Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Fritz Kling rode his Yamaha FZR750 to the win and the title in the final round of the Michigan Grand Pr ix Road Race Series. S han Moore won round three of the Central States Regional Observed ' Tria ls Championship in Arkansas' Ozark Mountains. fourth , allowing Frazier to gain th ree points on him and clo sed th e gap 101 to 94. J ohn Williams took hi s H onda over th e hill in 5.90 seconds and had the lead in the 800cc class a t the end of round one. But severa l riders, in cludingWilfiarn's son Wade, beat that in th e second round. Wade uncorked a 5.61 second ride to tak e th e win. Harl ey rider Randy Gabriel placed second in the 800cc class , Jeff Yoder was third and Wade Williams finished fourth. Lo u Gerencer edged Charlie Casey for fifth place, 5.981 to 5.983, The two rid ers were the oldset on th e circuit until Bub Tremontin joined the ranks this season. Tremontin ri des a Harley and recently celebrated birthday number 70. He climbed the hill on bo th attempts, and 8.23 seconds was his best time. Tom Zink had a near-perfect rid e on three- cylinder Kawasaki at 6.00 seconds, good for seventh place. T om Reiser won the three pr evious hillclimbs but he lost control mom entarily on the first breaker a nd had a 6.59 second rid e. " T hat's class A hiflclimbing," said Reiser. " Make one little mi stak e and yo u ar e almost a second orr th e pace a nd in 15th place." Results 540: 1. Tom Frazier (BSA): 2. Dayid Hale (Tri): 3 . Paul Pinsonnault (Han); 4. Greg Williams (Hon); 5. Doug Klont (Tri); 6. John Hislop (BSA): 7. Ralph Kreeger (Tri); 8. 8i11 Apicilla(Kaw); 9. Randy Dillon (Honl: 10. Gary Miller(Yam). 800: 1. John Williams (Honl: 2, Randy Gabriel (H-D) 3. Jeff Yoder(H-DI; 4. Wade Williams (Han); ; 5. Lou Gereneer (H·D); 6. Charlie CBsey(Yam); 7. Tom link (Kaw) ; 8. David Newsome(Hon); 9. Conley Newsome (Tri); 10. Jon Groulx (H-D). Moore wins Ozark Regional Trials . By R.D. Allman 22 BOON EVI LLE. AR, ocr. 7 Tea m K&:N 's Shan Moore took a 13·point victor)' over T exas cha m p Ronnie Niccum at round three o f th e Cen tra l Stat es Regional Observed Trials C ha mpions h ip in the foothi lls of th e Ozark Mountains southeast o f Ft. Sm ith , Ark an sas. Aprilia-m ounted Niccum look th e early lead th ro ug h th e fir st f OUT secti o ns. but Moore showed hi s expe rt ise in the rocks and ca me up with so me brill iant cleans to close OUt th e first loop sli ghtl y a head. N iccum stav ed clo se throu gh out th e second loop but Moore ca me o n stro ng in th e third to ta ke th e C ha m pionshi p clas s win . Daryl H ood took h is Fantic to th e class win in the hi gh ly cornperirive Int ermediat e class, wh ich saw the top [our riders separated by less th an 10 points. Tulsa 's David Bolen styled to second place o n a bo rro wed Yam ah a, wh ile Black J a ck Enduro ci rcui t regular Ri ck Robinett and Andre La f'o rte tied for third with Robineu getting the nod wit h the most n umber o f clea ns. Newcom er Ri ck Dunkin too k th e Novice class win wi th steady r ides. Mcntesa rid er Lyn n Farl ey sq uea ked pas t little Matt Moore for second . Results C'SHIP; 1. Shan Moore (Yam); 2. Ronnie Niccum (Apr); 3. Sam Erickson (Fanl. EX 1. Jim Carson (Moo); 2. Paul Bolen (Yam); 3. Gary : Niccum (Hon). INT; 1. Daryl Hood (Fan); 2. David Bolen (Yaml; 3 . Rick . Robin ett (Bet). SR: 1. Tom Moore (Yam); 2. Wtck Marvin (Fan). NOV; 1. Rick Dunkin (Mer); 2. Lynn Farley (Mon ); 3 . Matt Moore (Yam). Michigan Grand Prix RR Championship to Kling By Larry Lawrence GRATTAN, MI. SEPT. 24 To say that