Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

GEVENTS m (Left to right) Dennis Springs and Butch Smith won new bikes at the Bounty Hunter awards banquet, Danny De rwingson won a 1993 Mitsubishi truck. thro ugh the field on the first lap, and by the end of the lap Bowen had moved into fourth behind Crowe, M org an, a n d H a y es . H a y es p ass ed Mor gan on the back se t of d oubles as Bow en tr ied to se t them bo th up after the big tabletop. Bowen we nt outside in the big berm before the infield wh oop s. Hayes tried to gas it as Bow en we nt to p ass , a n d H a y es got o u t o f s h a pe, knocking Bowen d own. Morgan took ove r second again and, Hayes recovered in thir d ahead of La w son. Bowe n go t b ack u p in se ven th . 'La wson took ove r th ird on the th ir d lap and caugh t Morgan . Morgan hel d off Lawso n until the las t lap when Lawso n dov e und er Morgan befo re th e g ra nds ta n d d ouble jum p . Bowen mov ed up to chall enge Ha yes on the last lap. Lawson caught Stevie Crowe and leaped by him ove r the big tabletop as Bowen passed Hayes. Mo rga n crashed in the hac k sect io n g ivi ng Bowen thir d. Crowe tried to make a move on Lawso n but Lawso n wr apped up the moto victory and his second overall win. Crowe fin ished second ahead of Bowen, Ha yes and Gwi nn. Man y amateur riders sho wed up to battle for the Acti on Sp orts Series Cha m p ions h ips a nd many bikes carried national nu mbers earned at the Amateur National Champ ionsh ips. Mark Burkhart wa s impressive in the Mini Sen ior cla ss a nd Brian Bartlett wa s perfect in 65cc and Mini Juni or action. Results expec ted quarter. Instead of worrying ove r the likes of Schwa rtz, Far ia or Manchest e r, H icks was ins tead most hounded by Speedway journeyman And y Northru p. Seconds before the fou rso me was ab ou t sta rt , Ch ris Manche ster moved up and tou ched the starting tapes from his number three lane, immediately bringi ng to bea r ' th e w rath o f Re fe re e Da nny Hull. Manchester was not removed from the race but ins tead pen alized back to the-I f yard line. That left Northrup, H icks in s id e on the p ole, a nd Mike Faria in the fourth spo t. As the tapes were trigge red for the restart Nor thru p used a qui ck ga te and a wide riding sty le to force both Hicks and Faria wide as the trio exited the first se t of tu rns . It was a t that momen t when Hicks decided to instill a bit of subtle speedway voodoo of his own, combining a scar cely perceptible hesitatio n w ith a deft insid e drift that p ropelled him down the back straig ht and into the lead as the pack entered the second set of tur ns on the first lap . Northrup set himself right on Hicks p ushbar b ut cou ld not find a way past the expe rienced H icks. Meanwhile, Man cheste r had taken ove r th e th ird spot as Fa ria 's n ight e nde d on th e infield . Man chester moved up dose to No rthrup but cou ldn't manage a pass and had to se ttle for third place. Resu lts 50 MICRO : 1. Willy Bro wning (Y"m); 2. C h ris Whi tcraft (Yo1 m); 3. Christophe r Robcrlo;on (Yam); 4. David Herb (Yam); 5. Cody KOVo1ch ev,1m). 65: 1. Brian Bartlett (Kaw) ; 2. David Whlknft (K.aw); 3. Willy Browning (Ko1W); 4. C h ris Whitcraft (Ka w ); 5. Andy WilLud (Kaw) . MJNI JR: 1. Brian Bartl ett {Yam); 2. Corey Amold (Kaw ); 3o.vid Whi tcr....t (yolIm) 4. Te rry S7...ru (Ka w ); 5. Ryan Willia ms ; (Suz ). MINI SR: I. M.1rk Burlr.h.lrt (Hon); 2. Charlie Ounaw,1Y (Ka w); 3. Jason Frecker (Yam) ; 4. Sco tt McMi llin (K.aw); 5. Christopher Qui, MandX"Sler Oaw ); 4. MiL> Faria (Wes). SCRA TCH : 1. Ca ry Hick.,.; (Wn); 2. Andy North rup (Wes ); 3. H DCP: 1. Oldrlie Venegas (Wes); 2. Mike Faria (Wes); 3. Jim Estes (Wes); 4. Chris Manchester; 5. John Aden OdW). SUP: 1. Mdr k Hann ah (Wes) ; 2. Joe Erhardt (Wes ); 3. Robbi e . Sau er Oaw); 4. J,1Y Gould Uaw ); 5. Mik e Boyle JR: 1. Jim Fishback Jr. (Wes); 2. St~hl"f1 Do wning {Wes); 3. Brandon Mitchell (Wes) ; 4. Michael Hull (Wes) . S DC A R: 1 . Pe te r Lew i' /Ja m iC' Mole y (Ka w ); 2. Ke nny Meln tyre / lks Ketcham (Kaw ); 3. John MatherllOn /Dale Leed er (Y,1m); 4. Joe retroglovic/Ca ry Passmore (lY w). 