Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Speed &Sport National Vintage MX Series, Round 9 By Matt Benson NEW BERLIN, NY, JUNE 7 ack in 1970 Jeff Smith won the second round of the inaugural Trans-AMA Series at Unadilla on a 250cc BSA, holding off the two-stroke onslaught of Ossas, Montesas, CZs, Suzukis, Bultacos and Husqvarnas for one last time. Twenty-seven years later, a surprising number of things remain unchanged at this world-famous circuit, esPeciaJ.1y when AHRMA is in town. For instance, while there are a few concessions to the modern, aerial age of motocross, the largest part of the hilly course goes exactly where it's always gone, and the dirt is as deep and dark as ever. Smith, the two-time world 500cc champ, is still a presence, even if he's directing the racing for AHRMA instead of banging handlebars. And the thumpers continue to refuse to yield completely to those uppity twostrokes. In the Over 40 Intermediate class, there was Steve Mickelson and his '73 BSA B50 running at the head of a fast pack until wearing down near the end of each moto. In the first race, Gary Mikalson worked his Honda 250 Elsinore toward the front and slipped into the lead just before the checkered flag. Moto two saw Mickelson rocket to the lead, earning one of six tires given by CZ-mounted Richard Field (457), overall winner of the Sportsman 500cc Expert class, gives chase to second-moto winner Mark Wundertin (928) and his Maico at the AHRMA vintage MX National. Pirelli to holeshot winners, before Yamaha-mounted Thomas Bryce took over late in the race and held on to win. Mickelson's 2-2 finishes were good for second overall to Bryce's 3-1. Third went to Mikalson with 1-3 results. In the Classic ccIntermediate class BSAmounted Mickelson again logged 2-2 finishes - behind fellow BSA rider Marc Cornut in moto one and Craig Corcoran and his Greeves the second time out but this time it was good enough to earn the overall win for the Pennsylvanian. For the nearly 300 entries, it was a nearly perfect day of racing. A bit of rain the evening before the event, along with overcast skies and moderate temperatures on race day, made for excellent track conditions, although a shower in the afternoon did slicken things for a few motos. That's another constant in Unadilla's 28-year history - it's not if it will rain, it's when and how much. The action was torrid in the Expert divisions. The first Over 30 moto initially was a battle between Richard Field on a CZ 380 and Mark Wunderlin's Maico 440. But then Jay Kinder and his H~nda CR125 worked their way into the fray, first getting past Wunderlin and then nipping Field for the lead in the turn following Gravity Cavity. Once he got out front, there was no stopping Kinder, despite Fields efforts to the contrary. By moto's end, Yamaha-mounted Joe Brillo had displaced Wunderlin for third. In the second Over 30 heat, Maico rider David Goyer slipped past Field and Kinder and into the lead, as Field stalled and fell far back into the pack. Goyer's pass, however, seemed to light . a fire under Kinder. Riding on the edge nobody came close to Kinder's leaps out of Gravity Cavity - he barged back into the lead. Goyer gave chase, but Kinder would not be caught. The Honda rider tallied 1-1 finishes, with Wunderlin's 4-3 good for second and Goyer's 6-2 earned him third. Kinder also was a major factor in the Sportsman 125cc Expert race, passing Bultaco pilot Tim Weaver for the motoone win. The second time out, Weaver wasn't about to let the Honda rider past, even under fierce pressure, and he got the overall with 2-1 finishes to Kinder's 1-2. Weaver ended the day as a double winner, sweeping both Sportsman 250cc Expert motas as well. The first Sportsman SOOcc Expert race saw CZ-mounted Field chased all the way to the checkered flag by Doug Wentzell and his Yamaha. Things weren't near1¥ that simple in the second moto. Maico rider Benny Durrough led the first time around, but Goyer took over on the second of five laps,. pressured by Field and Wunderlin. As the race drew to a close, it was Field, Goyer and Wunder1in fighting for the lead, as Wentzell and Durrough disputed fourth position. Wunderlin took the point position, but Field and Goyer came together and Field went down. The scorers sharpened their pencils and awarded the overall to Field 0-2) over Wentzell (2-3), Durrough (5-4) and Goyer (4-6). The Over 30 Intermediates put on a show of their own, too. As James Berndt and his CZ built a huge lead, Yamaha rider Norman Smith was