Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

on the front straight. Cook tucked back in behind the leader and was content to wait until the last lap to make his move. As the two were completing the last lap, Cook was still on Harsh's tailpipe. Entering the front straight, Cook dived low and the drag race was on. The two fast Hondas drove to the checkers side by side, inches apart. Cook won the battle by half a bikeJength over his nemesis. "This is my first heads-up win against the champ," said the elated rider. "The GNF [Grand National Finals] are going to be something," Harsh responded. "We're both tied for the points lead, and it's all coming down to that race in October. n Dick Gruhn took his Quick Bikes 350cc Yamaha to the Formula 500 victory, and Cocoa, Florida's Carl Anderson took his Bulldog Cycles 175cc Yamaha to the 350cc GPwin. In race two, which included Formula TwoStroke, Vintage Four and Vintage Two, and was the biggest grid of the day, things got a little crowded in the first tum. Terry Scoggin took the inside line on his big 650cc Ducati but found one of those aforementioned puddles and his front end washed out. The slide took him off the track, and took three others with him: Tim Joyce, Mark Nadelkov and Cook all had to run off the track to avoid hitting Scoggin's skidding body. They all stayed on their wheels but lost valuable time, as the race was not stopped. Nadelkov worked his way back to the front and took the Vintage Four win. Joyce and Cook were no so lucky; Joyce went off the track again in tum 12, and Cook just couldn't make up the deficit in Vintage Two. Harsh had got through the mess unscathed and took the win. The Formula Two-Stroke race was a continuation of the past several battles at various tracks, as MRA's Mark Morrow took the win over his teammate Joe Pomeroy. The two have traded the point four times in the last four races. In race three, Joyce took his 750cc Triumph to the Vintage Three victory. Jon Jarvis took his third win in a row in Vintage Five on his Pirelli/Pit Bull EX500 Kawasaki. Anderson and Gruhn took their second wins of the day in race three, Gruhn handling the Formula RD crowd, while Anderson took the 250cc GP honors. David Rutherford took his BSA 500 to the 500cc GP win. In Sunday's Vintage Six and Vintage Seven races, Eric Bozzell took his Suzuki 750 to the Vintage Six win, with William Mayfield grabbing second. In Vintage Seven, the two swapped positions, with Mayfield showing the way over Bozzell. North Florida Motorsports Park Jennings, Florida Results: August 31, 2002 (Round 20) 250 GP: I. Carl Anderson (Yam): 2. Nathan McManus (H·D). 350 GP: I. Carl Anderson (Yam); 2. Nathan McManus (H·D). 500 GP: I. David Rutherford (BSA): 2. Morglln McManus (Met). F·RD: I. Dick Gruhn (Yam); 2. Lynford Garland (Yam): 3. Robert Mecau!ey (Yam): 4. Gnmt Miterko (Yam); 5. Chris Stevenson (Yam). F·SOO: 1. Dick Gruhn (Yam): 2. Robert. Macauley (Yam). f·2: 1. Mark Morrow (Yem); 2. Joe Pomeroy (Yam): 3. RIck Guire)' (Yam): 4. Bernard Hensler (Yem). VINT I: I. Eric Cook (Hen); 2. Buff Harsh (Hon): 3. Stelle Stllser (Hen); 4. Julien poczatek (Hon). VlrIT 2: I. Buff Hersh (Hen): 2. Eric Cook (Hen): 3, TIm Joyce (Trl); 4. Julian Poczatek (Hon), VINT 3: I. TIm Joyce (Tn): 2. Mark Nadelkov (Yam): 3. Jens Zastrow (Yam). VIN! 4: 1. Mark Nadelkov (Yam); 2. David Rutherford (Duc); 3. Jens Ztlstrow (Yam); 4. Teny Scoggin (Due). VINT 5: l. Jon Jarvis (Kaw); 2. Rick Gulrey (Yam); 3. Julian Pocultek (Duc); 4. Kyle King (Kaw). VIN! 6: 1. Eric Bozell (Suz); 2. WlIllam Mayfield (Yam). VINT 7: I. William Mayfield (Yam); 2. Eric Bazzell (Suz); 3. Fred Hull (Kaw). XR50 Four-Stroke Pit Bike Race Barona Oaks Raceway Albrecht, Roberts Win Big Mini Money By HOMER EUBANKS RAMONA, CA, AUG. 31-SEPT. 1 In conjunction with the 16th annual Barona Oaks Mini National, SanoRacing.com