Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Billy Hamill scored his first victory of the season after a close battle with Mike Faria in the Scratcb main at Speedway USA. David Edwards (199) and Cody Romo dice in the Amateur class at the American Desert Racing Association's 13th Annual Salome 100. Fike fast at Boyd VlntageST very tight 100 mile evenL The entire course was run at a 24 mph average and combined rocky ravines, steep hills, sandwashes, and lots of prickly vegeution_ Rames, mounted on a CRSOO, dropped 13 points and was followed by IS-year-old Colorado rider, Kdby Pepper on a KX250. Pepper dropped 15 points. The two riders were tied at the 70 mile point, but Rames bested Pepper by two minutes in the last loop. They were followed by Colorado's Dave Burke and John Blythe, both on KDX200s with scores of 16 and 17, respectively. Burke and Blythe both returned to the RMEC Series for '89 after sitting out the 1988 season. KTM rider, Chris Wilbanks, fresh from a class victory at the California National, captured £i£th overall with IS points. The first place Open A trophy and seventh overall went to another Phoenix native, Pat Duncan, on a Husky. The vietor in the 250cc A class was Phillip Bird on an XR25O. Third in the 250cc A class went to desert racer Garth Sweatland. who was putting in the final ride on his Husky before picking up a new Honda. The entire 200cc A class did not finish. The overall B rider was Wayne Intermill, H is score of 17 (the B riders were scored for only the first 70 miles), tied the top Open B rider, Douglas Vara, butlntermill triumphed at the tie-breaker. Third overall B rider was 350cc KTM rider Rocky Pace. Results By Bill Brakhige BOYD, TX, APR. S John Fike won both the heat race and main event in Vintage Dirt Track Racing at Boyd Speedway. John Jackson got the holeshot in the main event with Johnny Isaacs in hot pursuiL Fike, with a slow start, was back in filth. Isaacs tried every angle he could to get by Jackson and finally succeeded on lap four, while Fike was passing Ron Stone and Bob Sledge. Isaacs led for two more lap's until he bobbled coming 0[[ turn two and Fike took advantage and led for the remaining laps with Isaacs miling a final bid on the last lap coming off tum four only to miss it by three feet at the finish. Results John Fike (BSAl; 2. Johnnv ISUCI (BSA); 3. John J8c::bon 4. Bob S'odgo lY.m~ 5. Ron SlOne (Tn). (BSA~ Howell willS Greell Thom Enduro By Kenny Jones NEW WAVERLY, TX,APR.16 Marty Howell took overall honors at the second enduro in the Trail Riders of Houston Family Enduro Series. Riding an ATK 406 Howell finished the race with a zero score on a course where mud was the norm, not the exception. Howell has now taken a decisive overall lead in the five·race series with two overall performances. Other notable finishes included Nadine Holbert who is a top woman mOlocrosser in the Houston area, who riding in only ber second enduro, took the Women A title riding a Yamaha YZ250. The enduro was ·held in the Sam Houston National Forest, site of the AMA NatiQnal Enduro which will take place in September. The event was a two loop race which contained approximately 3S miles per loop. It was organized and run professionally according to most entrants, the only complications being the very muddy conditions. Trails consisted of permanently marked piney woods trails with the addition of previously unridden terrain to make up the 3S-mile cou.rse. Class winners included Larry Burlison (Open A and 200cc A), Clint Boyd (Open B), Charles Hall (2OOcc B), Bob Davis (Open C), Mike Hodgson (2OOcc C) and Nadine Holbert (Women A). Results O/A: 1. Mlirty Howell. OPEN Al200 A: 1. lIIrry Burlison; 2. Guy Burbrt; 3. Jack Jennings. OPEN B: 1. Clint Boyd; 2. John Hasson; 3. Dev.id Erikson. 200 B: 1. Charles Hall; 2. Chris Campbell: 3. Mtke WinstMd. OPEN C: 1. Bob Davis; 2. Milul Sh;pp; 3. Merl< Chun:h. 200 C: 1. Mike Hodgson; 2. Robert Keney; 3. Doug Klima. OVER 40: 1. Ken Clark.; 2. Nick Nicolson; 3. Chris Hardy. BEG: 1. Alan Jon..; 2. D.J. Hinley; 3. Terry George. SEAT OF PANTS: 1. Randy Burlison; 2. Jay Huffman; 3.R-..Me_. 