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Ricky Graham Memorial Race AHRMA Race Salinas Valley Fair STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GOUlD/ CHECKERED FLAG PHOTOS. COM KING CITY, CA, MAY 16 'i7 he track was well-prepped, and U the weather cooperated nicely, and the Salinas Ramblers did a superb job of organizing and orchestrating the fourth annual Ricky Graham Memorial Race. Participation is growing each year. Ricky Graham, a two-time Grand National Champion who hailed from this area, was well known throughout the California and National flat-track communities. There were classes for everyone, from the Pee Wees to the Dinosaurs. This is one of the few AHRMA events in California. After each class practiced and ran its heat races, the real excitement took place in the main events. Tom Horton ruled the night in King City, topping three classes. "Boo Boo" Bob Scally and Horton put on a real show, battling turn after turn for the front spot in the Senior Over 50 class. Scally won the heat, but Horton won the main. Scally was riding his old Class C 750cc Triumph. Arrow Metals' Cary Buck rode a Bultaco Pursang in the Classic 250cc class, passing Horton and winning his heat race by a large margin. He then came back to win the main for the second year running. In the Sportsman 250cc contest, Buck won the heat but placed second in the main, behind Horton. Rod Lake was a star on this night, winning the Classic 500cc/750cc class aboard his beautifully prepared Goldstar and also winning the Unlimited Support class in front of Frank Nye. Lake also placed second in the '70s Singles contest, behind Brad Spencer. Lake also had a number of other bikes on the track, giving other riders a chance to ride them. He sponsored a special addition to the night's racing - a backwards race. Instead of turning left, the riders were turning right all around the track. Chris Canepa took home the top trophy, and Mark Allen and Lake took second and third. Spencer battled with Greg Wilburn throughout the eight-lap Vet Over 35 main. Turn after turn, they worked this track, trading places several times. In the final turn, it was Spencer in front, with Wilbum at his side going into the straight and across the line. Wilburn won. Wilburn was also the victor in the Sportsman 750cc class, beating Horton and Scally. In the Super Senior Over 60 class, Jim Chisum took first aboard a beautiful BSA. Finishing behind him was Jim Rice, an old Triumph factory rider, riding a 360cc Bultaco. Rice hasn't ridden since he was 25 years old. Rumor is that Rice is building a Triumph for the Eddie Mulder Series. Another classic bike took first in the Dinosaur class. Mark Milton, riding a superbly prepared Indian, took home the top trophy. Stevie Bonsey took the checkers first in the 85s after Frank Garcia gave him a run for his money. Garcia rode hard to take second, and he came back to win the 100cc Youth class in front of Bonsey. Jess Garcia, Frank's brother, was first in the 65cc class, followed by Bobby Caldeira. Rhett Gonzales won both the Pee Wee 50cc and Modified 50cc (4-6) classes. Marcus Fragoso beat Austin Scaggs in the Pee Wee 50cc (7-8) class, while Brittney Mellow finished first in the 80cc (7-12) class. R.J. Mendez flew around this track on his modified 50cc KTM to a victory, in front of Brian Martinez, in the Modified 50cc (7-8) class. Anthony Mellow, riding his first race ever, competed with Frank Nye and won the 100cc/123cc FourStroke (Over 17) class. Nye - who is the