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/128163
AMA Mid-South Championship Summer Camp Series Southern Enduro Riders Association Round 3: NATRA Riding In the 250cc/Open .. class, Gary Hendricks both won his class and eased into first place overall at round three of the AMA Mid-South Championship Summer Camp Series and Southem Enduro Riders Association event. STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEBBIE ALLEN NEW HOPE, At, J(]NE 16 fter earning a third-place number plate for the Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scrambles Series, Gary Hendricks decided that was not enough. He wanted more, so he set his mind to a new regime and broke loose at the second and third round of the Mid-South Championship Summer Camp Series. Riding a Kawasaki in the 250cc/ Open A class, he whirled into first place overall at the second round in Clarksville, Tennessee. Then he did it again at the double-sanctioned MSSC and SERA event in New Hope, Alabama. He attributes his expert riding style to working out at the gym and practicing two to three days per week. "It was a real confidence booster to win the second round," Hendricks said. "That made me think I could win another, so at sign-up Lance Smith talked me into riding in 250cc/Open A for Mid-South points. He seemed to think I could win without entering SERA's AA class, and I did. "The track was awesome," added the Performance Cycle of Dalton/ Pro Action of Kentucky-backed Hendricks. "It was perfect, and there lead when Smith fell on a curve. Smith quickly retrieved his Yamaha and held on to second place for the rest of the race. Hendricks got faster for each of the four laps raced and slowly passed one or two AA riders one lap at a time. "I never did catch Landon Carter or Jason Wofford," Hendricks said. "I could see them from a distance, but I caught them in [elapsed] time, since my class was the second off the start... Hendricks finished his last lap 12 seconds ahead of Carter, who took Lance Smith stakes a claim on the 250cc/Open A holeshot en route to a second-place overall finish in New Hope, Alabama. was only a little dust on the logging roads." The club members of the North Alabama Trail Riders Association were thankful for just the right amount of rain on Thursday. It made the 8 1/2-mile loop perfect for the 236 riders. Off the 250cc/Open A start, Smith pulled the holeshot, with Hendricks directly behind him. About half a mile into the course, Hendricks took the first place in the AA class and came in sec;ond overall. Wofford followed for an impressive third place overall and came through 10 seconds after Carter. Shortly thereafter, Hendricks slipped into the tent as the official overall winner. "I didn't really know he [Hendricks] was that close behind me," said Carter, "and I don't know if I could have done anything otherwise. I told my pit crew to be on the lookout for Placing fifth overall was SERA rider Chris McMillan. He rode his Yamaha into fourth place in the AA class. Riding in the 250cc/Open A class, Lance Smith and Wesley Wyatt followed in sixth and seventh place overall. Vet A winner Thomas Bennett came in eighth overall. "I'd like to thank the promoters for a well-organized event," Hattiesburg Cycles-sponsored Myatt said, "and I loved the terrain! It consisted of moist, loamy soil, technical rock sections, tight woods, and wide-open straightaways. They did a great job at putting a fun race on for us." eN SERA leaders like Glen Myatt, Carsten Cagle, Chad Earl, and Chris McMillan, because I wanted to win for SERA points. I didn't think to check out the 250cc/Open A guys." Dirt Bike Supply/Dirt TechjVillage Cycle Center-supported Carter absconded with the AA holeshot and stayed out front the entire time, reaching his SERA points goal. This was his second SERA win for the season. He worked the first round at Perry Mountain and won the next two. "I'm glad to be hanging in there with them," Carter said. "I just started back not long ago, and I'm happy to be out front of the SERA guys." Yamaha-mounted Wofford recovered from a bad start. "As soon as we hit the woods, everybody left me," Wofford said. "After the first lap, I was in seventh place." Three laps later, Wofford finally got a glimpse of Carter, but by then he was too late: He was 10 seconds down and half a mile away from the score tent - so he savored second place in the AA class. Glen Myatt followed 15 seconds later, after also struggling with a bad start. He was next to last entering the woods. "Some people fell," Myatt explained, "and I passed some people on the straightaways. I had a real good battle throughout the race with Bennie Waldrop. We swapped several times until the last lap. He crashed and I didn't see him anymore." While Myatt maneuvered into third place in the AA class, Waldrop was taken to the hospital for a concussion. During his recovery, Myatt ended up cleaning up Waldrop's gear and driving his truck home for him. "I'm glad to see he's okay," he said. cue I e NATlIA Hare Sc:r1Imbles New Hope, Alabama Unofficial Results: June 11, 2002 !Round 3] O/A: I. Gary Hendricks (Kew); 2. Lendan Carter (Hon); 3. Joson Wofford (KTM); 4. Glen Myou (Hus); 5. Chris McMillan (Yam): 6. Lance Smith (Yam); 7. Wesley WyoU (KTM); 8. Thomos Benneu (KTM); 9. Chod Earl (Kow); 10. Cliff Ousley (Yom). AA: 1. Landon CZl:fter (Hon); 2. Juon Wofford (KTM); 3. Glen Myou (Hus); 4. Chris McMillon (Yom); 5. Chod Earl (Kow). 250/0PEN A: I. Gory Hendricks (Kow); 2. Lonce Smith (Yom); 3. Wesley Wyoll (KTM); 4. Robert Uch (Yom); 5. Ron Skipper (Suz). 200 A; I. Richord Bo"eU (GG); 2. Kurt Eibell (KTM); 3. Mork Akers (Yom); 4. Michoel Belcher (KTM); 5. Wesley Porks (Kow). VET A: 1. Thomas Bennett (KTM); 2. Terry Roberts (KTM); 3. Adrian Gervais (Suz); 4. Jimmy Bates; 5. DllVld Summers (KTM). 4-STRK: 1. Neil Howel: 2. Jesse Robertson: 3. Jllmes Smith (KTM); 4. Bnmdon Wofford (Suz); 5. Harvey Whitaker (Kaw). 200 B: J. Toylor Reynolds (KTM); 2. Mom Bo" (KTM); 3. Bennie Helton; 4. Dllmon Prince; 5. Micheel Jeter (Vllm). OPEN B: 1. Cliff Ousley (Vern); 2. Shennon Welch (KTM); 3. Aeron Beldwin (KTM): 4. Shane Gomer (KTM); 5. Don Tolbert. 200 C: 1. Steve Borber (Yom); 2. Will McDonnell (KTM); 3. Bruce Diplocido (KTM); 4. Mike Wood. 4-STRK C: 1. Deweyne Durhem (Hon); 2. Gary Avans; 3. Gllry Bridges; 4. Jeff Jeckson (Kew). OPEN C: 1. Jeremy Lawrence (Kew); 2. Stan Taylor; 3. Jeremieh Perry: 4. Robert Whitmire (SOl); 5. Jeremy Hews. SR; I. Phillip 50rker (Hon); 2. Gory 50" (Yom); 3. Dwight Rudder (GG); 4. Cloy Stuckey (Kow). SR C; I. Jeff Kluge (KTM); 2. T"" Berry; 3. Tom Carter (KTM); 4. Tim Kenyon; 5. Bub Nicewinter (Kow). Jaso.n WoffOnl quickly r.c~ his dead-lasf tMt and . ma~uvered his K.TM t9 MC*td In the AA class and third .",.,.., . from n e _ s • JULY 17, 2002 49