Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

stayed ahead of McEnterfer as the two crossed the finish line. The GP Two Intermediate contest becam'e a battle between the Reyes brothers. Hondamounted Doug Reyes squared off against his Husqvama-mounted brother Ed in both holly contested motos. At the start of the first moto, Doug grabbed the holeshot, followed by Kawasaki jockey Michael Grove. Ed was close behind in fourth place. By lap three, Doug had established a substantial lead over the pack. Behind him, Ed had blitzed his way into second place. It was obvious that Ed had no intention of letting his brother take an easy win. When the white flag flew for the final lap, Ed had closed to within seconds of his brother. At the checkered flag. Doug managed to hold on to his lead while his brother notched a second-place finish. As the gat~ fell for the start of moto two. Ed grabbe'd the lead. His brother was close behind in second. Ed held on to the lead for the first three laps. As the two entered the uphill area in the back section of the challenging track, Doug powered his Honda past his brother's Husky. Despite constant pressure from Ed, Doug held on to the top spot to clinch the overall victory, while his brother scored a well-earned second-place plaque. In the Over 40 GP Intermediate class, Yamaha pilot Dennis Carlock and Maicomounted Eric Thaanum staged a battle similar to that of the Reyes brothers. As the pack roared into the front straight at the start of moto one, Carlock had the point position, while Thaanum was trying desperately to work his way to the front of the pack after a subpar start. By the beginning of lap three, Carlock had what appeared to be a substantial lead. Thaanum, however, steadily picked off one rider after another to take control of second place. By the white-flag lap. Thaanum had cut Carlock's lead down to a few bikelengths. At the finish, Carlock held on to his narrow lead, while Thaanum railed around the final berm before the finish to take an oh-so-c1ose second place. When the gate slammed down for the start of mota two, Thaanum obViously didn't want a repeat of the first moto. Once again, Carlock grabbed the lead coming out of the first tum. This time, however, Thaanum was close behind him. For the first three laps, Carlock held a narrow gap over Thaanum. Both riders were launching their machines high and far over the tabletop jumps scattered around the course in their battle for the top spot. Try as he might, Thaanum's growling Maico couldn't quite catch the high-revving Yamaha of Carlock before the checkered flag fell. Carlock took a well-earned overall. with Thaanum earning runner-up honors. Cahuilla Creek MX Park Anza. California Results, July 5. 2003 (Round 4) IRQNMAN V1NT INT: I. Daile Scourf~ (Cl). IRONMAN GP NOV: I. Allen McKay (Husl: 2. Dzln McEnlerfer (Mai); 3. Jim O'SuUlllan (Sul). IRONMAN GP INT: 1. Dallid Ogilllie (Vam): 2. Jeff Clausen (Hen); 3. Eric Thaanum (Mei): 4. Paul Claybaugh (Hus). IRONMAN GP EX: I. Chris Schleif (Hus). JR VINT: I. Nick Meeker (Sut): 2. Erik Garvey (Hus): 3. Reese Huschins (Hon): 4. Robert Richardson (Kalil). VINT SPTSMN 125 NOV: I. Bnan Larxn (pen). VINT SPTSMN 250 NOV: I. Raymond Wildman (Cl): 2. Chrl5 MacWillle (Bul). VINT SP'TSMN 250 EX: 1. Charlie Richardson (Cl). VINT SPTSMN 500 NOV: 1. Don BetslllOrth (Mei). VINT SPTSMN 500 EX: I. Dave Bennett (Cll. GP1 NOV: I. Jim O'Sullilllln (Sul). GP 2 NOV: I. Roy Grolle (Hus): 2. Gregory Martin (Mai). GP 2 INT: I. Doug Reyes (Hen); 2. Ed Reyes (Hus); 3. Charles Hillon (Hon): 4. Michael Grolle (Kalil): 5. Paul Claybaugh (Husl. GP 2 EX: I. DtIl1e Harris (Mai). GP 3 NOV: 1. Rex Preddy (Sut). GP 3 INT: I. Dallid Ogilllie (Vam): 2. Denni5 Carlock (Yam): 3. Keilh Sievers (Hus). GP 3 EX: 1. Rich Venegas (Suz). CLSC 1 NOV; I. Gary Collman (Gre). 30. GP NOV: I. Michael Cl'OIIIeli (Hus). 40. GP NOV: I. R6 Preddy (Sut): 2. Gregory Marm (Mai) 40. GP INT: I. Dennis Carlock (Yam): 2. Eric Thaanum (Mail: 3. Keith Siellers (Hus); 4. John Ahrens (Vam). 40. GP EX: I. Rich Venegas (~). 40. VINT NOV: I. Jim O'Sullillan (Cl). 40. VINT INT: 1. Man" Hutchins (Hus). 40. VINT EX: I. CharlIe Rkhardson (Cl). 50. GP INT: 1. Jay Ahrens (Suz). 50. VINT SP'TSMN NOV: I. Don Hedges (Oss). 