steadily working his way past the likes of Pentonmounted Kevin Hodge and Bultaco rider Andy Agrasto to an eventual second-place finish. Tim Bowers had the early lead with his BSA in moto two, but Smith soon got by, and Berndt followed into second on the second lap. Berndt spent the balance of the race hounding Smith, but couldn't take away the top spot. In the race for third, Hodge overcame Bowers. Smith's 2-1 finishes were the ticket for the top trophy over Berndt's 1-2 and Hodge's 3-3. Berndt got his overall win in Sportsman 500cc Intermediate with 1-1 finishes. Danny Davies made his trip from California worthwhile by doubling on his '62 Tri-BSA in Premier Open Twins Expert and Over 50 Expert. Yamaha rider Eric Brillo earned two firsts in Sportsman 250cc and Over 30 Novice, and Quebec BSA pilot Steve Tucker kept the four-stroke banner flying as he swept all four motos in the ExPert division of Classic 250cc and Classic 5OOcC.L~ Unadilla Valley Sports Center , New Bertin, New York Results: June 7,1997 (Round 9 of 20) PREM TWIN U, 1. Danny Davies (Tri). CLSe 125 EX: 1. Louis Zsido (Ric); 2. James Harner (CZ); 3. John Sharra (Hon). eLSe 125 !NT: 1. John Wenn.c;dorfer (Ric); 2. Richie Baulch (Mrk}: 3. Rick Jones (Pen): 4. Jeff Henkel (Hus). CLSC 125 NOV, 1. Scott Hatch (Hod). CLSC 250 EX, 1. Steve Tucker (BSA); 2. John Gallagher (Gre). else 250 INT: 1. Steve Mickelson (BSA); 2. M"rc Cornut (BSA): 3. Craig Corcoran (Gre): 4. Dean Hutchinson (Trj): 5. Jeffrey Brown (AJS). eLSC 250 NOV: 1. John Hanrahan (BuJ): 2. Eugene Crawford (AJS). CI:.SC SOO EX: 1. Steve Tucker (BSA); 2. Kim Burrows (BSA); 3. Alex Moroz (Te). CLSC 500 !NT, 1. Dave Tucker (85A); 2. Jay StWso (TrO; 3. Marc Comut (B5A); 4. Timothy Cicora (Bu!); 5. David Roper (Gre). CLSC 500 NOV, 1. Matt Benson (Hus). SPTMN 125 EX: l. Timothy Weaver (BuO; 2. Jay Kinder (Hon); 3. Rkk Rosseter (Hon); 4. Joe Lurch (5uz); 5. Tom France (Hon); 6. Bill azeJrod (Hon); 7. Stephen Clare (Hon); 8. James Hamer (Hon),9. Bernie Kohler Jr. (5uz). . SPTMN 125 INT, 1. Erik Zackrone (C-A); 2. Robert Whitworth (Hon); Chris HiU (Hon): 4. James Bauer (](aw); 5. Peter Rodriguez (Hon). SPTMN 125 NOV: 1. Mike Piescki (Hon). SPTMN 250 EX: 1. Timothy Weaver (Bu1); 2. Brian Thompson (CZ); 3. Douglas WentzeU (Yam); 4. Benny Durrough (Mai); 5. Jack Weaver (Yam); 6. Daniel Coley Jr. (Oss); 7. Dick Strenkowski (C-Al; 8. Joe 8ril1o (Yam); 9. Richard Reid (cz); 10. James Way (C-A). SPTMN 250 !NT: 1. Tom Hurd (Hon): 2. Norman Smith (Yam); 3. David Keith (Yam); 4. Michael Burnham (Hon): S. Peter Giles (Hon); 6. Bruce Bowman (Hon); 7. Daniel Way (Mon); 8. Erik Zackrone (C-A); 9. Lee Curry (Hon); 10. Lester Cragan III (Hon). SPTMN 250 OV: 1. Eric Brillo (Yam); 2. Brian Chaney {Yam): 3. Derek. Gilbert (5uz): 4. Do~ Enders (Kaw); 5. Stephen Miller (Hon); 6. Eugene Crawford (AJ5): 7. Shawn Wadsworth (Yam); 8. Mike Piescki (Mon); 9. Dave Russell (Mail; 10. James Richardson (Oss). SPTMN 500 EX: 1. Richard Field (CZ); 2. Douglas Wentzell (Yam); 3. Benny Durrough (MaO; 4. David Goyer (Raw); 8. Dave Russell (Mai); 9. Matll.illy (Hus); 10. Bob Henney (C-A). 4.0+ EX: 1. Jack Weaver (Yam); 2. Joe icholson (Hon); 3. Ronald Smolinka (Hus); 4. joe Adomaitis (Mai); 5. Bill O'Brie.n (MaO; 6. John Hart (Bu1); 7. Benny Durrough (Mai); 8. John Deemer (Mai); 9. Tom France (Hon); 10. John GaUagber O'en). 40+ INT: 1. Thomas Bryce (Yam); 2. Steve Mickelson (BSA); 3. Gary Mikalson (Hon); 4. Rick Jones (Pen); 5. Bryon Dailey (Oss); 6. Mark Williams (Mon); 7. Randy Halterman (Hon); 8. Peter Pileski (Hus): 9. Edward Roman (Pen). 40+ NOV: 1. Mike Garbus (Hon); 2. Stephen Miller (Hon); 3. Ken Breeden Jr. (CZ); 4. Frank Wails O'en); 5. John Rauchfuss (CZ): 6. Alan Boyd (Bu!): 7. Mike Palamarchik (Raw). 50+ EX: 1. Danny Davies ITriBSA); 2. Robert Hayes (Suz); 3. John Sharra (Suz). 50+ INT: 1. Raymond Rondinella {CZ)i 2. Elden Housinger (HON: 3. Bond Way (Mon): 4. David Dixon (BuD; 5. 'Bernie Kohler (Suz). 50+ NOV: 1. Gerald Nucc;io (MaD; 2. Frank WaUs O'en); 3. Fred Kling (Mai). 60+ NOV: 1. Frank Wails O'en). 60+ !NT: 1. Bernie Kohler (Suz). 15-78 EX: 1. Patrick Kendrick (Sm); 2. John Hilton (Hon): 3. Joe Brillo (KTM); 4. Tim Waurishuk (Hon): 5. Rid< Rosseter (Yam). 7>-78 INT: 1. Dave Boast (Suz); 2. Erik Zackrone (CA); 3. Dan Way (Mon); 4. Mike Raymond (Suz); 5. James Gillesal (C-Al. 15-18 NOV: 1. Bruce Walker (Suz); 2. William Grant (Hon); 3. John O'Hara (Suz). 3: Upcoming Rounds: Round 10 - Grattan, Michigan, June 14 Round 11 - Eugene, Oregon, ,June 22

• Cover