Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cochran. then by Scally, then by Cardott - all on Triumphs. Fifth was Tri-BSA rider Wayne Sumner. One of the most enjoyable races was the final for the Women racers, riding in the endof-the-day Support Knobby class. There were but two entrants, and the ladles were both on Yamaha equipment. The lead changed as few times as once per lap, but mostly there were multiple lead changes every lap. Passing seemed to be no problem for either racer, anywhere on the track. Although most watching thought that the finish was a dead heat, the nod went to Chantee Jackson. with runner-up Danielle Garda seemingly as happy as if she had won. The pits lind spectator area were a virtual "Who's Who" of racing. Mlinuel Romero, former tuner for Donnie Castro. was present. as was Donnie and Mrs. Castro. Also in attendance was Johnny Lamanto, former racer and tuner in the early days before there was a District 36. Now that the Santa Clara Riders Unlimited have enough room for spectators and competitors, it is expected that future events will be huge attractions once the word gets out. Attendance this year was a noticeable improvement from last year's turnout. California Off Road Vehicle Park: Rodney Spencer was a dominant force at the sixth annual Western Regional Dirt Track Championships in Hollister, California. California OR Road Vehicle Park Hollister California I Resuhs: August 25. 2002 w § z w " 10 ~ Fast Fridays Speedway: Mike Faria (center) topped the podium in Auburn, California, flanked by runner-up Alan Christian (left) and third-placed Bobby Hedden (right). SUP 50 P/W: I. MaR:U5 Fragoso (Yem). SUP 65 MIN!: I. Jesa Gercia (Kaw); 2. Angele Fragoso (Kew): 3. Demon Iwenege (Kaw). SOP 60 MI."I: 1. Frankie Gerda (Kaw): 2 Brenl Tiernen (Ka_): 3 Reul Lerme (Yern); 4. alily EIcobar (Kaw). SOP 90 MU'tl: I. Melissa Lerme (Vern) 2. Vincent Cenepe (yem). SOP XR 100 S'Tk I. Slevle BoNey (Han); 2. DonW>k Slew"" Western Regional Dirt Track Championships California Off Road Vehicle Park Spencer Masters NewTT By MIKE VANCIL HOLLISTER. CA. AUG. 25 Rodney Spencer and his rotary-valved Kawasaki were dominant factors on the newly created IT track at the upper ranch of Hollister's famed California Off Road Vehicle Park. The Western Regional Dirt Track Championships were held for the first five years at the lower ranch, but that venue could no longer accommodate the crowds of riders and spectators that tum out for this vintage attrZlction. Park Ranger personnel had hauled in semi trucks of dirt to create the backward-L-shaped hillside track. The uphill start straight was used as the start line, with the finish line located after the tum onto the bottom of the L. At the sixth annual event, from practice until his final checkered flag of the day. Spencer never turned a wheel wrong, putting in as flawless a ride as anyone has ever seen. He and the machine were so dialed in to this new track that he immediately set the fastest lap times. in Spencer's heat race for the Veteran Vin· tage class. a much-anticipated battle never came to be when Rodney's brother Brad withdrew from the class due to mechanical problems with his BSA. Stu Cordott and Rodney lined up for battle, Cordott on the Triumph 500 and Spencer on the Kawasaki. Spencer took one of four victories for the day. He rode two heat races and two finals and won every time out. Spencer's next conquest was in the Sportsman Vintage class, battling Bultaco jockey Joe Tretheway and Honda-mounted Butch Cochran. A good-natured Cochran laughed off getting caught fudging on the start and being sent to the penalty line. At the start. Spencer began his disappearing act. and Cochran rode very hard to pass Tretheway before the checkers came out. In