Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Rich Lafferty survived a late lapse that cost him two points to win the Stumpjumper Enduro In New Jersey. Binckley held on to win the Over 30 class and finished forth overall aboard an older KTM 540. Runner-up honors went to Pete Headwell with Tony Allen, Sun and Scott Von Bargen rounding out the top five Vet-class riders. The Old Timer class was won by Gary Roester in 28th overall. Tom Torpen, Kevin Bise, Dave Chutich and Todd Wolfe rounded out the top five some 13 minutes and 24 seconds behind Roester. The Under 200cc class was owned by Greg Fry who finished in 25th overall. Ben Hale finished second over Jon Seehan, Steve Parker and Shawn Johnson in fifth. (N Stump Jumper Desert 100 Elllngsburg, Washington Reau"s:Ap~120,1987 0-200: l.'Creg Fry: 2. Ben Hale; 3. Jon Seehan; 4. Steve Parker; S. Shawn Parker. _ 250: 1. Peter Russell; 2. Jonah Street; 3. Lonny Kopp; 4. Bob VonBargen; 5.Galrin Hoyer. 4-STIlX: 1. Richard Rice; 2. Kurt Edwards; 3. Bruce Hill; 4. Kelly Soncarty; 5. Chris Ivy. OPEN: 1. Rick &zarth; 2. Grayson Hart; 3. Jerry Les; 4. John Frederick; 5. Peter Giese. TEAM: 1. WilderlKline; 2. Holden/Brown; 3. Terrill/Zamatski; 4. Mallahan/Bamett; 5. West/White. 30+: 1. Rich Bincldey; 2. Peter Headwall; 3. Tony Allen; 4. Ron Sun; S. Scott VonBargen. OT: 1. Garry Rocster; 2.Tom Tarpin; 3. Kevin Bise; 4. Dave Chutich; 5. Todd Wolle. ECEA Enduro Series, Round 4 Lafferty finds the 9feeling ~ By Mark Uth, Trail Rider Magazine WARREN GROVE, NJ, APR. 20 ichard Lafferty found that win'" ning feeling for the first time in 0\ this young 1997 ECEA Champi0\ onship Enduro Series, reverting to '96 ...... form aboard a KTM 250 EXC and post~ ...... ing his first overall victory of the seaN son. ~ Despite a late-in-the-day lapse that "<::' cost him two points, Richard managed ,..,::; to best a field of ECEA AA hotshoes that included his brother Jack Jr., Jeff Kirchner, Kevin Bennett, Mark Grossman, R 30 Mike McHale and series points leader Fred Hoess. Notably missing were defending series champion ~k Spence and ECEA icon Michael Lafferty who were contesting the conflicting ational Enduro in Sheldon, Washington. Some 3000 miles away, Michael Lafferty made it a twofer day for the Lafferty family, winning his third round of the '97 AMA ational Enduro Series. Back east, round four of the ECEA series found Motorcycle Competition Inc. (MCI) unveiling their new Stumpjumper Enduro. More than 250 riders entered the first ever April running of the event which unfolded under overcast skies and cool temperatures, that might have barely bested the 50degree mark. Afterward, while everyone was waiting around for results to be finalized and posted, sunny skies and mild temperatures prevailed, however, during the event things could have been chilly. Could have, that is, if it weren't for the on-the-gas, hare scrambleslike course laid out by sophomore trail boss Davey Jobes. While most expected the dwarf forest of the southern plains and Coyl~ Field to be considerably wetter in the springtime, this proved a minor point, as riders hammered over the lengthy 84-mile course that granted essentially only one reset per loop. The course was a dichotomy. Miles and miles of the nastiest sand whoops possible in many sections, even for early rows, were coupled with equally lengthy sections of fresh stick farms. It was feast or famine depending on your perspective. Out of the relocated start control, after a short blip over a small stream, things got going quickly as the day's first check was located a mile or so out of the start as riders turned off the asphalt and crested a small rise. Seemingly a check-in, some hot points were taken, after which a short romp down some trail at 18 mph quickly yielded to sand roads and whooped-out trails. This slowed things down somewhat. By the time three miles of free time was up, nearly all were back on time. This was to become an all-too-familiar situation. A