Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

" Damien Cornwell leads George L8zor at Action Park Speedway in NewVork. The start of the Expert final in Springfield, including Rich King (80), Bill Herndon (19), Ronnie Jones (16), Tim Mertens (53) and Chris Carr (20). MIDWT SUPBK EX: 1. Chuck Quenzler (Vam); 2. Tommy BlacJtwell (Vam); 3. Sla.. Tully (Yam). Robertson again in Sacto MX By Greg Neukam SACRAMENTO,CA,MAY30 Jimmy "Kamikaze" Robertson continued his winning ways at Sacramento Raceway Park's Friday night SMX races by scoring another overall win in the Pro class over Scott McElroy. In the first moto of tbe Pro class, • KX500-mounted Tom Odekirk pulled the holeshot with McElroy's Honda in hot pursuit. Robertson was in about fifth. but quickly began his move towards the leaders. By the midpoint of the moto McElroy was in the lead and pulling away while Robertson secured second place and started rolling. McElroy held on for the win at the checkered, but Kamikaze had closed in and made a bid for the top spot, however, unsuccessful. Kawasaki-mounted Greg Sheehan finished third with Odekirk fourth and Brad Bruns, on the lone Suzuki in the class, fifth. Honda-mounted Dennis Redding started mOlO two with a holeshot ahead of McElroy, Honda-mounted Doug Martin and Robertson. Robertson clicked his CR250 into top gear and after a couple of laps was out front to stay, taking the win and the overall. McElroy roosted in for second and second overall while Martins third, combined with a first moto sixth, gave him third overall. It was Suzuki-mounted Mike "O.K." Fine and Honda ace Dan Allen sharing overall victories in both 250cc Novice divisions. Allen won Division I and Fine took Division II. In the ever-popular Four-Stroke class, XR-mounted Mark Bacbman won both motos for the overall while Randy Howath and Chuck Beard finished the evening second and third overall, respectively. Open Intermediate action saw enduro ace Duke Lambert flying his Husky to the overall ahead of Allen Nickel's Honda and another Husky enduro star Dave Bertram. Results 42 PRO: 1. Jimmy Robertson (Han); 2. Scott McElroy (Han); 3. Doug Martin (Han). 50: 1. Mathew Hawkins (Hon); 2. Travis McDonald(Vam). 6DINT: 1. Beau Judge. 60 NOV: 1. Billy Star (Kaw). POWDER PUFF: 1. Jeanie Odekirk; 2. Kathy Leicester (Yam I; 3. Pam McDonald (Kaw). 125 INT: 1. Adam Gallegos (Kawl; 2. John Stark (Kawl; 3. Pete Gondry (Han). 250 INT: 1. Terry Haguert (Han); 2. Colin McDonald (Kaw); 3. Mikay O'Shaughnessy . 500 INT: 1. Duke Lambert (Hus); 2. Allen Nickels (Hon); 3. Dave Bertram (Hus). O.T. NOV: 1. Joe Gallegos (Kaw); 2. George BUlties (Kaw); 3. Stan Hart (Han). O.T INT: 1. Bill ArIlogast (Suz); 2. R. Christian (Hus); 3. Bob Sorensen (KTM). a.T. EX: 1. Dennis Hausmann (Han); 2. Art McDade (Han); 3. Mike Bungay (Vam). VET NOV: 1. Dave Neilson (Han); 2. Ken Haleen (Han); 3. Drew Barney (Han). VET INT: 1. Mike Gildarsleeve (M-S). VET EX: 1. Craig Schultz (Kaw(; 2. Art McDade (Han); 3. Mike Bungay (Vam). 60 NOV: 1. Shawn McDonald (Kaw); 2. Robert Schaffer (Vam); 3. Curt Buttles (Kaw). 80 INT: 1. Brian Ruth (Han); 2. Bren Hamilton (Kaw); 3. Karl Buller (Han). 125 NOV DIV I: 1. Scott Stone (Kaw), 2. Mark Wvhldike (Kawl; 3. Robert Austin (Kaw). DIV II: 1. Mark Wyhldike (Kaw); 2. Robert Austin (Kaw); 3. John Moss (Vam). DIV III: 1. James Hanley (Vam); 2. Robert Austin (Kaw); 3. Bob Bern (Honl. 250 NOV DIV I: 1. Dan Allen (Han); 2. Mike Fine (Suz); 3. Darrell Baker (Hon). DIV II: 1. Mike Fine (Suz); 2. Din Allen (Hon); 3. David Adams (Yam). OPEN NOV DIV I: 1. Michael Harrison (Hon); 2. Scott DeRoco (Hon); 3. Craig Burt (Han). DIV II: 1. Craig Burt (Han); 2. Joel Christan...n (Han); 3. Michaal Harrison (Han). ENDURO: 1. Da.. Bertrlm (Hus); 2. Mike Derby; 3. Duke Lambert (Hus). 