Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Bob Sorenson, who was talked into riding the event the night before, wound up taking the Open A class win. Kevin Hines took second. Former motocrosser Steve Martin overcame a'so-so start on his Honda CR250 to win the National Hare Scrambles Series opener. AMA National Championship Hare Scramble Series: Round 1 Martin scores upset at Cocoa By Mike and Anne Adair COCOA, FL, MAR. 4 Pro motocrosser Steve Martin upset sfries contenders in the grueling opening round of the National Championship Hare Scramble Series at Diamondback Cycle Park. Martin said ''I'm just a retired pro now. I bought this Honda recently and plan to ride cross country events just for fun." Martin took the win after fellow motocrosser Jo Jo Keller blew a big lead on his Kawasaki when his chain parted in a difficult section. Keller said, ''I'm glad that Steve won it. I've ridden a lot with him and Kevin (Hines) and they're good riders and good friends." Nearly 300 riders from 28 states and Canada enj.oyed a warm, sunny Florida day, enduring enough sand whoops to last the season. The AMAsanctioned, Suzuki/Wiseco-sponsored event received two major setbacks. WorldSport's Bill West explained, "First we lost our 112 acres at Gainesville in a zoning dispute. Then my partner, pav~ Coombs, was hospitalIZed and was unable to come down and help run this event. I want to thank the Buffaloes and their crew from Beach Sportcycle here in Cocoa for jumping in arid taking up the slack on such short notice. They laid out the circuit, manned and scored the whole event. Dave's sons Timmy and Davey, also pitched in and came down, filling in for their dad during his illness." When the flag dropped, the first wave of riders commenced their assault on the seven-mile course, which began with a lap on the motocross track. Martin said, "I was well back in the start and hit a bottleneck at the wooden bridge that led into the first woods section. Some guy pointed me to the right and I wound up sticking it in a deep stream just in time to watch Jo Jo clear the bridge. I had to back-up and get in line, and take my tum at the crossing." Keller came around to the scoring barrels first .with Kevin Foley, Martin, Bruce Buerk and Bob Sorenson chompi.ng on his rear fender. The four motocrossers swapped positions througJl.Out the race. Martin said, "Chris Hardwick and ~en Thomas did a great job running my pit. We had to gas three times, I didn't know Jo Jo was out until they told me." Desert ace Dan Smith, who topped the opening round of the Nationaf Championship Hare & "Hound Series, handled the course well on his four-stroke Husky until the sixth lap when a radiator hose blew and dropped him froin contention.. "I've been looking forward to riding more events in the East," said the Californian. "The sand here is much softer than we are used to in the desert. " Can-Am's John Martin agreed: "I did finish this thing today but wish I hadn't. It was more like an endless motocross. " In 250cc A action, 'TF Racing's Edmund Swearingen edged his teammate Bruce Buerk and Kevin Foley for second place honors behind Martin. Swearingen said, "My clutch started fllding on me. We tightened the cable during a pit stop and that seemed to fix the problem." Buerk said, "I got tired and had to back off the pace." Foley eventually retired with a problem after challenging for most of the race. Husky's Fred Hoessand Mark Hyde finished fourth and fifth in the como, petit,ive 500cc A division. Hyde said, "My suspension just wasn't handling the course well. I made some adjustments at the pit stop, but it wasn't enough." ' Sorenson and his Sommersett County KTM threatened for the overall win and clinched the 500cc A win in his first hare