Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Tom Walther leads Steve Dick and Art Robbins in Formula One action from the opening round of the Canadian National Championship. Gary Goodfellow (99) leads Michel Mercier (11) and the Formula One pack through the carousel in Westwood. British Columbia. his awards, but also a surprise cake' with which to celebrate hjs 27th birthday. Allen Gravitt, the overall hare scrambles champ, was showered with contingency awards from KTM Amedca and H&H KTM of Mableton, Georgia. G nl vi tt was presen ted a new KTM 350 Enduro with which to defend his series title. Suzanne Mackenroth of ICO, Corp. presented Melton and Gravitt with embroidered satin jackets in honor of their excellent achievements during the 1985-86 SE&TRA season. H&H KTM-Husqvarna support riders were also big winners as they took home over $4500 worth of contingency awards from the shop's owners, Barry and Patti Higgins. Carolina Wheels and Props Husqvarna's Steve Hermanson awarded his shop's riders with custom painted helmets. joan Ottinger of Pro Cycle in Snellville, Georgia, presented an award to Bob Shillinger for his outstanding performance as the top AA rider in the hare scrambles series. Everyone in vol ved expressed appreciation to the many wstributors, dealers and supporters who donated door prizes. The grand prize, a hot tub donated by SE&TRA member/rider Roger Mincey of Mincey Marble Co., was won by james Bransford. Results ~ 19B5-B6 ENDURO SERIES OVERALL: 1. Mike Melton (Hus). AA: 1. Allen Gravitt (KTM); 2. Randy Hawkins (Hus); 3. Darryl Kuenzer (Hus). OPEN A: 1. George Waller Jr. IKTM); 2. Mark Eaddy (Hus); 3. Joey Hopkins IC-A). 250 A: 1. John Boswell (C-A): 2. Jim Ford (Han): 3. Buren Hamrick (Hon). 200 A: T. Richard Dunn (Yam); 2. TommyVeator (Kaw); 3. Woody Bramlett (Kaw). OPEN B: 1. Tommy Counsins (Hus); 2. Steve Machac (KTM); 3. Richard Edmonds IKTM). 250 B: 1. Doug Jane. (KTM); 2. Mark Joyce (Hu.); 3. Mark FenneIlIC-A). 200 B: 1. Keith Shelton IC-A); 2. Kenneth King (Kaw); 3. Andy Simons (Kaw). 125 B: 1. Robert House (KTM); 2. Terry Lindsey IKTM); 3. Charles Bridges (Han). OPEN C: 1. James A. Davis (Yam); 2. Stanley Gantt (Han); 3. Don Baxley (Hu.). 250 C: 1. Tommy Smith (Hus); 2. Wade Baldey IHus); 3. John Beasley (KTM). 200 C: 1. Roger Allen (Kaw); 2. Tracy Fuller (Kaw); 3. Tim Holtzclaw (Kaw). 125 C: 1. John Lamb (Hus). SR A; 1. Charlas Wyman (Hon); 2. George DeVeny (Hus); 3. George Burch (KTM). SR B: ,. Fred Veator (Han); 2. Mike Garren (KTM); 3. John Parker (KTM). SUP SR: 1. James Bransford IHu.); 2. Buddy Gaillard IKaw); 3. Don Lilley (Hus). PP: 1. Jackie Kelley; 2. Connie Gallard. HARE SCRAMBLES SERIES OVERALL: 1. Allen Gravin (KTMI. AA: 1. Bob Shillinger; 2. Darryl Kuenzer (C-A); 3. John Fero (C-A). OPEN A: 1. Mart< Eaddy (Hus); 2. Joe Laws; 3. Barry Higgins (KTM). 250 A; 1. Buren Hamrick (Han); 2. John Bo.well (C-A); 3. Bren Burkin. 200 A: 1. Bryan Adams; 2. Steve Genter; 3. Ken· neth King IKawl. OPEN B:' 1. Steve Machac (KTM); 2. Dave Massey; 3. Travis Hayes. 250 B: 1. Mark Joyce; 2. Andy Spencer; 3. Michael Green. 200 B: 1. Keith Shelton IC-A); 2. Charles Bridges; 3. Edward Stamey. • SR: 1. Jim Ford; 2. Jim Shearer; 3. Jimmy Lynch. SUP SR: 1. Harry Greenlee: 2. George Burch; 3. Ed Peck. PP: 1. Doris Clemmons. Goodfellow, Mercier fop Canada RR opener By Alice McPherson WESTWOOD, B.C., JULY 5-6 The Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club and RACE combined their forces to put the best Canadian road racers on the track at the same time at the opening round of the CastrollCanawan National Championship. When the twoday meeting was complete, however, two