as-good-as-i\-gets Scratch Main. The lineup featured three track champs - Mike"Faria, Alan Christian and Steve r:ucero, pi us Ermolenko. When' the tapes flaw up. off went Faria from the pol Ermolenko caught him a lap later and passed on the outside; Faria took it back a lap later. Ermolenko passed again on the third lap, and held on (or the win -his 17th at Ventura since 1981. In Second Division action, Simi Valley local Bobby Simons enjoyed ... his debut by winning the main easily. Mark Brooks was second followed by the winningest Second Division rider in uthern California, Kevin Krugh. 62 Chris Land earned a promotion 10 Second Division by winning the Third Division Main by plenty. included Rob Pfeuing, Mike Faria and John Sandona. Lucero's night didn't tart out with any spectacular happening as he failed to transfer from the Handicap side of the program, but when the Scratch heats came up, he was more . than ready as he defeated Tom Burba, Jeff johnson and Alan Chri tian. In his semi, he placed second 10 Pfeuing, but in the main it was almost all Lucero. Breaking from the pole on the start Lucero and Faria moved to the head of the pack in front of Pfetzing. Lucero was in the lead but Faria was close behind, until he went wide on lap two and let Sandona through. By that time Lucero was opening up a commandible lead. Faria began to hound Sandona for second but it was not 10 be as Sandona hung in to take the spot far behind Lucero. For the third consecutive night of racing 17-year-old Gary Hicks (Milne Bros.lMom & Dad/Scott Goggles Weslake) captured the Handicap main event. Hicks led it all the way, but in the early going, he faced a stiH challenge from another youngster, Walt Farnum. Farnum actually tried to poke his front wheel passed HiCKS on the back chute on lap twO but Hicks held him back. Mike Mazzacane got inside Scotty Brown for third on the third circuit and then set his sights on the fleet Farnum, while Hicks was in the point position and moving out. Mazzacane caught Farnum on the last lap, and as they went inlO turn three, he gave him a not-so-sullie bump and put him on the dirt. Mazzacane then crossed the finish line in second quite a ways behind the victorious Hicks. Third spot was taken by "Rad" Brad Oxley. Bobby Simons (Don & Lori Faulkner/100% Products/Scott Goggles We lake) continues 10 steam roll rus Randy Texter (65) beat Tom Majeski (90A) to win the Trail-Way Speedway short track in Hanover, Pennsylvania. way through the ranks, and on this night, he won both his heat and the Second Division main event from the 10 yard line. Previous weeks winner Pat Hawley came all the way from the 30 to .take second, while Mark Weaver jockeyed his Godden 10 third. Results SCRATCH: 1. Steva Lucaro (WeI); 2. John San· dona (Wes); 3. Milta Faria (Jawi. HANDICAP: 1. Gary Hicks (Was); 2. Mike Mazzecane (GM); 3. Brad Oxley (Was). SECOND D1V; 1. Bobby Simons (Wast 2. Pet Hawley (Gdn); 3.Mer:k W_r fGdn). THIRD DIY; 1. Duane Blake (Wasl; 2. Mike Busch· man (Jaw); 3. Craig Furman (Jaw). Texter, Majeski top Trail-Way ST By Len Breech HA OVER, PA, MAY 3 Randy Texler and Tom Majeski scored lWO wins apiece in TrailWay Speedway's hi-weekly short lrack program. Majeski won lhe 250 and 500cc Expert finals, while Texter topped Majeski in the 250cc and Open Pro"rinals. With temperatures in the low 40s and a strong wind blowing, water applied to the track quickly evaporated. The new surface deteriorated in spots, leaving some potholes. After one restart due 10 a crash. Dale Gingrich and Majeski quickly pulled out several bikelengths in front of David Reeves, Eric George and the rest of the 250cc Expert unal field. Gingrich found a better line through the holes and puJled almost even by the la L lap, only to come up short.· George got by Reeves to tak.e third behind winner Majeski and runner-up Gingrich. The 500cc Expert final looked like an instant replay of the 250cc race, but Lew Woods replaced Gingrich as Majeski's competition. Majeski put his West's Cycle ShacklT-M Racing Harley in front on the second lap, holding off the challenges of Wood. George was running third behind Majeski and Wood when on the seventh lap the race was stopped. Brian Eckhart rut the ridge where the old and new track surfaces joined and he crashed, suffering a broken leg. Majeski, competing with a ProAm license, led at the start of the 250cc Pro final, but Texter started swapping the lead with him and eventually took over for good on the seventh lap. Majeski held on for second with Steve and Bill Bromley finishing third and fourth, respectively. jim Hollister ha<;\ the lead at the start of the Open Pro final with Mike Scott, Steve Burkholder, Texter and Majeski tightly bunched behind him. By the third lap, Burkholder, Texter and Majeski held the front three spots. Texter soon put his H-O'Eastern Dealers Association/Lancaster H-D-sponsored Harley in front for the win with Majeski taking second. jim Haas took his first win as an Expert 'as he led the 125cc Expert final from start to finish. Mike Varnes pressured Haas but had to settle for second. Ken Mohler finished third after moving into that position on the sixth lap. Results 50: 1. Ricky Winson Jr. (VarnI; 2. Rendy Shanlt (Vam): 3. John Wi_ (Yam). 60: ,. Randy Shanlt (Kawl; eo EX; ,. G_gia Price (Kaw); 2. Paul Southard (Yam); 3. Je

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