Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

>« a: ~ ~ a: => ~ CD 0 CD >CD 0 .... 0 :I: c.. O'l 00 O'l ........ 00 ..... III ,D S III Mike Malone captured the Top Fuel class w in at the Fifth Annual Drag Bike USA meet at Firebird Raceway, on his 1325cc Kawasaki. > 0 Z Four-time National Hare 8< Hound Champion Dan Smith competed in the Tra in ing Wheels' Ghost Rider Enduro and took first overall. dueled with jack Parenruau to secu re third with A'TKvmounted Randy Nagel'akinl; fifth , Carney and Zelazny ran ou t front 10 the second mo ra with G arry Dokk en hanging o n th ird for most o f th e race. On 'he last lap Nagel go t by to cla im third. In th e first 250cc A moto, Rob En gstrom launched into an unassailable lead wh ile Chris Bense. J ack Lane, Ch ris H ugh ", and Pat R iley ci rcu lated in a ba ttl e over second. Sense cras hed and dropped ou t o f coruen tio n a nd Riley took over for seco nd. Hugh es and La ne filled in th e top four. Brian Fern crashed on 'he las t lap after battling with Lane and Bense, a llowing Bryan H unt to take fift h. Engstrom motored out fra n I in th e seconr' race , bu r after the first lap he slow ly fell o ff the pace with a flat rea r tire. Bense pUI h is Yamaha into th e lead a nd held o n for the win des pi te pressure from H ughes. David Niemi look thud with Engstro m in fourth after rid ing seven laps with a puncture. Resul ts '0 M INI PIW: 1. Shel ly Ken"; 2. lance Cunn ingham ; J . Dan Edmonson. M INI J R: 1. Bill y Edmon son; 2. Dust in Noble; 3. Ryan Sholach. MINI SR: 1. Brando n Baekes; 2. M ike Atk in son; 3. JIm Povolny. 125 YTH: 1. Cory Keeney; 2. Brandon Backe. ; 3. Scott Johnson. OVER 25: 1. J eff Sor ensen; 2. A lan Sleven sen; 3 . J ack Lane . SR C: 1. Roger Schellhammer; 2. W illi am Turg i: 3 . Brian Byrne. SR A:. 1. Brian Carney: 2 . Dan Zelazny; 3 . Randy Nagel. SA OVER 40: 1. larry Noble; 2 . Rober NiedzIelski; 3. John Alfo rd . 125 C 0 - 1: 1. David Wy land; 2. Bob Gobli sh; 3 . Perr y W olff . 125 C 0 ·2: .1. Mike Atk inSQJ1; 2. Jeff Zuehl; 3. Rvan Sholach . 12 5 B: 1. Mik e Luoma; 2. M il ch W olff ; 3 . M ike Nuhr ing. 12 5 A: 1. Robbie Engstr om; 2. Cory Keeney; 3. Pat Donaho . 25 0 C D·1 : 1 . Scan Wal etzko; 2. Terry Varn er; 3 . Thomas Peterson. 250 C 0 -2: 1. Robert Bergstr om; 2. Greg Kal is; 3. Jeff Sandback. 250 B: 1. Steven Mih,es1ed1; 2 . Randy Rengs10rf; 3. Jay Thompson . 250 A : 1. Robbie Engstrom ; 2. Chris HUQhes; 3. David Niemi. OPEN C: 1. Frank Span el; 2. M ike Bourg eois; 3. Greg Kalis. OPEN A : 1. Jeff Soren sen; 2. M ike Nathe; 3. Rusty Sorensen. Smith tops Ghost Rider Enduro By Donnetta and Bob M urray 28 R ED MO U NT AIN . CA, OCT. 15 Versa tile KT M rider Dan Smith narrow ly edged Yamaha's Gra n t Palemke in special t",t scores to brea k a lie and wi n thl: Trai ning Wheels G hos t Rider End u ro at T eagle Wash nea r Red Mo u nt a in . Smith and Pa len ske both d ropped II points in 'he end uro, bu ' Smith's .0382 j uS! n ip ped Palens ke's score of .0408. The difference o f .0026 was not much co nsiderin g th e 90 mi les and nearl y four -and-a- half hours of riding. The first loop finished with Sm ith a nd J immy Lew is, mo unted on a l25c c Yamah a , ' ied with