Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

• :S E D A Glen Helen OHV Park California P E W Y· State Chainpioilship, ," By Scott Rous seau Photos by Mike Dyer SAN BERNARDIN , CA, SEPT.24 hough "Flyin' " Mike Faria may be focusing in te n tly on the upcoming AMA U.S. National Speedway Championship, the 37-year-old speedway ve teran didn't pass up the oppo rtu nity to add another important event on the American speedway calendar, the California State Championship, to his list of 1994 victories. Faria, who has won the State title three times before, in 1987, '90 and '92, did just that, earning his fourth California State Championship in front of 2500 fans at the Glen Helen OHV Park. "I take them (championship events) all seriously," Faria said, as he prepared to go out for his first heat. "To night, you 're going to have to ga te and be gone ." Faria's strategy was not without justification, as there were five other serious challengers for the title on this night. Former two-time World Pairs and National Champion Bobby Schwartz was using the State Championship as a prelude to the Nati onal as well, but he w as s till a serious contender for the crown. Defend ing California State Champion Chris Manchester, now competing in the British League, h ad returned home for the U.S. National a week early in hopes of repeating last year's vi ctory. Josh La rsen, to o, w as making a return to America. Larsen finished ninth at the World Speed wa y Final in Vojens, Denmark, and the St ate Championship would mark the 21-year old's return to competition after breaking his wris t in that event. But as the night unfolded, Faria' s biggest challenge came from Charlie Venegas, one rider who has yet to win a major dirt championship. Venegas was ready just the same. "We just have to make good starts," Venegas said. "If we're behind, we 'll just buckle down and ride harder." Thosewords appeared prophetic, as Venegas dropped a poin t in th e very first race of the night. He had the misfortune of linin g u p in ga te fou r, one p osition outside of Faria, in heat one. Faria shot off the line when the tapes wen t u p, with Venegas hot on his heels, as both riders left Angela Hale an d Dennis Briggs behind . Throughout the race, Venegas explored a few different lines looking to pass Faria, but in the end, he appeared content to stay in second and collect the two points for second place while Faria took the win a nd three points. Hit's just o ne race," Venegas said. "Somebody's got to finish second. We'll make it up." Larson, Schwartz and Gary Hicks all posted opening-ride wins in the first round to keep pace with Faria. Larson's win came by just an eyelash. The former British Leaguer had gotten an excellent start in heat two and led the whole race, but his secondary chain broke just before he crossed the finish line, giving Doug Nicol one last chance at stealing the victory. Larson had more trouble in round two, losing the same chain just off the s tarting line and posting a zero, effectively ending his chances at the championship. "I've h ad a few unforeseen problems," Larson said. "I broke a chain in my first ride. I don't know what happened in the second. I'll just work all the bugs out and hope for a good night," Larson would drop two more points in heat 25 and finish fifth overall with 10 T points. But he would also pl ay a very important role later in the meeting. Manchester also watched his chances at defending the title slip away little by little. The youngster had failed to win a heat after-two ro u nd s, but a ppeared unfazed. " I'm havin' fu n," Manchester sai d . "The tra ck isn't very good, but everybod y has to rid e it, so I guess it's okay . I'm missing the start. I think that's my problem." Manchester soldiered on to finish fourth with 11 points. Faria 'a nd Schwartz stayed on the lead pace with wins in round two, while Venegas scored his first three-point ride of the night in heat 11 over Manchester, Hicks and Nicol to re main one point back. "I can't say I'm not down a little after that first ride," Venegas said. " Bu t you've just got to suck it up and keep dialin' it in." The first battle of " unbea tens" came in heat 17, when Faria and Schwartz squared o ff. It took two restarts to get the race underway, but when the tapes went up for good, Schwartz mastered the start, with Faria, Jerry Black and Paul Colston giv ing chase. Faria desperately hounded Schwartz for two lap s before dr opping deep into the outside dirt and putting on a heart-stopping pass that brought the crowd to its feet. From there, Faria eked out a small lead and crossed the finish line first to stay on a maximum