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Moose Northern California Championship Enduro Series Motul District 36 B/C Championship Enduro Series Rounds 5/4: Jackhammer Enduro Billy Russell rustled up his second overall win of the Moose Northem Callfomla Championship Enduro Series at round five, held In Fouts Springs, Callfomla. STORV AND PHOTOS BV JILL ASHWORTH PATTERSON FOUTS SPRINGS, CA, OCT. 20 'i? he fall portion of Moose's North~ ern California Championship Enduro Series was launched under a thick cloud of dust at round five's Jackhammer Enduro, with Moore and Son's Billy Russell emerging the victor with his second overall win in the series. The Oakland Motorcycle Club's 32nd annual event, held at Fouts Springs, California, drew 249 entrants, despite the extra-dry conditions at the Mendocino National Forest's popular OHV area, where there has been no rain since March. The 94.7-mile route was planned by OMC's course master, Brian Jagger, with careful consideration for the expected heavy dust. Free times and resets were strategically placed near water sources whenever possible, so racers could clean their goggles and clear their lungs. Loop one took riders nine miles up single-track trails, fire roads and along Salt Ridge to check one, where the first special test began. Set at 24 and 33 mph, the 6.9-mile test set the tempo for the rest of the event. Russell railed through the dust and recorded an outstanding time of 3.208 at check two. Chris C. Young was second quickest with 4.223, and Dave Wood was next with 4.231. Brian Sperle, the 2002 ISDE Trophy Team silver medallist, was also in the hunt with 4.241, as was Russ Pereira, with 4.251. "The bad visibility from the dust was pretty equal for everyone," Russell said. "It was a real challenge to pass others. I've learned to make a come up on guys freighttraining. It was a matter of 'attack when you can see, and pray when you can't see. ,n lot of noise to get them to move out of my way." The course then worked its way around Goat Mountain, Cedar Camp, and out toward Horse Rock, where check three was the start of the second test. Four miles later, after racing at 30 mph on the Brushy Trail, Russell was once again the fastest - being the only one to exit the test with a zero score and just 21 tie-breaker seconds. Sperle followed closest with 1.071 points, and Jim Boardman was next with 1.082. Wood and Glenn Martinson each scored a pair of 1.089s, and all others had twos or more. "It was incredible how fast he [Russell] was going in all that dust," Boardman said. "He just flew by me like I was just standing still." After a trip along Lovelady and Crackerbox ridges, through check five and then down the long descent from the heliport to the gas stop, riders were ready for the 30-minute rest from the dust. Russell's score of 3.229 indicated that he was determined to continue his unmatched pace to claim the day's victory. Sperle was sitting in second with 5.312, and Wood was close behind with 5.320. Young was next with 6.339, followed by Martinson (6.368) and Boardman (6.408). "The dust was extreme at times," Wood said, "especially when you'd (Left) Brian Sperle took third overall and was the top A 250cc rider at the Jackhammer Enduro. 74 NOVEMBER 13, 2002' cue I • (RIght) Jim Boardman placed fourth overall and first In the A Vet class. n • _ s The second loop's 45.6 miles began with a trip up Lett's Ridge and then followed a well-mixed variety of single-track trails, fire roads and tight technical sections around Lett's Valley, Miller Ridge, past Steel Trap Rock and through the Lady Bug Creek Crossing before heading down Potato Hill to the finish. "I had some trouble, and my transmission got stuck in second gear for the whole second loop," Young said. "( didn't want to blow up my bike, so I pulled in the clutch and coasted down the hills as fast as I could to keep on time." Check six was a tie breaker, and most riders added only a few more seconds to their cards. The ninth check was supposed to begin another test, but none of the scoring equipment found its way to check 10 for the check-out, so riders raced on to check 