seven points d ropped . Pal en ske a nd Sco tt Stearms eac h had dropped eig ht , while Kawasaki 's Vet r ider Kenn y Perry ha d n ine. The seco nd loop was co mpa ra tively easy, with Palt-nske and Smith eac h zero i n~ the co urse. Stearns and Dave C hase drop ped two apiecl:, burnin g Ihe first chec k. Smi th, aboa rd a KTM 500, burned th e next 10 last check o n th e third loop. He was not ridi ng wil h a n odome ter, j ust a co mp u ter, and had to rely o n fellow ride rs wh o were on h is mi n ule. " I wanl to than k Dave Chase for keep ing me o n time all da y; I'd ge t to the fast seclio n and he'd say, ' Pin i': " said th e KTM / H i · P o in t /M axima / ~f etz el er l Arai· bac ked Smith. "T he 'hird loo p was th e best. I wish desert racer s were lik e that . It took ,15 mi nutes for 17miles. That's the way desert races should be. really 'ight." Smith finished loop three with four points dropped, co m pared to Pa lenske, Stearns a nd Ch ase, who eac h scored on ly three. Palenske lost time in th e C sect ion test, wh ich wound through th e moon rocks a t Ch arl ie's Pla ce, H e threw a chain a nd had to use precious seco nds to repair it. H e kn ew at the finish line that certai n section was hi s downfall ; it took h im 5.03 15 for th e C test , compared to Smith's 4.0268. Pal en ske ea rn ed A 250cc Enduro and 250cc Expert 0 -37 firs t place po in ts, in additio n to hi s second overa ll placing. . Third o vera ll was nabbed by Suzuki 250cc pi lo t Stearns with a score of 13.0385. Stea rns rode th e first par t o f the race with a n u mb ar m after bein g h it by a rock thrown off Pal en ske's rear tire (the two rode on the same minute). H e a lso burned a check du ri ng th e second loop. but was extremely p leased with his h igh p laci ng, needin s the points to close in on the number one D.strict 37 250ccdesen pla te. The to p five was Wfal'ped up with Chase, aboard a Suzu ki 250cc wllh a score of 15.054 t , and Mik e Sixbery , wh o wo n ' he Vet class o n a 250cc Yamaha with 19.0513. Sen io r rid er Mike H oeh l, mounted o n a KTM 35Occ. took th e overa ll win for Criders. H e finished th e o ne loo p wi th a score o f .0047. Yamaha' 250cc rid er Doug Burton ca me in seco nd at 1.0029. Resu lts O/A: 1. Dan Sm ith (KTM I; 2. Gra nt Palen ske (Yaml; 3. Sccrt Stearns (Suz); 4. Dave Chase (Sud; 5. M ike Sixbery (Yaml. OPEN EX: 1. Dan Smith (KTM): 2. Frank Sm Ith (KTM); 3. Derrick Paiement (Kaw); 4 . Danny Reider (Kawt 5. Jim Clark (Han). 250 EX: 1. Gran t Patensk e (Yam): 2. Scon Stearn s (Suzl; 3 . Dave Chase (Suz); 4 . Marte. All en (Yam); 5 . Charlie Morri s (Suz) VET 250 EX: 1. Mik e Sixbery (yam ); 2. Kenny Parry (J(awl; 3. Ken Lewis (Yaml; 4. Denn is Tipton (Yam); 5. Sco« And erson (Vam). SR OPEN EX: 1. TV Holm es (KTM); 2. Gary Scheidl er (Yam); 3 . Mik e M cKeever (Hus); 4. Ken ehler. (Han); S. M ike Mu lcon ery (KTM). SR 250 EX Phil Van Wey (Hon l; 2. Don Ooerksen (Yam); 3. But ch Nelson (Yam). • 250 AM : 1. Dana Van SI ee (Vam); 2. Dale Criske (Yaml ; 3. Randy Benn ett (Suzt 4. Scott Sin nig (Kawl VET 250 AM : 1. Steve Gilmor e (Yam). VET OPEN AM : 1. larry Ku nkel (Hust 2. KeIth Colli ns (Husl. S/SR EX: 1. Harry Keast (ATKt 2. J erry Harpole (ATK); 3 . Gus Paull (!