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Eddie Mulders West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series Round 7: Tulare Cycle Park STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAMEY BLUNT TULARE,CA,OCT.13 o emember Ascot? It was that famed half-mile clay oval in Gardena, California, where legends and history were made. Every racer that ever strapped on a steel shoe dreamed of someday, somehow, racing at Ascot. Well, Ascot is gone, but thanks to Eddie Mulder and Steve Munger, the riders who turned out for the series championship finale at Tulare were given a taste of how Ascot used to be. Monger and crew worked through the night to provide a 12-inch-deep cushioned quarter-mile oval, so tacky that some thought he had added 7000 gallons of Elmer's glue. Ascot was larger, but Tulare's sticky surface was much the same. Former national number 57, Digger Helm, was on hand, and the longtime supporter of the series even kicked in an extra $500 for the Pro main purse, raising it to almost $2000. In the Senior main, Bob Scally was trailing Marty Lewis by five points as they lined up for the final time this year. If Scally won, Lewis had to finish second to take the title. Scally shot into the lead, followed by Steve Lacey and Lewis. On the second lap, Lewis pushed his way past Lacey and went after Scally. On the fourth lap, Lacey crashed in tum four, handing third to Bill Flett. Back up front, (Above) Bob Gerberlch made three round trips between Ohio and Califomla within two months, the final trip to contest the Super Senior race at the final round of Eddie Mulde... West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series. (Above right) Doug Douglas (9Y), 72 years young, leads Art Gulnoll (9X) In the Super Senior class. Lewis was pressuring Scally, who was tough. Scally took the win by a mere quarter-bikelength over Lewis. However, Lewis took the championship by one point. Scally was second in the series, with Lacey third overall. Mel Stoner, who's been hot lately, jumped out front in the Super Senior main. Marshall Jennings and Dave Cheney gave chase. By lap two, Sam Gray had found his pace and was on the move, taking third away from Cheney. With five laps completed, Gray was all over Jennings for second, making the pass stick one lap later. Stoner went on to win the race over Gray, but not the championship. Jennings was just too consistent all year and won the overall, with Stoner second and Cheney third. Jess Garcia led Tyler Bereman by seven points as they squared off for the Youth 60cc main event. Garcia needed to finish no less than third if Bereman was to capture the title. Bereman, on pole by virtue of a heatrace win, jumped out front. Jordan Jmaev, the only rider able to leave it on all through turns three and four, threw it away on the second lap exiting tum two. This ensured Bereman the win; Jmaev, however, got back up and charged his way back to second place. Garcia finished third - just where he needed to finish to clinch the title. Chris Rudy led the Classic 500cc class by four points. David Brown needed to win and have Rudy finish third or worse to take the title. As the green flag flew, Isaiah Canales put his Triumph out front, Brown ran second and Rudy was third. Canales made a big mistake in turn two on lap two and went from first to fourth. Rudy took advantage and shot into the lead. Brown followed and stuck to Rudy like a bulldog on raw meat. With a lap and a half remaining, Brown, riding the best he ever has, put his BSA past Rudy's HarleyDavidson for the lead and held it to the flag. This finish caused a tie for first overall for the series. Eddie Mulder, ever the sportsman, knew how hard these two have fought all year and is awarding two first-place jackets and awards packets. Greg Wilburn lowered the lap time for a 750cc twin around Tulare to 19.1 seconds in the Modem 750cc main. Wilburn lead Paul Herman, Joe Carrera, Ken Thiebaud and Scally at the front of the pack, as Wilburn and Herman picked up where they left off last race. Nobody ever accused Herman of not giving 110 percent, which he did. However, on this day, he needed 120 percent, as Wilburn picked up the win and a second title. Herman, never more than a bikelength back, finished second in the main and in the series. James Ottele placed sixth in the main but earned third overall for the year. Sunday's Championship hosted two special events, the Stark lite Cycle IROC Indian race and the Triumph 100th Anniversary race, hosted by Lovie and Dave Cheney, which was an all-comers Triumph-only battle, won by the ever-fast Herman on his Steve Berg-tuned Triumph. The most exciting racing of the day was in the Digger Helm Pro 600cc race. Fifteen of the 28 fastest Pros went handlebar to handlebar for a piece of the $2000 purse to end the day and the series. Many thanks to C&J Racing Frames, Shelly Ward, Saddlemen, Nesbit Insurance, Rod Lake, JRC, and The Shop, as well as all the series sponsors, without whom this series wouldn't have been possible. eN Tu.... CycIePIll'll Tulare, Califl1rai. Res lis: Detober 13, ZOOZ lJIaand 71 SR: I. Bob Scally; 2. Marty Lewis; 3. Bill Flett. SR NOV / S/SR: I. Mel Stoner, 2. Sam G",y; 3. Cliff Nagateni. DINO: 1. Olive Duvarney; 2. Mark Milton; 3. Marsh Runyon. YTH 50: 1. Luke Howes: 2. Sammy Sauerbrei; 3. Lerry Smith. YTH 60: 1. Tyler Beremlln; 2. Jordan Jmaev; 3. Jess Garcia. YTH 80: 1. Stevie Boosey; 2. Frankie Gercilll; 3. Andy Wood. IND ARROW IROC: I. Mike O'Neil; 2. David Brown; 3. Danny Ritchie. VET: 1. Greg Wilburn: 2. Steve Fortune; 3. Brad Spencer. ClSe 250: 1. Ron Lessley; 2. John Frank; 3. Tom Howes. ClSe 500: 1. David Brown; 2. Chris Rudy; 3. Jeff Lessley. ft\DRN 250: t. John Lundgren; 2. Chris Geilfuss. MORN 500: 1. Brad Spencer; 2. John Lundgren; 3. John Frank. MORN 750: 1. Greg Wilburn; 2. Poul Hermon; 3. Joe Carrera. 250 OPEN: 1. Brad Spencer Jr., 2. Chris Canepa; 3. Sean Jones. 500 SUP: 1. Jimmy Abrams, 2. Jim Ottele; 3. Joe Carrera. OPEN A/t\: 1. Chris Canepa; 2. Jimmy Abrams; 3. Brad Spencer Jr. TRI 100TH ANNVRSY: 1. Poul Hermon: 2. Greg Wilbum; 3. Ken Thiebeud. PRO 600: 1. Ronnie Brown; 2. Danny Ritchie; 3. Jess Sanchez. (Left) Harley racer Chris Rudy (87Y) and BSA rider David Brown (51%) do battle In the Classic 500cc class. (Right) Eddie Mulder (left) and Digger Helm share some memories· and a sandwich - In Tulare, Califomia. cue. EO n EO _ S • NOVEMBER 13.2002 71