1leny (H~). SCH BV: 1. Eddy Tu rner (y,1m ); 2. Todd Moust'T (Suz); 3. Jos;hu De m u th (yam) ; 4. Chulie Duruw . y (IU w ); 5. Wesley Boyd (Su z). 125 B: I. Ed dy Tu rner {yA m) ; 2. Jos hu .a Demu th (Y.am); 3. Da vld V,1n C Ute11 (Suz); 4. J.ames Ev.ans (Ka w); 5. Sco tt Coline r (Ka w). 12S C: 1.]eTemy Witt ekind (Kaw) ; 2. Dou g l.a Co llin (Ka w); 3. s Bill Hart (Yam ); 4. David Piccirillo (Kaw); 5. Tra vis Smith (Suz). y 2SOB: I. Mikr Hogan (Hon) ; 2. Dou g Flinn er (Yam ); 3. Justin Story (Y,1m);4. JolCkie Welker (Ya m ); 5. Walter M.aho ney (Suz) . 250C: 1. Wayne Bayha (Ya m); 2. Todd Barnes (Suz );3. Randy Petitt (Hon); 4. A.aron McCain (Yam ); 5. ScottCreel (Ya m). OPEN B: 1. Greg Eva ns (Hon); 2. Sha un Swishrr (Ho n); 3. R.tndy Peti tt (Hon ); 4. Jerry uldw.-II (K.1w). 25+: 1. Keith G w inn (Ya m); 2. M I ~ Mo rgan (y am); 3. Mi ~ Hoga n (Hon); 4. Scott M<:Ci1I (Su:r.);5. Jackie Welkrr (Yam ). 30+: 1. Greg Frye (y .am); 2. Brian Potts (Suz ); 3. D.avid Herb (Soz), 125 PRO: I. Sha m' Lawson (Su~); 2. Ke ith Bowen {Y,1m); 3. Dick Hoy (Hon); 4. Nick Tro utm an (Hon); S. Scott M<:C UJ(Suz) . 250 PRO: 1. Shane Lawson (Suz) ; 2. KPith Bowe n (Yam) ; 3. Stev ie Cro we (Suz) ; 4. Scott Ha yes (J<.a w); 5. Mike Mo rgan (Ya m). Hicks track champion at Speedway USA 38 VICTORVILLE, CA, SEPT. 4 Vet eran Speed wa y r ide r Gary Hic ks a d ded another title to his cham pionship collection, taking the Scratch main a n d th e tra ck cha m pi onsh ip at Promote r Gene Woods' Sp eedwa y USA. Charlie "The Edge" Venegas held off Mike Faria to win the Handicap main event while the Support cla ss s ix- lap main w in went to th e newly re tu rne d Ma rk Hannah. Th e New Zealand / American team of Pet er Lew is and Jamie Macy won the Sidecar event. Hicks, who has won the Sp eedway USA track cha mpionship twice in the past, certainly had h is hands fu ll, but n o t from the usual Champions crowned at Bounty Hunter awards banquet By Tom Pritchard LOS BANOS, CA, AUG. 29 Over 200 people were present at the a nn ua l Bounty Hunter Series aw ard s banqu et at the Los Banos Fairgrounds Banquet Hall to witness the aw ard s presentation. Entertainment and dinner were on tap for the gues ts as a full eve ning of enjoymen t wa s had byall. The evening was highli ght ed by the presentation of motorcycles the top riders in the series. In the Pro class the 1994 Honda CRI25 was pres ented by John Mco an of C lawso n Honda /Yamaha to the new GFI Racing North number one Pro rider Butch Smith. Smith also p icke d up the nu mb er one pl a te tha t he will wear d urin g the '94 season. In the sportsman ranks all the class winners' nam es were entered in a drawing for their chance a t a new motorcycle from Fresno Kawasa ki/ Suz u ki. Wh e n Al Kawasaki of FKS reached in and pu lled out the winner's name the 1994 Suzuki RM was won by Dennis Sprin gs. After the awards and pr izes were given out it was time for the main even t of the night, the winning of the new 1993 Mitsubishi tru ck. All rid ers who 'q ualified for the d rawi ng were given tickets throughout the season, and on the night o f the banquet their ticke