score. "I figured Bobby (Schwartz) would go w ide, b u t he held the pol e," Faria said. "I kne w I had to get by him early because he can really ga in ground on you." Venegas posted a win in heat 18 over Jim Estes, John Aden and Greg Ayers to stay in the hunt. Unfortuna tely fo r Sch w a r tz, he wasn't through dropping poin ts. After Faria went out and gra bbed yet another win in heat 24, Schwartz and Venegas who were tied fo r second , o ne point behind Faria - faced each othe r in heat 25. In a race that virtually mirrored the Schwartz/Faria clash, Schwartz got the gate with Venegas taggin g along two lengths behind him. But Venegas made his move to the outside in turn three and four on the opening lap . Venegas went wide in three and then rocke ted past Schwartz on the outsi de. Schwartz tried to stay close, but Venegas would not be denied. "That was the only way I could pass him," Venegas said. HI made a good start, but it just spun coming off tum one." Schwartz dosed out the final round with a win for a solid third place in the final standings. Faria was finally defeated in heat 28 when Larson got a great start off gate four, with Manchester coming alive to take second before Faria, in third, went to work. Faria passed Manchester before the end of the first lap, but Larsen was go ne, dropping Faria one point. With Venegas back on the lead pace, the ball was in his court when he rolled ou t for heat 29 - th e last of the night. It was a must-w in situation for Venegas, who was looking to force Faria into a run -off for the title. But Venegas was up to the task, as he blasted off the gate to take the w in over Tommy Hedden, Black a nd Jeremy Ad en by a huge margin. Venegas an d Faria walked out for the run-off to the cheers of the near-capacity crowd, who must have sensed that a real barn-burner was abou t to take place. But it almost d idn' t happen when Venegas was clearly agitated after losing the coin toss, after the coin bounced off someone's foot before hitting the ground. The coin was tossed again, an d Faria won it again, choosing the number three starting spot and p u tting Venegas on the pole. When the tapes went up, Faria took the early lead with Venegas riding practically on top of him in second place. As the laps unfolded, Faria rode consistently wider on the race track, in an attempt to force Venegas to the inside line away from the dirt. But Venegas knew where the traction was and wouldn't be suckered. Venegas shadowed Faria and kept driving it in deeper and deeper each lap until he was nearly against the fence, but he simply couldn't find the drive needed to make a pass on the Ja ck ' s D isposal/ Oilzall /Scott I BK / Gene Woods/Faria and family-backed Faria, who crossed the line to take his fourth California State Championship. "I had to be smart," Faria said. "It was SO deep out there. I was only using the outside when I had to, otherwise I was riding the pole. I didn't wan t everyone to know you could pass out there. There's still a lot of pressure on me for next week (the U.s. National)." Back in the pits, Venegas was clearly ' I spent. It took him a couple of minutes to (Top) Mike Faria (left) scored 14 of a possible 15 points and won a rulM)ff with Charlie Venegas to capture his fourth California State Championship. Bobby Schwartz (right) finis hed third overall wtth 13 points. (Above) Faria (center) was all sm iles on the podium wtth Venegas (left ) and Schwartz (right). All thl1l8 riders will be competing In the U.S. NatIonal on OCtober 1. p ick h is head up and Clim b off his motorcycle. "It's tough when you lose," Venegas said. "You just have to keep your. hea d down and keep trying. ~ Bu t though he appeared clearly tired of finishing in the bridesmaid position again, it didn't take long for Venegas to regain his sense of humo r when he shook hands with Faria on the podium. "We should have gone five laps," Venegas said. C'l Glen Helen OHV Park Sen Bernardino, California . Results: September 24, 1994 CSHIP: 1. Mike Faria (GM) 14; 2. Charl;e Venegas (Jaw) 14; 3. Bobby Schwa rtz (GM ) 13; 4. Chd• Man chester (GM) 11; S. (TIE) Josh Larse n (GM) / Gary Hicks (Gdn) 10; 8. JUn Estes (Jaw) 8; 9. (TIE) Doug NkoJ (GM)/ John Aden (Jaw) 7; 11. Greg Ayers (Jaw) 6; 12. (TIE) Dustin Schroeder (GM)lIerry Blac k (Jaw ) 5; 14. (TIE) Jeremy Aden (Ja w )/Tommy Hedden (Jaw) 16. (TIE) Angela H ale (Gd n ) / Pa' Hawle y (Ja w)/ Pa u l Colston (Wes) O. JIl: 1. Step hen Downing (Wes); 2. Jimmy Pishback (Jaw). SDCAIl: 1. Lewis /Macy (12); 2. Srede / King (9); 5. Ho rs1ey Medberry (8). / -g, .... (",i" .... 0\ l-< OJ .g .... U o 29

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