little more sand road and whooped trail soon lead into MO's bombing- range stick farm, sans check-in. As usual, two checks were found within the 12-mile-plus mile section, both emergencies. A 4:12 was the time to beat through the section, a pace set by ECEA points leader Fred Hoess and Richard Lafferty. Jack UUferty JL trailed with a 4:13 tally, while most other AI AA riders yielded 20 or more points. There was no reset aftetward and it was off to the races trying to get back on time over mostly open two-lrack sand road interspersed with ocrnsional shOO trail sections. Another check was encountered some miles later, which took points from the majority of the field, although top riders carded zeros. Again riders dallied with timekeeping after the obligatory three miles of free time, and shortly thereafter things got tight, driving riders off the 24 mph pace. At another emergency check-out, a handful of AA riders set benchmark two-po in t scores, including leaders Richard and Jack Lafferty, Kirchner, McHale, Atkinson, and Craig Shenigo. Afterward there was a welcomed reset, literally the first of the day since entering the woods, followed by a timekeeping trail ride back to the firehouse for the midday gas stop. At the break, Richard Lafferty lead the field with an IS-point card, trailed by his brother Jack's 19 and Dave Groernm's 22. The afternoon loop began with a short ride down the blacktop with an apparent check-in immediately off the road. in what was to become the norm for the afternoon loop, the section alternated between tight, pace-breaking trail and fast, open, catch-up sections. After several miles of this action, a tight section was followed by a secret check-out which was zeroed by front-runners Rich Lafferty, Hoess, Kirchner and 125cc A pilot Mike Sigety. Again, easy connectors at low speed averages were used to get riders back on time, until.the course wound its way to MO's infamous Coyle Field speci;tl test. A tricky section when run at 18 mph, this test somehow manages to burn the . ECEA's best year after year. This year trail boss Dave Jobes threw riders a double curve, running the sections backward from recent events and tacking some additional miles of fresh tight trail to further confound riders. At the end of the section an emergency checkout was again zeroed by a handful of A and AA riders, while most others dropped a point or two. Afterward was a welcomed reset at which wearied riders rested in what was almost universally anticipated as a timekeeping trail ride to the known control. What actually ensued for the next 10 miles was two more lengthy, high-speed special tests with check-ins that saw riders driven off the 24 mph pace. Two secret checks were found within the span, at which all riders dropped points. Richard Lafferty and Kevin Bennett faired best over the stretch, each going 1:30, while most other top riders dropped six to eight points. With this, the race was essentially over with Richard Lafferty leading by a four-point margin with nothing but a timekeeping trail ride between him and the final check. However, trail boss Jobes had one final trick up his sleeve, throwing in a final timekeeping check at literally the last possible on the day, tagging a number of riders, including front. runner Richard Lafferty for hot points. Fortunately for him, his gaffe only cost him two points, sealing grand champion honors with a 24-point score. Jack Lafferty Jr. earned second overall with a 26point card. "I had trouble with his timekeeping equipment and ran most of the race without an odo," Jack Lafferty said. "While I didn't burn any checks, the lack of an odo prevented me from being on the top of my game." Third overall was ECEA eries frontrunner Fred Hoess, who fini hed at 29 points down aboard his Bromley Suzuki RM125. Dave Groemm placed fourth overall riding a ratty, aging '93 KTM 300 to a 30-point finish and High Point A trophy. Runner-up to the HPA was rowmate and clubmate John Walter who