Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Husqvama-rider Conner in close formation. Howerton already had his Honda CR250 up to fifth place ahead of Ricketts and K1M riders Pepper and Stavish. When the racers came through the barrels to start lap two, Patterson had taken over the lead, with Honda XR600mounted Summers eating his roost in the second spot. Smith was a close third. Conner and Howerton were 20 seconds back in fourth and fifth places, with Ricketts and Pepper next and Stavish over a minute back in eighth position. Harris and Whitaker were dualing for the lead in the 250cc A class. By the start of lap three, Summers had passed Patterson for the lead and built up an advantage of one minute and 20 seconds. Smith was pressuring Patterson for second position, and Howerton was third. Pepper, Ricketts and Conner circulated together, four minutes behind the leader. Midway through the third lap, Howerton had displaced Smith for second place, but the SU1;uki rider was hot on his heels in third. Conner rode in fourth place after passing both Pepper and Ricketts. By the end of the third lap, Harris had built up a 35-second lead in the 250cc A class, and was working his way through the first-wave starters. Summers maintained a two-minute lead over second place through the fourth lap, while Smith and Howerton battled back and forth for the second position. "I went into that mud hole and the motor died, just quit!" said Smith. "It restarted right away, but (Howerton) had gotten by. Then 1 got messed up on a log at the top of a hill. There was a guy all crossed up on it and he got away from me; Then I caught up." . "I was in that mine field section and my front wheel got sucked up into a rut," said Howerton. "Smith came by and took one of the buckles right off my boot! But it was just racing. I'd do the same thing." Summers cruised by himself in first place throughout the fifth and final lap, collecting the overall win with almost a three-minute lead on the runner-up. Smith pulled ahead of Howerton in the first part of the lap, but Howerton made a charge near the end. "It was a good track, fun for everybody," said Summers while signing autographs after the race. "The B and C riders need to have fun for the sport to grow." The race for second place came right down to the wire, with Howerton making up about 200 yards on Smith in the last half-mile. Howerton showed Smith his front wheel in the last corner, but Smith made it through the scoring lanes first to grab the runner-up spot. "I just cruised the fifth lap and he surprised the crap out of me when I heard him come up, because 1 thought I was about to run out of gas," said Smith. "It was a lot of fun," said Howerton. "I just wish I got a good start." Conner rode at a solid pace to bring his Husqvarna home in fourth position, and Pepper was fifth. Ricketts was sixth, Hoenshell was seventh, and Harris passed Stavish on the final lap for first in the 250cc A class and eighth overall. Stavish and Leigh Letellier completed the top ten positions overall. Yamaha-mounted Steve Cardwell earned the Vet A class win after passing Dirt Rider Magazine editor Tom Webb on the second lap. "It was a great track," said Cardwell. "A little slick and soft in spots, but there were clean lines around everything bad. It got a little wider as the race went on." (II" Results OIA: 1. Scott Summers (Hon); 2. Rodney Smith (Suz); 3. Kent Howerton (Hon); 4. Duane Conner (Hus); S. Kelby Pepper (ICTM); 6. Shadd RicUtts (Hus); 7. o.y Tom Webb (center) led the A-class wave to tum one. Webb led for one-and-a-half laps before slipping back in the pack. Fonner SOOcc MX National Champion Kent Howerton finished third after battling with Rodney Smith. Hoenshell (Suz); 8. Todd Homs (Kaw); 9. Ma" Slavish (KTM);I09. Le;gh Letellier (KTM). AA:. 1. Scott Summers; 2. Rodney Smith; 3. Kent Howerton; 4. Duane Conner, 5. Kelby Pepper. Scott Summers secured the lead at the halfway mark, then pulled away from the pack. 200 A: 1. Phillip West; 2. Bob Marino: 3. Craig Hayes; 4. Teny Maxwell; 5. Roger Bailey. 250 A: 1. Todd Harris; 2. Josh Whitaker; 3. Dave Ed..II; 4. Joson Moody; 5. Gary Balber. OPEN A: 1. Steve Ezell; 2. Dirk Ensley; 3. Tim G;lUland; 4. Johnny I..1mance; S. Daryl Smith. VET 30+ A:. 1. S.... Cordwell; 2. Darid Culpopper; 3. O.noUs Mesward; 4. Jim Roso; 5. 80m Knowl_ WMN A:. 1. Gayl. Culpopper. 4-STRK A:. 1. Jared Green; 2. Dirk Burleson; 3. Willie ?here; 4. Curt Wilcox; 5. G~ Surdyke. SlSR SOA:. 1. Robert C1apinger; 2. Gene Kyoon; 3. Gorman Smith; 4. Willard Root; 5. Lowis 8oattie. 200 B: t. Duane Badgley; 2. Greg Schaefer; 3. Nick Benefiel; 4. Brian Canion; S. David MiJdren. 2SO B: 1. Jason Russell; 2. Steve Hemann; 3. Jamie Jennings; 4. Mark Vickers; 5. Rip Woodard. OPEN B, 1. Robert R..c!; 2. Jeff Schneider, 3. Chris Cessna; 4. William Carman; 5. Todd Tarver. VET +30 B, 1. Rondy McCool; 2. Jud Cowl.y; 3. Daryl Howeth; 4. Darrell Conner; 5. Larry Buckley. 4-STRK B: 1. Jeff Lappe; 2. David Walker; 3. Mike Walker; 4. Ruben Cabello; 5. Darrell Diamond. OVER 40 8: 1. Terry Brumley; 2. Jim Masterson; 3. Tony Georgo. SlSR 40+ B: 1. David Sanders; 2. Carl Donelson; 3. Bill Canion, 80 C: I. Will Perry; 2. Pete SuJljvan; 3. Anthony Esparza; 4. Kris Stevenson. 200 C: 1'. Rey Nisbelt; 2. Nick Daniels; 3. Bill Holland; 4. Major Alford; 5. Randy Perry. SPTSMN C, 1. Rondy Coldwell; 2. Karl Zimmerman; 3. Karel Kramer; 4. Joe Eastep; 5. Don L~~ . AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HARE SCRAMBLES SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Scott Summ... (30); 2. Rodney Smith (25); 3. Kent Howerton (21); 4. Duan. Conn.r (18); s. Kelby Pep?,,' (16); 6. Shodd Rick.tts (15); 7. Cloy Hoonshell (14); 8. Todd Horris (13); 9.1&" Starish (ll); 10. Loigh LoteIHer (11). Rodney Smith, starting his first full season as an off-road racer, was the runner-up. 21

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