Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Fall Classic Day One: Ragged Edge Raceway Sofka, Riding on the Ragged Edge By GENE HIGGINBOTHAM RIDGECREST, CA, OCT. 29 D aged Edge Raceway was the location of I'this great late-October event, which attracted more than 12S old-timers, plus kids and grand kids. The Riverside Chapter of the Old-Timers Motocross Club hosted this second annual event, which was continued this year because of its great popularity last year. Basical- ly following international Old-Timer rules of classification, there was a class for each 10-year age group, from Novice on up to Master. There were even a few really old guys who were over 70 (including your reporter). The pits began to fill early Friday and were crammed to the gills by Saturday morning's start time. Ragged Edge Raceway is truly a great track for anyone, but particularly for old-timers. The firm, sandy soil made for great traction and berms that you could really rail around confidentty. There were no doubles to underor over-jump, just a couple of fun step-ups and lots of tabletops and great straightaways. The place is really a well-kept secret. Chapter president Kurt Sofka Jr., with a lot of help from dub members. organized a great event, complete with dinner and raffle prizes galore. Saturday morning, the racing began hot and heavy with all dasses of Over 60 and Over 70 age groups first off the line. Tommy Pearl from Riverside displayed his power and speed with wins in both of his motas in the Over 60 Expert class, followed by L.A. 's Dennis Tooman, who scored two second-place finishes. Gene Higginbotham from Sierra swapped wins with Riverside's Chuck Woody in the Over 70 Experts. "Higgi" managed to be the winner in the second moto, giving him the win with the tie breaker. Gary Colbert and Les Oldenbrook, both from L.A., battled hard, but it was Colbert with two firsts for the overall and Olden brook taking second. A couple of Riverside riders battled for first Over 50 Novice, but Dee Vondracek IV got the win in both motos, over Roberta Ewart, who took second in each moto. Perennial favorite Asker Larnkjaer (who is realty a "new man" - most everything has been replaced, I think) and Bob Alloy, both out of Riverside. each won a moto, but Larnkjaer took the overall win with the tie breaker in the Over 70 Novices. Fall Classic Day Two: Ragged Edge Raceway Reed Roars Back! By GENE HIGGINBOTHAM RIDGECREST, CA, OCT. 30 D ay two of the Fall Classic dawned with the kind of beautiful sunrise that only the desert can provide. Anticipating 70degree weather and the Ragged Edge Raceway track to be prepared to perfection (this track is realty a well-kept secret, but not for long), the Old-Timer riders and their kids and grand kids were up early, enjoying a relaxed breakfast that included choices ranging from bananas to breakfast burritos. As a really old old-timer, this reporter remembers pits crammed with pickups and tents. Today, we have become spOiled, with anything from the aforementioned accommodations to 40-foot toy haulers or (in my case) a 36-foot Montana fifth wheel with a rack on the back. Gas may be expensive, but you can't keep motocrossers from their first love - racing. The previous evening's festivities had included a trophy presentation, a great dinner and fabulous raffle prizes. Now the oldtimers were ready to onee again challenge their buddies to a duel on this great track. Many of the races were rubber stamps of the day before, but in some cases the results were markedly different. Kurt Sofka Jr. from Riverside had dominated the Master A class on Saturday, but this day was all Dave Eropkin's. Riverside's Eropkin was the dominator, with two wins and the overall, while Sofka managed a second and a DNF for third overall. Keeping them both honest was LA. 's C.R. Brunson, whose third and second garnered second overall. The Over 40 Experts had a new leader, with Jeff Stanford coming in for Sunday only. In his first outing, he took a couple of firsts for the overall. Saturday's winner, Mark Pledger from Central Valley, took two seconds for second overall. 