4-STK: 1. Mark Bachman (Hon); 2. Randy Haweth (Hon); 3. ChucJt Beard (Han). MEGA MINI: 1. Sta.. Arena (Suz); 2. Shawn Freiling (Kaw). Watson smokes Action Park East By Todd Kroh GREENE, NY, MAY 24 Smokin' Steve Watson has been making main event after main event at Action Park East Speedway, and this week Watson finally crashed iii by copping the Handicap main event title. The event was restarted after four of the six riders went down in a heap in turn one, and as close racing prevailed throughout the evening. On the restart Cornwell held the lead for all but half a lap. Watson, off the IO-yard line, pressed Cornwell for the lead the entire race and made his pa on the back straight of lap six. Hard Iuck has struck Watson allyear, but he has nOt missed a Handicap main event yet. And in each one has held the lead at some point but yet has failed to take the win. Things seem to be coming together now as this time Watson grabbed the lead when it counted the most, at the checkered flag. Ted Fey, riding with renewed determination, made bis move on Cornwell in the last corner to take second place. Cornwell finished third followed by Dale Wakefield, Tom Burge and Jim Nabinger. Bruce Nelson riding the Nelson Lamplighters/Racetech Godden took his second consecutive Division One Scratch main event. The Mongoose is starting to come alive early this year as last year it took him until midseason to come into form. When he got dialed in last season he went on to win the East Coast National Qualifier, the East Coast Championship and the Action Park East Track Championship. As was the case last w!t.'~~ _~~I~on dominated Division One racing action, winning his qualifying heat and semi final along with the main event. Nelson is now undefeated in scratch racing two weeks running. Ted Fey, showingadditional signs of a comeback, took home another second place finish as he followed Nelson around the circuit. "Terrible Ted" moved in behind . Nelson out of the gate as both riders prefer the inside line. John Lewis fired out of gate three and took an outside line into turn one. However, the traction on the inside prevailed as Nelson and Fey pulled away from Lewis and Mark Edwards down the back chute and began to wage their own private battle. Nelson rode a steady line to victory with Fey second, Edwards third and Lewis fourth. Damien Cornwell rode like a man possessed winning the Division Two main. Cornwell, having trouble harnessing his new Godden machine in the previous weeks, looked to have it all under control as he stalked the initial leader Joel Monell and made his pass on lap three. This was Cornwell's first main event win of the year and it appears as he'll have many more in the months ahead. Monell held on for second, trailed by Marshall Shunk and Greg Didas. In Division Three competition it wasa case of who would be left standing at the finish. The answer was Marco Morello. When his three fellow competitors began dropping one by one, Morello set his sights on the checkered. Mike DeGroat and Don Madison gOt hooked together and went down on lap four while Dan Slick had a close encounter with the backstraight wall on the final lap to give Morello the win. Results DIVONE: 1. Bruce Nelson (Gdn); 2. Ted Fev(Gdn); 3. Mark Edwards (Gdn). HANDICAP: 1. SIeve Watson (Wes); 2. Ted FeV (Gdn); 3. Damien Cornwell (Gdn). DIV TWO: 1. Damien Cornwell (Gdn); 2. Joel Monell (Jaw); 3. Marshall Shunk (Jaw). DIV THREE: 1. Marco Morello (Hon); 2. Dan Slick (Jaw); 3. Mike DeGroal (Jaw). Springfield ST to Jones By Dave Hoenig SPRINGFIELD, IL, MAY 24 The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association kicked off the Memorial Day weekend with an AMA Regional Championship short track at Springfield Speedway. A