Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Ducatis and one BSA and AJS 7R while the 250cc grid had three Ducatis, two Hondas, Mike Canepa's Aermacchi, a Parilla plus a Bultaco . and Ossa which ran in the TwoStroke class. With the one board sideways and the green £lag down, Roper, Vesco and Dave Walden all leapt from the line and the battle started for Laguna's famous turn two. With Roper coming out up front, followed by Vesco's Team Obsolete Manx and Walden's Triumph Twin, they all tried to pull clear of the pack, but only the leading duo did so. Next away was the 350s with Team Obsolete's AJS 7R leading the way and Marco Polo at the controls as he led the pack into the first set of turns. Hot on his tail was the Ducati shortstroke of Dave Troetschler while everybody else was pretty much left in the weeds. Finally the 250s were away and the WCBR Ducati of Green pulled the holeshot leading Jeff Hecox's newly built Ducati into turn two. Up .front Roper widened his lead on Vesco while Walden came under attack from Craig McLean's Motorcycles Unltd., G50 Match!ess 'and Steve DiLallo's Triumph Twin. Just as McLean moved into third, the AJS 7R 350 of Marco Polo moved around him to tryout Vesco. Polo wentdo,<"n hard and fast, but was unhurt which is more than you could say for the AJS. With McLean now retaking third, DiLallo put a move on Walden that stuck; making all the positions - set in the 500cc class. With Polo out, Troetschler assumed the 350 lead and seemed on trying for the overall as well, as he took on the 5005 of Dan Phillips (BSA B50) and DaveWalden. He beat out Phillips, but was unable to get the big Triumph Twin of Walden so seuled for sixth overall, beating out Scott Obermuller's 350 Ducati who finished second in'c1ass, but behind the winning 250. Back in the 250cc class a couple of great battles raged on. First Scott Borem's Bultaco passed Green for the lead before he seized one of four times and then once Green pulled clear of Borem, Ken Evan on the 10K Engineering F3 Ducati mounted a charge on Green taking the lead just past start/finish. The pair battled back and forth for a number o[ laps and in doing so, they pulled up to eighth and ninth overall, passing all the 350s but one and a £lock o[ 500s. Near the hal£way point, Green put another pass on Evan, this time going into turn [our. Evan's ignition system failed, leaving him sidelined and Green with no competition. The first 250cc Two-Stroke across the line was that of Scott Borem, who finished 10th overall and over a lap ahead of the second place Ossa o[ Jim Craig! Results 500: 1. Dave Roper (Mat): 2. Don Vesco (Nor): 3. Craig McLean (Mat). 350: 1. Do... Troetschler (Due); 2. Scott Obermuller (Due); 3. Gary Cole (BSAI. 250: 1. Mike Green (Due); 2. Jeff Hecox (Due); 3. Carmen Lynaugh (Par). 250 2-STRK: 1. Scott Borem (Bul); 2. Jim Craig (Oss). Mueller wins Fayette Poker Run By Dick Ainsworth FAYETTE, MO, JULY 27 The Fayette Lions Club held its Third Annual July Poker Run in and around Howard County with the proceeds going towards the. Lions Eye Bank in Columbia, Missouri. The big winners on the day were Larry Taylor, Arthur RohI£ing, Don Mueller and Kristi Holtwick with wins in long distance, oldest bike, best hand and best passenger hand. respectively. Wayne Pruett again laid out the 100mile course that wove its way through' twisting roads starting at the court house square and going to the towns of Higbee, Harrisburg and New Franklin. The event ended at the shelter house at the Fayette City Park where the Lions had prepared a free lunch for the contestants. Results LONGEST DISTANCE: 1. Larry Taylor. OLDEST BIKE: 1. Arthur Rohlfing (1965 H-D). BEST HAND: 1. Don Mueller; 2. David Wells. BEST PASSENGER HAND: 1. Kristi Holtwict<; 2. Rochelle Regins. It's Oxley at Costa Mesa'Spdwy By