Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

District 36 Northern California Enduro Series, Round 3 • Events By Jill Ashworth Patterson UPPER LAKE, CA, APR. 17 5G-mounted Brian Butler rode with swift precision through 'ne checks to claim a repeat Sawmill Enduro overall title in Upper Lake, California. The victory - also his second consecutive win in this year's District 36 Northern California Enduro Series - puts him well into the 1999 series championship lead. Some 241 riders turned out for the North Bay Motorcycle Club's popular event, with riding classes divided in an unusual manner. There were 80 A-class, 80 B-class and 80 C-class riders. There was also one E-class participant. From the start, riders hit loop one racing downstream along Middle Creek's dry, rock-lined edge before making a double crossing over a split section of the creek. Next, they headed up a trail leading into the mountains of the Mendocino National Forest. Check one was the check-in to the first special test, and riders followed cliff-lined and scenic terrain to the top of the first hill before winding their way back down a steep, switchbacketl trail to another, deeper creek crossing. The test, set at a 24-mph speed average, was the only place along the 76mile, two-loop course that caused Butler to rack up any points on his score card all day. "I did a 'pointer' going into the creek," said the Faultline Suspension/Red Line OiJ/FMF-backed Butler. "It was two or three times deeper than I thought. So I clutched it, sprayed a waterfall on my head and got across without drowning out my bike." Second-overall finisher and A 200ccclass winner Matt Wallace also noted the wa ter crossing. "The best thing of my ride besides being consistent was not drowning out in the creek," said the Cycle Gear/North County Yamaha/Wilson's Fresno-sponsored Wallace. Other riders were not as successful. Several had to caJl it a day after doing some fancy maneuvering to get their bikes out of the water, or after spending up to an hour and a half to get their bikes started again. . Single-track trails, fast ,fire roads and elevation changes (3,000 feet up and down) took riders to the gas stop at 38.8 miles. After gas, the longest and last test took riders through an area where an extra, unplanned obstacle greeted racers. The forestry service was conducting a controlled burn along various sections of the course, and low flames and thick smoke lapped at the riders. "I was gasping for air when 1 got through the last test," Butler said. "After sucking in all that smoke, [ felt like [ ran all 10 miles of the test instead of riding it." The final check, well-hidden over a blind rise on Sled Ridge Trail, was a surprise to many who were speeding ahead of their minutes. Tim J. Stowe, who placed third overall and second in the AA class, provided some great entertainment for the final-eheck crew. • "Stowe was skidding his front brakes and riding a nose wheelie for about 25 feet," said NBMe's course designer, Dave Froman. "The clock tripped exactly as he crossed the line." K:; I "The last check wa\ 't the only one that was placed exkremely well," Stowe said. "This waf the best-marked and -laid-out course' that I've ridden so far this year." ' Riders cruised the last mile from the final check back to tlll campground and had to cross Middle Cleek one last time. Butler noticed a group of riders who were on the minutes al1ead of him looking for the best place to get across the water. "It was so hot, I decided to finish the race by