Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

1Ab0ve) Class Champion Chris Canepa (2) upped his series-record win tally to six with another victory In the 250cc Novice class. David Brown finished second and moved Into a tie for second place In the series standings. (RIght) $eries promoter Gene Romero poses with Gay (center1 and Wayne (right) Warrington, who were announced as the recipients of the Rob Damron/Danny Hart Memorial Award, which was instituted to honor unselfish contributions to the sport of flat track racing. It Is the highest honorary award that can be bestowed In the West Coast Flat Track Series. "He's hungry, he wants it bad, and he's going to be one of the guys to beat week in and week out. I think this is a great series. It's the kind of series that the West Coast needs. Who knows? Maybe I'll just chase after this championship next year." Harrell led the Harley-Davidson Dealers of Northern and Southern California Open Vintage main event from start to finish, but he was far from unchallenged, as Rod Spencer kept him honest all the way to the flag. Harrell got the holeshot aboard his Triumph twin, leading Yamaha TI500-mounted Spencer and the rest of the field through the first turn while Rick Hocking, also on a TT500, picked his way into third place after having to come from deep in the pack. Newly crowned Open Vintage class champion Robert Cunnington slid his way into fourth aboard a borrowed Honda 350 after his own Bill Knight-prepared Yamaha gave up the ghost earlier in the day. Triumphmounted AHRMA stalwart Tom Horton was alone in fifth. The field quickly began to string out, although the first- and thirdplace battles remained heated. Spencer slowly reeling in Harrell, and Cunnington dogging Hocking, looking for a way around the former AMA Grand National veteran. Cunnington finally made his move, getting past Hocking off turn two to run third down the back straightaway on the fifth lap. Hocking's race would last only one lap more, as he pulled off on the back straightaway with apparent bike problems. It meant that Horton would inherit fourth, and Jeff S. Johnson would move to fifth place. Spencer waited until the last lap before applying heavy pressure to Harrell, and the two-time winner appeared set to pull off a winning move off the last corner as they sprinted toward Scott Zimmerman's waving checkered flag. Spencer failed to get the drive he needed, however, and Harrell went on to score his first win of the season. "I just got a good start," Harrell said. "It feels good to finally win one of these things this year. The singles have won all year, but we finally got a twin up there. My bike is working real good. It's in a Champion frame, so that has helped us a whole lot." Harrell said that he knew Spencer was close and that it could come down to a dash to the wire. "I felt him right there, but I was just going to hug the bottom," Harrell said. "If he was going to go around me, then he was going to have to go around the outside. It was great, just great. Gene puts on a great series. We'll be back." Spencer said that he was counting on Harrell to be tough in the main event. Donnie was running really good," Spencer said. "As the race went on, my tires were building heat and my bike just kept getting faster, but Donnie was quick all night. I knew he was going to be trouble." Spencer said that he had attempted to mount his charge earlier, but that didn't pan out the way he had hoped. "Earlier he made a little bobble, and I tried to capitalize on it, but then I'm super happy. That was my sixth win this season, and I'd like to thank all my family - both on our side and on the Spencer side - everybody. This class is really competitive, and it is a great step. I really feel like I learned how to race flat track better here." Brown said he figured that he was faster than Canepa, but letting him get in front early made the difference. "I was getting into the corners pretty good, and f was getting under him because he would let it drift just a little bit," Brown said. "But I let him by coming off out of two and that's what ruined it for me. He messed up one time, but I was too far back to do anything about it. I tried to make a pass in one and two on the last lap to get the victory, but it didn't work out for me. I'm happy with second, which ties me for second in points." Spencer came home a distant third. He was never quite able to match the pace of the leaders. "They were just a step ahead of me tonight, and we had to settle for third, but overall it has been a pretty good year," Spencer said. "I'd just like to thank all the people who