Scott Daloisio COSTA MESA, CA, JULY 25 "Rad Brad" Oxley capped off a spectacular week - that saw him win four main events in three nights - when he took the Scratch main event in front of a determined Mike Faria before a large crowd at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Oxley (Coors/Silkolene/KNACFM/Scott Goggles/CirelIo Racing Weslake) not on'ly won four mains on the week, he also appeared in the other two that he was eligible for and he placed third in each during the best week of his 12-year career. In the Scratch main, Oxley drove off the pole and was surprisingly beat out of the gate by Faria and Shawn McConnell. Faria took McConnelI wide in the first bend and left the pole unguarded. Oxley saw the gap and seized the opportunity and raced into the lead. Faria immediately jammed on the throttle of his Jawa and pulled back up to Oxley. As they came off turn four on lap two, F~ria rammed Oxley from the inside, making Oxley bobble; but "Rad Brad" didn't budge and he resumed his quick pace. Faria was riding very aggressively and was alI over Oxley on lap three. Faria again tried to force his way past Oxley as he bumped the leader again coming off turn two for the final time. Again Oxley held his ground and was able to maintain his advantage all the way to the checkered flag. Faria took second while look-a likes Rob Pfetzing and McConnell rounded out the field. Scotty Brown led the Handicap main event from the rise of the tapes until about three feet from the checkered when 17-year-old Gary Hicks nudged ahead and took an impressive win. Brown had the same thing happen to him early in the year when Alan Christian got by for the win. On t..his night he guar.ded the pole all the way while Hicks tried to get by on the inside. Lurking just behind them and hoping for something to develop was Oxley. It looked as though the win would go to Brown, but as they came off the final bend Hicks (Milne Bros.lScott Goggles/Mom & Dad Weslake) got inside Brown and got the drive that propelled him to the win. After the event Hicks gave his version of what happened: "Brown held the pole aillhe way and when it came to the last lap I figured he wouldn't come off it then, but as he came off turn [our, he barely slipped off and it ga ve me enough room to get through." Chris Mistretta (One Grand Weslake) won the Division Two fOF the second consecutive evening while New Zealander Chris· Martin and Doug Bowers crashed on the last lap. Martin got credit [or second while Bowers got third .. Popular Duane "Pinky" Blake (ProRider/KMET 94.71Custorp Hair By Bubbles/Easy Riders/STP Weslake) easily scored the win in Thi.rd Divi- ATK's Randy Rodriquez suffered a flat tire at the Vet Nationals held in Perris. California. sion over Donnie Odom and Bob Richards. Results SCRATCH: 1. Brad Oxley (Wes); 2. Mike Faria (Jowl; 3. Rob Pletting (Wes). 'HANDICAP: 1. Gary Hicks (Wes); 2. Scotty Brown (Jowl; 3. Bred Oxley (Wesl. ' 2ND DIV: 1. Chris Mistretta (Wes): 2. Chris Martin (Wes); 3. Doug Bowers (Jaw). 3RD DIV: 1. Duane Blake (Wes); 2. Don Odom (Gdn); 3. Bob Richards (Jaw). Semics wins Perris Vet National By Terry Whytal PERRIS, CA, JULY 12 Former factory star Gary Semics rode his Yamaha to the top money position at the Second Annual White Bros. Vet Nationals at Perris Raceway. The SMXsanctioned event once again featured a record number of over-30 and over -40 riders with the Vet Pro class heading the day's event. Kawasaki rider Dave Miller took his ultra-trick KX to the early lead in moto one with Yamaha pilot Gary Jones and Kawasaki-mounted Alan Olson- running second and third. As the moto progressed Olson and Jones dropped off the pace as both riders developed flat tires. Semics took advantage of the situation to move into the number two slot and appeared to be closing on Miller