doing a cannonball with my bike into the creek," Butler said. "I pinned it, jumped into the water and wheelied halfway across. The crowd must have thought I was nuts." As score cards were turned in and tallied, Butler's final winning score of three secured his victory. Wallace's score of four was next, capturing second. Woodland Cycle's Stowe finished with 5.268, ahead of fourth-place finisher Dave Wood's 5.312 and fifth-placed Craig Hoffman's 5.349. "Our day was really fun," said Hoffman. "The course was fast, not too tight and kind of short, and conditions were great." eN Sawmill Enduro Upper Lake, California Results: April 17, 1999 (Round 3) O/A: 1. Brian Butler (Kaw); 2. Matt WaUace (Yam); Tim Stowe (Yam); 4. Dave Wood (eRE); 5. Craig Holfman (KTM). AA: 1. Brian Butler (Kaw); 2. Tim Stowe (Yam); 3. Dave Wood (CRE). A 200: 1. Mall Wallace (Yam); 2. Craig Hoffman (KTM); 3. Steve Shoemaker (Yam); 4. Marty Walden (Yam); 5. Chad Grass (Hon). A 250: 1.]3son Gerbi (Hon); 2. Paul Gerbi (Hon); 3. Greg Ruffoni (Kaw); 4. Dave Clemons (Hon); 5. Jim Matheson (Hon). A 4-STRK: 1. Brian Sperle (Hon); 2. Russell Pereira (Yam); 3. Glenn Martinson (Yam); 4. Brian Fiscalini (Yam); 5.]ason Howe (Hon). A OPEN, 1. Da,,;d Peel (KTM); 2. Brody OeMamle (Hon); 3. Michael Hayes (Hon); 4. Michael Behrens (KTMJ; 5. Paul Aemming (KTMJ. A VET: 1. ]im Boardman (Han); 2. Ben Gledhill (Above) Leading his row at the start, Brian Buller charges through a creek en route to the Sawmill Enduro overall win. (Right) Matt Wallace was second best on the day, finishing behind Butler and netting himself the IS. 200ccclass honors. (Kaw); 3. ]oe Mullen (Kaw); 4. Marc DeMarco (KTM); 5. Troy Winslow (KTM). A SR: 1. Wayne Regina (Hon); 2. Ross Liberty (Hon); 3. Denny Hiatt (Hon); 4. Chris Von Kleist (Hon); 5. Curt Kiser (KTM). A StSIC I. Richard Adan (Hon); 2. Phillip Bishop (Hon); 3. Fred Cameron; 4. Peter Prichard (l(TM); 5. Tom Guidece (KTM). BOlA: 1. Kevin Wiley (Yam); 2. ]eff Mennick (Hon); 3. Charlie Plumbridge (Kaw); 4. Robert Laird (Hon); 5. Cary Robertson. B 250: 1. Charlie Plumbridge (Kaw); 2. Simon Phizackerley (Hon); 3. ]erry Blinkenberg (Hon); 4. Mark Denney (Hon); 5. Tim Campbell (Suz). 8 4-STRK: 1. Kevin Ruffoni (Hon); 2. Mark Adams (Yam); 3. Troy McWilliams (Hon); 4. Todd Campbell; S. John Carter. B OPEN, 1. Jeff Mennick (Hon); 2. Robert Laird (Hon); 3. Bobby Thomson (ATK); 4. Patrick Dempsey (KTM); 5. Dave Finsthwait (KTM).· .8 VET: L Kevin Wiley (Yam); 2. Marvin Miller; 3. Paul Venuti (Hon); 4. Brody Borgogno (KTM). B SR: 1. Gary Robertson; 2. Bill Thomas (Hon); 3. Alan Plumbridge (Kaw); 4. Mark Maier; 5. Randy Patterson (Hon). B S/SR.: 1. Mike McEnespy (KTM); 2. Mike Pezzoli; 3. Rich Tiesso (KTM); 4. Bill Smith (Hon). e O/A: 1. Aaron Cox; 2. Rich Bell (Hon); 3. Brian Svcc; 4. Mark Anklam; 5. Enzo Ferrero (Kaw). C 200: L Brian Svec (Kaw); 2. Paul Thompson; 3. James Muydenbauer; 4. Ron Hoyt (}(aw). C 250: 1. Aaron Cox; 2. Kevin Groves; 3. Mike Pettinato (Hon): 4. Preston Barker; 5. Mike Christensen. e 4-STR.K: 1. Mark Anklam; 2. Malcolm Kingsley (Kaw): 3. Jeff Dabau; 4. ]ohn Murphy (Hon); 5. David Amdt(KTM). COPEN: 1. Chris Dempsey (KTM); 2. Nicholas Hull; 3. Chris Beeson (Yam); 4. Roger Woodfill (KTM); 5. Troy Ederer (Hon). e VET: 1. Rich Bell (KTM); 2. Enzo Ferrara ()(aw); 3. Chris Calkins (KTM); 4.]oseph Hoy; 5. Greg Linehan (Hon). e SR: 1. Leo Steinle (~aw); 2. Richa.rd Mrofka (Hon): 3. Cary Svec (Suz); 4. Danny Mc.Laughlin; S. Ross Ross (Hon).

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