hosted the biggest XR50 Four-Stroke Pit Bike event of the year, with 160 riders attending. Joel Aibrecht won the Pro Unlimited feature and took home $600 of the posted $1390 purse. The pit-bike events have been getting ever more popular with the twentysomething riders. Previous SanoRacing.com events have drawn large crowds, probably because some bigname supercross stars such as Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Emig, Tommy Clowers and others drop by to have a fun race. No wonder SanoRacing.com got hooked up with Quinsey Powersports, Barona Oaks, TAG Metals, One, Pax Racing, MotoWoridRacing.com, Rail America, Sam Coe Performance, FMF, Sik 50s, Triton Imaging, Maxima Oils, Acerbis, Hunkin Clothing, Thor, Metal Tek, 5.0. Racing and Providing Trophys to support their event. Supercrosser-turned-XR50-pilot Albrecht got into the main after losing moto one to Andy Harrington, who was riding a borrowed bike. Albrecht, however, came back in the second moto to capture the checkers. Harrington had gotten the holeshot, but Albrecht and Mark Thomas passed Harrington on lap three. Harrington's troubles got worse, as on the following lap he fell back to 10th. Thomas had finished third in moto one and trailed Albrecht across for second. Jared Hanebrink went 7-3 in the qualifiers and then placed third in the main. Trevor Green was fourth, and Harrington kept the rubber side down in the main event to finish fifth. In the Pro dass, Jake Roberts won the first heat, with Tim Beatty trailing. Harrington took third, and the remaining transfer spots went to Bradley Pavlick, Cole Sleeter, Trent Bragg and Travis Ham. The second Pro heat was won by Cory Bender, who kept a hard-charging Chris Cooper behind him. Brian Miller and Jeff Willoh fought over third, with Miller taking the spot. The remaining transfer riders were Josh West, Clinton Pierce and Guy Battaglia. 72 OCTOBER 2, 2002· cue I e Roberts took the Pro main win, ahead of Johner Faulkner, and pocketed a purse of $700. Miller kept West behind him, with the help of Willoh, who was pressuring West. Beatty had been in contention but went down hard with a possible right-leg fracture. Sixteen riders signed up for the "200pounds-or-30-years-or older" event, but Todd Mitchell took all three motos en route to the overall win. In fact, the front four played follow-the-Ieader all day. Miller, Thomas and Frank Aragaki finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in all three races. Fifthplaced Laythe Hartwell was seventh in moto one but came back to score a fifth in moto two and the main event. In the first Amateur heat, Stephen Bowdler fought off Hartwell to score his win and transfer to the main. Hartwell held off Donny Emler, who finished third. Fourth was Nathan Wilson, and Jason Douglas and Scott Magaeleno took the last transfer spots. In the second heat. T.K. McNeil snatched the checkered flag from Travis Anderson. Taylor Happe crossed over .third, and Josh Shorter was fourth, ahead of Adam Daniels. In the main event, it looked like McNeil all the way - until the last lap. McNeil went down and Travis Anderson, who had been hounding him the entire race, took over the lead and eventual win. Hartwell moved from 19th on lap one to third by lap five, and when McNeil went down, Hartwell inherited second. Magaeleno crossed over third after dropping as far back as fifth. Douglas ran with the leaders earlier on to earn fourth, ahead of Happe. Thomas swept aside the Mid-Size Open competition by winning both heats and the main. Tanner Alexander used three deuces to take the second-overall spot, ahead of Austin Lambert, who went 5-4-3 on the day. Kim Reeg finished fourth in the main after placing 4-5 in the heats. Nathan Dunn grabbed the overall honors in the Box Stock category. Dunn lost the first heat to Travis Anderson, but Dunn came