Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Approximately 400 riders competed in the 19th Annual Saucer Run Hare and Hound, hosted by the Invaders M.e., and held at Teagle Wash. Don Griewe, riding a Husky, held third for most of the race, but dropped to fourth after he crashed and aggrevated an old shoulder injury. Smith sails at Saucer Run H&H By Anne and Tom Van Beveren Photos by Tom Van Beveren TEAGLE WASH, CA, MAR. 22 Team Husqvarna hotshot Dan Smith continued his domination of southern California, AMA/District 37 desert racing·at the 19th Annual Saucer Run Hare and Hound, snatching the overalL honors just 14 seconds ahead of 250cc Husky privateer Dale Knapp. ., Knapp was hard on SmIth s heels throughout the 90-mile course, refusing to let Team Husky's number one rider out of his sight. But with the tight, rocky course laid out by the Invaders M.C. providing Smith's favorite trpe of -riding, Knapp could not gam the extra few seconds needed to take the lead. "What a great course - that was the best," said Smith after taking thecheckered flag. "I knew Dale was right behind me so I was pushing pretty hard. I even fell off twice in the second loop. I can't remember when I last crashed in a desert race." High winds and cold weather brought a light dusting of snow to the Teagle Wash area the day before the event, and led to a smaller-thanusual turnout for the race. The starting line up consisted of just under 400 riders but the competition was as fierce as ever when the banner dropped for the 9 a.m. start. The slightly uphill bomb run gave the advantage to the big-bore bikes and Smith had his 510cc thumper out in front of the field as the racers swarmed past the bomb and out into the almost 50-mile first loop. Knapp got off to a rapid start and was already tucked in behind Smith as the frontrunners picked up the pink-ribboned trail. Open class pilots Don Griewe, riding a Husky, and Darin Cartwright, aboard a Yamaha; 125cc class leader Eric Hallgath, on a Yamaha, and Vet class hotshots Mike McDonald and Wayne Carlton jockeyed for position just a few bike lengths behind the leaders. Not content to ride in Smith's dust, the impatient Knapp challenged the leader as soon as terrain allowed and mana~ed to grab the lead about three miles lOto the race. "I got a great start and was right on his tail," Knapp said. "I was pushing really hard and got past just a few miles into the race. I stayed ahead for about four miles, but then Dan got me back and I had to start chasing him again." With Smith back in control, the race crossed Searles Station Road and headed toward Charlie's Place, crossed Trona Road and made a pass through the mountains, coming out for a.n on-the-highway, train'track crossmg. Despite continual challenges, Smith held onto his lead all the way, completing the 47-mile combination of sand and rocks in just over one hour. Knapp hit pit row 30 seconds behind Smith, still holding onto second overall despite a determined challenge from Husky pilot Griewe. "I got past Dale and was into second behind Dan but I went down in a rocky section about 25 miles into the loop," said Griewe. "I put my arm out when I fell and jammed my shoulder pretty good and had to slow • down." Griewe's fall put him half a minute back in third overall going into the pits at Teagle Wash, with another fuJI minute back to Darin Cartwright in fourth overall (second 25Occ). Hallgath was holding his own in fifth overall, almost a minute ahead of Team Honda's hard-charging Dan Ashcraft who had worked his way to sixth overall after a sluggish start. A high-speed collison with a rock in a sand wash sidelined Carlton, leaving the door open for McDonald. McDonald brought his 500cc Kawa- " saki into the pits in seventh overall, just ahead of ex-Husky team rider Larry Roeseler, who was almost un- . recognizable aboard a I25cc Suzuki. The first Amateur class rider through the pits was Dave West, running II th overall aboard a Yamaha. Gary Charters led the Seniors in 16th overalL Loop two took the riders on a 42mile circuit through Rand Mountains and Spangler Hills, and incorporated a run down the infamous Invader Downhill, where the riders faced a seldom used, more difficult section of the steep, sandy slope. With Smith out in front of the pack and Knapp still snapping at his heels, the frontrunners started into the second loop and the technical terrain soon took its toll. Hallgath took a quick spill crossing the railroad tracks just after the pits; Open class racer Kenny Parry looked up to check on Roeseler's progress and went head first on a downhill; front-running amateur West bailed a total of six times; and McDonald ran out of gas.. Ashcraft, who worked his way as high as fourth overall in loop two, was another victim of the tricky terrain. "I was riding great and caught up to Griewe's dust, but then I hit a big rock and did the biggest bail of all time," Ashcraft said. "It rang my bell a bit and I still can't focus too well, so I slowed down after that." Out in front, Smith started to open some ground on Knapp when he too ran into some problems. "I. crashed twice in loop two," Smith said. "The first time I was in a sand wash and a big rock got. caught under my fork leg and tore the forks sideways. I was only doing about 10 mph, but I was instantly on my head. And I went down again about five miles from the finish another stupid little spill. It's unusual for me. I can't remember when I last fell off in a desert race. " Smith, who is sponsored by Husqvarna/Autolite/Golden Spectro/ Metzler/Goldbelt/Scott/Arai/ProGas/Renthall, managed to get up and on his bike after both bail-offs without losing his lead. The Husky pilot took the checkered flag with 14 seconds to spare, relegating Knapp to second overall. "I was right behind him the whole race," said Knapp, who is backed by Suzuki of Van Nuys/Pro Circuit. Knapp's second place finish gave him top honors in the 250cc class. Third overall, first 125cc, went to Hallgath, who receives support from Granada Yamaha/Silkolene/Scottl Bell. Hallgath finished less than a minute in front of Griewe. "I was behind Don most of the way and I only got him just a few miles back," Hallgath explained. "I think he was having a few problems because he waved. me past." Griewe said he had problems with his shoulder after crashing hard in loop one. "I hurt it pretty bad in a motocross race a couple of years ago and every time I land on it wrong it gives me trouble," he said. "It made it a bit hard to hold on toward the end."

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