Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127190
Matt Hilgenberg (52). riding a Triumph. topped the Premier 500cc Expert class at the AHRMA-West Vintage MX Series in Eugene. Oregon. BSA-mounted Dick Mann claimed the overall win in the Premier Lightweight Expert class over Hilgenberg and Gerald Rogers. , AHRMA-West Vintage MX Series: Round 2 sweep of the class; Following the CCM rider in the results were Edie (4-2), Doughty (3-4), Kentner (2-5) and fifth-place finisher Dunlavey (5- Mann, Hilgenberg triumph at Eugene MX By Clay Light EUGENE, OR, APR. 30 Dick Mann, riding a BSA 250, and fellow Californian Matt Hilgenberg, aboard a Rickman Triumph, overcame torrential rain in the second set of motos at round twooftheAHRMA-WestVintage MX Series to stand among . 25 overall class wInners at the Eugene MX meetMann won the Old Timer Expert and the Premier Lightweight classes, both wins corning aboard his BSA 250, but a bid to win three classes came to a premature halt earlier in the day as his Tri-BSA 500 fell victim to mechanical failUre, thus ending the former two-time AMA Grand National Champion's three class quest. With Mann sidelined, Hilgenberg powered his machine to an easy first moto win and outlasted the competition in' the second moto of the Premier 500cc Expert class, Hilgenberg's first taste of genuine mud riding in II years, to earn a 1-1 overall win. The race also doubled as the 4th Annual Steve McQueen Memorial race, which was co-sponsored by CVRG and the Christian Classic Bikers' Association. According to CCBA members, McQueen, an avid motorcyclist and vintage machine colJeclOr, shortly before his death became a Christian, thus sparking the involvement of the CCBA four years ago. Nearly all of the 125 riders on hand stood in disbelief as shortly after practice, nearly an inch of percipitation fell on Emerald Raceway, a clay based, two-mile course, which gets incredibly sloppy when wet. The day prior to the event it was a recordbreaking 87 degrees. The first four motos, however, were nearly perfect and the rain loosened up the soil considerably. The first riders to test the course, which is laid out on a hillside some 17-miles northwest of Eugene, Oregon's second largest city, were the Vet Novice and Amateur class entrants, -combined and in two waves. Robert Doran! ~~ng a Maico, jumped out front lrnually, but less than a lap later CZ rider Marty Lukas-zewski took command and held it for the duration. Mow two was much the same; Lukaszewski and second-place finisher in the first moto, Robert Tull, aboard a Yamaha 250, traded the lead throughout the five-lap moto. In the end it was Lukaszewski prevailing with I-I performances, beating Tull's 2-2 tallies and Doran's 3-3. In the Novice portion, CZmounted John McCoy, who finished fifth at the series' opener at Sand Hill, carded a win with 2-1 rides to beat Honda-mounted Bill Kni~ht, the class points leader, and local nder Billy Dickerson, aboard a BSA (3-3). Former National number 94 Gary Davis, once regarded as one of the nation's top TT riders, proved his durability as the Eugene rider rode a 1913 CCM 500 to a win in the Veteran Expert class, one of the day's best races. Davis' win didn't come without a battle, however, as Californian Butch Cochran, winner of the class at round one, was hot on the local rider's heels for the first four laps until Cochran's Bultaco 360 expired six turns from the firtish on the final lap. • Finishing second in the class in the first moto was former National Four-Stroke Champion Rod Kentner, riding a Powroll-built Honda, tuned by four-stroke guru ~ete Fisher. Rounding out the top five were Rick Doughty, on a 1974 Yamaha 250, Jerry Edie, on a Husqvarna, and likewise-mounted Scott Dunlavey. Conditions were much different in the second moto as the track turnedinto a quagmire. Davis, however, found it to his liking and easily won the second moto to finalize a 1-1 3). Mann, who's made the trek north for each of the Mcqueen Memorial events, earned his £lrst overall win of the day after prevailing in both Old Timer Expert motos, a class which ran combined with its Novice counterparts. . Tom Street, one of several Powroll riders to make the journey over the mountains from Bend, took the lead at the start of the moto, but Mann soon swept past and went on to win by a comfortable margin while Street finished second, and Mike Menesini, riding a CZ, took third. The BSA of Mann shot out front of a soupy second moto and he used his mud riding expertise to net the win to cap a 1-1 overall in the class with Street and Menesini following. ·Charles Regruto, aboard a BSA, won the Novice portion after