50. VINT SPTSMN EX: 1. DtIve Jacobus (Yam); 2. Dennis MJd· dltton (el); 3. Chris Sch~ (Hus). OIL SOP NOV: I. Joey Lane (KTM); 2. Dylan Johnston (Yam): 3. Roy Grolle (Sut): 4. Craig Duarte (Sul). OIL SUP 11'IT: 1. Thomas Englehardl (Yam): 2. Dzllle JlKObus (Vam): 3. Michael Grolle (Kaw). AHRMA Dirt Track Nationals Round 8: Athens Fairgrounds Bova Blows By on the 4th of July! By 1.Iz LOWRY ATHENS, OH, JULY 4 The ice cream cones were free at the Athens, Ohio, Fantastic Fourth Festival on July 4, but the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association's rules were vigorously enforced; no less than three races were halted on the first lap so that the riders could go back around for a second start, and one Classic 250cc rider's engine was measured to make certain that his bike fell within the class' parameters. (It tumed out to be perfeclly legal.) One of the most interesting races of the day proved to be that Classic 250cc contest, in which John Bova overcame a less-thanadvantageous beginning to claim first place. Sent to the very back of the starting line-up after aCcidentally jumping the start the first time around, the Bultaco jockey worked his way through the pack to lead the final laps of the race. Barry Baker, also on a Bultaco, held the lead early in the race, but he was eventually passed by Bova and then, after several close laps, by Marvin Long. Baker eventually finished third. Fourth place was taken by George Ackley, who passed fifth-placed rider Mike Landrum late in the race. Athens Fairgrounds: Chris Shingledecker (16) gets ready to move his Triumph past Yamaha-mounted Jim Monegan (31) to claim second place, behind Mike Scott, in the Sportsman 750cc class at the AHRMA Oirt Track National in Athens, Ohio_ 68 JULY 30.2003' eye I e n8UVS Harley-Davidson racer George "Willie Nelson" Wills held on to his number-one ranking, claiming victories in both the Dinosaur and Classic 500cc/750cc classes. Second in the Dina class was Dennis Clark, also on a Harley, who passed third-place finisher Bruce Argetsinger's Royal Enfield on the final iap. Indian rider Larry Barns followed Clark and Argetsinger in fourth place, and Royal Enfield rider Beno Rodi finjshed the race in fifth. Harleys also ruled the track in the Classic 500cc/750cc race, in which four out of the top five finishers were mounted on Harleys. Harley rider Bernie Breece finished second, after Wills, while Bob Litten. Rusty Lowry and Honda rider Jim Oliver engaged in a close battle for third place. Lowry. on his Harley KR, had passed Litton's Harley by the final lap, and he and Oliver drag-raced down the front straightaway for third; Oliver edged in front mere moments before the finish line. There was another double winner on the day: Jim Monegan, who won both the Senior and Sportsman 600cc races despite a crash during the heat race that left his Sportsman 600cc Honda with a fiat tire and the rider with a dented boot. Bultaco rider Tom Morgan fought Monegan hard for the Sportsman 600cc win; the two riders traded the lead several times during the race. with the win finally going to Monegan. Third place was taken by Honda rider Larry Weiss, who blew past fourth-place finisher Greg Pearson's Bultaco on the final straightaway. Monegan had to work hard for his win in the Senior class, gradually closing with race leader Ed Fatzinger's Triumph and finally passing him in the second half of the race, after the two had taken several very close corners. Third place was claimed by Triumph rider Melvin Brown, while Jim Zeigler and George Ackley battled it out for fourth, with that position finally going to Ackley. In the closely contested Sportsman 250cc class, Jeff Metzloff and AHRMA rookie Ben Evans, both mounted on Can-Ams. struggled for the lead. taking some of the comers nearly parallel to each other. The win eventually went to Evans. with Metzloff taking second place. The more exciting action was further back in the pack, where Can-Am rider Zeigler held grimly to his third·place position, in spite of the best efforts of fourth-place finisher Patrick McDermott, who passed Mike Landrum's Yamaha midway through the race and began closing on Zeigler. Landrum himself ran a close race with Bultaco jockey Richard Stiefel; the two riders traded