(Above) Kurt Hawk won the Open A main and placed third in the 600cc Pro-Sport class at
Castle Rock Race Park in Castle Rock, Washington.
(Left) Loop-outs were a common sight at the reinstated hillclimb competition in East
Palestine, Ohio.
the first round to Billy Laninovich when laninovich took over on lap fOUT. In the following
moto, Elkins put it together off the line and
Laninovich was in third, behind Geoff Walters.
Elkins felt the pressure from laninovich by the
second lap, but Laninovich dropped his borrowed Yamaha on the following lap. Elkins
went on for the win and Laninovich came back
from fourth to finish in second.
Laninovich was to have more trouble later on
in the l2Sa: 06-25) class. He gmbbed the hoIeshot
but then lost control while cornering in the deep
sand section on the first lap. By the time he had
picked up the Yamaha, he found himself in last
place. Thus began the best charge of the day, as
Laninovich managed to pass his way through the
field of nine riders and challenge Joshua West for
the lead on the last lap. However, their heated
momentum carried them over a double under a
yellow flag. and the two were docked a lap.
Things turned around in the following mota,
as Elkins exited the first tum ahead of the pack.
However, Laninovich took over on lap two and
charged his way to the finish lJne. Elkins finished second, with Matt Condon a close third.
Chris Livingston look home the overaII honOTS in the 125cc
ovice division. Livingston
edged oul Larry Sutton after Sutton won moto
one bul then dropped 10 fourth in the following
molo. Livingston won moto two and finished
third in round one 10 earn the win. Cory Criss
managed third overaII with a 4-2 day.
]esse Casillas repeated wins in the !lOa: Expert
class. Anthony BrusceIIa found himself trailing by a
couple of seronds in both matos, unable to close up
and seriously d1aIIenge Casillas. The two repeated
their effort in the Super-mini class, but in the second molD BrusceJIa absconded with the hoJeshot
and held the lead until lap two. Phillip Broscella
had better luck in the 80cc Novice division: He
rode to the overall ~ dominating in both motos.
Phillip did not fare as well in the 80cc (7-11)
class. He and Brad Masters were leading the
moto when both were docked a lap for doubling
under a yellow flag. Bruscella came back in the
fonowing mota to prove he was the one to beat.
This time, Masters ONFed and Weston Peick
look the second spot. This second place and the
win in moto one earned Peick the overall
INTRO 10 MX: I. Scott O'Connor (Han); 2. Curtis Frost
3. lor Sduyuer (Yam); 4. Tyler Hermwt 0I0a); 5. Mario
o.Mario (Hoo).
•
P/W FfT: I. Shane Hamon (Yam); 2. FuBe- Kies (KTM); 3.
CoI< .... 0CTMl; 4.
0CTMl; s.
Hodrix (J(1M).
P/W STK (0-6): 1. DUota GanM!r (Cob); 2. Austin &Danl
(Cob); 3. Kylo c.rlmon 0CTMl; 4. Dylan SeB (Cob).
SIP/W; I. _
lUll (Cobk 2. e.m.roo c.rlmon 0CTMl;
3. Austin &nard (Cob); 4. Xristopbn- Chambns (Cob); 5. Kyle
"""""""'Ownbon
eonm.n (KTM).
.JR CYa..E: 1. MkhaI!!I Ortiz (lion); 2. Cao Swift (Suz).
80 STK (7-11): 1. Weston Prick (Yam); 2. Marc Abernathy
(lion): 3. Phillip Bn.tM:dla (Yam); 4. Anthony Charette (Yam): 5.
...... Ce; 5. Bobby Rome'l'O (Yam).
80 EX: 1.}eslIe CasillaI (Yam); 2. Anthony Brusc:d1a (Yam).
125 BEG: 1. Rpt' Md"hillip, (Yam); 2. DIn Orewtil tSu%); 3.
IUchanl ThHW'- CY;un).
125 (12-15) B: 1. Ointon Pim:e (Su:z:); 2. l'r"O'vts 8cmi5 (YOIm);
3. Ryan McPhillips (Yam); 4. Cary Motshagen (Yam).
125 (l6-25l A: 1. Jab: Elkins (Yam); 2. MatI Condon (Yam); 3.
Ynj
(Yam); 3. Kal MattlJOfl (Yam); 4. joaquin Candia (Yam); S. St(.'\'e
Slade (lion).
