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Bruce Sanford's SCFTA Winter Short Track Series Round 3: San Bernardino County Fairgrounds By JAMEY BLUNT PHOTOS BY JESSYCA BLUNT VICTORVlUE, CA, JAN. 5 ith flat tracks becoming an endangered species in Southern California these days, due in part to astronomical insurance costs and rising land values, it gives one great pleasure to report that the banked, cushioned, eighth-mile oval at San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville, California, is one great race track! Proprietor John Eden knows how to groom a track, as any one of the 126 entrants on hand for the third round of the Southern California Flat Track Association Winter Short Track Series would attest. Unusually warm weather, hitting 77 degrees by the noon riders' meeting and trophy presentation, made this a perfect race day. What followed were three 20-minute timed practice sessions, with heat races immediately afterward. At 3:45 p.m., the first of ] 7 main events was staged. In the Youth 50cc class, a name to remember is Ryan Surratt. Five-year-old Surratt (whose father is a past champion himself) not only won the main but destroyed the competition, winning by more than half a lap. The XR] 00 Adults class had 12 combatants staged to do battle. At the drop of the flag, Kawasaki tuner extraordinaire Kenny Hunter shot to the front, ahead of Bob Cobb and former National title holder (and the youngest of the Wood clan) Andy Wood. On lap two, Cobb tested the terra firma between turns three and four, and young Wood did a superb job of avoiding Cobb to continue in second. Cobb rejoined the race, jumping in right behind Hunter (though a lap down) and remaInIng there until the end. Hunter picked up yet another victory, turning consistent ] 3-second lap times. Wood was third on the track but was actually second. The Bomber class was the start of the winning streak of the most successful rider of the day. Tom Horton of Lancaster would go on to five victories before the day was over. However, this was no easy task. Joe Steffen took the lead over Horton and tried to get away. Dave Johnson and Jim Ottele gave chase in third and fourth. By halfway (four laps), Horton got a wheel under Steffen and took the lead away. All Horton had to do now was protect his line and pick up his first win. In the Vet class (for riders 35 and older), Horton led from start to finish. Richard Pollock, who had mechanical troubles all day, borrowed a machine to finish in second, over the charging Ottele, who in turn was being pushed hard by Jeff Lessley. Jimmy Wood topped the Pro main at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds In Victorville, California. The Vintage 250cc class had the most exciting action of the day. Craig Johnson, back from last year's speedway accident, showed he hasn't lost his speed by taking the lead over Horton, Steffen and John Lundgren. Lap after lap, Johnson led Horton, both Bultaco jockeys turning ] 2.2-second lap times. All the while, Horton was setting up Johnson for a pass. Working high, then low, Horton made his move in the last corner on the last lap. Johnson even lowered his next-to-Iast lap time to ] 2 seconds flat, but it was to no avail. Horton got a wheel under Johnson in turn Tom Horton of Lancaster, California, won five main events at round three of Bruce Sanford's SCFTA Winter Short Track Serles. By 5 p.m., the sun was setting in the west and round three was in the record books. The support of Wakula Flattrack Supply (who donated a tire), A&A Supply (two tires), Dennis Sutter (trophies), and Eddie Mulder Ltd. and Maxxis Tires (product, cash, and discount certificates) is much appreciated. eN four and won the drag race to the stripe! Steffen finished third, with Lundgren fourth. Horton's other two victories came from the Classic (or Brakeless) class, where his spotless Montesa bested heat-race winner Lessley, and the Vintage 750cc class, in which Ottele and Wayne Warrington gave chase. The Pro class had one of only two riders to ever turn lap times under ] 2 seconds sitting on pole. Maxima/Maxxis Tires' Jimmy Wood had the fastest time of the day - ]].6 seconds. Jimmy rocketed into the lead on the DRZ Suzuki and took off. Jim Rosa (who hadn't crashed into anyone all day, aside from trying to take out this reporter on the infield) ran second, with Ron Wood's Elliott Iverson third and Richard "Mule" Pollock in fourth. Ian Foulds, getting a drive on his Yamaha 250, shot into third on lap two and was all over Rosa like a fly on flypaper. On lap three, Cobb hit the dirt, ending his day, though he was up and okay. Back at the front, Jimmy disappeared, leaving the only real battle on the track for second. Rosa and Foulds went at it lap after lap. Foulds is riding better every time we see him, but he just couldn't get around Rosa's 450cc Honda. At the checkered flag, Jimmy prevailed by 5.6 seconds over Rosa and Foulds, thus picking up the lion's share of the donated money on the day from Bob Hill Motorsports, Southland Racing, the Flattrack Page and "Uncle Eddie" Mulder. San .....-nIl.. Cellllty F.I,,",un. VictllrYille, Celifunill lleults: Juury 5, 2003 lBe.n. 31 YTH 50: l. Ryan Surratt; 2. Loglln Johnson; 3. Larry Smith. YTH 65: 1. Joe:y St. Louis: 2. Larry Smith; 3. Craig Johnson. YTH 85: I. Deven Booher; 2. Andy Wood; 3. Wesley Kaimer. YTH XR 100: I. Kevin Knudsen: 2. Michael Fox: 3. Otis Baugh. XR50 ADULT: I. Geoff Arnold: 2. Ian Foulds: 3. Dan Hanebrink. XR 100 ADULT: 1. Kenny Hunter; 2. Andy Wood: 3. Brad Rudy. 125/250 NOV: 1, Devin Booher: 2. Rod Halstead; 3. Kurt Spier. 250 AM: 1. Ian Foulds; 2. Alex Wood: 3. Frank Aragaki. VET 35+: 1. Tom Horton; 2. Richard Pollock; 3. Jim Ottele. SR 50+: I. Richard Pollock: 2. Sal Peluso: 3. Dennis Voli. S/SR: I. Mickey Ahzoha: 2. M"rshall Jennings; 3. Doug Douglas. BMBR: 1. Tom Horton; 2. Joe Steffen; 3. Dave Johnson. BRAKELESS: 1. Tom Horton: 2. Jeff Lessley: 3. Rubin Malaguamero. VINT 250: 1. Tom Horton; 2. Craig Johnson: 3. Joe Steffen. VINT 750: I. Tom Horton: 2. Jim Ottele: 3. Wayne Warrington. OPEN NOV: 1. Uoyd McGregor; 2. M.ike M.osby; 3. Carl Shockley. OPEN AM: I. Ian Foulds; 2. Alex Wood: 3. John Larson. OPEN PRO: t. Jimmy Wood: 2. Jimmy Rosa: 3. Ian Foulds. KNBY: I. Elliott Iverson: 2. Geoff Arnold; 3. Kevin Knudsen. Jim Rosa (88) battled with Dennis Voll (SOY) en route to placing second In the Pro main. .. U ... - n _ _ S • JANUARY 29, 2003 33