riders stood above the rest. Suzuki-mounted Garv Goodfellow came away with wins' in the Superbike and 750cc Production while Michel Mercier took the Formula One win. Formula-Two has been attracting the wrt bikes, and both motocross and flat track were represented. Larry Taylor's CR500 Honda was good enough to take a solid third ahead of a number of more conventional F-2 machines. The race belonged, however, to Mike Sullivan and his RS250. He led every lap, pullingouta longer and longer lead. No matter how hard he tried, Darrin 'Gilmore could not find the motor to make up the time and had to settle for second place. Fourth was decided between a brand new TZ250 ridden by Bryan Rolls and the flat tracking XR500 of Randy Green; the TZ won. In the final analysis, the riders to beat on the big bikes were Goodfellow and Mercier with their Suzuki GSXR 750~. Perhaps it could be amibuted to the AMA's longer races or the wide variety of tracks that they run on. Despite the very close racing in all classes, they were the ones who managed to go the distance consistently. Goodfellow starred the 50-mile 750cc Production final in 33rd position due to mechanical problems during the heat race. By the fifth lap he was in first place and try as he might,. pole sitter Steve Dick could not get past him. There was extremely tight racing between them, but no mistakes and no changes of position. Crevier brought up third place in a similar fashion. The more interesting battles were back in the pack. Ken LaJonde fought his way up from II th to fourth, coming in just ahead of the first out of province rider, Tom Douglas. Tom Walther's pole position over Goodfellow in the Superbike final was an indication of most of the race. Walther was totally pumped and led from the drop of the na~. Rueben McMuner went down in the esses on the second lap whik tryin~ for the lead. Mercier, Goodfellow and Dick diced for second place until Dick threw hjs Interceptor away in corner one on lap 15. Walther's front wheel disappeared from under him on lap 20 going into turn two and all of a sudden it was Goodfellow in' the lead and stretching it out right through to the checkered flag. Crevier looked solid in third, until the bottom end of his FZ750 became solid, taking him out only two laps fTom the end. Rookie weSLCoast Pro Ken Lalonde grabbed third ahead of Norm Murphy. By the start of the Formula One race, the pit area was starting to look and sound like Daytona. McMurter's FZ was too trashed to consider racing. Miles Baldwin wd not have enough parts to rebuild after the crank went away during the qualifier on Saturday. Gary Berge suffered a stuck valve and was unable to start. Crevier's Superbike was welded internally and he came out on his Production ride. Walther again had the pole position for the start of this race and expressed every intention to battle it out with Goodfellow and win this time.. Mercier surprised them both with a jump into first by the end of the first lap, followed by Art Robbins on the Rothmans Honda. Goodfellow had managed to run off the track going into the hairpin on lap one and handicapped himself back to 10th place. Dick came around in third on the first lap only to find New Zealander Steve Trinder manage to push past first him and then Robbins to hold second for several runds. Trinder's bike quit on him in lap seven stopping his drive to the top. Meanwhile, Goodfellow had roared on pa t Walther, Murphy, Dick and Robbins to grab second on theeighth lap. In doing so, he set a new lap record of 1:08.78, beating Miles Baldwin's old mark of 1:09.2. Unfortunately, that was the best he would do as he went down in corner three while trying to get paSt Mercier on lap 13. By the halfway mark, the only tiling constant was the small but absolute lead that Mercier had on the rest of the field. Walther was now in second and matching Mercier lap for lap but illd not make any more ground. The fight for third was between Robbins and Dick, both bright lights for Honda Canada. Dick pulled ahead of him 10 laps from the finish and stayed there to the end. Results 450 PROD: 1. Jim Dewitte (Han); 2. Mike Crevier (Yam); 3. Sean Smylhe (Hon). 