places through the final laps. with fifth place finally going to Stiefel. The skies remained bright and sunny long enough for the AHRMA riders to get all of their racing in, but storm clouds began to build during the last final. The ensuing rainstorm was short, but it did last long enough to considerably hasten the process of packing up, as riders began to race not each other but the weather in order to be out of the fairgrounds before the storm hit. Athens Fairgrounds Athens, Ohio Results, July 4, 2003 (Round 8) 011'10: I. George Wills (H-D); 2. Dennis Clark (H-D): 3. Bruc.e Argelsinger (R·E): 4. Lany Barns (Ind): 5. Beno Rodi (R-E). CLSe 250: J. John Bova (Bul): 2. MalVIn Long (H-D): 3. Barry Baker (BuI); 4. George Ackley (H-D): 5. Mike l..lIndrum (Hon). CLSe 500nSO: I. George Wills (H-D); 2. Bemie Breece (H-D): 3. Jim Oliller (Hon): 4. Rusty Lollll)' (H·D): 5. Bob UUen (H.D). SPTSMN 250: I. Ben Ellans (C·A); 2. Jeff Metzloff (C·A): 3. Jim leigler (C-A); 4. Patrick McDermott (C·A): 5. Richard Stierel (BuI). SPTSMN 600: 1. Jim Monegan (Hen); 2. Tom Morgan (Sui): 3. Lany Weiss (Hon): 4. Greg Pearson (Bul): 5. Bob Oeseenna (Hon). SPTSMN 750: I. Mike $cott (Vam): 2. Chris Stunglede<:ker (Tn): 3. Jim Monegan (Vam): 4. Bill Allen (Yam). VET: 1. Mike Scott (Yam); 2. Rich Long (Vam): 3. Doug Homer (Yam): 4. Bob Descenna (Hon). SR: J. Jim Monle9an; 2. Ed FaulOger (Tri); 3. Melllln Brown (Tn); 4. George Ackley (Yam): 5. JIm Zeigler (C·A). S/SR: 1. Mell1ln Brown (Tn): 2. Roy Hostetw (Tn): 3. Bob Utten (Bul); 4. Bill Cobb; 5. Tom Hodge,. '10s ~ 1. Tooy Moore (Yam): 2. Tom Morgan (Hon); 3 Ben Ellans (Hon): 4. Jim ~an (Hon); 5. Tom Hodges (Yam). Youth Nationals and Women's Open Trials Training Center Smage Rocks the House! By ALAN BECHARD AND DAN BROWN SEQUATCHIE, TN, JULY 4-6 The fourth annual AMA/NATC Youth Nationai was held at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee, on the Fourth of July weekend. Twelve-year-old Patrick Smage, backed by Sherco USA and Ryan Young Products, stepped up to the plate in the inaugurai event for the Open class and dominated the competition with three first-place wins and was crowned as the Overall Youth Champion. In the Women's top class, RYP rider Debbie Evans Leavitt took home the overall gold. Unfortunately, due to recent intentional car crashes (she is a stuntwoman, after all), she had a sore neck and was unable to demonstrate her signature balanced headstand on the bike. Sixty riders came from all over the United States and Canada. Team California made a particularly strong appearance, as djd the New England Trials Association, and naturally the Southeastern Trials Riders Association members were out in force. On Thursday, classes were held that featured many top riders taking their time and sharing their knowledge and experience with this great group of kids. From U.S. Montesa, Chris Florin was teaching logs and wheelies; from Sherco USA and RYP, Ryan Young taught section strategy, and David Chaves focused on camber turns and hillclimbs; from Beta USA, Andy Johnson and Ronnie Commo III were working on rocks and water crossings. There were compact loops for the eight sections that allowed the spectators to get to all the sections. The youngest riders rode two loops of seven sections, the 8- to 10-year-olds rode three loops of eight, and older kids rode four loops of eight. This stayed consistent on all days of the competition. The sections were set with age- and skillievei-appropriate challenges. with an eye toward the safety of all the children. There was a wide variety of skill levels represented, which posed a true challenge to the trial mas- ters to ensure that the sections were not only easy enough to be successfully navigated by the less·experienced riders in a class, but that there were enough challenges and points dropped by the top riders in that class to minimize the numbers of ties and zero-point scores. Factor in the possibility of rain, and it began to get complicated quickly. In this case, they hit it right on the nose. Trials Training Center: Patrick Smage topped the inaugural Open-elass contest at the fourth annual AMAINATC Youth I National in Sequatchie, Tennessee, on the Fourth of July.

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