Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Wayne Eckert (6) leads David Nuckols (1) and Jeremy Lucy (44) in the 125cc class at the Richmond. Virginia short track; Nuckols won. Results 500/0PEN: 1. Mark Gruber (RlX); 2. Brad Taylor (Han); 3. Mark Diesi (H·D). 250: 1. Mark Gruber; 2. Troy Hep!nar (H-DI; 3. Bob Ybema. Mike Parker (h) beat Mark Spriggle (13) and Mickey Whetzel (1T) overall in 125cc Pro action at Ashbury Park. Herman hot at Trail-Way MX By Pete Keiser HANOVER, PA, JULY. 12 BSA-mounted Jim Sumner and Tim Pratt 10 take over the lOp two spots. Sumner went on to win. Results EX: 1. Tim Mertens (H-D); 2. David Durelle (H-D); . JR: 1. Tim Farrell (H-D); 2. Rec,l Hart (C-A); 3. Greg Logue (RlX). . PRO-AM: 1. Jim Sumner (BSA); 2. T,m Pratt (H· 01; 3. Dave camlin (H-D). 3. Mike R~(Hon). West doubles at RichmondST By Joe Kelly RICHMOND, VA, JULY 16 The weather was hot and so was the racing at the Wednesday night weekly short track program here at the Virginia State Fairgrounds, but the hottest happened to be double Pro class winner Ray West. The action got going in the l25cc events. Wayne Eckert brought his Yamaha 10 the front in the firstqualifier. David Nuckols showed he was going to be tough with a last turn pass for second over Jeremy Lucy. Nuckols led for the distance in the second heat ahead of Lucy and Eckert and the main was a repeat. Nuckols had out-distanced the opposition by the halfway point. Eckert put on a torrid fight to capture second, b~t ~e11 a half a bikelength short at the fInish line. Chris Rickman put his Yamaha out front at the turn of the light in the Amateur 250cc class. On the second lap, however, Glenn Baar shot his Kawasaki to first. Rickman had a race-long contest with Doug Elliott. Baar came back in the main to lead every lap and had built up a hall lap lead at the checkered £lag. Rickman and Elliott were so intent on their second place fracas, that Baar had clear sailing. Billy Ellis and his Honda led Kawasaki rider Ray West early on 10 the 250cc Pro heat. West worked the less experienced rider to .get br on the third lap.. In the maIO EllIS stayed glued to West and was seemingly getting quicker on each lap. West won, but just barely. Eckert made a lastturn last-lap charge work 10 take third from Gary Enroughty. The two riders had raced the distance just as hard as they would have [or first. Jerry Koris rode 10 his first heat victory in the Professional 500cc ranks. Maryland rider David Hackett ran a distant second after a race long contest with Clayton Oliver. Koris led the first lap in the second qualifier, but Chris Rickman grenaded by carrying Ray West in his wake; t~e main was a different SlOry. After his heat win Rickman was anxious to duplicate in the main but he tried to hard and went down in the first turn of the first lap, necessitating a restar~. They tried again and Jerry Kons wen~ down again slOpping. the ra<:e. Three riders made contact Wtth Kons, but after a medical check over, he was declared fit to ride. On the third restart Ray West and Clayton Oliver jumped 10 the fro~t an~ put on. a wild, crowd-pleasmg nde. DavId Hackett rode his Yamaha 10 a close third, his best finish at the fairground's track. The race was red£lagged and stopped after Glenn Baar bounced 0(( the second turn wall on the eighth lap. Results 125: 1. David Nuckols (Suz); 2. Jeremy Lucy (Yam); 3. Wayne Eckert (Vam). 250 PRO: 1. Ray west (Kaw); 2. Billy Ellis (Han); 3. Wayne Eckert (Kaw). 250 AM: 1. Glenn saar (Kaw); 2. Chris Rickmen (Yam); 3. Doug Elliott (Han). SOD PRO: 1. Ray WeSt (Vam); 2. Clayton Olive, (Hon); 3. David Hackett (Yam). 50: 1. John Nickens (Suz); 2. Ryan Taylor (Yem); 3. Chris Copley (Yam). 60: 1. Brian Strong (Yamt 2. Travis Nuckols (Kaw); 3. John Nickens (Sull. . 