Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

EVENTS Series, Round 4 _ . , EDITED BY KEITH BUSH (Above) Scott Plessinger started the Big Stripper Hare Scrambles in Lynville, Indiana, in last place, but was up front when it mattered the most. (Left) Doug Blackwell (1), Mike Kiedrowski (100) and Jason Dahners (4) took second, third and fourth places, respectively, at the Big Stripper. By Paul Michels Photos by Dale Roberts LYNVILLE, IN, DEC. 8 ™ Sport Motorcycles' Scott Plessinger went from a last-place start to a first-place finish at round four of the Mid-South Winter Hare Scrambles Series, the Big Stripper. The event, which derives its name from the giant earth-stripping cranes in the area coal fields, also was attended by four-time National MX champ Mike Kiedrowski. "My mechanic and good friend, Shane Nally, lives just about 10 miles down the road and he thought it would give us some time on the bike since the only other race was a supercross in Japan last month," Kiedrowski said. "Actually, this is my first hare scrambles K ever." 32 As the pack of AA riders shot into the woods, KTM-sponsored Jason Dahners, took the lead and held on for nearly the entire first lap, which consisted of an approximately 10-mile course. About 200 yards from the scoring tent, Dahners bobbled on a short off-camber uphill, and reigning series champion Doug Blackwell, on his Sports Cycle Racing Yamaha, seized the moment and shot past Dahners to cash in on the first-lap $100 payback. Promoters split up the $800 bonus money donated by the Lynn ville Area Dirt Riders and Great Daves Performance and Machine so that the leader at the end of the first lap got $100, the leader at the halfway point got $200 and the overall race winner got $500 in addition to the regular Pro purse. "I tried to stay with him, hoping to be. there just so I would have a shot at the lead if at all possible," Blackwell said. "Because with the number of talented riders here, anyone of them could overall this thing. So it's nice to have some gas money early on." Kiedrowski, on his Honda of Troy CR250, held on to third as the pack of Pro riders funneled into the scoring tent. "I didn't really know what to expect," he said, "except for what my mechanic told me about the leaves covering logs and rocks the first lap because of his hare scrambles experience. I knew r didn't want to lead early in the race, I just wanted to try and stay with the leaders and watch and learn." Team Green's Mike Sampson was fourth as Sarge's Cycle Suzuki's multitime Mid-South champ Robert Patterson rounded out the top five. Blackwell led early on lap two until his arms pumped up and he had to back off the pace. Dahners and Kiedrowski both got past. Plessinger also got past Blackwell as he came up through the pack. "I just didn't warm my bike up enough before the start of the race," Plessing",r said, "and once I got going, I crashed a few times the first lap, but the second lap I settled down and got going." At lap's end the order remained the same as Blackwell held on to fourth with Sampson fifth. Dahners held about a 15-second lead heading out on the third lap until an unexpected off-track excursion left him on the ground. Kiedrowski, Plessinger and Blackwell all passed before he was able to recover. Kiedrowski led until the bridge crossing that nearly ended his and Plessinger's day when they both crashed and went into the water. "Well, I came down the hill before entering the bridge at an angle and just slid out," Kiedrowski explained. "Luckily, my bike stayed on the bridge, but I went for a dip with one foot in the water and my arm stretched out, catching myself from going in head first." Plessinger wasn't so lucky when he hit the bridge. Kiedrowski had just fallen and Plessinger endoed trying to stop. The bridge was about 50 