back out for a win in heat two and Anderson did not start. Dunn must have used the extra track n e _ s time to hone his skills for the main event, as he kept Troy Graffunder back in second when it counted most. Anderson finished third, ahead of Alexander. The competition in the Kids/Ladies class was intense. Jennifer Pavlick took repeat wins in the heats but was disqualified in the main, giving the overall honors to Leah Celeste, who had gone 2-3 in the heat races. Troy Graffunder rode to 4-2 finishes in the heats and ended up second in the main. Melissa Castro went 3-5 in the heats and finished third in the main. In the Kids/Ladies Modified dass, Preston Quam rode to 2-1 heat finishes and then grabbed the overall in the main. Garret Jackson took second in the main after placing 3·2 in the heats. Kaden Hartwell took third in the main. Barona Oaks Raceway Ramona, Califomia Results: August 31.September 1, 2002 PRO (l/L: 1. Joel Alb~ht (Hen); 2. Mark Thomas (Hen); 3, Jared Hanebrlnk (Hon); 4. Trevor Green (Hen); 5. Andy HalTlngton (Hon). PRO: 1. Jack Roberts (Hon): 2. Jahner Faulkner (Han): 3. Brian Miller (Hon); 4. Josh West (Hon); 5. JeffWilloh (Hon). 200 LBS or 30+: 1. Todd Mitchell (Hon): 2. Brian Miller (Hon): 3. Mark Thomn (Hen): 4. F!1lnk AraQaki (Han): 5. Laythe Hartwell (Hon). AM: 1. Travis Anderson (Hon); 2. Laythe Hartwell (Hon): 3. Scott Magaeleno (Hon); 4. Jason Douglas (Hon); 5. Taylor Happe (Hon). MlDSZ OPEN: I. Mark Thomas (Hon): 2. Tanner Alexander (Hon); 3. Austin Lambert (Hen); 4, Kim Reeg (Hen); 5. Rusty Mont· gomery (Hon). KIDS/LOS STK: I. Leah Celeste (Hon); 2. Troy Graffunder (Hen); 3. Melissa Castro (Hon); 4. Natalie Eckert (Hon); 5. Spencer Robert. (Hon). KIDS/LOS MOD: I. Preston Quam (Hon); 2. Garret Jackson (Hon): 3. Kaden Hartwell (Hon): 4. Cyle Moskowitz (Hon). BOX STK: I. Nathan Dunn (Hen); 2. Troy Grlatunder (Hon); 3. Travis Anderson (Hon): 4. Tanner Alexander (Hon); 5. T.K. McNeil (Hon). International Old-Timers Series Round 10: Fernley International Raceway Bowling Pins Down a Win By GENE H,GGINBOTHAM FERNLEY, NV, AUG. 31-SEPT. I If you're 40 years old or older and like to compete, you really should consider joining an Old-Timers chapter near you. Classes are divided into la-year age groups and .ability ievels (such as Novice, Amateur, Expert and Master). Although it hasn't been broken down to the point where everyone can win (though sometimes that seems what some riders want), there's a class for almost everyone. "Beating friends makes the ride" was the theme of last month's round nine, at Horn Rapids, Washington. Competition is important, as is winning, but the real draw is more about being with old friends, many of whom have been arch rivals on the track. Round 10 at Fernley was no exception. Nevada chapter president Larry Brown and his great membership, induding Bob Fabel and Judy Aja, hosted a weekend that, as always, was second to none. From the exciting track announcers to the barbecued steak and com on Saturday evening to the smooth running of all of the races, the event was excellent. In the Over 60 Expert dass, Carl Bowling, of the Sierra chapter, and Riverside's George Spearing diced back and forth on both Saturday and Sunday, with each winning a moto on Saturday and Spearing winning the first moto on Sunday. There was plenty of emotion at the starting line for the fourth moto, because both are tough competitors who 'want the overall win. Bowling got a decisive holeshot, with Spearing running a couple of places back. Bowling opened up a comfortable lead, taking the moto win and first place overall for the weekend. Nevadan Michael Harper and Washington's Mark Kaestner were the top contenders in the Master A class, with Harper combining his speed with his knowledge of the track to take five wins out of five tries for the overall, over series points