4-STRK: 1. Richard Barnhan; 2. Mark Miller. WMN A: 1. N8dine Holbert. Hamil scores Speedway USA victory By Scott Daloisio VICTORVILLE, CA, APR. S Two weeks before the 1989 season began, Billy Hamill's first sponsor lost his life in a plane crash. The IS-year-old rider was devasta~ He immediately dedicated the 1989 season to his late friend Saturday at Speedway USA, he gave his friend a win in the Scratch main event. Com~ into the main, Hamill and "F1yin'" Mike Fana had' not been beaten on the night. fn addition to the Scratch main, they were both in the Handicap main and they both had their si!;hts set on a clean sweep. Hamill picked the pole for the main and launched off the line ahead of Faria. Using the outside, Faria poked his front tire ahead of Hamill on the back chute. Faria tried to pull it down to the pole in tum three, but Hamill was there. Faria had to ease up on the throttle. On lap two, Faria tried the same move. Once again he used the outside and edged his front tire into the lead The results ended up the same. When he tried to pulfitdown, Hamill's Monrovia DieseIlSTP/Mr. T-Shin/Back Straight Limited Weslake was there. By lap three, Faria knew he would have to get by on the inside if be expected to beat his teenage foe. His young competitor was too quick. At the end of the fourth lap, Hamill picked up his initial checkered nag of 1989. Faria finished two lenl(ths back in second Walt Farnum was third with Alan "Crazy" Christian fourth. Kevin Jordan, fresh 0[[ knee surgery, was on the short yardage for the start of the Handicap main. Unfortunately, he was rocked over on his peg when the race began. The competition ate up his advantage and by the start of the third lap, his lead was history. Walt Farnum was the first rider to get by Jordan. It was good that he got by when he did. Faria, on the prowl, was Lhe next rider by the former leader. Faria, at 130 pounds, was trying '0 muscle Farnum out of the way. Like Hamill the previous week at Costa Mesa, Faria found out that does not work on the big rider. Faria was not going to get by on the inside. Farnum parked it ~as they exited turn two on lap five. Faria, on the leader's rear tire, had park to avoid him. Farnum had a couple oC seconds to breath, but Faria was quickly back on him. Faria continually tried to move Farnum out of the way. It never worked. When the checkered came out, Farnum took the most impressive win of his career. Faria, Hamill, Bobby Schwaru and Scotty Brown rounded out the top five. Gary Ackroyd knocked Malt Stoutenberg out of the way nd won me Second Division main. It was Ackroyd's second win in a row. Results '0 Billy Hamill (Wesl; 2. Mtke Faria (Gem}; 3. Walt Farnum 4Jewl; •. Alan Christien (Jaw). HOCP: 1. Walt Farnum (Jaw); 2. M'tke Faria (Gdn); 3. Billy Hemill (Woo~ 4. Bobby Schwertt (Wool. 0·2: 1. Gary Adtroyd (Gdnt 2. Rid< Seip (J_t 3. Merl< HanNlh (Wn); •. John Griffitts fH-D). 0-3: 1. Doug G........ (Jewl; 2. Me....... T_i"" p_~ 3. John KeI.y (Jowt 4. John O'Nem ok. (Weal. 0-1: ,. Kevin Nield. .; 2. Danny Wright; 3. Chris Menc:heMer; •. Chris Werner. JR 0-2: 1. R.ndy Evens. Plllnade Peak Enduro will to Rames By Roger Dowden PHOENIX, AZ, MAR. 19 Phoerrix native Sam Rames overwhelmingly defeated riders from the surrounding area and the Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit to win the overall at the 2nd Annual Pinnacle Peak Enduro. For the second consecutive year, the RMEC began its series of events at this desert enduro on the outskirts of Phoenix. This year half the 300 rider field came from the RoCky Mountain region. The saguarostudded desert of the Tonto National Forest was the setting £or a confronLation between the tree dodgers of the rockies and the cactus bashers from Arizona_ One would think this a very one-sided conleSt with the advanLagt; going to the desert riders. However, promoter Howard Utsey· and the Arizona Trail Riders laid out a very t«hnical and in some places, 0/A: 1. Sam Romos IHonI; 2. K.lby P _ ('"'W~ 3. Dave Burke IKew); 4. John Blythe (KIIW); 5. Chris Wilbanks (KTM); 8. Dwein reyIOl(K'TM); 7. Pat Duncan (Hua); 8. Mark Hynes (KTM); 9. Phillip Bird (Hon); 10. Tim Wilbenks (KTM). OPEN A: 1. Pet Duncan; 2. B. Niemiec; 3. Garth Sweetland. 250 A: 1. Phillip Bird; 2, B. Field; 3. Kelly Wright. SR A: 1. Ed Deedter; 2. FloYd Stretch; 3. Cap Kuney. OPEN B: 1. Dougl.s Ver.; 2. Rocky Pttce; 3. J. Penny. 250 B: 1. Wayne Intermill; 2. J. Frederick; 3. B. Serefin. 