(aw); 4. Dick Postma (ATK); 5. J .T. Clark (H o n~ 125 EX: 1. Jimmy Lewis (Yaml; 2. Br en Howell (Kaw ). WMN EX: 1. An na M err itt (KAlw ). VET OPEN NOV: 1. Clay Holli ster (Kaw). OPENAM : 1. M ike Davidge (Kaw l; 2. Ja mes Fowle r (Honl; 3 . RIchard law (Han); 4. Kurt HInes (HonJ. 2SO NOV: 1. M Ike Adams (Yam): 2. Blair Pike (Kaw ). SR OPEN AM: 1. Eddie Walk1M' (Y.ml. SR 250 AM ; 1. Charl es Brown (Yaml. S/SR AM: 1. Bud Goosen (Yam). A ·OPEN: 1. Dan Smit h (KTM); 2. Frank Smith (KTM): 3 . De rrick Paiement (Kaw); 4. Dann y Reider (Kawl; 5. J im Clark (Han ). A ·250: 1. Grant Palenske (Yaml; 2. Sco« St.arns (Su z); 3. Dave Chase(Suzt 4. Manual CaSlillo(Ves); 5. Peter Postel (Honl. A·VET; 1. Mi ke Sixbery(yaml; 2. W ill iam Kennedy (Hon); 3. Kenny Parry (Kaw); 4 . Ph il Doug las (Hus); 5. Rick Munyon (KAlw) . B·250: 1. Mark All en (Yaml; 2. Chr is J onn um (Vaml; 3.Bten Bainbr idge (Yam); 4. M ike Adam s (Yam); 5 . Oale Criske (Yam). B·OPEN: 1. J ames Curry (KTMl; 2. Gary Dudley (ATK); 3. Nal han Davis fM· S); 4. Tim Sch ultz (yaml ; 5. Mike Dall ldge (Kaw l. B-VET: 1. Robert SconIKaw); 2. Gary Beck (ATKI; 3. Geoff Nile s (Hus); 4. Steve Gilmore (Vaml ; 5 . larry Kunkel (Husl A-SR: 1. TV Holm es (KTM); 2. Ph il Van We y (Hon); 3 . Don Burch (Yam); 4 . Bill Dan iel (KTMI ; 5. Rick Claypool (Kaw). . A·4·STRK : 1. Ron lawson IATK) B·200: 1. Dana Van Stee (Varni; 2 . Mi ke McGregor (kaw) ; 3. Evan Cevene (Han); 4 . Sig Hansen IKaw); S. Seo« Sinn ig IKaw l. A-S/SR: 1. Harry Keast IATK); 2. Ron Fry (Kaw l; 3. Gus Paull (Kaw ); 4. Dick Postma (ATK); 5 . David Baker IHonl . A ·200: 1. Jimmy l ewis (Yamt 2. Stephen Read IKaw); 3. Bren Howell (Kaw). B·WMN: I . Anna M errit (Kaw ); 2. Dan a 8 ell IKaw l; 3 J erilynn Poznotf (Yaml. B·S/SR: I . Je rry Haropole (ATKl; 2. Edwa rd Bull er (Kaw); 3. Terry McDonald (Hon); 4..Roy Watson (Kaw). B-4 -STRK: 1. J im Ebbingg (Yamt 2. Richard law (Honl; 3. Craig Secn (Honl . B·SR: 1. Eddie Walk er (Varni; 2. Don Lall ier (Hon); 3 . Joh n Alkema (Husl: 4 . Charl es Brown (Yam); 5. Tony Harre ll (Kew). C SR: 1. M ike Hoehl (KTM); 2. Charle s Howell (Vaml.: 3. Don Rav (KTMl; 4 . Carl Baldw In (Yaml . C-200: 1.Doug Bunon (Yem); 2. Todd Conrow IKliw); 3. Richard Dubowski (Yamt 4. Chris Rey (Kaw); 5. Dean Wa lker (Yam). C~VET: 1. Raben W illi ams (Ceg); 2. Gary Meeker (Kaw ); 3. RIck Early (Han); 4 . Fred Non age (Hon); S. Bre« Call iean (Hus). C· 250 : 1. larry Ostrosky (Honl; 2. Chris Man in {Yeml; 3. Chr is Dubowsk i (Yem); 4 . Bryan Moynahan (Yam); 5. Tom Brown (SUl ). C4 -STRK; 1. Robert Erhart (Yam); 2. James Kohls (Honl . C-OPEN: 1. Jim Mac intyre (Hus); 2. Todd Parrick (Hoot 3. David Ray (KTMI; 4 . Marshall Nash (Han). C-S/ SR: 1. Ken Anderson (Hont 2. Inrin Sinclair (Han); 3. Edgar Swortfiguer (Hont 4 . Wayne Rankin (Hon); 5. George Thomas IKewl. C-WMN: 1. Frosty Cannon (Kaw); 2. Laura Walker (Yaml. VET OPEN NOV: 1. Robert Williams (Cag); 2. Bre« Callicott (Husl; 3. John Taylor (Honl . OPEN BEG: 1. Jim Maclmyre (Husl; 2. David Ray (KTM ). VET 250 NOV: 1. RiCk Early (Han ). VET OPEN BEG: 1. Fred Nottage (Hont 2. Doug Krausman (Hon); 3. Richard Nonage (Yaml; 4. Charles Lueder (Hon). SR 250 NOV: 1. Don Ray IKTM l; 2. Carl Baldwin (Yaml . BEG 125 : 1. Chris Ray (Kaw) . 