Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2003 06 04

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Edd!e Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series Round 1: Tulare Cycle Park STORY AND PHOTOS BY JA!'IEY BLUNT TUlARE, CA, MAY 10 ddie Mulder makes the stars come out at night - not in the sky, but at the racetrack. Attending the Saturday night series opener were two-time Grand National Champion Joe Leonard; former National number 57, Digger Helm; and Harley-Davidson rider Jay Springsteen's engine builder, Jim Kelly. Tulare Cycle Park managers Steve, Joe and Robin Monger had the quarter-mile cushioned oval in excellent condition and ready for some exciting racing. In a very special tribute, all 205 entrants mounted their motorcycles and took a memorial lap in honor of George Roeder Sr., who passed away the day before, and Rob Damron, a beloved local racer whose wife, Brenda, presented Rob's Dirt Tracker to the Dan Rouitt Flat Track Museum in nearby C1ouis, California. With the opening ceremonies complete, 23 heat races were fired off, and racers eager to get down to some serious competition lined up for the main events. The Barnett Senior main saw heat winners Bob Scally and Marty Lewis square off. Scally led from the start, while Lewis started fifth. However, Lewis fought his way to the front and took over the lead on the last lap for the victory. Scally hung on for second, with Brian O'Hagan third. Greg Wilburn got the jump in the Maxxis Tires Vet A main. The first time across the stripe. Wilburn's Triumph was up front, with Rod Spencer, Mike Vital and Richard Pollock in tow. On lap three, Spencer got a drive out of turn two and pulled alongside Wilburn down the back 54 JUNE 4. 2003' cue I e straight. This set him up to take over the lead going into turn three. With clear sailing, Spencer put in a 19.2-second lap. By Jap .six. Pollock had found his way around Vital for third. Coming from the back to finish fifth was KLH Racing's Rusty Firanzi, looking smooth. Dave Cheney put to use the knowledge he gained in Eddie's Dirt closing on Rudy. but he ran out of time. Nineteen youngsters battled in the various Youth classes. Trent Howard bested Nathan Howard and Logan Johnson in the Shelly Ward 50cc class. Manuel Jimen-ez was on fire. topping Jess Garcia and Johnson in the Berkeley Yamaha/ Honda 60cc main. In the K&N Filters 80cc main, Frankie Garcia won a hard-fought war over Devin Booher and stylish Lauren Wallace. One of the hardestfought classes is always the Works Performance/Rod Lake Racing Modern 750cc event. Fourteen riders qualified for the eightlap main. Paul Herman shot to the front, over Wilburn. Robert Hansen, Lewis and Scally. For seven laps, Wilburn dogged Herman; they took the white flag side by side. and dueling down the back straight for the last time, Wilburn took over going into turn three. At the finish. it was went by Wilburn on lap three and set sail toward the front. A lap later, Wood put a wheel under Harrell for second and then shot past Spencer down the back chute for the lead. Lap after lap, Wood pulled away at the front. Spencer was secure in second. Harrell finished third, with Kevin Bricker and Danny Ritchie coming up to finish fourth and fifth. Goodies generously provided by the sponsors - hats, T-shirts, water bottles, keychains, a set of number plates (from Rosa plates), gift certificates, and a Maxxis tire - were given away. Rod Lake gave away vintage Ascot posters in mint condition from Roxy Rockwood's collection - a pleasant blast for the past. And with that, it was time to rest up for round two. _ T T Cyde ..... ClII ilI IIalIIts: ...., 11. ZlII3 I...... 11 DINO: 1. M.. O'Neil; 2. M. Runyon. CLSC 250: 1. R. Lessley: 2. J. Fronk: 3. T. Veughn. CLSC 500: 1. Jeff lessley; 2. Chris Rudy: 3. Jeff Apple. MORN 250: I. C. Geilluss: 2. C. Buck: 3. C. Johnson. MORN 500: 1. K. Thiebaud: 2. Rusty Firanzi; 3. Jeff Lessley. MORN 750: 1. Greg Wilburn; 2. Paul Hermann; 3. Marty Lewis. (Above) Jimmy Wood wa. the winner of the Digger Helm Pro 600cc race at the opening round of Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series. (Right, from left to right) Former National number 57, Digger Helm, two-time Grand National Champion Joe Leonard, and former National number 12, Eddie Mulder, seemed to enjoy the day in Tulare, Callfomia. Track School by shooting into the lead in the Bartels' Super Senior main. Tom Howard attached himself to Cheney, with Sam Gray, Jim Rice and Clark Edgington all right behind. Coming out of turn four on the third lap, Gray took over second. Meanwhile, Cheney stretched out a sixbike length cushion, clocking consistent 21.4-second lap times. Howard, after a bobble, dropped to fifth, and Rice finished third. San Jose's Chris Rudy led the A&A Racing/Maxima Classic 500cc event. Bultaco jockey Jeff Lessley made a move on Rudy's HarleyDavidson exiting turn four to take over at the front. David Brown ran third on his pristine BSA. Jeff Apple, on a Triumph, was charging hard to make up for a poor start, eventually passing Brown for third. Lessley, turning 20.4-second laps, stretched out his lead. By lap eight, Apple was nevvs Wilburn, Herman, Lewis, Hansen and Scally. Twenty-eight Pros fought their way through three heats for one of the 12 berths in the Digger Helm Pro 600cc contest. This main event would run 15 laps, as the riders battled for their part of the more than S1600 up for grabs. Greg Wilburn took the point first, over Donnie Harrell, Spencer, and track record holder (at 18.6 seconds) Jimmy Wood. Harrell got past Wilburn's heavier Triumph in turn four, bringing Spencer with him. Wood, riding high in the cushion. 250 OPEN: I. Ian Foulds; 2. Rod Spencer Jr.; 3. M. Jimenez Jr. 500 sap A: 1. Ollvid Brown: 2. Rod Lllke; 3. M. Gonzales. 500 SOP B: 1. J. Gosyenor; 2. R. Raymond; 3. J. Shaffer. OPEN AM A: 1. J. Abroms; 2. Ion Foulds; 3. Rod Lake. OPEN AM B: 1. C. Thompson: 2. J. Msland; 3. J. Larson. PRO 600: 1. Jimmy Wood; 2. Rod Spencer; 3. Donnie Harrell. VTH SO: 1. Trent Howard; 2. Nathan Howard; 3. Logan Johnson. VTH 60: 1. Manuel Jimenez Ill; 2. Jess Garcia; 3. Logan Johnson. VTH 80: 1. Frelnkie Garcia; 2. Devin Booher; 3. llluren Wallace. VET A: 1. Rod Spencer; 2. Greg Wilburn; 3. Richard Pollock. VET B: I. R. Amold: 2. J. Ottele: 3. J. Nicely. SR: 1. Marty Lewis; 2. Bob Scally; 3. Brian O'Hagan. SR NOV / S/SR: I. Dove Cheney; 2. Sam Groy; 3. Jim Rice.

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