250 BEG: I. KclJy Grt.>en (Yam); 2. Jon Fulton (Hon); 3. Jimmy
fficks (Hon); c.. John Maltr:f;l :5. Darin Corrie (Yam).
2SO NOV: I.StneSbde (Hon);2. Jon M~ (!(aw); 3. Kyle
YaM (Yam);" Pder leo ough (Iionk 2. )df Foland (Suz); 3. Todd
Fmstat (Yam); 4. Tunothy Km\p (HoD); 5. Dave Shipley (Kaw).
VET NOV: 1. Jim Scbnudutz (1(.Iw); 2. Rod landry (Yam); 3.
lAnny Younghusband (Yam); 4. ~ Lun:ook (Suz); S. Dawson
l.eactuNn (Suz).
VET INT: 1. G~ ~ (Kaw); 2. Paul Cortn: (K.w); 3.
Ouis Swift CScW: 4. john WaDis m (Hoo); 5. Stew Zwingler {)(awl.
.Strank strolls uphill
By Rob Gollan
EAST PALESTINE, OH. MAY 23
Hillclimbs have returned to Ohio for the firsl
time in 20 years, and at the very first event, foUTtime Amateur National 250cc champion Waller
Strank clawed his way to the top of the hill to set
a new hill record with a blistering 8.92-second
run. StranJ(s mark lowered the old hill record
by more than a full second, which was even
more amazing give.n the fact that two new
jumps had been added to the existing hill
Mother Nature had overwatered the hill on
Saturday night, which made the lefl side Ihe
choice of most every climber. Many riders were
senl in various directions by the slippery conditions, but Strank not orily made the one run thaI
was perfect, he then backed it up with the second-fastest time ever: a 9.47lkecond ride.
In the large and very competi.live 600cc class,
Greg Thompson was the only other rider 10
break into the nines, with runs of 9.872 and
9.897. Thompson bested second-placed Bill Bprkelt by more than half a second to win the class
and take Ihe 600cc points lead in the Rider
Review Penn-ohio Hillclimb Series.
More than 100 riders attended the reborn
hilIclimb, and everyone seemed pleased with the
blend of high-tech. ultramodern machines and
old ones, such as Strank's beautiful CR250 and
awesome VZ4OO, which was sitting next to Jim
Paden's nostalgic Harley-Davidson Sprint and
Sue Auharty's Triumph Twin.
Shayne Chapman broughl the huge crowd of
spectators to its feet by being the fitst bike in 22
years to make a full run up Lucifer's Ladder on
the fifth run of the day. Shayne showed true
determination as he dabbed and twisted his way
up the treacherous J:».foot hill and through the
timing lights with a time of 17.59 on a Suzuki BO.
The Stock Frame and Swingarm classes new for 1999 for the AMA - also proved to be
both large and very competitive. Many fitst-time
dimbers showed up and pul on a great show.
Joe Marevich won the 400cc Stock Frame class
with a very fast 10.10 run, which was good
enough for third-fastest time of lIie day - and he
did it with a stock wheelbase.
Results
as (6-11):- I. john 8wmer (Yam): 2. Ricky Our Jr. (Yam); 3.
Zack
(Suz); 4. DmaId .....,. (Suz); S. ""'"' Marg;c.
eu,...
85 (U·I5): I.J-per Andenon ('Suz); 2. ShawnJohnBon (Yam);
3. J...... Re;ghonIlHonl.
125: 1. joshua Strw:09on (Hoa); 2. Brian Thomas (Kaw); 3. Justin
lHonl;4. ...... ...-lHonl;5. PauJoSlr.mk(JQM).
200: 1. Cary Baues- (Hon); 2. Allan Palermo (Kaw); 3. Tom
!. I. """
" ' _ 2. ANJrow """"""" (Yam).
SR~, 1. """
CY_ 2. ..... Nodonloy lHonl; 3.
s.e-Oouae(Yam).
400 STX W/BASE:. 1.}or Natevic:h (Yam); 2. hbn Ca.rasic
0CTMl; 3. JUd>ud zanm.,. {ATIO; 4. BiDy ........ (JQM).
OPEN STK W/BASE: 1. Mh Cowher (lion); 2. Ken Bon·
nmYI (Yam); 3. Dan Matthews (Ron).
•
65 (7-9): LSteven HOWlC!'{Kaw); 2. Ky~ Perry (Kaw);3. Ciarretl
auum (1(.1.w); 4, Cody RobbiI15 (Cob); 5. Hunter jennings (Cob).
