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.VI:NTAGE· VDTRA Skip Vanleeuwen Short Track Bike Week West . der. Without them I wouldn't have been here - literally. Maybe we'll just sit and watch the mile on Monday." Thiebaud was left to finish second. "I could hear him corning the whole way," Thiebaud said. "Then he got under me and· got a little high. I just couldn't reel him in. He rode a harder race than I did. I'm happy, though. I haven't ridden but twice this year. I wish the VDTRA guys would corne out here more often." Isaacs finished a distant third ahead of Mickey Blythe and Charlie Southgate. "I was tired," Isaacs said. "Once I relaxed, everything was okay, but they (Fiscel and Thiebaud) were already gone. I loved this place. The facility itself and everything was done first class. There was a good collection of talent here - California has always had talent. I wish we could come back next week." Earlier in the night, Fiscel war~ed up for the Open Pro Twins main by leading the majority of the 600cc Pro final. Local rider Jim McMurren grabbed the holeshot, but Fiscel led the first lap with Brad Holt in tow. Holt then managed to get ahead for a couple of laps before Fiscel went under him to regain the lead and hold it to the end, thus giving him an outside shot at the 600cc Pro championship going into the final VDTRA round on the mile Monday.. , By Scott Rousseau and Nikki Anders Photos by Dan Mahony DEL MAR, CA, ocr. 12 ot unlike Kevin Atherton, R&D Racing's Rick Fiscel came to the Del Mar Fairgrounds horse arena from his home in Des Moines, Iowa, knowing that he needed a win to pick up a championship. Fiscel was after his first Vintage Dirt Track Racing Association Open Pro Twins title, and in heated battle with John Fike for it. A win at Bike Week West's Skip Van Leeuwen Short Track, round 23 of the VDTRA Vintage Classics IX Dirt Track Series, could put the crown firmly in his hands. After the Pro Twins main event was over, Fiscel had what had come for. The Iowan rode his Dave and Linda Baldwin-owned Triumph to his 10th Open Pro Twins main event win in a row to clinch his first championship in the class with one round still remaining. Fiscel overcame a challenge by former California speedway racer Ken Thiebaud as the two distanced themselves from the pack, and then cruised to a convincing win to leave little doubt that he is a worthy champion. "I'm stoked - is that how you say it in California?" an excited Fiscel said. "We never thought we'd have a chance to catch him (Fike), but that makes 10 Nationals in a row. We always wanted to be in this position, but we never thought we would be. This is great." After winning the second Open Pro Twins heat to earn a spot on the front row, Fiscel set the early pace in the final, leading the Harley-Davidson of Atascadero / Gary Bang-backed Thiebaud and V,DTRA head honcho Johnny Isaacs, who was on a TPR/Stoneage Racing Triumph. Fiscelled the first two laps, but Thiebaud put up a game challenge, diving under the Iowan in tum two to snatch lead. Thiebaud tried to escape, but Fiscel hounded him for the next three laps, setting him up and then making a pass for (Above) Rick Flscel (53) claimed two class wins at the VDTRA Skip Vanleeuwen Short Track on the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Flscel sewed up his flrat Open Pro Twins championship and backed It up with a 600cc Pro-class victory. (Right) Racing was close In all classes. Here, Johnny Isaacs (10x) battles his way under Eddie Dixon (19z). Dixon worked his way to second place In the 600cc Pro main while Isaacs was fifth. (Below) Oklahoma's. Steve Nichols was sixth In the 600cc Pro main event. "It kind of went back and forth out there," Fiscel said afterward. "Once I settled down, I actually went faster. There was a spot out there I was trying to hit going into the turns, but I had to slow down and practically stop to see it." Meanwhile, Eddie Dixon and John Dupree threaded their way through the pack, and both riders got by Holt to take second and third, respectively. Holt finished fourth in front of a BSA B50mounted Isaacs. Adam Sabedra won the seven-man 250cc Pro race in a flag-to-flag romp. Fellow Californians McMurren and Ron Byre! finished second and third, respectively. CN Del Mar Fairgrounds Del Mar, camomla Results: OCtober 12, 1996 (Round 23 of 24) the lead in the exact same spot where Thiebaud had taken control of the race. Fiscel knifed under Thiebaud and then slid a bit wide to ensure that the pass would stick. He would not be headed again during the remainder of the 12-lap feature. "When that guy went by me, it threw me off," Fiscel said. "I was almost ready to settle for second, but when I did that I started gaining on him. The slower I went, the faster I went. My bike ran perfect, and I want to thank Dave and Linda Baldwin, and Bill Rirnenschnei- OPEN PRO TW: 1. Rick Fiscel (Tri); 2. Ken T1Uebaud (Tn); 3. Johnny Isaacs (Tn); 4. Mickey Blythe (Tn); 5. o,arlie Southgate (Tn). 600 PRO: 1. Rick Fiscel (Yam); 2. Eddie Dixon (Yam); 3. Jim McMurren (Hon); 4. Brad Holt (Bul); 5. Jolmny Isaacs (BSA). 250 PRe>. 1. Adam Sabedra (Bul); 2. Jim McMurren (H-D); 3. Ron Byrd (Han); 4. Bill Snyder (Bul); 5. Cary Buck (H-D). Upcoming Round: Round 24 - Del Mar, California, October 14