this was a big week end at Gra tta n Raceway wo uld be a n understa tem en t. Local favorite Fritz Kling fina lly won the tit le that has el uded h im fo r the pas t four years; Andy Fenwick set a new tra ck reco rd; and Sco tt R ussell showed u p a nd treated the second largest crowd this season to some o f th e most spectacular riding they have ever seen . And all of this under perfect ea rly fa ll Michigan weather. Kling needed just one thing to win the Michigan Grand Prix Ch ampionship co m in g into th e final round - lu ck. T o begin with, Kling had to win against the likes o f Russell ; Fenwick and Scott Zampach . Then, he had to hope that point leader Steve Patterson fini shed no better than eigh th . Klin g had pl enty o f luck last year a t th e fin al ro u nd, but unfortunately it was a ll bad . With two laps separating him from the ti tle, a broken cha in on hi s Yamaha put th e East Lansing, Michigan. rid er o n the sidel ines, a nd handed th e Championship to Phil Pummel I. At th e drop of th e green flag , Kling didn't wa it for his equipment to co me up to ra cing temperature, as this race wa s an a ll-ot- no thing proposit ion. By the end o f th e first lap, Kling had an incredible four-second lead o n th e rest of th e pack. Since Russell hadn 't ra ced a t G rattan thi s year. he had to sta rt from th e rea r o f th e grid. On th e first lap, Ru ssell wa s alrea dy up into the lead bunch th at incl uded Randy G addey, Steve Patterson, Ray Yoder and Mik e Karm . On th e seco nd lap, Russell wa s clear o f that assemb ly and was p lanning o n stea d i ly gaining o n Kling, who by now had a sevenseco nd lead . Russell made progress and by lap five th e margin between first and seco nd was o n ly th ree seconds. But on th e next lap Ru ssell ran off the tra ck a t the tri cky turn five, dropping back to eight seconds beh ind Kling, and nea rly being passed by a rapidl y advancing Fenwick as wel l. Russell still had pl enty o f tim e to cat ch Kli ng du r in g the lS-Iap race. but it was not to be. R ussell narrowed th e ga p to three seconds by lap 10, but cou ld get no clo ser. As Kling rode his Yam aha to th e ch eckers, th e attention turned LO Steve Pa tterso n 's finishing position. Patterson was running in th e top seven early in the race. That was wh ere he needed LO be in order .10 win the ti tle. As th e race p'rogressed, how ever , ho lding off the bigger bikes proved to be too much for th e FZR600-mou nted rider. As he crossed th e line in II th p lace, the d isappointmen t co uld be seen on the [aces of Patterson's crew, which is made up of family and frie nds from Detroit. Pa u erso n lost the championship by a mere two points, but this will not be th e last cha nce the enthusiastic 18-yea r-o ld will have a t winning the seri es. After th e race, Kling was presented with $585 from WERA a nd a stree t riding jacket from Vanson Leathers . Kling became the fourth Michigan Grand Prix Champion in as many yea rs. following former cha mp s Jim Knipp, Sco tt Zampach and Phil Pummell . In o the r racing anio n, it was a Georgia co nnec tio n i n the Suzuki Cup co n ti ngency races as Russell and Paul Bray finished o ne two in all three of th e Su zu ki-pa ving races. Russell won comfortably in the Band C Superstock ra ces, but had a little tougher tim e in the A Superstock contest. Bray led much of th e race before Russell outbraked h is old buddy going into tum one o n th e fina l lap to tak e the lead a nd the even tua l win. R ussell won $1500 in Suzuki money, a nd Bray went home $900 richer, Other top mo ney wi nners