By Barbara Williams
SHELBY, NC, MAY 5
Kawasaki jockey ScOll Campbell handled the
Over 35 class with ease· at round five of the
Rollercoasler Racing Tour, winnirig both the
qualifier and the main event. The competitive
field of half a dozen included defending Rollercoaster champion Freddy Patterson.
A strong entry of 215 forced two divisions of
12See 0 racing and allowed several cJasses that
are usually combined to run separately. Rain at
Shelby during the week contribuled to perfect
track conditions and fun for aU.
Campbell headed the Over 3S qualifier, followed by Dewitt Jenkins, Pallerson, Wellford,
Mike Justice, Roy Clarkson, and Glen Lott. The .
Over 3S class was stagger-started behind a large
Over 25 C gate. Campbell was able to use their
lappers as interference by the second lap of the
four-lap qualifying dash. At the checkered flag.
Campbell was fOUT riders deep into the Over 25
C field, with three of"them between himself and
second-placed Over 3S rider Jenkins.
Pumped by his qualifier win, Campbell was
unstoppable in the Over 3S main event. In fact,
by the time the seven laps had ended, Scott
came across the line just behind the Over 25 C
winner, with both fields behind his KX25O.
Campbell downplayed his impressive ride.
"I was just hanging on,· he insisted, laughing. "Besides, we all were old people out there,
and not thaI fast."
But Campbell did not refuse the win, which
further pads his Rollercoaster points lead in the
Over 3S class. Jenkins sits in second, 22 points
down, with Patterson in third by two.
The 12Scc Exhibition class continued to jack
up everyone's blood pressure, as a battle royal
developed between Jason Libera and newcomer
Danny Smith.
Herb Taylor got the holeshol in the 125cc
Exhibition qualifier but was soon displaced by
Smith and Libera. As Smith led the rest of the
four-lap qualifier, Libera walched Smith's lines
and planned some good places to pass.
Smith snared the holeshot al the start of the
12Scc Exhibition main event and kicked in the
nitro, leaving Libera to ride the ragged edge in a
vain attempt to make up ground. Nathan Lekson pushed his Kawasaki into the second spol
when Libera overshot a turn and left the door
wide open for him. Taylor, blasting along in
fourth, took a tumble and brought oul the rederos flag. But Libera was working on sheer
adrenaline and made an illegal jump-pass on
Lekson in that area of the track, for which he
was disqualified after he finished second.
Smith took the win, and Libera's removal
broughl everyone else up one placing: Lekson,
Aaron Benfield, Matt Oavis and Taylor.
Jordan Harrill owned the 8Scc (12-13) class,
especially after qualifier winner T.J. Knight
tweaked his wrist and was unable to be competitive in the main event. Harrill led Randy
Newkirk U on a high-speed chase around the
JMX track, shadowed by Chevis King, Jeremy
Allison and J.J. Jackson. And that is exactly how
they finished. Nick Aowers overcame a spectacularly bad start. climbing to sixth by the final flag.
Harrill's win puts him in the lead in the 8Scc
(12-13) class by a mere three points over Knight.
providing fodder for a real horse race during the
resl of the series.
Results
50 (oHo>: 1. Cody Robbins (Cob); 2. w. Dixon (Cob); 3. Trevor
.."... (Cobk c. CheIRa MCwain (Yam); 5. J.............. (Suz).
so 0.-8): 1. Hunter Jennings (Cob); 2: Josh Harris (Lem); 3.
Tyler BowIlWl (PoD: 4. Brandon White (KTM); 5. Lucas LonS
(KTM).
SO SHAFT: 1. Cody Robbins (Yam); 2. Trewr 8arTett (Yam>;
3. Mi; 3, Lori
ZiDlDlennan (Suz); 4. Joshua Mcuughlin (Hon); 5. Tyler Scay
(Yam).
JR MINI: 1. Steva1 Houser (Sw-J; 2. Zack Mitchcll (Suz); J. Tim
Hoyle (Kaw); 4. Garrett Oturch (Kaw); S. Brandon Rmt (Kaw).
SS02-13):I.}ordan HarriD (Kaw);2. Randy ~kirk U (Kaw);
3. Chevis King (Suz,); 4. Jemmy AIlISOO tsuz); 5. J.j. Jacbon (Yam).
85 (14-15): 1. jeffrey Arnold (lion).