helped me out this year. eN I made one slip. On the last lap, last corner, I was going to try to make it work. It didn't. But I'm glad Gene has these races. I'll be back next year at selected races - TIs and short tracks. I'm getting too old." Cunnington said that he never worked so hard and had so much fun at the same time. "Rick was having problems with his bike, but I think that I could have gotten him anyway, because this little bike was hooking up," Cunnington said. "I couldn't believe it. I was really happy that Wayne Warrington let me ride it. Rick had more power than me, but he just couldn't get it to hook up off the turns. He was getting sideways, and I was able to just twowheel it_ This thing doesn't have a lot of power, but it turns. I was running it off into the corner like a banshee.' Horton and Jonhson rounded out the top five. Although he had already clinched the 250cc Novice class title, Chris Canepa wanted to go out a winner in what may stand to be his last 250cc ride. Canepa has reportedly cut a few deals that will allow him to make his debut in the Open Pro class in 2002. Canepa got what he wanted, but not before David Brown served notice that he will be more than ready to' step up and fill Canepa's shoes as a top contender in the division, which was created to develop talent in the West Coast Flat Track Series. Yamahas jumped into the top three slots right off the bat, as Brown got the holeshot in the eight-lap 250cc Novice final, with Canepa running a close second, ahead of Bradley Spencer and Manuel Jimenez Jr. Canepa then surprised Brown as he motored past Brown down the back straight and was able to get off turn four corner first to take the lead. Brown would go on to regret it, as Canepa was clearly the slower rider, but Canepa's ability to get on the gas sooner made the difference. Brown tried several more times to retake the lead, but Canepa was too big a roadblock, and 2001 champ nosed across the finish line to take his sixth win of the season. "David got the holeshot on me he's really fast," Canepa said. "We've all got really bald Goodyears on them right now, and it's hard to get these bikes hooked up on a slick track. But cue I • Kings Speedway Hanford, California Results: September 22, 2001 (Round 11 of 111 OPEN PRO MAIN (15 lap.: 15 riders): I. Brett Landes (CeM); 2. Tony SOUZll (CeM); 3. Donnie Howard (W-R); 4. Ronnie Brown (W·R); 5. Lonnie Pauley (W-R); 6. John Hlebo (CCM); 7. Ken Netto (ATK); 8. Danny Casey (CCM); 9. Kevin Bricker (WR); 10. Paul Herman (Tri); 11. Donnie Horrell (W-R); 12. Rick Hockin9 (Yam); 13. Billy Martin (W-R); 14. Sh~wn Raggio (CeM); 15. Peul Normandin (CeM). OPEN VINTAGE MAIN (8 lop.; 15 riders); I. Donnie Harrell (Tri); 2. Rod Spencer (Vern): 3. Robert Cunnington (Hon): 4. Tom Horton (Yam); 5. Jeff S. Johnson (Yam): 6. Steve H~II (Yam); 7. Creig Haas (Tri); 8. Robert Hansen (Yom); 9. Mike Kibby (Yom); 10. lArry Hannah (Hon); II. Dennis Pinheiro (Yam); 12. Jay Gosvenor (Yam); 13. Rick Hocking (Yam); 14. Gary Ritchte (Yam); 15. Peul Hermen (Tri). NOVICE 250 (8 laps; 8 riders); 1. Chris Canepa (Yam); 2. David Brown (Yam); 3. Bradley Spencer (Yom); 4. Manuel Jimenez Jr. (Yom); 5. Brad Rudy (Yam); 6. Daniel Brown (Yam); 7. Matt Pinheiro (Hon); 8. Scott Shoup (Hon). GENE ROMERO'S E-MOOLA.COM WEST COAST FLAT TRACK SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After II of II round.): OPEN PRO: 1. Ronnie Brown (160/2 wins); 2. Tony Souza (152); 3. Lonnie Pauley (140); 4. Don Howard (127); 5. Donnie Harrell (126); 6. J.P. Simonsen (115/1 win): 7. Billy Martin (89/1 win); 8. Rob Oomron (69/1 win); 9. Kevin Brk:ker (66); 10. John Hlebo III (64); 11. Randy Beremon (62); 12. Beau Brown (60); 13. Rod Spencer (58/1 win); 14. (TIE) Jesse Sanchez (54 )/Shown Rog9io (54). OPEN VINTAGE; 1. Robert Cunnington (211/4 wins); 2. Rick Hocking (166/2 wins); 3. Rod Spencer (152/4 wins); 4. Paul Hermon (136); 5. Brad Spencer (135); 6. Donnie Harrell (94); 7. Steve Hall (91); 8. Bob Cobb (90); 9. Jeff S. Johnson (67); 10. (TIE) Joe Carrera (53)/Robert HDnsen (53); 12. Joe Steffen (43); 13. Rick Reed (36): 14. Dennis Pinheiro (35); 15. Mike Gonzalezs (34). 250 NOVICE: I. Chris Conepo (226/6 wins); 2. (TIE) David Brown (151){Bradley Spencer (151); 4. Josh Ritchie (140/2 wins); 5. Woody Carlson (126); 6. Daniel Brown (115); 7. Jimmy Abrams (91/1 win); a. Scott Watkins (84); 9. Joe McCoy (81/1 win); 10. Fflllnkie Lane (77); 11. Manuel Jimenez (70); 12. John Ages (56); 13. Frankie Eubanks (44); 14. Rick Hollenbeck (39); 15. Robert Clark (31). n e _ SO • OCTOBER 10,2001 55

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