scrambles ever. Sorenson said, "We were at a Daytona night spot, partying at two o'clock this morning, and my crazy buddies started heckling me and finally had me convinced to drive over here and ride today." KTM's Kevin Hines was second in the 500cc A class. Ed Lojak had problems at the midway point. "The engine stopped twice on me," he explained. "I drained the float bowl and it ran fine after that. I must have gotten some trash in the tank." Veteran Barry Higgins took the win in the Four-Stroke A class when h~ overtook David Rhoads during a pIl stop. Higgins said, "The Husky worked great all day out there. I don't care how good your suspension was, you had to hang on to those bars and stay on top of the bike every second. There were guys laying all over the place." Scott Hogenson and Scott Wofersberger topped the 125cc A and 200cc A classes, respectively. Charlie Norwood chased 200cc B ~1ass winner Greg Nelson before earn109 the runner-up award. . Norwood said, ''I'm more used to motocross. I rode as fast as I could and should have paced myself and saved a little." Florida riders Craig Borders and ~obert Phillips tallied winning scores 10 the 500cc Band 250cc B divisions, respectively. Senior A class winner Bruce Dangler and runner-up Alben Chuppa met at the trophy presentation. Dangler said "We both managed to make 10 laps: It was a good ride." Can-.~'slegendary Jeff S'mith said, after w10mng the Super Senior A division, "This course gave you absolutely no moment of rest. The Gainesville course last year was more reasonable. This sand was totally unforgiving.'.' New Yorker Frank Carillo, after racing the Senior B guys, said, "I got caught in a jam at the bridge, dove into the stream to get around, and went for it." Super Senior B action featured a w.in by 30-year racing veteran George Smgler. The 53-year-old Ohio rider said, "I was a little tired at the start of today. I got a fifth in the motocross at the speedway on Monday and only had one day off." Keller, as he congratulated Martin on his day's win, said, 'They really put on a good run here. Steve rode well and deserved to win; he is s.trong and smart and that's what it took to pull it off at this event. " • Results OVERAll.: StlM! Mlrtin (Honl. 125 A: 1. Scott Hogenson (Hus): 2. Eldon Ktten (Cq): 3. Ed l.owefTe (CeQ): 4. Donny Grohlm (KAIw); 5. Tim S'neleton (VIm). 200 A: 1. Scott Wolfer_ger (Kew); 2. Amos Bennett (Ylm); 3. Willierd Root (C-A); 4. Mike Jones (Cq): 5. A. T. Spicer (C-A). 250 A: 1. SIeve Mertin (Honl; 2. Edmund S _ · ineen (Suz); 3. Bruce Buer!< (Hon); 4. Fred _ (Hus); 5. Kevin _ I n (KTM). OPEN A: 1. Bob Sorenson (KTM): 2. Kevin Hines (KTM); 3. Allen Scott (HuI); 4. Kenny Boyd (Klw); 5. Me", Hyde (Hus). 4 STRK A: 1. Berry Higgins (HuI): 2. Devid Rholldel(Hul); 3. NOIlilled; 4. Rlndy Stephenson (HuI); 5. Ted Fischer (HUll. SR A: 1. Bruce DIngier (Hon); 2. Albert Chu""" (HuI): 3. Mike Perkl(KTM); 4. George Burch (KTM); 5. .Joe Hull (KTM). SS A: 1. Jeff Smith (C-A); 2. Willilm Edmundaen (Klw); 3. Cheri.. Gllbrlith (HuI); 4. Charlie Alber (Kew); 5. Tom Vallely (Klw). 200 B: 1. Greg Nelson (Hon): 2. Cherlie Norwood (Vam); 3. Ken MetwlY (Hon): 4. Buddy West (Kew): 5. l.8rry Fulton (Hon). 250 B: 1. Robert Philipa(Honl; 2. Lurgen Homrich (Hon);.3. Paul Cornell (Hon): 4. Chril Graber (Yam); 5. CraIg Brooks (Hon). OPEN B: 1. Craig Borders (KTM): 2. Paul Michell (C·A): 3. Greg Bunn (C-A); 4. Nigel Read (C-A); 5. Harold McCenick (Hon). SR B: 1. Fronk Carillo (Hon): 2. Charlel l.8hine (Hon); 3. Wilton Buoket (Hue); 4. Tom Rickbroot (Hus); 5. Cheri.. Lester (Yam). SS.B: 1. George Sineler (Hon): 2. Fred Klipple (VIm); 3. Joseph Curti (Yam); 4. I.M K_ine (Yam~ 5. Jobn Buluo (Kew).

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