200 B, 1. J. Ant...; 2. P. Enge'; 3. M. Eno'•. SR B: 1. Bill Moore; 2. Roger Dowden; 3. John Adem•. • -STRK B: 1, K. Long; 2. G. Tuffin; 3. G. lehnen.. OPEN C: 1. calvin Gouert; 2. R. labukovic; 3. W. Rotherhan. 250 C: 1. C....""'" 2. J. Sono; 3. Suun Cheney. 200 C: 1. P. R _ 2. F.lloIen. 4-STRK C: 1. J. Moody; 2. M.1lo¥od<; 3. P. Smith. SR C: 1. O. Hoffschilds; 2. K. Aoa; 3. T. Sewoe. S/SR: 1. G. Holler; 2. J. Kozlik; 3. R. Dorea. WMN: 1. Dobno Nua; 2. M. HoIrrarv. SPTSMN: 1. Bill WilliamS; 2. Doug Barnett; 3. P. Howard. Tempe, Arizona, on hi.s Dirt Unlimited! Hallman USA-backed 500 KTM. Johnson finished II minutes behind Sweetland First in the 250cc class and fourth overall 51 seconds behind Johhnson was Dirt Unlim· ited's Mark Miller. Miller barely made it to the finish line. "I crashed three times on the last lap," said Miller. "I was so tired and dehydrated I could barely hang on. 1 was just trying to finish." Daniel Marchand turned in his best ride . since moving to Expert on his self-sponsored CR25O. Marchand was covered with premix from a leaky gas tank as he slid across me finish line. ''It was really good in the beKinning, but) I didn't like the rocks and by ihe third lap the whoops were outrageous," said Marchand, who scored second pl.ace in the 250cc Expert class. Casa Grande Suzuki-sponsored Merlen Slaughter also turned in the best race of his desert racing career with a strong sixth overall on an RM25O. The 17-year-old Slaughter crashed twice on the second lap then had his rear tire go £l.at in the final lap 15 miles from the finish. "I crashed and broke both levers trying to pass a lapper, " said Slaughter, "but 1feel good about my finish." Results OPEN EX: 1. Jeff Darland CHon); 2. Garth Sweetland (Hon); 3. Todd Johnson (KTM); •. Phil Means (Hon). 250 EX: 1. Mark Miller (KTM); 2. Dan Marchand (Hon); 3. Merlen Slaughter (Suz); •. Bill Watkins (KTM). OPEN AM: 1. Garrett Sweetland (Husl; 2. Bob Kirkwood (H;5& ~~~~:ro t";,~4i~:~~ r.-a:~~ (~~~ (Yam);' 3. Todd Smith (HOn'; 4. David Edwards (Kaw); 5. Dirt Uinge (Hon). 200 AM: 1. Destry Abbott IKTM); 2. Bob Henderson (Hon); 3. Cody Romo (Hon). OPEN NOV: 1. Kevin Eastlake (Hon); 2. Mitch Thompson (Hon); 3. Oon Lowenberg (Hon); 4. 08'11I Dougan (ATK); 5. Oon Soulhor'ond (Hon). 250 NOV: 1. Adam Burton lHon); 2. David Kirk (Yamt 3. Rocky Robling (Yam); •. Mike Maier (Husl; 5. Ray Baumgardner (Honl. 200 NOV: 1. B r _ Beggo CKTMt 2. M _ Herrl. , (yam); 3. Jason Belisle (Hon); 4. Frank Remos CHon); 5. Cley Ramo (Hon). Darland dices to 4-STRK: 1. Gilbert McDaniel (Hon); 2. Chari. . Lamar Doug Hootlnge IHon~ OPEN BEG: 1. Clint Brown (Yaml; 2. Tim Berptrom (Hon); 3. Hugh Hutchinson (ATK); •. Cunis Mineer (~. 250 BEG: 1. _lOg..... (Hon~ 2. A n h u r _ (Hon~ 3. Many Graum.n (KTM~ 4. Shown Schmitz (Hont 5. Rid< llotby (Suz~ 200 BEG: 1. Erid< Cheney (Kawt 2. Pony Tullbo lYemt 3. ICAMn Thronholl (t:.gt 4. Don... "'n1ry (Kow~ 5. Nidl By Michael Ross lADtES: Uz Peq_ CSuzl. 28' EX: t. _ Dendy (Hon~ 2. TIm _II (Hont 3. Tim l.eehe(KTM); •. Richard Genowse (Hon); 5. Bob R......I Salome JOO H&H will SALOME, AZ, APR. 5 Jeff Darland narrowly beat Garth Sweetland [or the overall win at the American Desert Racing Association's 13th Annual Salome 100. The small town of Salome, Arizona, approximately 107 miles northwest of Phoemx, played host to round three of the ADRA Desert Racing Series for the 13th consecutive time Sunday, and it was three-time numberone plate holder Jeff Darland who crossed the finish line first after three 4I mile loops. Darland's Apache Honda Yamaha/Bell/ AnswerlMaxim Power/Sports Gas-sponsored CR500 took 2;47.04 to complete the race at a 44.17 mph average. Finishing in second place after a last lap dash that came up 21 seconds short was Sunnyslope Honda-sponsored Sweetland. ,It was something of a surprise to see Sweetland on an 'S9 CR500 Honda after so many years riding for HUSQvama.. but at the finish line Sweetland gave some of the credit for his strong showing to the Honda, "I played it coolon the first lap becaus<: I didn't want any surprises, but I started picking up the pace on the second lap because the bike felt so good," said Swtttland Sweetland averaged 44.08 mph in 2;47.25. Third overall went to Todd Johnson : 1. John Kozlik; 2. Joe _ (KTMI; 3. ...... Locrone (KTM~ 4. Dol....""lIo

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