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(Above) Grayson Hart (72) won three classes at the championship round of the Vintage
Motocross series, held in Woodland, Washington.
(Left) Dennis Middleton (SSp) won the Over 50 Expert division and Don Wood (46n) took a
close second In the Over 50 Novice class at an AHRMA Vintage MX held at Lemon Grove in
Plru, Callf9rnia.
Rounding out the top five was Pete Mufich, as
Letcher bailed on the final lap, remounting to
finish seventh.
Moto two looked to be a repeat of the first as
Kenworthy grabbed another of his patented
holeshots and showed the rest of the class
where to go. Surprising everyone with front-of·
the-pack starts were Ristrom in second, Letcher
in third and hard-riding jake Wes in fourth.
Collins had some serious difficulties and finished the first lap way back in 12th. It didn't
take long for the action to begin as fifth-placed
Lindquist rocketed to third after two laps. Mies
began the big plunge, falling off the pace and
out of contention. Kenworthy and Ristrom
freight-trained around the challenging circuit,
with neither rider giving an inch. Collins rode
like a madman, picking off two or three racers
per lap. Kenworthy finished strong, maintaining the lead to the checkered flag. Ristrom came
across firmly in second as Letcher stayed just
out of contention in third. Collins ran out of
laps and settled for fourth, just ahead of
Lindquist.
Kenworthy's 2-1 finishes left no doubt as to
who was the most consistent rider of the night
as he took his first overall win at KB Racing
Supercross. Collins' 1-5- placings earned second
over Ristrom's 4--2. With four rounds remaining
in the premier Northern California Motocross
Series, expect more heated action in the upcomingweeks.
Results
50 P/W JR. 1. Ryan Shepard (Yam); 2. Lucas Alvarez (Hon);
3. Michael Fost~r (Yam); 4. Preston Myers (Suz); 5. Sean Benfield
(Y"m).
50 BEG (4-6): 1. JO!lhun Greco (KTM); 2,. Cody Lambott (Lem);
3. Ian Murray (KTM); 4. Joshua McPher.ian (KTM); 5. Aaron Alvi!l
(KTM).
50 BEG (7-9): I. Ricky Adams (KTM); 2. Tyler Gowdy (Lem);
3. Mason Womack (Lem); 4. Dylan Ney (KTM); 5. Kody Onnela
(Lt.'m).
50 NOV (7-9): 1. Malt Spencer (K'TM); 2. Kramer Patter'50n
(Lem); 3. Jimmy Brcnclscn (Lem); 4. Michael Curci {KTMl; 5. Scot-
ty Craven {KTMl.
60 BEG: I. Malt Spence- (Kaw); 2. Eric'Byfield (Kaw); 3. Stenson Womack (Kllw); 4. KC'vln Byfield (Kaw); 5. Beau Weigand
(Kaw).
60 NOV: 1. Kyle Panno (Kaw); 2. Rocco Curci (Kaw); 3. Tony
Lavezzo (Ka w).
80 BEG (8-12): I. Jacob Challburg (Kaw); 2. Thomas Bushey
(Kaw); 3. Tony Lavcno (Kaw); 4. Kyle Parino (Hon); 5. Allen
Kenyon (Suz).
•
80 BEG (13-16): l. Blake Kelly (Yam); 2. Chad Laughlin (Hon):
3. Car.JOn Meyer (Yam); 4. Michael Cames (Yam); 5. Danny Harris
(Kawl.
80 NOV~ 1. Chad Stephens (Yam); 2. Adam Kowalczyk (Suz);
3.·A.J. perez (Suz); 4. Mark Hall (Suz); 5. Mike Matson (Suz).
125 SCHBY BEG: I. Cassidy Stafford (Suz); 2. Casey Ahrens
(Yam); 3. Chris Van Meter (Yam); 4.]osh Jenkins (Yam); S. Greg
olen (Suz).
l25 SCHBY NOV: 1. Scott Stetler (Kaw); 2. Bobby Meyer
(Yam); 3. Kyle Mars.,lIa (Kaw); 4. Nate WiUiams (Suz).
125 SCHBY tNT: I. Jesse Dawson (Kaw).
1.25 BEG: I. Derek Cole (Suz); 2. John GOodly (Yam); 3. Mike
Yacovelli (Kaw); 4. Casey Ahrens (Yam); 5.]im Brooks (Hon).
125 NOV: I. Ben Weisenberg (Yam); 2. Curtis Tacklq' (Kaw);
3. Derek Carl!lOn (Suz); 4. Pernell Gutierrez (Suz); 5. Joel Cota
(Su».
.
L25INT: 1.]t.'SlIC D.,wson (Kaw):
;
250 BEC 0-'1: I. Jon Keller (Yam); 2. Cary Hegna (K.,w); 3,
Louis Webb (Hon); 4. Ros/I Robertson (Yam); 5. Josh Carney
(Yam).