total of 106 riders signed in to battle over a $5000 purse in front of a packed house. Action packed racing was the rule as Ronnie Jones, Bryan McDowell and Tom Majeski captured Expert, Junior and Pro-Am wins, respectively. Track record holder Chris Carr set fast Expert time while Eric Sassaman was the quickest Junior. The 29 Pro-Am riders were divided into three heats. Willie McCoy, Majeski and Robert Jones claimed victorIes. Sassaman backed up his fast time by leading- the first Junior heat all the way. John Faulkner was second over Ch3Jlce DarJing. The ~cpnd heal was a tight race between early leader Recil Hart and Curt Cannon. Cannon took the win on the last lap with Carl Shane a distance back in third. Last year's Novice winner ScOlt Scherb took command of the third heat with Jim Hauptman and Dallas Mayer giving chase. McDowell easily won the last heal. Gino Brienzi made a last lap pass of Rich Rowe for second. Carr quickly took command of the first Expert heat with Nickie Fontana and Don Estep close behind. Rick Weir and Dave Hebb closed on Estep with Hebb taking third on lap seven only to see Estep come back on the last lap for the trip to the final. Jon Cornwell and Scott Adams dueled over the second heat but it was Ronnie Jones sweeping around on the eighth lap with Cornwell and Adams finishing second and third. Billy Herndon ran away with the third heat, Charlie Orr and Will Davis trailed. Winkie Freitas took the lead of heat four with Rick King and Brian Atherton close behind. Tim Mertens began a charge from the rear of the pack after a penahy line start and by lap four was in third place. Lap six saw Mertens take the lead much to the delight of the large crowd. King moved into second while Freitas held off Atherton for third. Majeski wasted no time putting his West Enterprises Cycle Shack/Mang Racing Frames/T.M. Racing sponsored Harley into the lead of the Novice Final. McCoy charged into second place and closed on Majeski but could not over take him. Jones led Mark Corsetti in for third. Corsetti was dropped from fourth to last when it was discovered that his muff. ler had fallen off, as repairs from a first lap spill did not last the full 10 laps, Todd Martin was moved up to fourth. The Juniors blasted into turn one with McDowell and his Uke's H-D/ Shoei/Bruces Body Shop/RKlKaIGard/Hi -Poi nt/Amsoil-sponsored Harley in command. Sassaman, Hauptman, Hart and Cannon held in tightformation the entire race, finishing in that order. Mertens led the Expert final into turn one with Jones, Carr and Herndon close behind. Carr took over on lap three but Mertens reclaimed the lead on lap six as Jones slipped into second. On lap eight Jones ran his Gill/GF Racing/Shoei/Knight/ Megacycle-backed Honda into the lead. Carr took second in lap II and began closing on Jones. It looked like last year's fall winner was going to repeat, but Jones held on for thewin. Mertens cruised in third while Herndon passed King on the last lap. for fourth. Results EX: 1. Ronnie Jones (Hon); 2. Chris Carr (W-R); 3. Tim Menens (Hon). JR: 1. Bryan McDowell (H-D); 2. Eric Sassaman (H·D); 3. Jim Hauptman (Hon). PRO·AM: 1. Tom Majeski (H-D); 2. Willie McCov (Hon); 3. Robert Jones (Han). Hart wins at Delta MX By Derryl Anderson PORTLAND, OR, MAY 22 County Yamaha-Kawasaki's Grayson Hart took his Kawasaki to first overall with 2-2 finishes in the 125cc Pro class at Portland's Delta Park. In moto one Oren Bray gouhescratch followed by Kenny Olsen, Ernie Roberts, Mike Bell and Hart, who was moving up fast when he and Bell tangled and took a detour through the banners. Both riders stayed up but were back a ways. Hart wasted no time in passing Bell and then Roberts on the uphill

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