Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

23rd annual Mauna Kea 200 Enduro . EVENTS ....... EDITEDBY CAMERON COATNEY ...-",.:.-, HILO, HI, MAY 23-24 ;---,~ .. r---. hen the Rock Island Riders of Hilo hosted this year's 23rd running of the Mauna Kea 200 Enduro, they were well aware of the fact that when you run an enduro through a rain forest that averages well over 250 inches of the wet stuff a year, there would be a good chance that, at some point during the event, it was going to rain. And rain it did, intermittently throughout the two ,d,ays of the event. The rain ranged from mist to steady downpours, but it did not dampen the spirits of the 90-plus riders who entered in this year's affair. After all, much of the terrain was' made up of volcanic cinders, offering excellent traction even in the wettest of conditions. Local Hilo rider Steve Zoll rode his Kawasaki KX125 to top honors, as he waded his way through the wet Amazon-like terrain' to capture the class win and overall victory, only assessing 11 penalty points in two days of hard riding. The win marked Zoll's fourth overall success at the Mauna Kea 200, as he also won the events in 1986, '87 and '97. "Overall, it was a' demanding course," Zoll said. "The miles build up on you, and the constant pounding. And ,there were the tight spots with the logs, and the water was a factor - all in all, it was very tough this year. Everybody got a good workout, for sure." One rider wh~ certainly did was Steven Trinies of Kamlohe, Oahu, who snagged the class win in the 250cc division and carded runner-up overall honors aboard his KTM. He accumulated 14 points over the course of two days. Trinies had won the event before, in 1994. "I was never worried about being there (a~ the checks) early," Trinies commented at Sunday evening's banquet. "I seemed to be a little late each time I got to a check. Steve (2011) was really riding good, and I was really glad they threw out the last check, because I was one of the guys that got lost." Runner-up to Trinies in the 250cc class and third overall was another local rider, Phil Oveland, aboard a Honda. Oveland also benefited from the discarded last check, as he - as did many others - found himself wandering aimlessly through the woods section as well. "The race went very well," Oveland. . said of his efforts, "although my timekeeping equipment never worked. I just keyed off the guys in fron t of me - or behind me - and then I got lost yesterday. It all turned out the best for me, I guess. I told myself I wasn't going to get stressed out about it and alienate my wife, and the dog, cat, and the pig. I just took care of the family, and it all worked out for me.'" Honokaa's Jade Leitner, on a KTM, finished fourth overall and fust Open bike, and rounding out the top five was Honolulu's Matthew Lyman, aboard a Honda, who also finished third in the 250cc class. The Tucker-Rocky Distributing/ IMS/FMF Racing/Manakuke Motorcy- ride through the compound itself before entering back into the Stainback Road sections and on to the finish line at Keaau ball 'field. The Hard-Luck Award was given to Italy's Luca Trussardi, who was on hand for'the race. Trussardi, who was taking time out from the GNCC tour on the Mainland, had his Team Green KDX seize in the parking lot of his hotel as he was heading to the morning start of the first day. Trussardi was able to muster up a 1985 Kawasaki KLR from one of the sweep riders and continue on, but the hapless Italian certainly did not fair as well as he had hoped to, finishing outside the top 40. "1 was not happy with what happened to my bike," Trussardi said of his (Above) For the fourth time, Steve Zoll (8A) took top honors at the Mauna Kea Enduro in Hawaii. David Hahn (8B) finished eighth. (Right) Phil Oveland rode to a third-place finish. (Below) Steve Trinles took runner-up honors. hard luck, "but I liked very much the race here ,and want to come back again next year." Also participating again this year was former world-class surfer and the owner of Faith Riding Co., Tony Moniz, who rode a KTM. Moniz, an A-class rider himself, suffered from a fouled spark plug early on, as well as a shorting kill switch along the way, but, all in all, he still had an enjoyable time and looks forward to riding again next year. Of the nearly 100 riders who started the enduro, only around 40 managed to see it through to the finish line. tN Mauna Kea 200 Enduro Hila, Hawaii Results: May 23-24, 1998 Q/A: 1. Steve 2011 (Kaw); 2. Steven Trinies (KTM); 3. Phil Ovcland (Hon); 4. Jade Leitner (KTM); 5. Matthew Lyman (Hon); 6. Jeremy Milnikel (Hofl); 7. Slade Saffery (KTM); 8. David Hahn (Kaw); 9. Dru Brenneman ("lam); 10. Jerry Miller (Kaw); 11. Darryl Vierra (Kaw); 12. James Mastin (KTM); 13. Dickie Aleman (Hon); 14. Todd Tavares (Hon); 15. Kaleo Kahookele (Suz). O·12S A: 1. Todd Tavares (Hon); 2. John Tripp (Kaw). 126-200 A: 1. Steve Zoll (Kaw); 2. David Ha.hn (Kaw); 3. Darryl Vierra (Kaw); 4. James Mastin (KTM); cles / Pacific Island Floors-sponsored event got under way Saturday morning at Keaau ball field, and the trail proceeded up through the woods and jungle like terrain along Stainback Highway toward Kulani Prison. The morning section contained some very tight and technical ter-. rain, with lots of roots, logs and water holes. After lunch, the trails were much the same as in the previous areas, eventually changing over to a section that took the riders over lava flows and lava rocks. The trail came to an end up on Saddle Road and the impound area. Day two was supposed to include a morning section that ran up around the ridge of the Mauna Kea volcano, but due to fire hazards, this section had to be scratched from the event. The afternoon section thus became the morning. start, arid it took the riders back toward the Kulani Prison area, with an .actual 5. Grant Mitchell (Kawl. 201-250 A:. 1. Steven Trinies (KTM); 2. Phil Oveland (Hon); 3. Matthew Lyman (Hon); 4. Jeremy Milnikel (Hon); 5, Slade 5affery (KTM). 2S1-0PEN A: 1. Jade Leitner (KTM); 2. Dickie Alcuran (Hon); 3. Michael Sheehan (Hon); 4. Wesley Arakaki (Hon); 5. Aaron Muth (Hon). .. SR A 40-59: 1. DuMe Caringer (Kaw). 0-200 B: 1. Jay Secrist (Hon); 2. John Kawano (Kaw); 3. Woody Child (Kaw). 201-250 8, 1. David Harworth (5uz); 2. Rick Cooper' .(KTMJ; 3. Rod Samuels (KTMJ; 4. Rodney Honeychurch (Hon). 2S1-oPEN B: f. Stafford Montgomery (Suz); 2. Jim Triplett (Hon). SR 8 5()+, 1. AI Stiglme;r (]

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