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Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series Round 6: Tulare Cycle Park STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAMEY BLUNT TUlARE, CA, OCT. 12 • ulare, located in central California, is famous for its large agriculture center and the train museum, but now it has another claim to fame. Joe Monger, his son Steve, and the Monger family worked long and hard on the Tulare Cycle Park so that when the 132 riders arrived Saturday moming for the final rounds of Eddie Mulder's Dirt Track Series, they found a well-groomed track, as well as an immaculate facility. No complaints were heard, none deserved! After fighting a bad head cold all week, Eddie Mulder took charge from the beginning, handling the tech inspection himself, as well as conducting the riders' meeting. By 10:40 a.m., the riders were anxious for their two practice sessions. What they discovered was a cushioned quarter-mile oval, flawlessly run by the Mongers' track personnel. With the track groomed every three to four races, there was praise all around by the conclusion of the heats. At 2 p.m., the first of the 15 main events was ready for staging. Marty Lewis was victorious over heat-race winner Bob Scally and Steve Lacey in the Senior class. The Classic 500cc main was a points battle between Harley-Davidson pilot Chris Rudy and BSA rider David Brown. After one lap, Jeff Lessley led Rudy, Isaiah Canales and Ron Lessley, with Brown in fifth. With a series title on the line, both Rudy and Brown were pushing hard, with Rudy dogging Lessley, and Brown making up ground for valuable points. On the final lap, Brown charged into third, behind Rudy and Lessley, setting up a four-point difference between Rudy and Brown when they meet in the series' finale. The Super Senior riders appreciatively sampled sponsor Red Bull's product, so they were all fired up! Mel Stoner, hot on a win streak, jumped to the front, followed by Marshall Jennings' Jim Chisum, Sam Gray and Dave Cheney. On lap five, the red flag was brought out for a turn-two incident. All riders lined back up for a single-file restart, with the order being Stoner, Jennings, Gray, Chisum, Cheney and Doug Douglas, with another six riders behind him. Gray shot past Jennings and Stoner, but it was short-lived, as Stoner retook the lead in tum three and went on to win over Gray, Jennings and Douglas. Increasing in numbers at every event, the 80cc Youth class has some real talent emerging. Salinas, California's Stevie Bonsey topped Andy Wood, Lauren Wallace, Devin Booher and Frankie Garcia. Greg Wilburn, on the Larry Wilburn Triumph, had little trouble in the Vet main, pulling a disappearing act on Ernie Lyles and Gary Ritchie. A war always takes place when two of the series' top two riders come together. The Modern 750cc event pitted Greg Wilbum against Paul Herman once again. These two have been trading victories all season long. Herman, by virtue of the inside line, led the first lap. Wilburn took it back on lap two, only to have Herman take Wilburn high in tum one to regain the lead. On lap three, Wilburn was leading. Meanwhile, Scally sat in third, waiting. On lap six of eight, Herman regained the lead, with Wilburn trying everything he could think of to reclaim the lead. At the stripe, Herman prevailed by inches, thus setting the stage for a final showdown at the series' finale to decide the class champion. on lap three, Wood moved into second and went after Butler. On lap seven, Butler's DRZ Suzuki started blowing smoke, and that cost him the race. (It was later revealed to be a blown head gasket.) Wood, now alone at the front, put it on cruise control to claim the victory over Bereman, Steve Fortune and Jimmy's cousin Andy Wood. eN IAbove left! Maurice Ortega (5y), Brad Spencer 17M), .Ieff Lessley (12£), Danny Giguere (387), Sam Gray (71G) and Gary SWan (445) launch off the start of the Modem 500cc contest at round six of Eddie Mulde"s West Coast VIntage Dirt Track Series. IAbove) Mark Milton rode his 1951 Indian Warrior 500 to the win In the Dlno class at Tulare Cycle Park. Talll.. Cycle Pert Tulll... Celifllmlll Results: llctDber 12, 2002 [hand 6] A glimpse at things to come in the Pro main was found in the 500cc Support main, when heat-race winners Jimmy Wood (under tutelage from Mulder) and National number 22, Dan Butler, squared off. Earlier in the day, Wood set a new track record of 18.4 seconds, the fastest lap ever turned at Tulare. At the end of eight laps, after 16 lead changes, Butler took the win by a split decision: Four of the seven scorers gave the nod to Butler. For the Pro main, 13 riders lined up for 15 laps. When the green flag flew, Danny Butler launched to the front. Randy Bereman ran second, with Giaimmanco third and Wood fourth. Wood was pressuring Bereman on lap two, but Butler was already three seconds gone at the front. Putting a wheel under Bereman SR: 1. Mllrty Lewis; 2. Bob Scelly; 3. Steve Lecey. SR NOV I S/SR: 1. Mel Stoner; 2. Bem Oroy; 3. Marshall Jennings. DINO: 1. Merk Milton; 2. Dave Duvarney; 3. Marsh Runyon. YTH 50: 1. Luke Howes; 2. Lerry Smith; 3. S8mmy Sauerbrei. YTH 60: 1. Trevis Harden; 2. Jess Garcia. YTH 80: 1. Stevie Bonsey; 2. Andy Wood; 3. 1..lluren Wallace. VET: 1. Greg Wilburn; 2. Ernie Lyles; 3. Gary Ritchie. elSe 250: 1. Ron Lessley; 2. John Frank; 3. Terry Salsmtm. CLSC 500: 1. Jeff Lessley; 2. Chris Rudy; 3. David Brown. MORN 250: t. Mike Gonzales; 2. Jim Steet; 3. MzIrc Lyons. MORN 500: 1. Brad Spencer; 2. Maurice Ortega; 3. Danny Giguere. /OIDR/'I 750: 1. Poul He""",n; 2. Greg Wilburn; 3. Bob Scolly. 250 OPEN: 1. Brad Spencer Jr.; 2. Chris Canepa; 3. Sean Jones. 500 SOP: t. Dan Butler; 2. Jimmy Wood; 3. Brad Spencer. OPEN AM: 1. Brlld Spencer; 2. Jimmy Abrams; 3. Chris Canepll. PRO 600: I. Jimmy Wood: 2. Rondy Beremon; 3. Steve Fortune. .Ilmmy Wood (SSE) set a new track record of 18.4 seconds and won the Pro main. cue I _ n _ _ s • NOVEMBER 6, 2002 39