250 NOV: 1. Bryan Moynahan (y_m l; 2. Kevin Orton (Kaw ). OPEN NOV: 1. Dragos lungu (Husl; 2. Pat lavespere (Hon). VET 250 BEG: 1. Ken Maynard (yam) . S/SR NOV: 1. Wayne Ranking (Honl . S/SR BEG: 1. George Thoma s (Kaw). Malone hauls, records 'all at Firebird Drags By M ichael Ross CH AN DL ER . Al. , OCT. 7-8 "This feels good; let' s do it aga in tom orro w: ' said an ecsta tic Mik e Mal on e a fter scori ng th e toughest wi n o f h is ca reer duri ng th e 5th Annua l Ora!'; Bike USA meet a t Fin-bird Raceway. T he 39-yea r-old number o ne p lateho lder scored his fifth win 'his year, a nd moved firmly int o th e po ints lead for 1990 wi th this la test victory. " we may not always be the quickes t. bu t we' re th er e w hen it co u n ts ;" ex p la i ned Mal on e, who burned a ll four pis tons during F irst-rou nd el im ina tio ns aga ins t Steve Moore. Mal on e tu rn ed a 7.79 and Moor e had lO sh u t dow n. Mal on e br ou ght h is 1325<'c Kaw asaki hack to the pi ts and fou nd all four cylinde rs had 70% lea kdow n . " t ve j ust put mo re fuel in it to fill u p the holes." sa id Mal on e. Wh ile Mal on e battled mechanica l problems, fast qua lifier Mark Mill er a lso had his han ds fu ll. A blown eng ine o n Mi ller 's Iucler forced him to withdra w that en try and TU Il his back -up machi ne. which he had a lso qual ified o n Saturday in the fourt h slot. Mal on e a nd 1987 Top Fuel cha m p Mill er met ill th e next rou nd , bu t Mill er bro ke a t the line Ictt ing Mal on e tak e the win at 7.97. The Kawasaki Iueler o iled dow n th e big end of th e stri p for the second rim e in t..... o ro u nds. The Ph oe nix·ba~ r:Jcer me t H arry Gu n· n usen in the fina l round wh ich , iro nically, was the sam e pairi n~ durinK last year' s T op Fud finish. Mal on e pu lled th e ho lesho. with a . 162!)cco nd advantaKe in reaction li me. then motored away fro m Gu n n use n to wi n . Mal on e sto p ped 'he ' clock a t 7.66.1 to Gu nnusrn's 8.261. Steve Moo re looked i mpro~ i ve all weeke nd d u r i n~ qual i fyin ~ a nd elimi nations in Pro Street. Moore adva nced 10 the final ro u nd by turning a n 8. 16 o n h is GS t 100 ba sed uzuk i du ri ng a wild rid e that had fans o n thei r fcr t. Later, Moo re's Red Line Racin ~ -bac ked Suz uki smashtX'l the exiMing Pro S treet reco rd wit h a 7.9300 at 172.94 mph d u ring st"t:ond· rou nd dim ina tio ns. :\loore pa ired 0 [£ agai nst Mor gan J ohnson ·s Suzuki for the fin al ro und, with J ohnson cu lt in g- a .447 reanion time, bu t Moor e ('ame O U l hard to pull ahead at th e 60· foOl mark. At half-tr ack , Moore', Suzu ki pulled a whee lsta nd but he stayed o n the th ro ul e to wi n wit h a n 8 34 to J ()hn~()n's 8.76. Harl ey fan s go t Ihei r mon t:"y's wo rt h Su nday when Marion O wens lOpped a full fidd o f Super Fu el Pushrod co m p(~tilOrs on h is way to an extrr:meJy popu lar Su per Fin al. Ow ens and h is do u b l e·e n~ i nl-d H arl ey arlvan("(;d th ro ugh elim ina tio lls to meet Ron Fri ng er in th e SUp('T Fuel final. Fring:er got o u t first by .086 o f a seco nd but Ihe Oklahoma-based r.

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