Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127796
(Left) Fiscel was unstoppable at Oklahoma City, scoring a convincing victory in the 600cc Pro class to post two wins for the day. (Below) VDTRA 600cc Pro-class champion John Fike (1) battles side by side with Steve Nichols (1 OX), the latter on a Johnny Isaacstuned TPR BSA, in the 600cc Pro class. about three laps. Man, that was fun. We're going for that number-one plate this year:' George limped home third with a consistent-running Fike nearly catching him in the closing laps before settling for fourth. Eddie Baldizan was fifth. "I knew right when I left the start that the clutch was going to give me trouble," George said. "I don't think that J could have won it, but I think that I could have run with those guys if I'd gotten off the line with them and the thing was working. But I was still having fun in three and four:' Fiscel's Pro Twin victory was not his first of the day as he previously led the . 600cc Pro event from start to finish aboard his Star-framed Yamaha single, besting Jim Strome and Roger Sterling for the top spot on the podium. Fiscel never appeared to let off even though he had built up a tremendous lead in the 10-lap event and took the win by half a straightaway. "We've been doing well with this bike," Fiscel said. "We won Indy, Casper, Wyoming, and Cambridge, Minnesota. "My guys were giving me signals, telling me that I had a huge lead. Once they threatened to pick up a rock and throw it at me to slow me down, I got the idea:' Fifty-eight-year-young Fred Schrit!' made the trek from Grand Island, Nebraska, and powered his show-quality Trackmaster Triumph to a convincing victory in the Masters class. Schritt slid his machine past Dave Barkley in the opening stages of the race and then went on to finish ahead of a pair of Yamahas ridden by Frank Guinn and Randy Whitesides. "I didn't falloff," Scmitt said. ''I'm leading the points, so I had to win. There's another guy who is about 10 points behind me. I knew I had to ride or fall off. I want that number-one plate:' Along with the win, Schritt had one of the better bench-racing stories to te11 as well. "After my race, a guy walked up to me and congratulated me on a good race," Schritt said. "Then he showed me a couple things to do to make my bike better. It turned out it was Terry Poovey:' When AMA Grand National team owner and Honda dealer BiU Snyder isn't building trick RS600 short trackers or tinkering with his experimental Honda Hawk-powered GNC machine, he can be found with his leathers and helmet donned as he competes in the \'DTRA two-stroke classes with a fleet of Bultaco Astros.·Snyder had a good day at Oklahoma City, bagging the Senior-class title aboard one of his 360cc machines. Snyder diced early with J.e. Clark and then wicked up the throttle. and disappeared into the sunset to claim the win by several lengths on the Spanish machine. "I got a fairly good start," Snyder . said. ''J.e. was right there, but he went higher on the groove and 1 stayed down low. That particular Bultaco was raced three times today." So why not ride a Honda? Snyder offered a simple, historical perspective. "1 was the last Bultaco dealer in the United States," Snyder said. "Besides, camaraderie (not winning) is what this racing is all about. Being a participant is more important than being a contestant." Jac Donald bested the largest vintage (Below) Gerald Jessup (44) piloted a clean, early Mert Lawwill-chassied XR750 to victory In the Masters Pro class. The 62-year-old Texan Is the reigning VDTRA Dinosaurclass champion. class of the day, the Open Twin Amateur division. Donald powered his Yamaha off the line ahead of 11 other riders in the eight-lap feature and kept the hammer down all the way to the checkered flag, finishing ahead of Jim Strome and Roger Sterling. "1 didn't look back," Donald said. "I never do until it's over." Mike Mendenhall beat VDTRA President Mike Zbrozek to the line to claim fourth place. 0 State !>aIr Speedway Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Results: July 20, 1996 (Round 14 of 22) OPEN PRO TW: 1. Rick Fisrel (Tn); 2. Kurtis Taylor (Tn); 3. Matt George (H·D); 4. John Fike (BSA); 5. Edd;e Baldizan (Yam). 600 PRO: 1. Rick Fiscel (Yam); 2. Jim Strome (Yam); 3. Roger St«ling (BSA); 4. Steve Nkhols (BSA); 5. Bill Walker (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Bill Walker (Yam~ 2. Bill Snyder (BuI); 3. Eddie BaJdizan (Yam); 4. Eddie Cook (Yam); S. Steve Nichols (Yam). MSTR PRO: 1. Gerald Jessup (H-D); 2. Steve Boggs (Yam~ 3. Bill Bua (Yam); 4. Lee Parker (Yam~ 5. Jobn Varbel (Yam); 6. aark Seal (Yarn). SR: 1. Bill Snyder (Bul); 2. J.C. Oark (Yam); 3. Tommy Key (Yam); 4. Joe Blackwell (Yam); 5. Bob Loucks (BuI). OPEN TW AM: 1. Jac Donald (Yam); 2. Kevin Whitesides (Yam); 3. Mike MendenhaIJ (Yarn); 4. Mike Zbonek (Tri); 5. Reggie Barkley (Yam). MSTR AM: 1. Fred Schritt (Tri); 2. Frank Guinn (Yam); 3. Randy Whitesides (Yam); 4. Dan Maloney (Hon); 5. Dave Barkley (Yam). 600 VINT AM: 1. Kevin Whitesides (Yam); 2. Russell Briggs (BuI~ 3. Ray Haines (Bul~ 4. Mike Meyer (Yam~ 5. J.e. aark (Yam). 250 VINT AM: :. Robert Snyder (B~I); 2. Randy Hale (BuI); 3. Ray Hames (BuI); 4. Frank CWJUl (Yam); 5. Jm. Henry (Yam). Upcoming Rounds: Round 15 - Sturgis, South Dakota, August 10 Round 16 - Stock1on. Kansas, August 12-13