S/MINl: L Randy Newktrk U ()(aw); 2. jordan HamU (}(.aw);
3. Chevis King (Suz); 4. J.J.}.lebon (Yam); 5. Oyde Roberts (J(.awl.
125 EXHlB: 14 lAnny Snuth (Su7J; 2. Nathan Ldtson (Yam); 3.
Aaron Benfield (Kaw); 4. Matthew 0aV!S «(aw); 5. Herb TaylOl'"
(K,aw).
125 C; 1. Dustin LedIon:I (Yam); 2. Scott jones (Hon); 3. Alex
HamU (Kaw); 4. josh johnston (Kaw); S. Brian Bohde (Suz).
125 0 0-1: I. Brandon 8ellnr (Hon};:z. MK'hael MI!IT'ftl (Hon);
3. Billy Harbin (Suz); 4. R~ TUfT'Ie!' (lion); 5. Chnstopher Oark
5On(KaW).
125 0 1).2: 1. Oanid Church (Yam); 2. Samuel Davmport
(Yam); 3. Josh Hmson (Hon); 4. JeT't!my Davis (Kaw); 5_ Scott
4
Mooft (Yam).
250 EXHIB: 1.ja!KJn Ubera (Yam); 2. Aaron 8enfidd (Kaw).
250 C: I. Jesse o..ker (Suz); :z. Kyte Hmson (Suz); 3. Scott
jones CHon>; '" Billy ~ (!(aw>; 5. A&ex UttJc (Hon.).
2SO D: I. MdIKI Purv!5 (Hon); 2. o.ns Noms CHon>; 3. Mike
Baucom (Kaw); 4. Rodnry Hamndr: (Suz); 5. ~ Lott (Kaw). •
25+ AlB: 1. Mark Pm- (Yam)25+ C: 1. A&ex Little (Hon); 2.
Chris Norris (Hon); 3. MicMd PurvIS (HoI'll; 4. james Stanley
(y~k s.1 (Yam); 3. Freddy Pattenon O<.iw); 4.. Glen Lott (Kaw); 5. Roy Oatbon CKaw).
U/L AM: I. ~ y Sm.itb (Suz.); 2. Herb Taylor (I(a....); 3.
Nathan l..ebon (Yam); 4. Matt Davis (Kaw).
U IL C/O: 1. jesse Baker (Suz); 2. T .J. Fairbanks (Suz); 3. KeYin
Helms (Hcn); 4. Oustinl..edford (Yam); 5. Akx Harrill (J(aw).
Simonsen storms
Castle Rock TT
By Clay Ughl
CASTI.E ROCK, WA, MAY 30
Castle Rock native J.P. Simonsen soughI and
received revenge for his previous night's loss in
the 600cc Expert main event a.t the Castle Rock
Race Park during the second race of the Memorial Day weekend doubleheader. Simonsen barely edged Eli Price for his second win of the
young AMA District '1J IT season.
The Simonsen/~ce battle was a carry-over
from last season, and al the end of the year the
victory was Price's. nus fueled Simonsen's victory at the season opener, much as it did over
the holiday weekend. A TK rider Christian Vernon rode spectacularly to win the fitst of the two
Experl heat races, where he barely beat Price
and Beau A. Brown. Simonsen convincingly
won the second heat race, ahead of Eric Rickman and Joshua Currey.
Three 600cc Pro-Sport heat races and a single
sernifinaI were utilized in order to trim the field
to a 12-rider configuration for the main event.
George Prindiville darted out front at the start of
the final, fonowed by Tony Fox, Beau Z. Brown.
Medcalf, Troy Renfro and Eric Beers. Two laps
later, Prindiville losl the lead position 10 Fox.
Brown also relegated Prindiville back a position,
and from that point Brown clawed his way into
contention. With three laps remaining, Brown
found an opening and look the lead from Fox to
score his first 'win of tlfe season. Fox narrowly
escaped with second place, as Hawk, who
forged through traffic al a stellar pace after a
poor start, finished third. Renfro, the fourthplace finisher, scored his career-best finish
ahead of Prindiville and Beers.
Price pUI his Rolax out in front of the 600cc
Expert final, but it was a determined Simonsen
who quickly ·fought back to dump Price back a
notch, setting up another of the classic
exchanges between the two. Rickman ran third,
followed closely by Brown and Vernon, but il
was Brown who got around Rickman and set his
sights on the leaders ~ leaving the ATK riders behind him. Although Brown was unable to
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