Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Missouri Vintage Motocross Season Finale Harper's Moto Guzzi Compound By The combined 250cc/Open Sportsman class was another barn· burner, as Benolken streaked to the front in both motos on his 250cc Elsinore. Texan Chris Richardson and Skarpohl battled for second on their CZ400s, with Skarpohl taking the position when Richardson nearly crashed on the fifth-gear straight, also allowing Patton by . Derek Zinchuk, George .Cates, Mike Youngberg and Rainey were all in the mix. The course provided a combination of challenges that gave no clear advantage to the larger-displacement bikes. The combined Historic classes (1975- 77) were dominated by Penton machines, with Richardson and Bob Lucas splitting moto wins. Post- Vintage GP and Ultima classes provided excellent racing on more "modern" MOTO MOMMA AND CHILLY PEPPER PHOTOS BY DIAMOND DON HARPER'S RANCH, MO, NOV. 4 urtis Harper and crew hosted a grand finale to the Missouri Vintage Motocross "Whiners Be Damned" tour on November 3 and 4. Saturday offered a preview of what was to come, as the Brad Lackey MX Safety School was held, with 28 riders gaining experience and honing their skills with the 1982 500cc World Champion. Sunday was the big race, with more than 170 vintage motocross entries and a total attendance of around 400. Racers came from near and far - Arizona, Texas, South Dakota and Tennessee, to name a few. The weather was excellent throughout the weekend, staying in the high 60s and low 70s. The 1-mile course was laid out on the beautiful, rolling landscape surrounding the family business, Harper's Moto Guzzi. It featured long sweepers, tight hairpins and several elevation changes, with a back straight reaching the 400-foot mark. The track actually got better as the day progressed, with grass becoming loamy dirt as the vintage bikes churned up the course. If you are ever in the area just south of Kansas City, make a point to visit, as Harper's has an enormous collection of fine motorcycles, both new and vintage. Their family, friends and employees are some of the Midwest's most friendly and hospitable folks. The Over 40 class was both the largest and most exciting gate of the day. When the rubber band flew, former Kawasaki 125cc Pro Tom Benolken got out front on his 1973 Elsinore, followed by Mark Skarpohl on his CZ400. Lackey was busy saving a loop-out on "Diamond" Don Rainey's CZ. After wrestling the CZ dubbed "the Witch" back to the ground, Lackey went into turn one in last place. After two laps, Benolken was still leading, with Skarpohl in second and Lackey closing in third. Just as Lackey was making his move on Skarpohl, the rear brake on "the Witch" went AWOL. The former World champ made a valiant effort to avoid hitting the spectators lining the track, causing him to hit the hay bales. The crowd went nuts. The second moto proved who had "the stuff," as Lackey led from start to finish. Both Skarpohl and Benolken had difficulties keeping the pace and spun out in the flat comers. Consistency won the day, with Bill Patton averaging the best two finishes of the day on his pristine, open Maico. Missouri Expert Allen Sharp rode flawlessly in the Open Age class, which ran combined with the Over 40 class, to take home the wood. 38 DECEMBER 12.2001 • cue (RIgh1J Brad Lackey prepares for the Over 40 race on Diamond Don's CZ (dubbed "the Witch") at the Missouri Vintage Motocross Season Finale. Though he led moto two from start to finish, his rear brake went AWOL in first moto. Them's the Missouri breaks. (Below) Mark Skarpohl held off the pack to take the win in the Open Sportsman Expert class at Harper's Moto Guzzi compound in Harper's Ranch, Missouri. Chris "Chilly Peppel" Richardson powers his CR Perfonnance CZ 400 to third In the Open Sportsman Expert class. machines of 1978-'84 