Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 11: Carlsbad Raceway By Donald McGregor CARLSBAD, CA, JUtY7 ormer team Mettco rider Bruce McDougall came out to play at Carlsbad's AHRMA National Vintage Motocross today, taking top honors in moto one of the 12Scc Sportsman Expert class, showing the crowd he still has what it takes to win. Invited out to the AHRMA National for a special half-.time "Legends" exhibition race, McDougall decided to really test his skills by also slipping into the very competitive sportsman class. Round 11 of the 15 race AHRMA National Series, annually sponsored by John LeFevre's Concours Classics, always attracts a large turnout, as riders com' out to enjoy the Southern California sun and test their mettle on Carlsbad's famous GP track. Today was no exception, as 24S-plus entrants converged on the Carlsbad clay to compete, bench race and spectate the very special "Legends" exhibition race. With so many famous ex-racers in attendance, you knew a few would not be able to avoid the temptation of racing some "extra" classes. Appearing as if he had made time stand still, McDougall swept into the pits in the same van that carried him to all the local races years ago. Putting on his original "Mettco" jersey and powder-bme Bell magnum, he lined up at the starting gate on the same model 12Scc Penton that made him a Southern California phenom in the 1970s, hoping no one would notice. As expected, everyone did notice, as McDougall jumped out to a huge lead, rarely using the brakes on the greentanked Penton. As the laps clicked off and his lead stretched, McDougall appeared to have lost nothing of his old speed or style, taking the first-moto checkers with a full two-straightaway lead. The only question for moto two would be who would step up to challenge this ageless racer. The query was soon answered, as David Fisher, riding a rare 12Sec Ossa so trick it woul.dn't run in the first moto, came to the line in moto two to give McDougall a run for his money. Lap after lap the pair pushed each other to faster lap times, riding as if their bikes were chained together. By the last lap, the two were way out in front of third place, with neither willing to settle for second. Finally, Fisher made a move that stuck, just in time to take the checkered flag with McDougall on his heels. When asked if he'd consider trying vintage .motocross again in the future, McDougall glanced over at Fisher and said, "Absolutely"! The hotly contested 2S0cc Sportsman experts, not to be outdone by the eighthliter machines, next rolled out for a show that won't soon be forgotten. For. mer Yamaha factory rider Scott Burnworth was a shoo-in to win, but no one told CZ-mounted Dave Hellick. As expected, Burnworth's Elsinore got an incredible holeshot and was gone. Iron man Hellick began working his way up from midpack, his eyes focused directly VINTAGE AHRMA National Vintage MX Series (Left) Bruce McDougall easily won the 125cc Sportsman Expert class on a Penton, but lost out to Ossa-mounted David Fisher In the second. McDougall • stili took the over win. (Below) Rex Beauchamp (6) leads former factory Honda rider Tommy Croft (5) In the MX Legends race that was won by Scott Burnworth. Soon it was Mann wrestling the lead away, but Doughty was not giving up. .Lap after lap the pair raced, never further than three feet apart. Cresting the last jump on the final lap, Mann let off, seeing a yellow flag. Doughty, not seeing the caution, blew by, taking the checkered Hag by inches. At this point, anyone else would have run directly to an official to yell foul, but not the elder statesman Mann. He just motored back to the pits and said. "We'll get him next time". 0 AHRMA National Vintage MX Carlsbad, California Results: July 7,1996 (Round 11 of 15) on Burnworth. Trying every trick in the . book to make the low-tech CZ keep pace, Hellick began chipping away at Burnworth's lead. The attempt fell short, however, as Hellick clipped handlebars with a lapped rider, putting both men on soil-sampling duty and giving Burnworth the unchallenged victory. After moto one Hellick voiced his disappointment: "1 can't believe 1 did that. Knocking someone down is bad enough, taking out a lapper has got to be the lowest!" Moto-two action was no less exciting as once again Burnworth jumped off the starting gate as if he had been shot from a cannon, with Hellick in hot pursuit. Lap after lap, Hellick tried to reel in the amazing Honda rider. Even with the help of the lappers, who seemed to be giving Hellick a little extra room this time around, it was no use. Burnworth rode flawlessly to a 1-1 finish with Hellick's 5-2 giving him third overall. The Carlsbad grandstands filled to capacity as the "Motocross Legends" next came to the line. For those never having seen a Legend race, this exhibition of racers from a bygone era was like stepping into a motocross time machine. Lining up next to McDougall was none c.