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/128164
I my 1J ~~ Own Race JR Mason Mason rode an RM250 to win the Vet Expert class a little over three minutes ahead of second-placed David Morton. The Roseville Cycle rider had this to say about his first Funky Chicken: "1 had a dead· last start, then just paced myself. I'm from northem Califomia, so the hills really work out for me. 1 was making up a lot of time in the trees and tight stuff where the dust wasn't so bad.- ~~ Brian Sperle @@ Craig Wesner KTM rider had a battle going with Zimmerman for third place and then, on lap four, "I got hung up behind one lapper and tried to pass him on the right-hand side. I caught a log I didn't see in the grass and went from third to fifth in one wreck." He ended up fifth. Wesner was pleased with fourth place. "Once the pecking order was established, you had to work pretty hard to pass," said the Team Green Kawasaki rider who, when he's not racing, is finishing up a mechanical engineering degree at Cal Poly. "It was a great race." 1J ® Rob Zimmerman Zimmerman ended up thlrd overall for the second year in a row and was ecstatic with the result. "I like this place. I had a couple tipovers and a crash. 1 ran in fourth most of the day." The Nor Cal Motorsports-sponsored YZ250 pilot was the beneficiary of Sperle's crash. "The dust made it scary in a few places, and I had a little problem with lappers trying to get around some of them who wanted to battle." Sperle seemed to be just glad to be in one piece at the finish after his get off in the dust. Bill Rush topped the 200 A class while Chris Gallt was first 250 A. Russell Pereira was the first thumper in the A class, and Abe Bauman the first Open A. J.R. Mason and Dean Joyner BRIEFLY••• topped the Vet and Senior classes. Garrahan now leads the series with 105 points. Andrews, at 94, has The scenic course. which received very high marks from the partiCipants despite dusty conditions. was 13 miles long and featured interesting sections with colorful names such as Bee Sting. Junkyard Trail. Dopey's Drop. Bear Bait. Pecker Pole, Wally World and Pucker Patch. Last year's l00-mph downhill was an uphill this year, with a constructed jump over the road crossing. moved into second ahead of Raines, who remains at 61. Woodford and Russ Pearson are holding at 46 58 and points, respectively. CN Shilo Inns Funky Chicken He.. Scrembles Elkton, ore90n Results: June &-7, 2002 O/A (SUNDAY): 1. Brion Go"ohon (KTM): 2. Fred Andrews (KllW); 3. Rob Zimmemum (Yam): 4. Craig Wesner (Kew); 5. Brian Sperle (KTM): 6. Jason Sigfrid (Yom):7. Bryce Olson (KTM): 8. Chris GolI' (Kew): 9. Eric Ducray (Yam): 10. Eric Kohler (Yom):11. Jeremy Puma (KTM); Jeriah Gurley (Hon): 13. Derek S'eohly (KTM): 14. Chris ZilO (KTM); 15. Tyler Whitcomb (Yam): 16. Brilln Butler (Hon); 17. Abe Baumllun (KlIw); lB. Jesse BlIfstow (Hon): 19. Rob Lewis (Hon); 20. Dean Joyner (Suz). 200 A: 1. Bill Rush; 2. Chad Hudson: 3. Travis Sluder; 4. Josh Huffman: 5. Kenny Steahly. 250 A: 1. Chris Gallt: 2. Jerlah Gurley: 3. Brian Butler; 4. Jeff. Bauer: 5. Stephen Adams. 4·$TRK A: I Russell Perelfll; 2. Ted Huskey; 3. Brian Bertolini; 4. Evan O'Leary: 5. Greg Ghione. OPEN A: 1 Abe Baumeun: 2. David Froembling: 3, Jeff Pratt; 4. Steven Peppmeier; 5. Brett Mcbee. SR A: 1. Dean Joyner: 2. Edward Ux; 3. Kerry Patterson; 4. Mark Maldonado; 5. Dale Bernards. S/SR: 1. AI Garrahan; 2. Johnny Stevens; 3. William Craig: 4 Ken Cosmo; 5. Jeff Hollfelder. VET A: 1. J.R. Mason; 2. David Morton; 3. Joe Mullen; 4. Russ Bolin; 5. Mike Ginter. WMN A: 1. Kelly Yancey; 2. Heather Wilson: 3. Amand Mastin; 4. Carol Williems: 5. Sheena Patterson (Left to right) Garrahan, Andrews and Zimmerman celebrate their 1·2-3 finishes on the podium. (Top) Residing back east, defending champ Fred Andrews wasn't used to the dry, open westem terrain. He stili pulled off a second-place finish, though. (Above) Craig Wesner pits for liquids on his way to fourth overall. 