600 PROD: 1. Mario Duhamel (Suzl; 2. Nick Defago (Suz); 3. Gary Berge (Suz). 600 CAFE: 1. Daryl Cornwell (Suz); 2. Dave OhilWa (Suz); 3. Ken Lalonde (Yam I. Bon: 1. Richard Day (Cag); 2. Steve Drane(H-D): 3. Peter Lahmann (Duc). SID.ECAR: 1. John WildmanlHarry Rihela ISuz); 2. Ph'l RoneylJerry Alley (Str); 3. John Daileyl Arthur Dailey !Win). 750 PROD: 1. Gary Goodfellow (Suz); 2. Steve Dick (Hon); 3. Steve Crevier (Yam). F-3: 1. Ray Delyon (Han): 2. Mart< Norris (C-A); 3. SIeve WyanIC-A). F-2: 1. Mike Sullivan (Hon); 2. Darrin Gilmore (Yam); 3. Larry Taylor (Han). SUPBK: 1. Gary Goodfellow (Suz); 2. Michel Mercier (Suz); 3. Ken Lalonde (Yam). F-1: 1. Michel Mercier (Suz); 2. Tom Walther (Suz); 3. Steve Dick (Han). Wade wows Wapella ST By Bill Holt WAPELLA, II.:, JULY 13 The H&H Trak Service had .prepared the BNM/C short track three times in the last week and Saturday's two inches of rain cancelled the Maccomb sh'ort track and destroyed the BNM/C track again. Thanks to seven hours of work by the diligent members the show did go on and Shawn Wade made it a memorable one by takjng a wire-towire win in the 400cc final and a come-from-behind thriller win in the 250cc final. Tom Suttle led Matt Collier and Terry Leffler through the first lap of the 20~c final, but Collier took advantage of a small slip by the leader on the second turn of the second lap to take over the lead towing Leffler into second behind him. Leffler kept the pressure on Collier for the next two laps and made his tenacity pay off on the white flag lap by slipping under Collier in number two to take th.e lead and subsequently the 200cc WIn. Dana McNeil rocketed ms Honda into the first turn of the 250cc final with a mission. Bart Schmulbach and Wade weren't far behind and moved up quickly to challenge. Schmulbach closed in on McNeil and . waited until the third lap to take advantage of the leader's wide line going into turn one to take the lead and Wade moved around McNeil on the next lap to take second. Wade kept the fire burning by finding the fast line on the outside of turns two and three to fly by Schumulbach and take a death grip on the lead that he never relinquished. Schmulbach was tight for second as was McNeil for third just in front of Dan Carter in fourth, who had pressed McNeil hard for the last two laps. Wade must have been well lit after his 250cc win becaue he ripped his 400cc BulLaco into the lead of the 400cc final and was never headed. The real battle was for the second spot and it was a three-rider battle. Kevin Seivers had his Bultaco in the se,eond spot at the checkers, but Glen Milleville and Mark Augustine had both their turns in that spot more than once but settled for tmrd and fourth. The 500cc final was the one to watch for controversy. Audie Huff jr. took his Honda around the outside of turns one and two right behind the Yamaha of Rick Knuth. Knuth held onto the lead for the first two laps, but gave way to Huff on the third. On the 'fourth lap john Roberts and Tony Wessing tangled in turn two and went down. The report on Wessing's shoulder wasn't good, but Roberts did recover to make the re-

• Cover