vintage. Scott Dowler, Sharp, Bob Nolan and Richard Woten all turned in good rides, to the delight of the spectators lining the track. Following the races, everyone was invited to the Harper's building com· pound and treated to a pasta dinner with all the fixin's. All attendees were happy to be sitting in a large barn, surrounded by great examples of various European motorcycles. Awards were presented for the race day and the series. There was even a swap meet, at which the competition for vintage parts and projects was as intense as the racing on the track. Again, make a point to visit Harper's' during next year's vintage races for a unique weekend of motorcycling that will satisfy all enthusiasts, whether they are into vintage motocross or street bikes. eN Harper's MolD 6uzzi Compound Harper's Ranch, Missauri Results: Navember 4, 2001 BOYS (0-16): I. Michael Schuster. 2. Justin McGuire. 3. Blake Sisk, 4. Jake Wilkinson. GRLS (0-16): 1. Amber McGuire. WMN: 1. Tammy Ritzheimer Mount, 2. Julie Lewson. 3. Sherri Harper. PREM 500 NOV: 1. Tammy Rit2heimer Mount. PREM SOO INT: 1. Jim Roble. elSe 125 NOV: 1. James Thompson, 2. Stephen Pruden. 3. Jason Pease. 4. Tom Fox. CLSC 125 INT: 1. Lynn Williams. 2. RY8n Davie. CLSC 2SO EX: I. Mork Skarpohl. Cl.SC 500 INT: 1. Randy Lusk, 2. Wayne MounL OPEN SPTSMN TW NOV: I. Mike Cholor. OPEN SPTSMN TW EX: I. Bob Ginder. SPTSMN 125 NOV: 1. Mike aomoon: 2. Stephen Pruden; 3. Phil Ketchum. SPTSMN 125 INT: 1. Steve Summers; 2. David Giffin; 3. Gene Haynes; 4. Jeff Neathery. SPTSMN 125 EX: 1. Bob Peed: 2. Rex Strickland: 3. Jim Kuder: 4. Richard Woten. SPTSMN 250 NOV: 1. Tim Eastin; 2. Kevin Dowler; 3. Jemes Plasek; 4. Jeff Debell; 5. Greg McGuire. SPTSMN 250 INT: I. Tom Brunholtt: 2. Kim Truitt; 3. Rick Whelove; 4. Gary Don: 5. Steve Summers. SPTSMN 250 EX: I. Tom Benolken; 2. Derek Zinchuk; 3. George C8tes; 4. Richard Woten; 5 Bobby Tom Benolken, on his CZ 400, fights for the lead In the Over 40 class. I .. n e _ s Luc8s. OPEN SPTSMN NOV: I. Tom Muskrot: 2. Mike Newton; 3. Ron Weldon; 4. Russ Morgan; 5. Gary Schnormeier. OPEN SPTSMN INT: 1. Ron Grody: 2. Bob Lovell; 3. Roger Tate: 4. P8t Cooper; 5. Greg Carney. OPEN SPTSMN EX: J. Mork Skorpohl: 2. Bill Patton; 3. Chris Richardson: 4. Mike Youngberg; 5. Greg G8rri50n. 40+ NOV: 1. Phil Ketchum; 2. Mark Perry; 3. Ray Coburn; 4. Rick McComas; 5. Uoyd Chenowith. 40. INT: 1. Ron Gr8dy; 2. Tom Brunholtz; 3. G8ry Doze; 4. Steve Summers; 5. Larry Perkins. 40. EX: 1. Bill Potton: 2. Mork Skorpohl: 3. Brod Lackey; 4. Mike Youngberg; 5. Tom Benolken. 50+ NOV: 1. Fred Hunter; 2. Ralph Bledsoe: 3. AI Miller. 50+ INT: 1. Rick Whelove; 2. Dan Matt; 3. Mike Hermesch; 4. Skip Miller, 5. Fred Brown. 50+ EX: 1. Don Reiney. 60+ INT: 1. Jeck Hume; 2. Weyne MounL 60+ EX: 1. Jesse McCollum. OPEN AGE NOV: 1. Jemes Plasek; 2. Jason Pease. OPEN AGE INT: I. Gene Haynes; 2. Oevid Giffin. OPEN AGE EX: 1. Allen Sharp; 2. Jason Danhekl. HSTRC 125 NOV: 1. Jim Russell Jr.: 2. Kevin Clork. HSTRC 2S0 NOV: 1. Roy Coburn: 2. Kegon Vansickle; 3. Dan Woodruff. HSTRC 2S0 INT: 1. Skip Miller. HSTRC 2S0 EX: J. Bobby Lucos. OPEN HSTRC NOV: I. Clint Corver, 2. Russell Webb: 3. Gery Schnormeier. OPEN HSTRC EX: J. Chris Richordoon. 125 GP NOV: I. Kegen Venslckle. 250 OP NOV: 1. Don Wilkinson. 250 GP INT: I. Skip Miller: 2. Rlchord Anderson. 250 GP EX: I. Bobby Lucos. OPEN OP NOV: 1. Mike Newton; 2. Robert Schow; 3. Deen Brasser; 4. Doug Williams. OPEN GP INT: 1. Bob Nolend; 2. Clint Carver; 3. Chris Carver. OPEN GP EX: 1. Scott Dowler: 2. Allen Shorp. ULTIMA 125 NOV: 1. ZOk Clork. ULTIMA 250 NOV: 1. Jason Pease. OPEN ULTIMA NOV: 1. John Vonsickle; 2. Derrin McCollum: 3. Roger Tete. OPEN ULTIMA INT: 1. Jason OenhakJ. OPEN ULTIMA EX: 1. Richerd Woten. POST-VINT 40. INT: J. Richord And"""n. POST-VINT OPEN AGE NOV: I. Nick Undernan; 2. Jim Russell Jr.