200 8: I. Nolen Irwin; 2. Jeffery Hogl!ln; 3. Reid Brown. 250 8: David Kamo; 2. Daniel Fergason Jr.; 3. Anthony Simontacchl. 4-STRK 8: 1. Scott Hurst: 2. Scott Chendler; 3. Pete Pappes. GENTS 8: I, Fred Sumrall: 2. Bill Craig. JR: I. Brien Raymond; 2. Spencer Foley; 3. Kyle Anderson. OPEN B: 1. Lane Mount: 2. Nathan Jones: 3. Kevin Lane. Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - Bloomingdale, Michigan, July 21 Round 7 - Crab Orchard, Illinois, August 4 Garrahan and Andrews were the only two series "contenders" to show up in Oregon. Raines was pre-entered, but didn't show. Woodford, who was fourth in the points coming into this round, also chose to stay away after breaking his leg here last year. In this 10-race series, the racers have two • throwaways.· With the five remaining rounds, all east of the Mississippi. it's easy to see why some of the top contenders, many of whom are based in the east. didn't make the trip out. Injured reserve: There were a couple of familiar faces in the KTM pits. Pat Garrrahan and last year's overall winner Shane Watts (right. on left), both of whom are recovering from injuries. were on hand tending to the pit chores for Brian Garrahan, Yancey and the rest of the KTM crew. -Everything's good, I'm all fixed up now - just got to heal up, - said Watts, who was still sporting a cast on hiS left wrist. Garrahan said that he would probably be out for few more months. The Women's class (right) was one of the most hotly contested. No less 'han five top· ranked women off-road and motocross racers left the line with the rest of the A riders. ISDE team members Carol Williams and Amanda Mastin gave reigning Natoonal Hare & Hound Women's ace Kelly Yancey and Team Green's Hare Scram· bles/GNCC rider Heather Wilson some much· needed competition. Rising WML star Sheena Patterson was also there to get a taste of offroad racing at the National level. Yancey, who was 45th overall for the day, moved into the class lead on lap three and hung in there to beat Wilson by a minute, 18 seconds, the latter being followed less than two minutes later by Mastin. This was the fourth year the Emerald Trail Riders Association CETRAl put on the Funky Chicken Hare Scrambles. The second year as a National. this year's course covered 13 miles and took riders through a variety of terrain, including a spectator-friendly, ISDE-style grasstrack, tight woods and steep hills (up and down). The race is held entirely on the 2500-acre -Big K Guest Ranch· nestled between bends of the scenic Umpqua River in West Central Oregon. The Kosterson family, which owns and operates the guest ranch, provided not only the land, but also offered lodging and a food concession in the pits. The venue probably contributed to increased numbers of people cheering for their favorite national or local rider. Co-sanctioned by the OMRA, this event also drew a large number of District 36 riders. A longstanding relationship between The Emerald Trail Riders Association and the Big-K has made this event possible. and it is the only time that motorcycles are allowed on this working cattle and sheep ranch. Without exception, the riders were pleased with the course and the event. -The club puts on a great event here, and I just want to thank them for putting on such a great event. I wish there were more events like this.· said Garrahan. -This place is awesome. I,'s got everything you need - hills, tight stuff, fast stuff· and the course was well marked.· ·One of these years it will rain and this will be the best track of the year,· added Andrews. In spite of a scary crash in the dust, Sperle gave it good marks: -They did a good job on the course. It was fun - nice and tight. some wide-open sections... - II: Y II: • n _ ... s JULY 24. 2002 9