Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128140
Tecate Hare Scrambles PHOTOS BY MARK KARIYA RANCHO VERONICA, BAJA CAUFORNIA, JIIEXICO, JAN. 20 f\fl ot so very many years ago, the W Los Ancianos Motorcycle Club a collection of crusty San Diego-area off-roaders - was about the furthest thing from cool that one could imagine. The club, whose name means "The Ancient Ones" in Spanish, had been around since 1960, and prospective members had to be at least 30 years old. Riding dilapidated bikes and sporting tattered gear, the club members took a certain pride in their refusal to acknowledge the fleeting fads that regularly sweep through motorcycle racing (even off-road!), and in putting on one of the gnarliest 26 FEBRUARY 6, 2002' cue • enduros in North America. Their legendary Tecate Enduro attracted some of the sport's top names, as well as amateurs eager to test themselves in an event longer and tougher than most Nationals. Eventually, the competition's reputation became its undoing, as amateurs and even pros stayed away, intimidated by the long saddle-hours and technical trails that the Los Ancianos unapologetically promised. With the twin-curses of dwindling entries and worsening arthritis, the enduro soon became more trouble than it was worth, and the club made the decision to modernize and go with the popular loop format that had taken the off-road world by storm in the form of the Grand National Cross Country Series. n e _ 'IS • Heck, the club even got a flashy new Web site! It took a few years for the newfangled Tecate Hare Scrambles to pick up momentum, but if this year's edition is any indication, the modernized Los Ancianos are downright hip. The northern Baja event, which had become somewhat of an amateur competition, once again drew some of the top names in off-roading, including more than a few GNCC regulars. Last year's loop race was fairly open and flowing, with a fair amount of two-track, but the 2002 version brought a new start area and tight, hand-cut trails that were reminiscent of the old-school enduro, making for a unique..m.ix of old and oew. And old or new, the racers knew they had ridden their motorcycles by the time they limped back across the border to the U.S. "It was a lot of fun, but man, was it tight," said competitor Chilly White. "I think I must have spent half the course in first gear!" Actually, there were a few dirtroad sections, but the recent lack of rain meant that passing was difficult in the dust. Two different starts were utilized, with the morning race fielding an Industry class, a Mexican National, the C division and the Women. That race had been scheduled to go two hours, but was cut to an hour and a half, making pit stops unnecessary for many. The Pros ran in the twoand-a-half-hour afternoon race (originally slated to go three hours), as did the A and B riders. In the KTM-sponsored Pro Challenge, the riders quickly spread out just off the start, partially due to the thick dust, and there were 20-second gaps between most of the riders after one lap. There was very little passing after that, with the exception of KTM's hot new property, Kurt Caselli, who started fourth and finished second. Yamaha ace Ty Davis also managed to pass a number of riders on his way to an eventual fourth-place finish. The top rider was Nick Pearson, surprising since he was campaigning a big 426cc Yamaha four-stroke on the technical course. Kawasaki Team Green's Destry Abbott finished after Caselli in third. In the morning's Industry race, most of the top guys were on electricstart four-strokes, a definite advantage with the odd start procedure (riders had to be in front of the bike, facing backward). As expected, Cycle World magazine's Jimmy Lewis grabbed the holeshot, but his eventual win was canceled when he asked to be disqualified, leaving victory for Baja Bound's Tim Morton. Second went to Dirt Bike magazine's Ron Lawson, but only after a race-long dice with third-place-finisher Chilly White. CN Tecate Hare Scnmbles Ram:ba Ver1Inica, llja Califllmia, Mexico Resulls: Janamy 28, 2882 KTM. PRO eHAu: I. Nick Peerson (YlIm); 2. Kurt ea.em (KTM); 3. o..try Abbon (Kaw); 4. Ty Devis (Yam): 5. Chuck Woodford (Kew); 6. Brian Bro..... n (Kaw); 7. Steve Hatch (5uz); 8. Johnny Campbell (Han); 9. Larry Roesl..- (Kaw); 10. Robert Naughton (Suz); 11. Scott Myer. (Han); 12. Paul Krause (KTM); 13. DliVid Rees (KTM); 14. Luke McNeil (Yam); 15. Russell Pearson (Yam); 16. Brent Harden (KTM); 17. Eddie o.ane. (Yam); 18. Carlo. Molina (Kaw); 19. Jo.h McLevy (Han). 30- A: I. Taber Murphy (Han): 2. Matt Berault (Yam); 3. John Conyer (Yam); 4. Jacob Cornett (Kaw): 5. Nick Beaver (Suz). 30+ A: J. Jimmy Lewis (KTM); 2. Bry8n Bruning (Yam); 3. Tim Crowder (Yam); 4. Richie Hudson (KTM); 5. Rob Pafford (Han). 40+ A: 1. Grent PZllenske (YZlm): 2. Will Mundy (KTM); 3. Tom Webb (Yam). 30- B; 1. Brock Harden (KTM); 2. Ira Vlck (Yam): 3. Je••e Beck (Han); 4. Brett Power (Yam): 5. Richard Thorp (Yam). 30+ B: 1. Oax Billings (Hon); 2. Oavid Vogt (KTM); 3. Dean Adams (KTM); 4. Juen Villasenor (Vam): 5. James Gapp (Hon). 40+ B: 1. Hans VanderwlullI (Kaw); 2. JZlmes Nordbrook (Y"rn); 3. O"ve Wonderly (Yam): 4. Jim Pool (Han): 5. Steve Power (Han). 30- S/MN: l. 5,,1 Filippone (5uz); 2. Patrick