consistent 2-3 showings to beat Husky rider John Wilson (6-1) and Bultaco jockey Bud Ribble (3-5). Doughty, like Mann, won two classes overall despite the swingarmdeep mud. Doughty won the 250cc Sportsman Expert and 500cc Sportsman Expert classes in his four class quest. Earlier, however, he had problems with his 1913 Honda 125, and would only contest six motos on the day. Yamaha-mounted Doughty outlasted a DNF-marred 250cc Sportsman class second moto to take his first overall win ahead of Edie, then two mOlDS later came back to soundly defeat a full-sized field of riders in the 500cc Sportsman class. This time, riding a CZ, Doughty stayed on two wheels the longest to cap a two class sweep, also coming with 1-1 rides. Second went to Dunlavey while Street was third. Mann posted his second overall win of the day after some hard riding in both motos of the Premier Lightweight class (up to 25Occ). Mann did, however, have tough competition in the form of Hilgenberg, who was riding a 200cc Triumph Tiger .Cub. Mann won the first moto over Hilgenberg, and did likewise in the second moto, this time much easier as Hilgenberg, sporting a. low front fender, made only one circuit of the course before not being able to continue due to the packed mud. But Hilgenberg wasn't the only one, as riders were sttewn around the course, many utifizing trials tires, done for the day in the class. In the same class, the Open Twin riders were combined. Cochran, riding a 650cc Triumph, won overall while John Ford, also aboard a Triumph, finished second, the first place Amateur. The final race of the day, the Premier 500cc class, was also one of the best, even without the presence of Mann. Richard Giboney, riding a 1965 Rickman-framed, Matchlesspowered machine, took' the lead in the first moto, but was soon relegated to second by Peter Ford, aboard a BSA Gold Star. With the pack exiting turn two, Hilgenberg thundered out of the pit area, caught the Novice and Amateur riders, and set out after Ford and Giboney. "I was bolting down the motor when the gate dropped," said Hilgenberg, "so I got gomg, only to stall iL I had to come from way back." Hilgenberg passed 13 riders within one lap to take the lead, where he finished ahead of Giboney, Ford, Rmuto and BSA rider Tim Marek. Hilgenberg overcame incredibly muddy conditions in the second moto to pick up the win, his first overall victory of the series, beating Ford (3-2) and Giboney (2-3). Mann said, "There were some pretty sticky places out there. You had to keep your momentum or you'd come to a .complete stop. But we all had a good time regardless of the weather." • Results PREM 500 EX: ,. M.1l Hilgenberg (Tri); 2. Pete Ford (BSA); 3. R. Giboney (Ric). PREM UW EX: 1. Dick M.nn (BSA); 2. Men Hilgenberg (BSAl; 3. Ger.ld Rogers (AJS). VET EX: 1. G.ry Dovid (CCM); 2. Jerry Eclie (Hu.); 3. Riclt Doughty (Y.m)~ 4. Rod Kem... (Pow); 5. Scott Dunllmly (Hua). VET NOV: 1. John McCoy (Cl); 2. Bill Kni9ht (Hont 3. Billy Dicketlon (BSA); 4. Rod Kertebride (Hont 5. Jim Cole (Hon). VET AM: 1. Morty Luk• ....-i (CZ); 2. Rober1 Tull (y.m); 3. Rober1 Dor.n (M.i); 4. Bill Ridley (Bul); 5. Rick Lodbury (y.m). 0T EX: ,. Dicit M.nn (BSA): 2. Tom Street (Hon); 3. Mike Monesini (Cl). OT NOV: 1. Charles Regruto (BSA): 2. John Wilson (HuI); 3. Bud Riddle (Bul); 4. Lence Rober (Tri); 5. Phil Andenon (CZ). 125 EX: ,. Todd Willi_ (Pow). 1251NT: 1. Bill Ridley (Bul); 2. Stevelonlin (Y.mt 3. Eric Gierssten (Bul); 4. John Andenon (Hant 5. B.J. Behm (Hon). 125 NOV: ,. John F"tgol (Y.mt 2. Rod Kirltbridge (Hon); 3. Aeron Hohmon (Hod). 250 EX: 1. Rick Doughty (Y.m~ 2.Jerry Edie (Hua~ 3. Doug Ecltelm.n (HuI). 250 INT: 1. Steve Hortley (Cl); 2. Joe Gisholt (HuI); 3. D.n Gilikson (CZ); 4. John Gilkison (CZ); 5. Ron Nehls (Cl). 250 NOV: 1. Dove Huert. (CZ); 2. Phil Andenon (Cl); 3. Derrick Wilson (HuI); 4. Gregg Riddle (Man) 5. Jim Cole (Y.m). WMN INT: I.Key M.nn (Ose). WMN NOV: 1. Jeonne Wilson (y.m); 2. Ginger Mochodo (Bult 3. Robbin V.llode> (Ric). PREM 500 NOV: ,. Ch.rl.. Regruto (Vel); 2. Tim M.rek (BSA). PREM 500 AM: ,. Ross Port.1 (M.t); 2. John Hugel (Ind). 500 EX: 1. Rick Doughty (Cl); 2. Scott Dunl• ..., (HuI); 3. Tom Street (Pow); 4. W.yne Church (BSA); 5. ToddWilli_{K.w). 500 INT: 1. Robert Tull (y.m); 2. Jeff H.mmond (BSA); 3. Ernie Stoir (BSA); 4. Peter Crutenden (BSAI: 5. Fr.nk ForRer (BSA). 500 NOV: 1. Derriclt Wilson (HuI); 2. John McCoy (Hult 3. Jeremy H.rwood (Hult 4. Rober1 Stoltz (CZ); 5. Ben Hell (Gre). OT AM: 1. Jeff Hemmond (BSAI: 2. Ernie Stoir (BSA): 3. Dick Stidham (Y.m); 4. Eric Buechley(Rict 5. leRoy frtlnchotd (Y.m). PREM UW: 1. Rick Nabors eCZ); 2. Mike Green (Due).