feet long and a foot above the water across a swamplike pond. With the temperature being 30, it was not a good day for a dip. "Luckily, my bike stayed on the bridge, but I was in the water wallowing around when finally some spectators came to l)1y rescue," Plessinger ?aid. "I want to thank them." Blackwell waited for the two of them to get up and out of the way because there was no way to pass with the people and bikes on the bridge. Blackwell passed Scott and shot past Kiedrowski in the same section he passed Dahners on the first lap, before going on to complete the third -lap in the lead. Plessinger was third, Dahners was fourth and Shad Ricketts passed Sampson for fifth. Heading out on the fourth lap, Blackwell elected to s.top for fuel, as did Plessinger and Dahners, thinking this would be. the second-to-Iast lap. The promoters had the white flag out and the only one to really see it was Kiedrowski's mechanic, who then waved him on. Kiedrowski continued to lead about five miles into the fourth and last lap when Plessinger and Blackwell caught and passed him. They continued to play cat and mouse throughout the remainder of the lap. "Those guys were taking some short cuts on turns and over ravines and through bushes," Kiedrowski said. "I just sat back and watched because there was no way I would have thought to take those lines. It was a real education in last-lap strategy woods racing for sure." Dahners finished a short distance off the lead trio's pace in fourth as Sampson rounded out the top five. Big ·Stripper Hare Scrambles Lynville, Indiana Results: December 8, 1996 AA: 1. Scott Plessinger (KTM); 2. Doug Blackwell (Yam); 3. Mike Kiedrowski (Hon); 4. Jason Dahners (KTM); 5. Mike Sampson (Kaw). OPEN A: 1. Harvey Whitaker (Kaw); 2. Mark Thurman (KTM); 3. Brady Baker (Hon); 4. PruUip Barker (Hon) 5. Brett Barker (Han). 250 A: 1. Tony Hendon (Suz); 2. Cary Hendricks (Yam); 3. Steve Gordon (Kaw); 4. Marty Stinnett (Kaw); 5. Chris Hicks (KTM). 200 A: 1. Mark Sanders (Kaw); 2. Clint Robinson (Kaw); 3. Kevin Creekmur (Yam); 4. Jamie Wynn (Kaw); 5. David Durkee (Kaw). VET A: 1. Scott Martin (Kaw); 2. Rob Kirch.ner (Suz); 3. Rob Stephens (Han); 4. Robert Roy (Yam); 5. WiUiam Short (Han). . SR A, 1. Gallie Ward (Yam); 2. Billy Hall (Yam); 3. Paul Michels (KTM); 4. Craig Jobe (Hon). 4-STRK A: 1. Todd Boone (Han); 2. Jeff Stoess (Hon); 3. Mark Hosbach (Hbg); 4. Eddy Taylor (Hon); 5. Rod Thurley (Han). QP"EN B: 1. Timmy Pool (Kaw); 2. Norman Richards (KTM); 3 Robert Lich (Kaw); 4. Stewart Lich (Kaw~ 5. Daniel Smith (KTM). 250 B, 1. Scott Meredith (Kaw); 2. Chris Beard (5uz); 3. Darin Cardwell (Kaw); 4. Brent Mercer (Suz): 5. Andy Shea (KTM). 200 B: 1. Thomas Campbell (Kaw); 2. Robert Robi.nson (Kaw); 3. Ronald Skipper (Kaw); 4. Mark Barton (Kaw); 5. Joel Byron (Kaw). 125 B: 1. Sammy Gosnel.l (Yam); 2. David Clark (KTM); 3. Jim Bales (Kaw); 4. Jerry Laroche (Suz); 5. Scott Turner (Kaw). VET B: 1. David Zanet (Yam); 2. Mark Vandiver (Yam); 3. Rickey Whitley (Kaw).; 4. John Hamilton (Yam); 5. Richard Vanpelt (50'). SR B: 1. Larry StiU (Han); 2. Gerald Westerfield (Kaw); 3. Tommy Todd (KTMJ; 4. Andrew Hardin (Hus); 5. Larry Cunningham (Yam). 4-STRK 8: 1. BiJJy Proffit (Han); 2. David Dougherty (Han); 3. Roger Hendon (Han); 4. Marty Michels (Hon); 5. Kerry Bridges (Suz). S/SR, 1. John GUes (Yam); 2. Guy Anderson (Kaw); 3. Lon Walters (Han); 4. Lawrence Hayes (Han); 5. John Gordon (Kaw). 250 OPEN C, 1. Trent Ashby (5uz); 2. Derrick Lee (Suz); 3. Mike Westerfield (Han); 4. Tim Schnetzler (Yam); 5. Bryan Lee (Yam). 200 C: 1. Allm Murphree (Kaw); 2. Kevin Weiss (Yam); 3. Jeff Underwood (Kaw); !t. Allen Westerfield (Kaw); 5. William Young (Kaw). BEC: 1. RusselJ Edwards (Yam); 2~ Tim McDaniel (Hon); 3. Robby Grisly (Yam). .

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