.
250 BEC 0-2: I. Kyle K~nworthy (Yam); 2. Bill Collins (Hon);
3. Chad Ristrom O-lon); 4. Damon Letcher (Hon); S. Chris L(."Cbeck
(Hon).
250 NOV: 1. Waylon I'fall (Suz); 2. Matt King (Hon); 3. Steve
Thingcr (Hon); 4. Matt Talbot (Yam); 5. Cody Landers (Yam).
PR()..AM: I. Scott Davis (Suz); 2. Jake Windham (Suz); 3.
jt.'SSe [)awitOn (Kaw); 4. Shawn Freiling (Kaw); 5. D.we LodLTmcier
(Suzl.
25... BEC: I. Brett Aory (Suz); 2. Russ Oroszi (Kaw); 3. Cary
Hegna (Kaw); 4. Philip Haupt (Suz); S. Troy Alarez (Hon).
25+ NOV: 1. Matt King (Kaw); 2. Alex ChaJlew (Yam); 3.
St(."'·e Thing....r (Hon); 4, Ron Mjes (Kaw); 5. Scott Storer (Hon).
25+ EX: 1. Shawn Frciling (Kaw).
VET BEC: I. Bill Collins (Hctn); 2. Brian Purcell (I-1on); 3. Jon
Keller (Yam); 4. Louis Webb (Hon); S. Frederic Lettdlier (Hon).
VET NOV: I. Scott Storer (Hon); 2. Brett Aory (Suz); 3. Alex
Challew (Yam); 4. Bob Hicks (Hon); 5. Bob Mitchell (Hon).
VET EX: 1. Shawn Freiling (Kilw).
OfT BEG: I. Bill Budd (Yam); 2. Kim Darwazeh (Suz); 3. StuArt Nelson (Hon); 4. Randy Newton (Kaw); 5. Dan Rjstrom (Yam).
OfT 'OV: I. Jim Breneisen (Hon); 2. Steve Bacx:hini (Kaw); 3.
John Towner (Hon).
Podium swells with Norells at
AHRMA Motocross
By J.W. Carver
P[RU,CA,APR.19
It was like "Father-Son" day at the second annual Lemon Grove AHRMA Vintage Motocross
event, as dad Ron Norell took the Over 50 class
ond son Torey orell grabbed the Sportsman
125cc trophy.
The junior Norell, sponsored by Norell Tool,
rode his Elsinore against a pack of screaming
125~, which included Yamahas, Can-Ams and
even one Hodaka, ridden by Russell Heek.
However, neither Super Rat-mounted Heek nor
the other novice riders were a match for Norell
on his Honda as he grabbed the holeshot in bot!)
motos. Even the Brothers Hotshoe, Jamie and
Joel Hanson, could not maintain contact as
Norell moved to the front and never looked
back. Michael Conley, on another Elsinore, gave
a credible chase but could only earn the numbertwo spot in each moto for a second overall.
Things were nowhere near as easy for the
elder Norell, who was also riding an Elsinore,
albeit the 250cc version. [n moto one, Ron
Norell, sponsored by (who else?) Norell Tool,
left the starting gate dead last. He had to chase
down Don Wood, on a Cycle Parts West Elsinore 250, who gave up the lead on lap three. The
two riders jumped the famous Lemon Crove
concrete culvert tunnel (also known as "The
Wall") together and ran the short uphill chute to
the two-line, left-handed sweeper heading into
the back straight. Norell took the high outside
line, while Wood looked to block on the inside,
but the move did not hold up and orell blasled
out of the turn past Wood, never to relinquish
the lead.
The same battle shaped up in moto two, but
this time Wood would not go quietly. He took
the lead into lop two, only to be passed at the
same turn which had proved to be his nemesis
in moto one. But on lap three, Wood showed
that he is not too old to stillieam a new trick: He
used NoreU's technique in the same turn to pass
him back and regain the lead. By midmoto it
was clear that Norell was losing rear braking
power going into the turns, but this only seemed
to provide a challenge to overcome as he
switdied exclusively to out ide lines to maintain
controlled momentum through each turn. On
lap four, Norell put it to Wood again in the lefthanded sweeper turn, only to lose the lead at the
same place once again on the next lap. On the
final loop, Norell got by Wood yet again to take
the checkered. Once in the pits, Norell showed
off his rear-brake rod sans adjustment nut while
telling all those within earshot that he was prepared to take on all comers in a "Father-Son"
team race at future vintage motocrosses.