ts were put in to the hopper. Ten names were then drawn, and each lucky rider was allowed to p ick a key from the drawing box. After the ten numbered keys were selected each p ar ticipan t was allowed to try to start the truck. On ly one key would sta rt the Ch ris Fitz hugh (35W) led Dan Stanley (60) in Exper t action at the Bellingham ST. tru ck, and that winning key was held by Dan ny Derw ingso n. All who a ttended voiced their congratulations to the lucky winner. Oeschle Jr. squeaks to McKean County Hare Scrambles win By R.C. Graham REW, PA, AUG. 29 Jo h n Oesc h le Jr . cap tured round s ix o f th e Ne wYork Sta te Championsh ip Hare Scra m ble Se ries in w es te rn Pe n nsyl van ia, whi ch took p lace und er perfect weath er cond itions and with a strong contingent of riders from se veral states. The high ly competitive Expert class left the line with Ross Benso n tak ing command for two laps . Ka wasaki pilot Dave Faery and Oe schle Jr. filed in behind Benso n. Oesch le Jr. mad e his move to second on lap two and grabbed first on lap thr ee. He then moved out to a decent lead until Benson dosed conside rably on lap se ven. The two speed ste rs raged thr ough lapp er s for the final two laps . The d ash for the wi n had Oesch le Jr. sq uea king throu gh the fini sh -lin e barrels first by a scant two seconds. Faery rolled in th ird some two minutes behind the battling duo. The 250 Am a teur clas s took off w ith John Turk heading a pack includ ing Ivan Thomp son an d point leader Ed Morse . Scott Brown fou nd hi mself mir ed back in seventh with a bad sta rt. Morse soo n took his p lace up front on lap two a nd held fo r th e win. Brown cha rged to an in cred ible second, pa ss ing third place finisher Tu rk on the final lap. In Open Amateur act ion the tussle for the lead was in tense. There were four different leaders d uring the first tw o lap s. On lap th ree AI Skillman took contro l for a steady fou r laps. Dan Nico loff was back in eighth after a rough start, but he continued to move toward front-runners Jim Steiner a nd Jam es Denk with consisten t riding . Jockeyi ng for the top thr ee positio ns took p lace du r ing la ps fo u r thro ugh s ix. Ni co lo ff roosted and relegated Skillma n to second place, eve ntua lly moving aw ay to one- minu te victory. Skillman had the misfortune of ge tting hung up on a silty up h ill climb that ga ve everyo ne fits and d ropped him to fifth. Denk persevered for second place. Ano the r fierce battl e occu rred in the 200cc No vice divi sion. Matt McCabe and Rich Graha m fought tooth and nail for the lead while working the ir wa y pa st the Vet and Amate ur lines that started in fron t of them. McCabe held the point for h al f the race w ith Gra ha m nipp ing a t his heals . Afte r falling a few times attempti ng to pa ss McCabe, Gra ham took ove r with a hairball , si xth-gea r p ass o n th e fifth lap. Soon aft er, McCabe had to stop for brake lever repairs tha t put him two minutes beh ind . Larry Brod ell rode . well for th ird . Kawasaki rid er Eric Boberg a nd Matthew Hooper rounded ou t the top five. The 250cc Novice class was once aga in the biggest class of the da y. Mark Palombo worked hard to ea rn the win after Mike Beebe, wh o led five laps, fell to fourth with a major p roblem on th e fourt h lap . Mike Johnson rod e in seco nd place the en tire race for a fine ru nn er-u p p lacing. Results EX: 1. J. Oeschte Jr. (Ka w ); 2. R. Benson (Suz ); 3. D. Faery (Kaw ); 4. J. Sing leton; 5. E. Ogden. 