Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128224
Greg Wilbum (32A! WOIl Jimmy Wood _n the XR750-only main event In his first race on the Jim Kelly Hari~. the 65OCc-90OCC nNlin event on his Larry W1lbum-bullt Triumph. Harley XR750-only main. Heat-race winner and West Coast Vintage Dirt Track number-one plate holder Greg Wilburn took the point from the drop of the flag, followed by Jimmy Wood Jr., who was riding a Jim Kelly XR750 for the first time. Lake was running third. From the very first lap, Wilburn's Harley was showing smoke, and lap after lap it got progressively worse; on the upside, there wasn't a mosquito to be found. By lap five, Wood was getting familiar with his new mount, and he passed a slowing Wilburn, who was now riding on "damage control" mode. Lake could smell blood and was closing as well, but time was short, and Wilburn nursed it home in second, behind Wood, with Lake a close third. Joe Steffen nailed the start of the 500cc-600cc Support main, with Alex Wood second and Lake third on the high line. On the second trip down the back straight, Alex (in his first race back since his major get-off in Texas) shot past Steffen to take over at the front. The front three proceeded to check out from the field of 19, as Alex turned a 15.65-second lap time to set the fastest time (thus far) of the night. At the checkered flag, Alex, in top form, cruised to victory. Steffen was second, followed by Lake, making his second podium of the night. The Vintage TT gave Lake his third podium, but this time he got the top step. Lake led from the start, careful this time not to overshoot the entrance to the infield. Lake bested Ben Fakkeldy and Ryan Callaway on his Knight Yamaha 500. The 450cc-and-Under main saw Ken Thiebaud switch from his familiar Triumph to a Champion-framed Honda single. Thiebaud, the heatrace winner, and John Lundgren of Simi Valley Kawasaki hit turn one side by side, with Thiebaud taking over in front going down the back straight. Bradley Spencer Jr. of Gilroy, California, who is always a threat, ran in the third-place position. Thiebaud, running up in the cushion, turned a 16.65-second lap time as he pulled away from Lundgren and Spencer. Meanwhile, Spencer was all over Lundgren like flies on honey. By lap five, Spencer had put a wheel under Lundgren and moved him out to take second away. Three laps later, this order was set in the record books. Lundgren started the 650cc-900cc main. Actually, Lundgren took off on his Triumph, so the starter figured he had better throw the green flag, since the race had begun. Meanwhile, Wilburn was still sitting on the start line in disbelief. Wilburn then figured he had better go, as this race might not be restarted; he was the last rider to leave the line and the last rider to enter turn one. But "last" is not a position Wilburn is content with, and by lap two he had charged all the way up to the second spot - and he was on a mission. On the very next lap, not only did Wilburn take the lead, he set a new track record for a big bike on his Larry Wilburn-built Triumph, at 15.80 seconds. Wilburn never let up Ted Hubbard ~ and went on to win, over Lundgren, with Visalia's Craig Haas third. Eighteen Pros lined up five rows deep to go for their share of the Barnett's 600cc Pro $3000 purse. They would go at it bar to bar for 20 laps. At the start, San Jose's Frank Nye, on a Yamaha, led into turn one, only to have fast-time holder at this point, Alex Wood, take it away exiting turn two. At the completion of lap one, the running order was Alex, Nye, Donnie Harrell, Paul Herrnan, Jimmy Wood and Richard Pollock. On lap two, Herman got past Harrell for third, only to have Harrell take it back one lap later. On lap three, Alex lowered the track record to 15.60 seconds. Kevin Bricker of Modesto, California, was starting to find his rhythm, and he was beginning to advance. By lap six, Alex, visibly tiring from lack of conditioning, succumbed to the pressure of Harrell, who had already gotten past Nye for second. "I just could hardly hang on," Alex said later. Eight laps in, the order was Harrell, Alex, Nye, Herman, Bricker, Pollock and Jimmy. By lap 12, Harrell was getting away, and he set the new what "'rodetothe~·. , .... tuII-ch.1I Ii Ha~, lights and an • In the track record for a c1ass-C motorcycle, which still stands at 15.52 seconds. By lap 15, Harrell had built up quite a lead, with Bricker now secure in second, Nye was third, Pollock was up to fourth, and Jimmy was fifth. As the checkered flag came out, Harrell won by a full straightaway, Alex had faded badly, and Bricker was second but under attack from Nye, who had found a second wiDd. Taking fourth at the stripe by inches was Jimmy, who just squeaked past Pollock. Another race worth noting was the Hooligan race. For those of you unfamiliar with this event, just imagine racing the motorcycle you rode to the races on the racetrack, as long as it's a 1000cc machine or larger. The Hooligan event is always a crowd favorite and receives standing cheers. Picture this: Your $30,000 street-custom (chopped or not) mount going around the dirt oval with the headlight covered by a number plate; some of the machines even have extended front forks. It's a sight to behold, indeed. Hopefully, this and all the races will be with us next year as well. With the track being under constant pressure, Naylor vows to do everything in his power to ensure there will be motorcycle races here for the 12th annual Ventura Short Track. .. Velltul1l llaceway Velltul1l, c.li,.. Reslllts: Jlllle 21, 110oI"'-'" zaa HOOUGA/'t: 1. J. Paper. 0-1935: 1. D. DuVamey. DINO: 1. Ed Castro; 2. Denny Ritchie; 3. Paul Herman. !'IOV: 1. T. Howard: 2. K. Speir, 3. D. Chaney. 0-450: 1. Ken Thiebaud; 2. Bradley Spencer Jr.: 3. John Lundgren. LN..O ARROW; I. A.J. Herrera; 2. J. McMurren: 3. R. Held CL-C FOOTSHlFT: 1. J. McMuren; 2. M. Roe; 3. L. Rodriguez. CL-C HANDSHIFT: I. Ed Castro; 2. Paul Herman: 3. Merle BlIrnett. 500·600 SUP: 1. Alex wood; 2. Joe Steffen; 3. Rod l.oke 650-900: I. Greg Wilburn: 2. John Lundgren: 3. Craig Haas. XR750 OPEN: I. Jimmy Wood: 2. Greg Wilburn: 3. Rod Lake. SR: 1. D. Welder: 2. S. Poggi: 3. J. Wichert. VI NT TT: I. Rod Lake; 2. B. Fakkeldy; 3. R. Callaway. PRO TT: I. D. Waler; 2. R. Davis: 3. D. Alexander. 600 PRO: I. Donnie Harrell: 2. Kevin Bricker; 3. Frllnk Nye. cue I e n e vv S • JULY 23.2003 53