in Suz uki Cup action were Andy Fenwick and Scott Zarnpach. who each wo n $450. Fenwick. a lso made it a memorable weekend by setting a new track record whi le chasing Russell in the Formula USA regi onal event. Fenwick go t off to a slow start in that race b ut closed it ou t by turning the fastest lap ever a t Gra tta n. a I:25.05. He still came u p just short as Russell wo n h is fourth race o f the day. Ironica lly , Fenw ick's new mar k brea ks the former record of I ;25.32 set by h is H u man Race team ma te Kurt H all ba ck in July. ' Scott Seferian had a remarkab le day in the Novice ranks, riding his H urricane to vic tory [our times. o ften bea ting machines with . almost twice th e displa ceme n t o f h is 600cc Ho nda. Results MI CH GP; 1. Fritz Kli ng (Yaml; 2. Scott Russell (Suz); 3. Andy Fenwick (Yaml; 4 . Scott Zampaeh (Suz); 5. Ray Yoder CSoz). M ICH GP ANAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Friu Kling (27 5); 2. Steve Patterso n (21 3); 3. Mike Karm (212) : 4 . Gus Christensen (253); 5 . Paul Vitale (246 ); 6 . Randy Gaddey (244l; 7 . Scott Seterian (243 ); 8 . Phil Pummell (241 ); 9 . Ken KoseradU (239); 10 . Sam Wardrip (212) . A SI STI{; 1. Scott Russell (502); 2. Paul Bray ISuz); 3. Ray Yoder IS02I. B SlSTK: 1. Scott Russell ISozl; 2. Paul Bray ISUI); 3. Scott lampach (Suz). S/ STK: 1. Scott Russell (Suzl; 2. Paul Bray (Sut); 3 . Andy Fenwick (Suz). A SI BK EX: 1. Tom Kipp (Yam); 2. Mike Karm (Sut); 3. Ph if Pummell (Hool . A S/BK NOV: 1. Tom Wilson (Sut); 2. Si eve Scheibe (Suzl; 3. Jim Kusar (Yam). B ~/BK EX; 1. Scott Zampach (Sul); 2. Tom Kipp (Yam); 3. Ptul PummeU (Hon). B S/ BK NOV: t. AI Hall C Hon); 2. Mike RudityS (SOl); 3. Tom Wilson (Suz). _ C S/ 8K EX: 1. Tom Kipp (Yam); 2. Gene Burcham (Yaml; 3. Alan Benagnoli (Yam). C S/ SK NOV: 1. Scott Seie rian (Hon); 2. Larry Ma rtin (Yam); 3. Jim Kusar (Yam). DS /SK EX: 1. Alan Bert agnoli( Yam); 2. Kurt Koops (Yaml; 3. Sieve Patt erson (ya ml. o S/ BK NOV: t . Les Wh it e (Yam); 2. Gerald Bertoli ni (Yam); 3. Kirk Reu ill e (Yam). A PROD EX: 1. Keit h M erryf ield (Hon); 2. Bria n Lantz (Hon): 3. 8eb Hill (Sull. A PROD NOV; 'l . Scott Seferian (Hon); 2. Larry Mart in (Vam); 3. Si eve Craft (Yam). B PROD EX; 1. Keith Merryf ield (Honl ; 2. Matt Wi nnaeker (Kawl ; 3. Brian Lantz (Hon). B PROD NOV: 1. Scott Stlfer. in (Hon ); 2. Larry Mart in (Yaml; 3. Bob Rich (SuII. C PROD EX: 1. Sam Wardr ip {Yaml; 2. Steve Patt erson (Yaml; 3. Keith Merryfi eld (Hon). C PROD NOV: t. Scott Seteria n (Hon); 2. Sieve Craft (Yam); 3. Larry Martin (Yam). o PROD EX: 1. Man W inn acker (Yam); 2. Jo hn Durki n (Yam). o PROD NOV: 1. Jorda n Brown (Yam); 2. Roy Nicholson (Hon); 3. ElVIS Nicholson (Yam). F-USA: 1. Scott Russell (SUI): 2. An dy Fenwick (Yam); 3. Paul Bray {Suzl. F~ 2 EX: 1. Sam Wardrip (Yam); 2. Alan 8ertagnoli (Yam); 3. Kurt Koops (Yaml . F· 2 NOV: 1. Les Wh il e (Yam); 2. Greg Hut cheson (Yam); 3. Jorden Brown (Yam). F-3 EX: 1. Tom Exinger (Kli w); 2. Ralph Far mer (Hon); . 3. Gordon Hamilto n (K.w). e CLBMN EX; 1. J. And rew M ilton (Yaml 2. Tom Foerch (YamI 3. Tom Exinger (Kaw) . CLBMN NOV: 1. Roy Nicholson IHon); 2. Jeff Bandstra (Hon); 3. Tim Keen {Yaml. VINT 2; 1. Randy IIIg (Hon); 2. Jeff Donnelh lHon); 3. Rich Roiniotis (Due). VlNT 3: 1. Ed Kerns (Nor ); 2. Tim Richards (SUI). VlNT 4 : 1. Brad W alker (Hon); 2. Jeff Oonnet h (M· G); 3. Ed Kerns (Norl. Vl NT 5: 1. Bob Newby (Yam); 2. Tom Foerch (Yam); 3. Hans Rasmu ssen (KawJ. Bak er scores Mt. Airy Hare Scr ambles win By Marion Erwin MT. AIRY , NC, SEPT. 17 R ound 13 o f th e North Caroli na Hare