posted a 32, also good for seventh overall seeding. in between tho e two filling the fifth and sixth overall seeding were a KDX200-mounted Jeff Kirchner (30) and Marc Grossman (31). in B-class action, Todd Quinn earned High Point B honors turning in a 52 point card. Three points behind Quinn, KX250 pilot Scott Gribble posted a 55 for HPB runner-up status. Novice-class competitor Troy Rider narrowly topped the C-class for the High Point award, finishing 84 poin ts down despite posting seven hot points at the day's final check. C-class runner-up on the day was CR250 rider Ed Smit.h, who came in a tick behind with an 85 card. Defending Masters-class champ Joe Galie continued to dominate the class, posting another victory on the day, and class stalwart Kathi Cambell earned the fX Women's-class victory. Stu~umperEnduro Warrengrove, New Jersey Resun.: April 20, 1997 GRND CHMPN, Richard Lalferty (KTM) 24. HP A:. Dave Groemm (KTM) 30. HP B, Todd Quinn (J(aw) 52. HP G Troy Ride< (KTM) 84. AA, 1. Jack Lafferty Jr. (KIM) 26; 2. Fred Hoess (Suz) 29; 3. Jeff Kirchner (J(aw) 30; .4. Marc Groosman (J(aw) 31; 5. Mike McHale (Yam) 32. 125 A, 1. Mike Sigety (C-G) 40; 2. Steve Hodgson (5uz) 45; 3. Ed McCall (Yam) 54; 4. M. Dean Spencer (Hon) 61; S. Craig Copeland (Hon) 61. 200 A; 1. Ron Lucas (Kaw) 43; 2. Todd I..ockwood (J(aw) 55; 3. Scott Wolcott (Kaw) 58; 4. Perry Hodges (Yam) 73; 5. Steve Mardano (Kaw) 90. 250 A: 1. Stu Crouch (Hon) 38; 2. Dwayne Shirk (J(aw) 41; 3. Jeff Bottslord (A TI<) 51; 4. Chuck Staplelord (Kaw) 5]; 5. Scott Devecchio (Kaw) 54. 4--STIUC.: 1. Lew.is Smith (Hon) 39; 2. Mark Hummel (Hon) 42; 3. Vemon Wood (Kaw) 44; 4. Ken Zabroski (Hon)66. HIW A, 1. Bill McConnell (KTM) 39; 2. am Tenney (KTM) S4; 3. Howard Moudy (KTM) 117; 4. Kenny Taylor (KIM) 119. SR A: 1. Kevin Kuenxner (Hon) 44; 2. Dave Barlow (Yam) 46; 3. Bill Atherholt (5",,) S4; 4. Dan Stoppi (Hon) 64; 5. J. Farrar (KIM) 67. S/SR A, 1. Scott Wollenberger (Yam) 56; 2. Rich Trager (KIM) 59; 3. Rich Tompkins (KIM) 60; 4. Jack I..afferty (KIM) 61; 5. Dan Kirkpotrick (Hon) ]20. VET A; 1. John Walter (Suz) 32; 2. Mark Uth (KlM) 36; 3. Ken Law (Hon) 36; 4. Dave Maca (Suz) 40; S. Wayne King (KTM) 40. 125 B: 1. Dan Stoppi Jr. (Kaw) 58; 2. Steven Fox (KIM) 61; 3. Dave Fraizer (J(aw) 63; 4. Joe Marchesani . (Yam) 69; 5. Ed Hannah (Hon) 7S. 200 B, 1. Bob Comber (J(aw) 55; 2. Rich Ohl (Kaw) 86; 3. George Sigler (J(aw) 93; 4. Martin ScheIIler (J(aw) 99; S. Eric Corbin (J(aw) 104. 2SO B, 1. Scott Gribble (J(aw) 55; 2. Jell Brown (Kaw) 64; 3. Dave McGee (Yam) 78; 4. Bill Gilbert (Yam) 80; S. Carmen Tmo (J(aw) . 4-STRK B, 1. Ron Smith (Kaw) 67; 2. Chris Thor.ien (Hon) 104; 3. Marty Hie1ser (Hus) 133; 4. Scott Tellone (Han) 152; 5. George Bressler (Hon) 161. HJW B, 1. Tun Gallage< (KTM) 77; 2. Paul Bitting· (KTM) 83; 3. Matt Howton (KlM) 86; 4. Joe Calie (KIM) 86; S. George English (KTM) 92. SR B, 1. Gerald Stake (J(aw) 91; 2. Dave McIntyre ()(aw) 111; 3. M. Pratova (Hon) 112; 4. Martin Ferguson (Hon) 136; S. Ed ewcomb (5uz) ]55. SlSR B, 1. Fred Najork (KTM) 356. VET B: 1. D. Garrison (Kaw) 57; 2. Matt Keane (KIM) n; 3. Don Vavalla (Hon) 86; 4. D. Reilly (Suz) 93; 5. G. Dobozynski (KIM) 117. 200 C, ]. Jell Brandner (Hus) 9S; 2. Joe Sm;'h (J(aw) 101; 3. Bruce Baker (Kaw) ]06; 4. John Dunn (Kaw) 106; S. Joe Schwab (J(aw) 129. 2SO C: 1. Ed Smith (Hon) 85: 2. George MamO\-\nis (KTM) 118; 3. Rick Laiacoma (Ktlw) 137; 4. Jim Aiello (KIM) 138; S. Mike Sharp (Suz) 197. 4-STRK C: 1. Charles Sullivnn (Hon) 115; 2. Craig Gaver (Hon) 127; 3. AI Zabroski (Hon) 147; 4. Chuck Potts (Suz) 241; 5. T. Diblasi (5uz) 280. HIW G 1. Ray Strohm (KIM) lOS; 2. Rene Cannely (Hon) 124; 3. J. Crieff (KTM) 230; 4. lames Riche (Hon) 363. VET C: 1. Marco D'Ottavio (Hon) 88; 2. Steve Bertoline (Kaw) 102; 3. Dennis Espinosa (CRE) 122; 4. J. Co...uo (J(aw) lSI; 5. Ron Decar (KTM) 300. M5TR(1. joeGaJie (Yam) 152. WMN, 1. Kathie Cambell (J(aw) 78.

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