~her than three-time National Champion Marty Smith, Maico ace Steve Stackable, former Honda factory rider Tommy Croft, 1980 Rookie of the Year Scott Burnworth, "Crazy" Dav.e Aldana, DeWayne Jones, Former Harley factory rider Jim Beauchamp, European ace Gunnar Lindstrom, and Baja 1000 winners Gene Fetty ~d Bill Silverthorne. The smart money was on Stackable, due to some unauthorized extra practice time Saturday night. Arriving late to the track, Stackable found Carlsbad's gate closed. Being the resourceful type, he gained entrance at the back of the track. No one could believe their eyes as Stackable crested the famous Carlsbad downhill, on a Yamaha streetbike - with his girlfriend' on the back. The extra practice was to no avail, though, as Smith and Croft, unable to ride in "exhibition" mode, began banging the bars of their Elsinores as if it were Saddleback park, circa 1974. At race end it was Smith coming out ahead of Croft by inches with Stackable in sixth. One certified legend who sat out the exhibition was none other than Dick "Bugsy" Mann, opting instead to take on men half his age in the Premier SOOcc Expert class. Mann's rationale? ''I'm not a legend." Motioning to the group of assembled legend racers, he continued: "Those guys are legends. I'm just a guy who's here to race". As the Premier class rolled to the line, every eye was on the "non-legend" Mann and his ultra-rare SOOcc Monarch thumper. As the gate dropped, the roar of Mann's big single was being muffled by his midpack start, but soon the 60something champion was in his groove, chasing down BSA-mounted Rick Doughty. Mann began reeling in the fast-starting Doughty, leaving slower riders in his wake. On lap three Mann made his move into first place, and never looked back, relegating Doughty to runner-up position. As the same group lined up for moto two, there was no doubt Dou.ghty would be gUnning for the tireless veteran. Sure enough, just as in moto one, Doughty launched from the line as if he were riding a drag bike, while Mann began picking his way through traffic. SPTSMN 125 NOV, 1. Zach Blaze!c (Yam); 2. Joel Hanson (Hon). INT: 1.Kirk Barnett (Hon): 2. Richard Venagas (Hon). EX: 1. Norm Bigelow (Hon); 2. Howard Ranty (Hon). SPTSMN 2SO NOV, 1. Zach Blazek (Hon); 2. Don Beese (Hon); 3. Jeff Snyder (Hon); 4. David Bennett (Hon). !NT, 1. Mark Blakely (Hon); 2. Harry Backer (Hon~ 3. Fred COX (CZ); 4. Richard Yelkin (Bul). EX: 1. Scott Burnworth (Hon); 2. Greg Cader (Mai); 3. David Hellick (CZ). SrTSMN 500 NOV, Steve Fish (CZ); 2. David Scourfield (CZ); 3. Jamie Fetty (Hus); 4. Jeff O'Brien (Bul). INT, 1.Gary Egloff (Mai); 2. Travis Brown (CCM); 3. Eric Cook ( Mai ).EXP: 1. Greg Carter (Mai); 2. Rick Price (Mai); 3. Mike Halpin (Mai). SPTSMN OPEN TW INT, 1. Bob Del Morris (BSA); 2. Myron Lapka (fri ). EX: 1. Daryl Hambleton (TR1); 2. Kenneth Corpe (BSA). WMN !NT, 1. Erin Larson (Hon). eLSe 125 NOV: 1. Steve Ottinger (Pen); 2. Pat Kr100p (Hus~ . !NT, 1. Ron Renzulli (CZ); 2. Gene Fetty (Hus); 3. Greg Berg (DKW). EX: 1. Norm Bigelow (Bul); 2. Mike Owens (Hus); 3. Mark Arsenault (Hus). elSe 250 NOV: 1. Kirk Freeman (Ossa); 2. Jim Wilson (Hus). . !NT, 1. Kenny Sykes (Gre) 2. Verne elmore (Ossa). EJ(, 1. Mike Owens (Hus); 2. Dan Johns (AjS). CLSC 500 NOV, 1. David Duvamey (Hus~ 2. Kay Mann (BSA). !NT, 1Matt Pa""" (BSA); 2. Ken Marlding (Hus). EX, 1. Jnn Bollingmo (TRI); 2. a.arUe Beck (Mai). PREM UW !NT, 1. J.D. Janie< (BSA). EJ(, 1. David Boydstun (Gre). PREM 500 NOV, 1. Denni:l Moore (BSA~ INT: Gil VaJencourt ( BSA); 2. David Breetwor ( Hon). EX, I. Rick Doughty (BSA); 2. Dick Mann (Mon). PREM OPEN TW !NT, I. Norm Shields (fobsa); Verne Elmore (fri~ EJ(, I. Ken Corpe (BSA); 2. Danny Davies (fribsa). 30+ NOV: 1.Tom Rogers (Hus); 2. Micheal Young (Hus); 3. Don Beese (C·A); 4. Jon George (CZ); 5. David Duvamey (Hus). !NT, 1. Mark Blakley (Hon); 2. Gary Egloff (Mai); 3. Dennis Vorndran (Yam); 4. Edwin Sims (Hon). EX: l.Greg Carter (Mai); 2. Mike Halpin (Mai). 40+ NOV: 1. Tom Barnett (Hon); 2. Rick Labgold (Mai); 3. Jeff Snyder (Hon); 4. Craig Lauterman (Hus). INT: 1. Gary Egloff (Mai); 2. Charlie Richarson (CZ); 3. Mic Rogers (Mai); 4. Keith PelTangelo (BSA); 5. Bob Spicer (BSA). EXP, 1. David Fisher (Ossa); 2. Ken Greene (CZ); 3. Randy Lewis (TBA). 50+ NOV, I. Jim Wlison (Hus); 2. Kay Mann (BSA); 3. Wayne Rnatz (Hon). !NT: 1. Laurence Luda (CZ); 2. Dennis Tooman (CZ); 3. Terry Pratt (CZ); 4. Mike Morgan (5uz). EX, I. Danny Davis (fribsa). 60+ NOV: 1. Norm Blackmer (Kaw). INT: 1. George Cayssials (CZ) 2. Richard McCormick (Hon). Upcoming Rounds: Round 12 - Lexington, OH, July 20 Round 13 - Southwick, MA, August 10 35

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