leader Kaestner. The Master B contest was a close race between Brown and the Sierra chapter's Steve Law, who won overall. Law placed third in the first moto but followed with four convincing wins to beat out Brown, who had consistent second-place finishes. Brown was lucky to survive a spectacular "flying W" in the third moto. There was a dassic battle in the Over 50 Masters class, between series points leader Mike Perry of Oregon and (a name from the past) Rich Thorwaldson of Nevada. Throw Sierra's Terry Sage into the mix and you have some great rllcing. Thorwaldson rode up to his old level on Saturday (he hasn't raced motocross for several years) for three wins, though he traded the lead once with Perry, who took two seconds and a third, while Sage took two thirds and a second. On Sunday, more of the same was ~xpected, until about halfway through the fourth moto, when Perry caught Thorwaldson and took the lead and began to open up a gap. "I was maintaining the best pace I could," Sage said, "but those guys just walked away from me." Perry won the fourth moto convincingly. The fifth and last moto started with Thorwaldson grabbing the holeshot, as usual. Perry knew that the overall was probably out of reach, because Thorwaldson would have to place fourth (which was not likely). Using the determination for which he is known, Perry pushed Thorwaldson, hoping he'd make a mistake. At halfway, there was a new leader Perry. Thorwaldson did make a mistake in some deep sand and fell behind Perry and Sage. Perry cruised in for the win but took second overall, behind Thorwaldson. If not for placing third, behind Sage, on Saturday, Perry would have won the tie breaker on Sunday. Nevada's Kevin Truax made short work of the Over 40 Expert dass, taking the overall with five out of five wins over Sierra's Lee Miller, who was consistently in the hunt, his four seconds and a third garnering second overall. Riverside's CR500 rider Scott Walker, series points leader and consistent ho!eshot artist, was fresh off of a hard-fought win at Horn Rapids, where he had to win the lastmoto tie breaker for his overall win. However, at this round, he met up with Richard Lyons, also of RiverSide, and Sierra's Dennis Pangborn, who had ideas of their own about winning. Lyons took first overall and Pangborn took second, while Walker settled for third overall. Walker vows to win the next round in Vegas. Tony Amnada took the overall in the Over 70 Expert dass, virtually unchallenged. Gene Higginbotham, nursing injuries, watched from the sidelines while Johnny Hall, Fred Parsen and Asker Lamkjaer kept Armada honest. Round II will be held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 12-13, and the final round 12 will be in Victorville, October 26-27. Femley International Raceway Fernlay. Nevada Results: August 31-September 1, 2002 (Round 10 of 121 NOV; I. Curtis Paulson: 2. Christina Ellis; 3. Vic Marshall; 4. Greg Landers; 5. David Faircloth. AM: 1. Mike Ellis; 2. Peter Mayforth; 3. Jay O'Neal: 4. MIke Mieras; 5. Vic Demitrlos. EX: I. Kevin Truax: 2. Lee Miller, 3. Richard Mannschreck; 4. Greg Bums; 5. Robert Marks. 50+ NOV: 1. Grandon Benson; 2. Uoyd Carr: 3. Larry Kirsch: 4. Mike Recob. 50+ AM: I. Michael Burnett; 2. George Stephenson; 3. Brad Gunlock; 4. Jeny Wlnklebauer; 5. Fred Wheeler. 50+ EX: 1. Rick Foiener, 2. Pat Smith: 3. Bob FlIbel: 4. La.ny Hartnett; 5. Craig Woodward. 50+ MSTR: 1. Rich Thorwaldson; 2. Mike Perry; 3. Terry Sage: 4. Jim Howes; 5. Art. McDade. 60+ NOV: I. Richard Lyons; 2. DennIs Pangborn: 3. Scott Walk· er, 4. Uoyd Jones; 5. Richard Thompson . 60+ AM: I. Bill Heller; 2. Leroy Frllncard; 3. Olenn Pruitt: 4. Dennis Rosenberg: 5. Bany Simon. 50... EX: 1. Can Bowling: 2. George Spearing: 3. Gary Willison; 4. Bill McClinton; 5. Steve Johnson.

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