As usual, the Lemon Grove crew had
design.ed 0 clever track layout which implemented two bridges in order to take maximum
advantage of the track's back-and-forth sweep
across the steep hillside terrain. Well-coordinated races run under picture·perfect skies with the
beautiful backdrop of the Santo Paula ValJey
made for an excellent day of vintage motocross
for all, with the possible exception of Ed Sims,
who suffered a serious get-off from his titaniumspoked, super-trick Elsinore 250. Sims crunched
hls femur in several places. Waving off assistance from the ambulance crew so racing could
go on, Sims, a practicing dentist, had his buddy
Richard McCormick drive him to the hospital.
Once there, Sims asked for laughing gas and
demanded that if any metal parts were to be
inserted, they be pure titanium. The doctors,
however, opted for strength over lightness and
finished the bottom-end job by equipping Sims'
leg with a shiny new stainless-steel rod.
Results
30 EX: I. Richard Venegas (Hon).
30 INT: I. Brian Greme (Hon); 2. Ed Tashijan (CZ); 3. Ene
Harrison (I-Ion); 4. Mike Schulhoff (Hon); 5. Eric: Cook (Mai).
30+ NOV: L]ef! O'Brit'n (Bul); 2.].W.
(CZ); 3. Dave
Lucky (MaO; 4. Don McGregor (Pen); 5. Chris Frt.'i (Hon).
40... EX: 1. Rick Doughty; 2. Randy Lewis «(hs); 3. David
Fisher (Hus); 4. Ed Sims (Hon); 5. Ken Greent' (CZ).
40+ INT: 1. Tom Ba~tt (Hon); 2. Vic= Curti (Oss); 3. R.lndi
Perkins (Hon); 4. Stuart Wly (Bul); S. Lloyd Boland (<2).
40+ NOV: L Craig Anderson (Yam); 2. Jeff O'Brien (Bul); 3.
L.myCood (KTM); 4. J.W. Carver (CZ); S. Rob I'lill (Hus).
50+ EX: 1. Dennis Middleton (CZ).
50+ INT: 1. Chuck. Ocr"n (Yam); 2. Dennis Tooman (Hon).
50+ NOV: 1. Ron Norcll (Hon}; 2. Don Wood (Hon).
60.,. EX: L John Rice (Gre).
60+ INT: 1. Doug Archib.lld (I-1usl.
60+ NOV: J. Norm Blackmer (Kawl.
CLSSC'SOO EX: I. C1",r1ie Beck (Mai); 2. Clark Coleman (Mat).
urver
CLSSC 500 lNT: 1. W.C. Quick (Duc).
CLSSC SOD NOV: I.]eff TuJinuli (BSA); 2. Jerry Sterrett (BSA);
3. Plnl Benedict (BSA),
CI.SSC' 2SO INT: 1. Robert Normnn (Bul).
CL.SSC250 NOV: 1. Bill Saffill:lag (Gre).
CLSSC 125 EX: 1. Norm Bigelow (Bul); 2. Mark ArsenRult
(tius); 3. Ken Greene (DKW).
125 INT: I. Lee Fabry (Hod); 2. Kevin Blater (Zun); 3.
j(.ffSnyder{Hus).
ClSSC 125 NOV: I. Don McGregor (Pen); 2. Pat Knopp (Bul);
3. Craig Leonhardt (Mon).
PREM 500 tNT: 1. M1C Rodgers (BSA); 2. David Brat'twar
(Mat); 3. Gilles Vaillllnrott (BSA).
PREM OPE.'l TW INT: I. Vt'f'Ile Elmore (Tri).
?REM L/W tNT: 1. Len Anderson (BSA).
PREM L/W OV: 1. Bill Samstag (Cre); 2. Phil Benedict
a.ssc
(BSA).
SPTSMN OPEN TW EX: 1. Tim Henry (Tri).
SPTSMN OPEN TW tNT: 1. Verne Elmore (Tri).
SPTSMN 500 EX: 1. John LcFe\-re (Hus); 2. Charlie Richardson (CZ>; 3. Bobby Langm (Hon).
SPTSMN 500 tNT: 1. Gary Egloff (MaO; 2. Rich Yelkin (Hus);
3. Lloyd Boland (cz); 4. Stuart Ully (DuO; 5. Eric LaW'$Of\ (Hus).
•
SPTSMN
NOV: 1. Lucky Locke (Hus); 2. Brian Grade
(Hus); 3. J.W. Can'l'!' (CZ).
SPTSMN 25(1 EX: 1. Randy Lewis (Osa); 2. Ed Sims (Hon).
SPTSMN 250 INT: Tom Barnett (Hon); 2. Enk Smallwood
(Hus); 3. Byron Greene (Hon); 4. Dale Brosky (Hon); 5. Vic Curti
sao
(0..).
SP1'SMN 250 NOV: 1. Joel Hanson (Hu.s); 2. Larry Good
(KTM); 3. Chris Frei (Hon).