200 AM : 1. D. Hei der (Kaw); 2. K.. Smith; 3. T. Wes tbroo k; 4. K.. WC' (K.a kh w); 250 AM : 1. E. Morse (J<.a w); 2. S. Bro wn (Suz) ; 3. J. Turk (Kaw); 4. L Thompson5. J. Di Fonllo (KTM). O PEN AM: I. D. Niculoff (KTM); 2. J. Dcn k (Hon ); 3. J. Steine r (KIM); 4. D. Kellum; 5. A. Skillmdn (Ka w) . 200 NOV : I. R. G ra ha m (Kaw ); 2. M. M cCa ~ (Kaw ); 3. L. Bra d d!"1 (Kaw); 4. E. Bubt-rg(Kaw); 5. M. Hoo per . 250 NOV : I. M. l'.alornbo (Suz ); 2. M. Jo hn so n (I hm ). O r EN NO V: I. J. Sui; 2. R. Sch d lf (Ka w); 3. M. I't't ri; 4. D. Dockstader (Kaw ). VET B: I. D. G u bul.a (Ka w); 2. D. Arwold ; 3. G. Bobt.-rg 4. B. ; Sp ringe r (Ka w ). VET INT: 1. L 8.Jile y 2. J. F.auth llt' r; 3. R. Ha rtel (Yam); 4. R. Price (KTM). SR A: I. L M ich.lt' I; 2. J. Nu l (Sur); 3 , G. Socia {KIl..... J SR B: I. G. Lonon; 2. C. La..~i le r; 3. T. Palo mbo; 4. J. Oesc hll' (H us). Fitzhugh flies at Bellingham ST By D ave Hoenig Pho to by Flat Trak Fotos B ELLINGHAM WA,SErf. 10 , Chris Fitzhugh, aboard h is Sea-Tree Cycle/ Bell/ In te rs ta te Electronics / Acu ri te Au tomo tive /sp ons ored Yam ah a topped a solid fie ld of 36 Expe rt rid er s a t the Mou n t Ba ker Motor cycl e Club 's Hann egan Spee d way. The club-promo ted $2500 Pro-Am e ven t se rved as a warm- up for the 600cc Nat ional sched uled for the next nigh t. With only the winners of the six Expert heats mak ing the main, action was fast a nd furious. H eat w in s went to Sha ne Bu thcha rt, Fitzhu gh , Dan Sta n ley, Russ Yama moto, Kirk . Strong, and John wt ncewicz No n-qua lifiers were p laced into thre se mis e with the top two finishers going into the main . Jeff Anne n, Joe Kopp and Randy Roose were the win ners. Stan ley, becau se of his fast hea t time, sat on the pole for the Expe rt main with all the oth er he a t win n ers joi ni ng him o n th e fro n t row . Butchart jumped the start and was sen t to the pen alty line. When the green light flashed , Fitzh ugh took the point with Stanl ey and Strong d ose behind . Although the ba ttle for the lead was hea ted one, n either Stanley no r S tro n g co u ld di spla ce Fitzhugh d uring the .IS-lap race. The race ended with the top three posit ions un changed . Roose was a lonely fourth over Annen and Rob Damron. Th e Pr o-Am class was di vided in to fou r heats w ith only two ad vancin g to the main. The rest of the rid ers were sen t to the Last Ch ance where the top fou r wo u ld move up . The hea ts we re wo n by Jason End erson, Jeff Rister , Kurt Edw a rd s a nd Lance Stro ng. Dennis Arms trong . won the Last Chan ce race. The Pro-Am main got off to a rocky start as Je rr y So ut hwo rth fe ll in tu rn o ne a nd was una ble to a mke the rest art. Rister was ted litt le time p ushing his Roge r Leste r Raci ng / Mr.& Mrs . Bo b A ins lie / Fra m -A utol ite /Ex ide Battery IJer's Cycle /Scha p p-sponsored Hond a into first. Rister held a smoo th line and p ulled a way the en tire race. Enderson held down second over Edwards then Eric Rickman. Rickma n dosed on Enderson and tried to take second but could not make the pass. Disaster s t ru c k as Rist er was taking th e checkered flag. Rickma n slid down in tu m four, an d hi s Rot ax sp u n d own the front st ra igh t where Edward s hit the bike a t full speed , shoo t'ing h im hig h into the air. Edwa rds had no mo re than h it the ground when Justin Ownbey also hit Ric kman ' s b ik e. O w n bey d up li cated Ed wa rds' flip with Ownbey 's bike landing on Edwa rds. Wha t looked to be a terrib le spill left bot h Ownbey and Edwards ver y sha ken, but after a trip to the ho sp ita l, but we re released . Enderson finished second, To m She rman was awarded third when the scoring was se ttled .

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