the final, the Bultaco couldn't make it to the start line. so the battle was between Spencer and Cochran; Spencer won. The other Rodney who had a good measure of success was Rodney Spencer, the younger of the Spencer racing clan. Young Rod won his heat and final in the XR100/TT125 class aboard a Yamaha. He took second in the 500cc Sportsman Support heat but won the final. For his final effort. he placed second in the heat and in the final of the 250cc Support Knobby class. also on a Yamaha. The Spencers needed a wheelbarrow to haul away their awards. Another double-event winner was Joe Carrera; after his racing was done. he filled in as 62 SEPTEMBER 25. 2002' eye fiagman for Paul Iwanaga. Carrera picked up a last-minute sponsored ride in the Sportsman Vintage Twins class. Once gearing was sorted out, this big. healthy Triumph twin became the star of the class in the hands of the capable Carrera. In the heat race. Cardott took an immediate lead on his Triumph, zlind Bob Scally was running second, with Carrera third. Carrera first got by Scally and then challenged Cardott for the lead but came up short, settling for second. In the final, Cochran came to the line but started last (due to having not finished the heat race. and aiso partially due to a dragging clutch not permitting him to hold the bike on the line). Scally started well. but Carrera got around him early. Cochran battled the track as well as his machine, Scally worked up to second place. At one point. Cochran shouted at Scally, "Sorry. no brakesl" The checkers were first viewed by C8rrera, then by (Han), SUP XRIOO~I25: L Rcxb:y Spenctr (Yem); 2. AJ. EIco· be! (Hon); 3_ Loure l.enne (Yom). SP1"SI'\N VI/'fT 0-250: I. Mark Legerre (Vom) 2. Butch Cochran (Han): 3. Deve ~emp (Han); 4. Mike Bnmlt (Hon); 5. Dove Smith (Han). NOV VI/'fT 0-250: 1. Bmt Teylor (Vern). VET VlJ'fT: 1. Rod Spenct:r (Kaw): 2. Stu Cerdott (Tri) SOP SPTSMN 250: I. Alex Fregoso (Yern). SOP SPTSM 500: I. Rodney Spencer (Yam); 2. John Hlebo (Hon); J. Denlelle Gerde (Vern): 4. Tim Burkottl (Vern): 5, Greg Gh_(Han). NOV VlNT 600: I. Rendy Wilder (Vern): 2. Jim Musich (CZ); 3 Rich Dominguez (BSA). NOV VINT 750: I. Devld Nicholson (Tn). '70s SGL: 1, Joe Cerrere (Vern); 2. Roger Bowermen (Vern); 3. Richerd Hemngton (Hon). SPTSMI'I VINT 2.51·600: 1. Rod Spencer (Kew); 2. Butch Coc:hnm (Hon). SPTSMN VlNT TW 601-750: 1. Joe Celll':re (Tn); 2. &tch Cochran (Tri); 3. Robert SceUy (Tn); 4. Stu Cllrdou (Tn); 5. Weyne SulTlm!t (Tri-BSA). 011"10: I. Mali( Milton (lnd). SR 50.: 1. Rob@nScelly (Tn): 2. Steve Locey (Han): 3. Richerd Dominguez (BSA): 4. flU Aett. (Ttl); 5. Tom OlSelvo (Tn). S/SR: I. MIckey Nzole (Tri): 2. Weyne Sumf'ICt (BSA): 3. Jim Chisum (BSA). SOP OPEN PRO: 1. Steve Hlebo (Hon): 2. Chris Cenepe (Yem): 3, MIchelle DiSalvo (Hon): 4. Tony Rose (Rot); 5. Greg Ghlone (Hon). SUP 60 KNBV; 1, Matt Kennedy (Yem); 2. Reut !..enTIe (Yem); 3. Anthony Mecere (Kew). SUP 250 KI'IBY: 1. Chris Cenepe (Yem): 2. Rodney Spencer (Yam); 3. Tony ROle (HOI'l): 4. Chris Green (Vern): 5. Rendy Wilder (Cl). SOP WMN KNBY: 1, Chentee Jeck.son (Yem): 2. Oenlelle Gerdo (Yam), SUP OPEN MBY: 1. Greg Ghlooe (Hon): 2. Dave Smith (Hon); 3. Ryen Sketton (Yem): 4. Jim Musich (CZ); 5. Art Escobar (KTM). Fast Fridays Track Championship Fast Fridays Speedway SoBER AUBURN,CA,AUG.30 Three-time U.S. National Speedway Champion "Flyin'" Mike Faria rode the wave of a perfect 15-point score to capture his first-ever Maita Ford/Fast Fridays Track Championship. Wit's all in this motor I got here from my So-Cal sponsor," said Faria after the race, referring to sponsor Jack Mattison. "Tonight was just a preview of what it's gonna do at the final round of the National. It's the best ride I've had in years." The 1985 U,S. National