as the checkers came out. Moving into third on the [inallap was last year's winner, Randy Rodriguez. The ATK rider turned the day's fastest laps as he came from a first-turn crash that left him last, but undiscouraged. Rodriguez charged back in round two to take the front position in the opening laps. Rodriguez continued to widen his lead for several laps until he also deflated a tire and edged backwards to finish II tho Semics quickly moved into the lead with Miller in tow and the overall win became a two-rider battle with Semics gaining all the' marbles at the checkers. Miller took second overall as Honda rider Ken Zahrt rounded out the top three. Jones finished a very credible fourth. Honda rider Greg Winters won both Vet Intermediate motos to win his class over Yamaha pilot Jeff Lambson and Honda-mounted Del Ocheltree. Scott Freeman topped the Vet Experts on his Honda with Yamaha rider Lee Amaradio second and CR pilot John White third. VET NOV: 1. Robin Nicolaids (SUl); 2. Jack McCormick (Hon); 3. Gary Martini (Hon). 250 PRO SUPPORT: 1. Jim Perry (HanI; 2. Luther French (SUl); 3. Tim Hanna (Kawl. 125 PRO SUPPORT: 1. Ty Davis (Hon); 2. Jeff Matiasevich (Kaw); 3. Craig Canoy (Hon). 250 INT SUPPORT: 1. Kirt Goldie (Hon); 2. Ron Lawson (Honl; 3. Eric Secrest (Han). 125 INT SUPPORT: 1. Pat Purnell.l~aw); 2. Vicky Jackson (Han); 3. Craig Davis·(Honl. . 250 NOV SUPPORT: l. Ted Hehir (Han); 2. Greg Berg (Mai); 3. Brett Menlie (Hon). 125 NOV SUPPORT: 1. Jason Jones (Yam); 2. Devid Dye (Hon); 3. Dan Stoner (Hon). 80 EX SUPPORT: 1. Colin Karcher (Yam); 2. Jimmy Bunon (Hon); 3. Phil Lawrence (Yam). 80 INT SUPPORT: 1. Butch Smith (HanI; 2. Gary Hedding (Kaw); 3. Chris Raceles (Yam). Gale storms Firebird RR By Michael Ross PHOENIX, AZ, JULY 26 Nigel Gale put his Dyno-J et Research/Nolan Kerker-sponsored FZ750 Yamaha ioto the winner's circle Saturday night during round two of the'Phoenix Road Racing Organization's night race series. Gale took first place in the Superbike B class. The grid for the Superbike race inel uded local favorites Willie Adams, Kelly Byrd and Craig Martin as well as California pavement specialist Walt Nitto. Gale was first off the line but Adams grabbed the lead as the field. funneled through the tight first turn. Byrd moved into second with Gale and Nitto dicing for position behind. Adams led lap three as Gale moved into second place. Byrd held off N itto while Martin started to fade. By lap four, Adams and Gale were locked into a heated battle thaLcarried them away from Byrd and Nitto. Nigel came alongside Adams several times as the race continued but Adams had the hot line around turn 14 and led Gale down the Firebird straightaway: On lap five of the 15-lap sprint, Gale got a much better drive out of turn 14 and took the lead, pulling out a slight advantage over Adams and holding it to take the win. Byrd 'and Nitto were still going strong with neither rider having an advantage. Nitto moved into the third spot when Byrd got stuck behind a slower rider. Byrd mounted charges on lap 12 and 14 but Nitto held on to finish third. • After the race, Gale gave most of ·the credit for his win to Dyno-Jet, "We're running basically a stock bike with stock carbs and a Dyno-Jet kit," Gale said. "Mark (co-owner of DynoJet) spent a lot of time working on our bikes and it paid off." Results Results VET PRO: 1. Gary Semics (Yam); 2. Dave Miller (Kaw); 3. Ken lahrt (Hon). VET EX: 1. Scott Freemen (Hon); 2. Lee Amaradio (Yam); 3. John White (Hon). VET INT: 1. Greg Winters (Hon); 2. Jeff Lambson (Yam)~3. Del Ocheltree (Hon). NOV: 1. Mark Riek (SUl); 2. Ty Gunn; 3. James Mueller (SUl). STK A: 1. Jeff Udell (Kaw); 2. Richard Kahn (Kaw); 3. Robin Bender (Kawl. STK B: 1. Brian Joder (SUl); 2. Lance Baker (Hon). STK C~ 1 Dale Kieffer (Yam); 2 Joe Shelton 25

• Cover