. SPTSMN 125 EX: 1. Richard Vencg..u (Hon); 2. John Lundgren (Bul); 3. Mark Arsenault (Hus).
SPTSMN 125 INT: 1. Steve Adams (Hon); 2. Eric Harnson
(Kaw); 3. Jeff Snydl.'r (Hus).
SPTSMN 125 NOV: I. Torey orcll (Hon); 2. Michael Conley
(Hon); 3. Jclmie Hanson {CoAl; 4. Joel Hanson (1-lon); 5. Russell
HL'Ck (Hod).
EVa EX: I. Rick Doughty (Mal); 2. Charlie Richardson (Yam);
3. Rich Smith (Mai).
EVa INT: J. Sleven Cordon (MaO; 2. Birk Frcc.mnn (Mai); 3.
Eric Cook (Maj).
EVO NOV: I. Eric Larson (Yam); 2. Brian Crade (Hon).
Hart triples at
Woodland MX finale
By Clay Light
WOODlAND, WA, MAY 2
In only his second appearance of the 1997-98
Vintage/Evolution Motocross Series, Grayson
Hart rode nl?ch the same as he did at the season
opener back in October, netting three class wins
at the Olampionship round of the Vintage Dirtsanctioned Vintage Motocross, held at the
Woodiand Motocross Park.
Hart, fresh off of the AMA Sound of Thunder Four-Stroke National Motocross Series, won
the 250cc and Over 30 Vintage classes, finalizing
his decimation of the day's program with a win
in the 250cc Evolution Expert class - all coming
with 1-1 sweeps. Hart's Eva win came after a
brief confrontation with Joe Casey in moto one.
However, the former National number 72 pl~te
holder won by a large margin in moto two, beating Casey and Yamaha rider Mike A1f.
Ron Fish, riding a 1974 Yamaha YZ360,
stayed close to Hart in the first Over 30 Expertclass moto but, despite the two playing followthe-leader in mota one, Hart got serious in moto
two, this time leaving the competition in the
dust. Fish stayed close enough to Hart's potent
1974 Honda CR250 to net second overall, ahead
of newcomer john Persic, the third-place Expert
.rider. Mako rider ell Ceirtsen took control of
the lntermediate portion witl' I-I performances,
beating Keith Webster and Christopher james
for top honors.
Hart's 250cc Expert-class win wa.s also in
runaway fashion. Casey, also Honda-mounted,
ran second to Hart in both motos. Chris Clark
and Casey waged one of ti,e day's best battles,
but it ended prematurely in moto two atter
Clark crashed, and Persic inherited the position
to the finish. Persic's second-place finish was
good for third overall behind Hart and Casey,
but ahead of Clark and Montesa VR-roounted
. Adrian Moelker.
'In the combined Intermediate class, Randy
Brown, riding a 1974 Yamaha YZ2S0, took both
motos for the overall win. That's where the consistency ended, though, as Powroll's Scott Fisher, aboard a Honda four-stroke, used a 5-2 tally
to garner second, ahead of Honda-mounted
Dale Franklin.
For the past several years, promoters Monty
and Ann Price have brought vintage motocross
to a new level in the orthwest; as a rider,
Monty won the combined Evolution Four-Stroke
class. lntermediates Mark Studebaker and
Kenny McCann battled back and forth behind
Price, with Studebaker taking a class win over
McCann and Roger Warner, winner of the Amateur portion.
.
Yamaha rider Darrell Kilgore grabbed a win
in the Open Vintage Amateur class, motoring
away with a 3-1 tally to top CZ riders Reid
Saario and Jim McFarland.
Results
XR 75: 1. John Trudeau; 2. Alix Saano; 3. Zane Zigk-r; 4. Brandon Vulystekc; S. Lea Eichel.
PR&1970 AM: I. Chuc.k Bradford (BSA); 2. John L.lughlin
(Dud; 3. Ed Par.JOns.
PRE-1970 INT. I. Steve prague (Bull; 2. Tommy McFarland
(Bul).
PRE-19?O EX: I. Gene Boere (Tri); 2. Dirk Murphy (Oss).
WMN AM: I. A va Casey (Hon); 2. Nicole Sprague (Hon); 3.
Valerie Ulver (Y3m); 4. An" Price (AMF>.
WM.!'J INT: 1. LUilnn ~wishe:r (Hon).
WMN EVa: 1. Lana InghAm (YAm); 2. Shelley Tnldcau (C-A).
125 AM: I. Chris Poitras (Hon); 2. Steve K,luffman Mod); 3:
Ava Casey (I-Ion); 4. Mike Taylor (Suz); S. Jeff Glenson (Bul).
125 INT: 1. John Marcotte (Hon); 2. Dane BAtty ()(aw); 3.
Cody Sprague (Hon).
250 AM; 1. Reid 5.lario