Scra m bles Series was held at th e Beech Nut Park racing facility o u tside o f Mt. Airy . The race for th e ove ra ll a mong th e 88 rid ers ca me down to a battle between AA en tries N icky Baker , o n a Ca n- Am , Bur en Hamrick and G reg Erwin, both aboa rd CR250 Hondas. Wh en th e gree n flag fell, Erwin immedi ately took th e lead , followed by Baker and H amrick. Erwin bega n to ope n a gap. but mi ssed a cou rse marker and handed Baker the lead at th e end o f lap o ne. H ow ever, Erwin ca ug h t up qu ickl y and retook th e lead o n lap two. The o rder rem ained th e sa me until lap four, when Erwin stop ped to repair a bad ly da maged pipe which was bent in a n enco u nte r wi th a no ther rid er and a rock o n lap thr ee. Baker then went back in fro nt with Hamrick, who 'was sti ll so re from a hard crash the week befor e. fo llowing th ree mi nutes behind. The repairs to Erw in 's bik e took 10 minu tes which dropped him from contenti o n, but he resu med the race at a pa ce un mat ched by a nyone else. H e worked u p th ro u g h th e pack, taking over third pl ace on lap eig h t, wh ile posting the fastest la p o f the da y. When the while flag was disp layed o n lap nine. Baker was .still in [ran t o f Hamrick by nearly fo ur minutes with Erwin closing fast, nin e seconds behi nd Hamrick. Even th ough Erwin had to make a quick stop for fuel , he ca ugh t and passed Hamrick halfwa y th rou gh th e last la p a nd was pu lling away whe n hi s from tire went flat. H amrick closed back up. but co uld not pa ss until Erwin fell while bra king for ano the r rid er on a downhill sect io n near th e fin ish. Back at th e front Baker had slo wed , riding cons isten tly to fini sh First; o ne minute. 25 seconds ahea d . o f Hamri ck , wit h Erw in foll owing in third. 23 seconds back. Perha ps the best ri de o f th e day was turned in by 49-year -ol d H arry G reenl ee in the Seni or class. Turning co nsisten t 14- and IS-m inute laps a nd a void ing trouble. th e H onda rider lapped hi s closest competito r to win th e class a nd fin ish fo urth overa ll. Jimmy Lyn ch o n a Ca gi va. wh o has three Sen io r wins thi s year, ca me fro m seven th o n lap o ne to fini sh second. Worth Ca rswell on a Ca n-Am took third followed by Bruce Triplett, riding a Kawasaki and Darrell Hillard. aboard a H onda. Doug D eaton, ridin g a KTM , managed to hold h is pr obl em s to a minimum as he led the 250(:( class from start to fini sh . His one: seco nd lead over H onda pil ot Lester Partlow o n lap o ne, gr ew to th ree minutes and 28 seco nds o n lap three. Partlow pi cked up the pace bu t was sti ll sho rt by SO seconds at the finish . Ni ck Presson, on a Honda. a nd Mitch Willard o n a em-Am were third and fo urt h. Results O/A : 1. Nicky Baker (C-Al; 2. Burr en Hamr ick tHon ); 3. Greg Erw in IHonl; 4 . Harry Greenlee IHonl; 5. Mike P Oli S IKaw ). AA ; 1. Buren Hamr ick (Honl; 2. GreQ Erwi n (Hon). 125 : 1., Mike Pott s IKaw ); 2. John Carswe ll (Kaw l; 3. Richard Hicks IKaw); 4. Clifford Dull a (Cag). 200 : 1. EddIe Vaughn (Hon); 2. Jim my Dishma n IKaw); 3. Don Burton IKa w); 4. J on Woodward IKaw ). 250: 1. Doug Oeal on I.KT MI; 2. tester Partlow (Hon); 3. Nick Presson (Hon); 4. M ilch W ill ard IC· A). t?PEN: 1. Darr ell Cox (Hua); 2. Shaw n Rogers IKTM); 3. Keith Veslrat (Hon); 4. Richard Faria {Monl. SR; 1. Harry Greenlee (Hon); 2. ~im my Lynch (Ceg); 3. Worth Carswe ll (C· AI; 4 . Bruce Trlpten (Kaw); 5. Darr ell Hill ard (Hon). 4 ·STRK: 1. Waller Mclain (Hon); 2. KeYin Gwynn lHo n);

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