80: 1. Jeremy Lucy (Kaw); 2. Broan Strong (Kaw); 3. Travis Nuckols (Kaw). Gruber twice at Santa Fe HM By Ed Ahlf HINSDALE, IL, JULY 16 Expert Mark Gruber took the top spot in both motorcycle classes at this week's edition of Santa Fe's Pro-Am program. Twenty-four riders contested the 500cc/Open class, running two heats, a semi and a IO-lap final on the big half-mile track. The first 500cc/Open heat was won by Winkie Frietas. Frietas was followed across the finish line by Gruber and Mark Diesi. Brad Taylor won the second heat with Bob Ybema second. Frietas first had clutch trouble before the start of the final and then dropped out on the first lap. Taylor took the early lead, pressed by Gruber. Rotax-mounted Gruber had his way and worked into the top position, cruising 10 the win. Honda-~ounted Taylor finished second, wlth Mark Diesi and his Uke's Harley thlTd. Gruber won the single 250cc class heat and had no problems staying ahead of Troy Hepfner in the final. Steven Herman rode his Spectro-sponsored Kawasaki to wins in both motos of the 80cc Senior A class at Trail-Way Speedway. It was Saturday night under the lights and Herman flew around the threequarter mile motocross track uncontested. His holeshot, smooth style and blistering speed gave the fans something to cheer aboul. Eric Bow found some fast lines too, and nailed down second place. JeHrey Yentzer passed several riders to move into third and make it a Kawasaki sweep. Another double-moto winner was Gary Hoke in the 125cc A class. In t~e first heat, Hoke overcame a fall 10 tum two by passing eight riders to regain his lead. The race was sco~ed with a supercross format, so the first moto only decided starting gate positions while the second moto was for all the marbles. Hoke again had to pass riders to take the victory in the final. He quickly muscled past three riders and stayed out in front until the checkered flag. Chris Coleman gave Hoke a good chase but had to settle for second. Brian Carroll rode his Carroll Racing Products/C&S Kawasaki into third. Front runners in the Open A class suffered falls, but were able to bounce back and still earn top spots. Kei th Rodgers grabbed the holeshot but feU in the second turn. The lead then went to Robert Huston who also promptly fell. ·Both ride~ w~ back up quickly and were paSSIDg nders at will to return to the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Jerry Seip jr. took advantage of the situation and accelerated into the lead Seip held the lead and took the win on a Honda. Rogers slipped back up to second place. Huston wound up third on his B&B Cycles-sponsored KTM. Seip. and Huston battled again in the 250cc A class. Huston was in third and Seip was in fifth position as the race began. After the leader fell, Huston passed the second place rider. Seip blew by the fourth place man and then only had Huston ahead due 10 another crash. Huston was blazing and kept Seip at bay. Randy Rudisill made up the ground lost from a bad start to finish third. Results 50: 1. Bruce Herne (Yam). 60: 1. Pierron Reasner (Kaw); 2. William Snook (Kawl; 3. Jerry Fray (Han). 80 JR: 1. Curt Rh_n (Kaw). SO SR A: 1. Steven Harman IKawt 2. Eric Bow (Kawl; 3. Jeffrey Vent.r (Kawl. 80 SR B: 1. B,.nt ""'erson (Kaw); 2. _rtludtenbaUllh (Kaw); 3. Ja..... Handerson (Kaw). 125 A: 1. Ga"'" Hoke (Hon/; 2. Chris c:ot,man (Kawt 3. Brian carroll (kaw). 125 B: 1.lMry ~ CKawl: 2. Tim . . .~ (Vam); 3. Rodney Ventzer (Klw). 125 C: 1. Larry Miller Jr. (Kaw); 2. Keith Banta Jr. (Honl; 3. Dlvid Allan (Han). 250 A: 1. Robert HuS10n (KTM); 2. Jerry Seip Jr. (Han)' 3. Randy Rudisill (Vaml. B: 1. Raymond Siothour (Hon); 2. Eric Snider (Han); 3. Kurt Randell (Hon). 250 C: 1. Craig Bowen (KTM); 2. John Garman (Suz); 3. Chuck Blrnes (KTM). OPEN A: 1. Jerry Seip Jr. (Hon); 2. Keith Rodgers (Han); 3. Robert HuS10n (KTM). . OPEN B: 1. Michael Wolfe (KTM); 2. Randy K,s· singer (Kaw); 3. Robart Nolt (Hon). WOODSMEN: 1. Michael Crocker (Han); 2. Gary Veirtz (Han); 3. Douglas Adams (Han). SR B: 1. Dan Kindne.. (KTM); 2. Ed Clarl< (Yaml; 3. Jay Smith (Yam). SS: 1. Pierre Reasner (Kaw). 250 Parker sweeps Asbury Park MX By Henry Muller FRANCISCO, NC JULY 6 O'Neal/TUF-sponsored Mike Parker rocketed his Robby Neeley-tuned Kawasakis to four moto wins in the 125 and 250cc Pro classes at Asbury Park Motocross. Promoter Tony Harrell gave the fans and riders their money's worth with a free meal and a drawing for a 1986 Honda CR80. David Hill held the winning ticket for the motorcycle. S&M Suzuki's Mickey Whetzel holeshot the first I 25cc Pro moto and· held off the attempts of Parker for seven laps before Parker snuck past on the final lap. TRP/Scott USAf Unifour Honda's Mark Spriggle came back strong from a first-lap spill for third over Duran johnson. Parker was quickest off the line in moto two with Whet2e1 and Spriggle hot on his heels. Parker kept his lead to the finish with Spriggle dropping Whetzel to third ahead of Johnson. Parker continued his rampage with

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