11, with some thinking they were still in the test. Russell's and Sperle's speediness resulted with each of them logging a burn at the finish. "My computer showed I was a few seconds early, so I was cruisin' slow," Sperle said. "I couldn't see very well in the dust, and they [the check workers] said, 'You're good,' so I crossed the line and then got the bum." "I blew it by not trusting myself," Russell said. "So I burned the check because I listened to them telling me to "Come on, come on.'" Even with the extra two points added by the burn, Russell's final score of 5.232 was still the finest of the day. Wood's clean card on the loop gave him second place, with 5.322, and Sperle's 7.321 was good for third. Boardman rode hard and moved into fourth with his total of 7.415, while Young sailed in second gear to a fifth-place finish with a total of 8.351. Martinson, Jeff Bauer, Jason Edie, Kevin Wiley and John Wells rounded out the top 10. CN Mendocino NltionaJ Forest DHY Ares Fouts Springs, CsJifomis Unafficlsl 1leslI1ts: OcIDber 20, 2002 U1aund 51 O/A: I. Billy Russell +KTM); 2. Dave Wood (eRE); 3. Brien Sperle (K M); 4. Jim Boardman (Hon); 5. Chris C. Voung (Yam). AA; 1. Billy Russell (KTM); 2. Dave Wood (CRE); 3. Brian BuUer (Kaw); 4. Tom J. Stowe (Suz). A 200: 1. Ryan Gouldthread (KTM). A 250: J. Brian Sperle (KTM); 2. Chris C. Voung (Yem); 3. Jeff Beuer (Suz); 4. Charlie Plumbridge (KTM); 5. Michael Christensen (KTM). A 4-STRK: 1. Glenn Martinson (KTM); 2. Russ Pereira (Vam); 3. Mike Pascarella (Hbg); 4. Jemes Pttlrcinsk..i (Hon); 5. Joe Silve (Yam). A OPEN: 1. Eric Tyler (Hus): 2. Chris Tolmen (Hon); 3. Brody Borgogno (KTM); 4. Kerry Simpson (ATK); 5. Mike Simmons (KTM). A VET: I. Jim Boardman (Han); 2. Jason Edie (Kaw); 3. Kevin Wiley (Vam); 4. Jeff Wilson (Kaw); 5. Jell Wold (KTM). A SR: I. John Well. (Hon); 2. Stephen Sattler (KTM); 3. Robert Mihovich (Suz); 4. Bob Stene (Yam); 5. Jack Lento (Hon). A S/SR: 1. Peter Prlcherd (KTM); 2. Richerd Adan (Han); 3. TIm L. Stowe (Vern); 4. Norm Sperle (KTM). A GENT: 1. Bill Craig (KTM); 2. George Johnson (Yam). B O/A: 1. Scott Puckett (Yam); 2. David Frederickson (KTM); 3. Nick Dobbel (KTM); 4. Jerry Talbot (KTM); 5. Kevin Anderson (KTM). B 200: 1. David Frederickson (KTM); 2. Ronald Hoyt (KTM). B 250; 1. Jerry Talbot (KTM/; 2. Matt Finnegan (Han): 3. Justin Hensley (KTM ; 4. Brien Jansen (Han); 5. Don Chamblee. B 4-STRK: 1. Scott Puckett (Vam); 2. Graham Hinsdale (KTM); 3. Curtis Kimble (Kaw); 4. Mike Carson (KTM); 5. Trevor Rock (Yam). B OPEN: 1. Tim Collins (Han); 2. Rob Nuh (KTM); 3. Josh Golden (GG); 4. Rus. John.on (KTM); 5. Jay Gordon (GG). B VET; J. Jeff Howard (Hon); 2. John Maa.hoff (Hon); 3. Eric Elvin (Han); 4. Phil Rittenmeyer (KTM); 5. Joel Sizemore (HbQ). B SR: I. Nick Dobbel (KTM); 2. Kevin Anderson (KTM); 3. Alan Plumbrldge (KTM); 4. Martin Markham (Hon); 5. John Davis (KTM). B S/SR: 1. Hugo Zwetsloot (Hon); 2. Jim Peacock (KTM); 3. Meurig Davie. (Kaw); 4. Donald Ch.se (Hon). CO/A: J. Michael Brejwo (Suz); 2. Craig Dugan (Han); 3. Jason Kabelin (Han); 4. Richard Clerke (Yam); 5. Bobby Meyer (KTM). C 200: I. Jason Smith (KTM); 2. Tyler West (Vern); 3. Mark Berkner (Kew); 4. Trevor Moore (Vam); 5. Michael Johnson. C 250: I. Steve Van Waardenberg (Han): 2. Steve Cowell (Han); 3. Vince urocca (Hon); 4. M.att Kimmel (Hon); 5. Jeff Hoyt (Kaw). C 4-STRK: I. Michael Brejwo (Suz); 2. Jason Kabalin (Han); 3. Richard Clarke UYam); 4. Doug Mansfield (Vam); 5. Robert Cye (Hon . COPEN: 1. Bobby Meyer ( TM); 2. Shylo Steinthlll (KMTl; 3. Nick Godman (Han); 4. David Sowell (KMT); 5. Kelvin Montes. C VET: 1. Crllig Duglln (Hon); 2. Bart Bakkler (Kaw); 3. Lou Higgins (Suz); 4. Jason Clement (KTM); 5. TImothy McMillan (Hon). C SR; I. Dan Blum (Hus); 2. Greg Gilbert \KTM); 3. Kelly Brogles (Kaw); 4. Floyd Frederickson Yam); 5. Gavin Housh (Kaw). C S/SR: 1. Gene Greenlief (Kaw); 2. Scott Riechers (KMT); 3. Ben Scott (KTM); 4. Buddy Scauzzo (KTM); 5. Michael Boggs (Kaw). C WMN; I. Belinda Brejwo (KTM); 2. Kyr. GeuUng (Kaw). E Cl: l. Dennis Edie (Kaw); 2. John Casey (Han): 3. Craig Bessette (SUI); 4. Darryl Vasko (Hon); 5. Mike Cox (KTM).