48 DECEMBER 7, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Kurt Sofka Jr. (610) gets a decisive holeshot In the Master A class, with fellow Riverside Chapter member Dave Eropkin (8111 close behind on day one of the Old-Timers' second annual Fa I Classic. In the Master class, Sofka, despite his hosting duties, somehow found time to make it to the line in time for a great holeshot and a dominating win over some realty fast guys such as Dave Eropkin, also from Riverside, and L.A.'s C.R. Brunson. Sofka won both motos and the overall, over Eropkin, who took two second-place finishes and second overall. The Master B-c1ass overall win went to LA.'s Keevan Acevedo, who was first to the checkers in the final moto over Kirk Bassett from Riverside. Both riders had a win and a second-place finish, but Acevedo took the tie breaker for the overall. Everyone would square orr once again on eN Sunday for another chance at a trophy. RAGGED EDGI RACEWAY RIDGECREST, CAUFORNIA RESULTS: OcrOBER 29, 2005 (DAY ONE) NOV: I. Randy Godich; 2. Art Bradford; 3. Mike Probst; -4. Mark Ensign; 5. Earl Adams. AM: I. Steve PhUlips; 2. Ted Byer; 3. Dale W. Clark; 4. Terry Roberts; 5. Mark Mansfield. EX: I. Mark PW!dger; 2. Kenny Campbell; 3. john Estes; 4. Marty Westerman; 5. Jack Gilliam. MSTR A: I. Kurt Sorka. jr.; 2. Dave EroplOn; 3. C.R. Brunson; 4. Jim Beal. HSTR B: t. Keevan Acevedo; 2. )(jrk Bassett; 3. Garry Connor; ... Lance McRoberts; 5. Martin Schneider. 50+ NOV: I, Dee Vondracek IV; 2. Robena Ewan; 3. Steve Willis; 4. John Craft; 5. David Willis. 50+ AM: l. Charlie Raff; 2. Louie Springer; 3. Randy Bruce; 4. Len West; 5. Paul Lax. 50+ EX: I. Dennis Stubblefield: 2. Gary Willison; 3. Doug Moore; 4. Kirk Freeman; 5. Kent Reed. 50+ MSTR: I. Mark Anderson; 2. Steve 00nakIs0n; 3. Jerome Gibson; ... Richard Kastner; 5. Ed Wolleson. 60+ AM: I. Gary Colbert; 2. Les Oldenbrook; 3. Bob Prestwich: ... Ron Clawson; 5. Ken Feulner. 60+ EX: I. Tommy Peart; 2. Dennis Tooman; 3. Bruce Hoover; 4. Larry Popp; 5. Frank Derby. 10+ NOV: I. Asker L...amkper: 1.. Bob Anoy. 10+ EX, I. Gene H;gginbotham: 2. Chud< Woody. PHOTO BV GENE HIGGINBOTHAM The Over 60 Amateur class was won again by L.A.'s Gary Colbert, but Ron Clawson from Central Valley came alive, riding very well and taking a second and a third for second overall, compared to fourth on Saturday. LA's Kent Reed probably made the greatest improvement over Saturday in the Over 50 Expert class. Reed continued his perfect string of holeshots since he started riding his Pro Circuit/O'Neal-backed 2006 CRF4S0 Honda. Having won the Over 50 Amateur Old-Timer Championship for 2005, Reed could not wait to get to the Expert class and challenge the fast guys. Except for his two holeshots on Saturday, he juS[ hung on for a fifth overall. Reed did not take that lightly, apparently, because he came out charging on Sunday and won both motos convincingly. Kirk Freeman, also from L.A, took second overall. ahead of another L.A. rider, Gary Willison, by beating Willison in the final moto for the tie breaker. The second annual Fall Classic was a great success, and the riders are looking forward to the third annual event. The word is that it will be a "Spring Classic," scheduled for April. Riverside will hold its International Race on October 7 and 8, 2006, at the Glen Helen Championship track. Be there! RAGGED EDGE RACEWAY RIDGECREST, CAUFORNIA RESULTS: OCTOBER 30, 2005 (DAY eN Two) NOV: I. Mark Ensign; 1.. Art Bradford; 3. Earl Adams: -4. Mike Probst; 5. Bob Walpert. AM: I. Ted Byer; 2. SteVe Phillips: 3. Dale W Clark: -4. Mark Mansfield; 5. Keith Chadwick. EX: I. Jeff Stanford; 2. Mark Pfedger. 3. Mmy Westerman; 4. jack GdHam; 5. john Estes. MSTR A:. I. Dave Eropkin; 2. C.R. Brunson; 3. Kun Sofka Jr.; -4. jim Beal. MSTR 8: I. Keevan Acevedo; 2. Kirk Bassett; 3. Garry Connor; -4. L1nce McRobertS. 50+ NOV: I. £>.Md Willis; 2. Roberta Ewart; 3. Steve Wims; 4. John Craft; 5. Steve Pobjoy. 50+ AM: I. Charlie Raff; 1.. Louie Springer, 3. Randy Bruce; 4. Don Meiner; 5. Dee Vondracek IV. 50+ EX: I. Kent Reed; 2. Kirk Freeman; 3. Gary Willison;

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