Cary Buck had a lot of fun en route to the Classic 250cc victory in King City. 64 JUNE 4, 2003' cue I e neVlls owner of Engines Only, a business built from his love for riding 100s came back to win the Unlimited Support Vet Over 35 class. Also riding this class was Malcolm Roe, on a 250cc Suzuki grass-tracker. Malcolm rode a great race and finished third, behind Dale Jensen. On the podium, Nye remembered Ricky Graham and spoke of Ricky's love for racing. Two heats of Pro riders each had 14 riders on the start line. Among those riders was John Hlebo, who's been riding the local tracks to get in sOlJ1e saddle time before leaving for the upcoming Springfield mile. Randy Bereman jumped into the lead at the start and maintained that lead to the finish. The real race was behind Bereman, between Paul Herman and Rod Spencer. Herman, aboard a stock TT500, battled lap after lap with Rod Spencer. Riding the low line and hanging off the bike into the turns, Herman beat Rod Spencer and finished second. Rod Spencer got off in turn three, giving Thomas Carriger a third-place finish, followed by Hlebo and Anthony Giamanco. A&A Racing's Ray Abrahms celebrated his 64th birthday with cupcakes after the races. CN s.linu Valley Fair Kia. CIty, Califllmia RasuIts: May 16, 2003 AHRMA Races DINO: 1. Mark Milton. eLSe 250: 1. Cery Buck; 2. Steve lrf1y. ClSC 500/750: 1. Rod Loke: 2. Joe Di Salvo: 3. ~rry MlIdriglll; 4. Allin ShllW. NOV 250/600: 1. Maury Austin; 2. AlIlln Girdler; 3. Tony Machado; 4. Bruce Brown. SPTSMN 250: 1. Tom Horton; 2. eery Buck; 3. Don Barmakian; 4. Randy Kremlecek. SPTSMN 600: 1. Tom Horton; 2. John Frank; 3. Rllndy Wilder. SPTSMN 750: 1. Greg Wilburn; 2. Tom Horton; 3. Bob Scally. '70s SGL: 1. Brad Spencer; 2. Rod Leke; 3. John Frank; 4. Tom Horton. VET 35+: 1. Greg Wilburn: 2. Bred Spencer; 3. Johnny Lerson; 4. Randy Kremlacek. SR 50.: I. Tom Horton; 2. Robert Scally; 3. Mike Van Uenden; 4. Dan Phillips. S/SR 60.: 1. Jim Chisum; 2. Jim Rice; 3. Hank Ceslo; 4. Larry Madrigal. Support Classes (Above) Brad Spencer (7M) and Greg Wilburn (32AJ had a great time battling throughout the Vet Over 35 contests at the fourth annual Ricky Graham Memorial Race. Wilburn won, and Spencer was runner-up. (Below) Tom Horton gets a hug from the trophy girl for one of his three wins on the night. P/W 50 (4-6): 1. Rhett GonUllez; 2. Sebastien Camacho; 3. Ryen Jensen; 4. Bredley Deero. P/W 50 (7-8): 1. Mercus Fregoso; 2. Austin Seegg5; 3. Danny Arenas; 4. Nicole Sehnert. MOD 50 (4-6): I. Rhett Gonzalez; 2. C.leb Jeckson. MOD 50 (7-8): I. R.J. Mendez: 2. Brian Martinez; 3. Zane Ceuck. 65 (7-12): 1. Jess Gercie; 2. Bobby Caldeira; 3. Jamie Datlln; 4. Brien Martinez. P/W 80 (4-6): 1. Bronson Beumen P/W 80 (7-12): I. Brittney Mellow: 2. Wesley Daoro: 3. Mallory Lyons; 4. Morgen Boutonnet. 85 (7-11): 1. Jordan Jmaev; 2. Richie Fletcher; 3. Tyler Gonnan; 4. Danielle Celdeire. 85 (12-15): 1. Stevie Bonsey; 2. Frankie Garcia; 3. Joey lffent; 4. Justin Jmaev; 5. Lauren Wallace. 100/123 4-STRK (0-16): 1. Frankie Garcia: 2. Stevie Bonsey; 3. Rusty Ungaro; 4. Rick Gutierrez. 100/123 4-STRK (17+):1. Anthony Mellow: 2. Frank Nye; 3. Marty Lawrence; 4. Jared Cranford. 230 4-STK (BACKWARDS): I. Chris Canepa: 2. Mark Allen; 3. Rod Leke; 4. Chuck Miller. OIL SOP: 1. Rod Lake; 2. Frank Nye; 3. Dale Jensen; 4. Rod Spencer. OIL SOP VET 35.: 1. Frank Nye; 2. Dele Jensen; 3. Malcolm Roe; 4. David Nence. OPEN PRO: 1. Rendy Bereman; 2. Paul Herman: 3. Thomas Carriger; 4. John Hlebo; 5. Anthony Giammanco.