Speedway Champion, Alan Christian, rode his finest race of the year to capture the second-place spot with a solid l3-point total. Bobby Hedden and Bart Bast finished tied at 12 points each. Despite what his point total may have indicated, Faria's night, from start to finish, was anything but a piece of cake. In his opening heat of the five scheduled rounds. he took the win. ahead of Chad Felicio. He won the second round. ahead of Tommy Hedden. I e n e _ s It Fast Fridays Speedway Auburn. California Results: August 30, 2002 Faria Flawless at Fast Fridays C'ship By M. down. It looked like a Scratch main event, as Faria loaded in on the pole, with Bast, Hedden and Christian fanned out to his right. The tension mounted when starter Mark Joiner held the gate an extra-long second as the bikes' engines screamed to be released. Bast lurched forward and poured his front wheel across the starting tapes and disqualified himself. "I knew the way Mike was riding. I had to get a great gate or I wouldn't win, said the refreshingly candid Bast after finishing the event in fourth overall ... , had no interest in finishing second, so I went for it and guessed wrong." As he had done all night, Faria staged the finest start and got out in front as Bobby Hedden and Christian fought tooth and nail over the runner-up spot. Uncharacteristically, Christian stayed with the outside line that he was afforded from his lane-four starting position and in the end he prevailed over outside specialist Bobby Hedden. who finished a close third, Bryan Yarrow, who celebrated his 18th birthday in the pits after the event, won the next heat, and Felicio finished out the scoring with an impressive win over visiting Polish citizen Bart Bardecki, who began the night as a reserve rider. Jon Curry and Mike Achilles took home the bragging rights in the Auburn Division Two and Division Three championships. Curry's triumph came about when Derek Silva and Robert Mellor's early-race bickering over the lead cost them both the title. Meanwhile, former track champion Bart Bast was dispensing lessons to Ivan Sevart and Tommy Hedden. Not to be outdone, recently crowned 2002 Nor-Cal points champion Bobby "The Blaze" Hedden was taking two wins, at the expense of Matt Browne and Felicio. In round three, Christizm, who was obviously past the uncertainties of switching to a lay·down power plant and was riding better than at zmy point in the season, took his second win and was only a point shy of a perfect score. Bast and Faria kept pace at the top with wins. but Bobby Hedden lost a point to Scott Brant, who had his second victory in a row after a round-one crash. Round four saw Hedden, Bast, Faria and Christian all prevail, which left the night's outcome squarely in the maw of the second heat of the final round. where they would all face one another in the same heat' After Tommy Hedden opened up the round with a win over the surprisingly fast Ian Essary. the stage was set for the final show- TRACK C'SHIP': 1. Mike Fene (QM); 2. Alan Christ.len (Jew): 3. Bobby Hedden (Jew): 4 Bart But (Jew): 5. (TIE) Chad Felldo (Jew)/Brylll'l Vem:N/ (Jew); 7. Tommy Hedden (Jaw); 8. Scott Brw1t (Jew); 9. (TIE) Bert Bardeckl (Je_)/Matt Browne (Jew)/Ouis Kerr (Jew)/lven Sl!vert (Jew): 13. (TlE) Ian Euery (Jaw)/Greg HootDn Jr. (Jewl: 15. (TIE) Peul 0r1andI (Jaw)/J.J. Martynse (Jew)/Biliy HDes (Jew). D·2: I. Jon Cuny. 0..3: I. Mike Achilles Western New York Motocross Asso. Round ZZ: Hunt Motu Park 2Cool Rules at Round 22 By U.RRY WOOSTER HUNT, NY. SEPT. 1 Round 22 of the Western New York Motocross Association series, held at Hunt Moto Park, brought 425 riders and many more spectators out to the picturesque Livingston County

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