Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ded after the opening race. As the action unfolded, T R's Bill Cole proved to be uncatchable. The 8-mile, la-turn track was said to be one of the linest facilities the veteran YSR racers had ever experienced. "Awesome track with great traction," commented TCR's Cole. Cole's leammate Scott Firman also remarked on the unbelievable cornering speeds achievable atCRP. uJ can easily see a big race weekend at thh;'facility," Cole added. "Perfect for endurance racing." AU participants were in agreement, adding that they would all be back. "All the riders absolutely loved the track," noted OYL director Jeff Arend, "and the fan support was pretty amazing. I think this vindicates all our hard work in getting this program set up. Irs only going to get bigger and better." Results 50 5/BK EX: I. B,lI Cole; 2. Merle EschmiU1; 3. Tom Hughey; 4. Chad Wasileski; 5. Scott Finnan. 50 S/SPT EX: 1. Chad WasileskJ; 2. Chad Vcnnilllon. 50 S!BK NOV; I. Eric Dietrich; 2. Mike Bowling; J. Nick Bucksar; 4. Jeff S)'ar. 50 S/SPT NOV: 1. Nick Bucksar; 2. Erik Dietrich; 3. Jim DiVittorio; 4. JdfSyar; S. Joe Gauthier. 50 STK NOV; 1. Jim DiVittono; 2. Joe GauthiL't'; 3.]eff Arend; 4. Joel Hammond. Hicks doubles at Costa Mesa season opener By Elaine Jones Photo by Mike Basso COSTAMEsA, CA, APR. 10 In spite of the cold weather, a full house welcomed the 31st season of Speedway racing at the famous bullring of Orange County Fairgrounds. And on opening night, the gauntlet was thrown down by Gary Hicks, as he got the first double of the. season, winning both the Scratch and Handicap main events. The Scratch main event, the richest race of the night. saw the draw for the pole go to Dukie ErmoJenko. Hicks was in two, with Andy Northrup in three. Charli.e Venegas was garden- ing in four, and on the outside it was Bobby Schwartz. When the tape came up, it was Venegas who exploded off the line, with orthrup in second and Ermolenko in third. Venegas looked to be on his way to the "'in, but he 100t his motor on the final lap. Northrup went one way around Venegas, and Hicks, who had passed Ermolenko, went the other. In what could only be called a photo fulish, the win went to Hicks by ;In eyelash. Th~ lineup for the Handicap main had Charlie Cooley all alone on the 20. Eddie Castro possessed sale ownership of the 40, Things were much more crowded on the 50, with Ermolenko, Hicks and Gary Ackroyd sharing the real estote. On the 60 were the big guns, including Venegos, Oxley and Schwartz. At the start, Ermolenko's bike really hooked up - so mucl, so that it left Ermolenko behind. Ermolenko was fine, but the bike did not fare so well and the eight-man main became a sevenman event. On the next try, Ackroyd tangled with Hicks coming out of two, putting them both on the ground and causing Venegas to literally spin his bike in the air to keep from IUtting the rest of the field. Deemed to be the couse of the red, Ackroyd was sent to the pits, which left it a six-man race. Cooley, with a 20-yard advantage, took it to them as he tried to put some daylight between hjmself and the freight train bearing down on him on the restart - but there was to be no such luck for Cooley, as Hicks took over the lead. One lap later, Cooley had bike problems, and Venegas and Schwartz moved into contention. Hicks was not to be denied. On the whiteflag lap, Venegas ran into problems, and Oxley, having gotten by Schwartz, took second. Schwartz held on to third, and Castro finished fourth. Rounding out the field were Venegas an? Cooley. Brayton and King got the best start in the Sidecar main, and to no one's surprise they held on to take the win, The Support main victory went to Tom Winchell, as he topped Bryan Thompson and Ryan Fisher. The Support B win went to Dave Delbridge, who went from pit steward to racer. Phil Harmatiuk and Brent Smith were second and third. fi!5/i!5 0 NATIONAL tWO Gary Hicks (second from left) scored both main-ilvent victories at Costa Mesa Speedway. Results SCR MAIN: 1. Cary Hicks (CM); 2. Andy Northrup Oaw); 3. Bobby Schwartz (eM); 4. Dulae Ennolenko (eM); 5. Charlie Vene- gas (GM). HOCP MAIN: 1. Gary Hicks (eM); 2. Brad Oxley (eM); 3. Bobby Schwartz (CM); 4. Eddie Cbtro Oaw); 5. Charlie Venegol!> (GM). SOCR MAIN: 1. B. Brayton/D, King (Hon); 2.. B. Matherson/D. La."CIL'f' (Yam); 3. J. Mat8erson/l. Eiland (Yam); 4. S. Morrow /e. Chapman (Suz). SUP MAIN: I. Tom Winchell (Cdn); 2. Bryan Thompson (jOlW); 3. RyM Fisher (jaw); 4. Brad S,1ucr Onw); 5. Tim Tucker Oaw), SUP B MAIN: 1. D.we Delbridge Oaw); 2. Phil Harnmliuk (Jaw); 3. Brent Smith (jaw); 4. Terry McCurdy (Wes); 5. Sean McDougall (W('S). Daim game at REM Glen Helen Motocross By Rocky Hash SAN BERNARDINO, CA, APR 17 With spring in full swing, the racers attendi.ng Racing Enterprises Motosports' weekly Glen Helen Saturday motocross were greeted with sunny, warm temperatures and a perfectly groomed natural-terrain motocross track. One of the best contests of the day was in the Vet Beginner class, where Dave Daim took the hardfought o.verall victory. When the first moto got under way, it was tl'le Kawasaki of James Linder leading the charge as he grabbed the holeshot. Daim pushed his YZ250 into the second slot, while Gator Scalzo rode in third. Dave Linder held fourth, and Rebecca Kukla showed irs more about hook-up than power, as she ran fifth on ber KXl00. Linder took charge right from the start, proceeding to circulate the course with precision and opening up a live-second lead by lap three. Daim held on strong in second, and Scalzo rode comfortably in third on his YZ400. The battle for fourth became a three-way spat when Honda rider Kevin Johnson came up and joined the Dave Linder/Kukla fray. The rider on the move was CR-mounted Craig Atchison, a.nd he flew thrsmgh the pack and ,moved up to fifth by the halfway mark in the mota. Linder appeared to be getting stronger as the moto wore on, as he continued to stretch his lead. Daim also began to separate himself from the rest of pack, as his smooth riding was a good match for a track that required more skill and technique than guts. Atchison continued his charge to the front, and he went right by the Linder-Kukla-Johnson battle and assumed the fou.rth position, only two seconds back of Scalzo in third. With two laps to go, Linder fell over in a tight turn, but he got going again before Daim could cut much mto his lead. The next crash victim was Atchison, whose charge came to an abrupt halt when he flipped spectacularly on a fall-away dowl\hill jump and hit the dirt hard .. 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