Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

the ra cetrack , Ho cking and his Dodge B roth ers /A&A Rac ing Yamaha have found themsel ves a ho me in the Open V intage class, i f his performan ce s have been an y indication . H o c k i n g l a n d e d his third O pen Vintag e A main win of the season at Placerville , dominating a race that required se vera l restarts before being run to complet i on. If n oth ing e lse . those restarts served only t o imbed Romero 's rolling resta rt procedure in to the minds of the riders as t h e safest possi b le way to get a halted r a c e b a c k u nder way . H o ck i n g got t h e ho leshot on th e orig in a l start, w it h B ob C obb ru nni ng se c ond d own th e b a ck c h ute b efore s lidi ng d o wn in turn o ne . D e sp it e fa c ing a m ounta in of t r a ffic , C o b b w a s lAbove) After it was allover, tiUe combatants Brown Petti and Damron (rfght! had one more tight left In them. Damron actually got the better of this one. n o t h it , al thoug h the c ras h did r e su lt i n a r e d fl a g . On th e res tart , J e rry K en n e d y go t t h e holesho t , b u t t he fie ld o nly made it to turn one before David Nance took a tu mb le. Nance did n o t make the restar t. Hocking w a s back at th e point when the race S pe n ce r ( Ya m); 4 . J o e C a rrera (Ya m) ; 5 . Ga r y Rit chi e ( Yam ); 6 . Way ne Warr in gt on (T r i); 7 . Bud Rid dl e (Ya rn) : 8 . Pau l Or l and i (Y a m ) ; 9 . Jerry Kenn edy (T ri ); to . A I Ludwi gsen ( Yam ): I I. Chris Gellfuss ( Yam ); 12. Henry Riv en (Su z) ; 13. David Nance (Yam) ; 14. Bob Cobb (Ye m} ; 15. Steven Hall (Yam). Ope n Pro FASTQUAL: LonniePauley (W·R). DFC: I. Jeff Johnson (W·R): 2. Billy Martn (Wi ton , Chris Geilfuss. Joe Carrera and R) ; 3. Ronni e Brown (W -R); 4. Randy Berema n (WR); 5.l..onnie Paule y (W -R); 6. D.W. Sanchez (Rtx} . B MA IN : 1. Ri ck Ho c k in g (Ya m) ; 2 . D an n y Ritchie (Yam); 3. Robert Seay (W -R); 4 . Bob Grant (Han ); 5. Casey Yarrow (Hus); 6. J am es Lew is (Rtx) ; Kenn ed y around on the first circuit. Han (Yam) ; 10. Peu l Warne (Han) : 11. D.W. Sanchez fina lly got go ing in earnest , and h e led Knight Ra cing 's Ro bert Cunning - Hock ing was unmatched b y anyo n e o n th e tra c k , as he fo u n d a li n e t h at fe w oth ers had off turn tw o t o propel himself fu rther ahead of Cun nington w ith e ach lap . Meanwhil e , seventh -p la ce d Brad Sp en c e r w a s running d own th e p a c k from b ehind , u sing a low lin e th r ough turns thre e and four in o rder t o pick o ff th e rid ers in fro n t o f h im . Eight laps later , it w as ove r , as H ock in g h ad th oroughl y troun c ed th e field . Cunn ington c ame 7. JeffGoshert (CCM); 8. BobCobb (Yam): 9. Steven (Rtx): 12. Don Hart (W·R). A MAIN : 1. Ronnie Brown ( W· R); 2. Jess e San chez (Rtx); 3. Robert Damron (W· R); 4 . l onnie Pauley ( W · R) ; 5_ Billy Martin ( W· R); 6 . Rand y Bereman (Rtx); 7. Dan Hart (CCM); 8. Rick Hocking (Yam); 9. Jeremy Hannah (Han) ; 10. Matt Prol o (WR); J I. Robert Seay (W· R); 12. Robert Cunn ingt on (Y am): 13. Dann y Rit ch ie ( Yam); 14 . Bob Gra nt (Han); 15. Jeff Johnson (W-R). 250 Novice Mod ified Production A MAIN : 1. Sc ott Ro usseau (Yam ) ; 2. J im m y Abrams (Yam): 3. Robert Clark ( Yam); 4 . Bradley Spenc er (Hon) ; 5. Devi n Def'reece (Kaw); 6. Dou g Rubiolo (Han); 7. Frankie Euba nks ( ve rn): 8. Rya n Coleman (Hon ). GENE ROMERO'S E·MOOLA.COM WEST COAST FLAT TRACK SERIES PO INTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 9 rou nds): OPEN PRO : 1. Ronnie Brown ( 143/ 3 wi ns); 2. Rob Damron ( 130 ): 3. Billy Martin (9 6 ); 4 . Randy Bereme n (88): 5. Dann y Ritch ie (74); 6 . Beau Brown two co rne rs , but w as abl e to salvage (69): 7. LonniePauley (67/1); 8. Dan Hart (64/1): 9. (TIE) Don Hart(46)/Mark Corsetti (4612): II. R obert Seey (43): 12. (TIE) Tony Souza (36)/Jeff Johnson the seco n d spot. Carrera and Gary (31). Ritch ie were fourth a nd fifth respe c - OPEN VINT: 1. Jeff Joh nson ( 143 /3 wi ns) ; 2 . Ro bert C unnington ( 1 18/ 1): 3 . B rad Spen c er ( 112/1): 4. Rick Hocking ( 105/3) : 5. Mear! Barnett under atta ck fr om Spenc er offthe last ti v e l y . eN Placerville Speedway Placerville, Califomia Results: September 30s, 2000 [Round 9 of 91 Ope n Vint age DFC: I. Ric k Hocking ( Yam ); 2. Bra d Spe ncer (Yam) ; 3 . Steve n Hall ( Yam) ; 4 . Joe Carrera (Yam ). B M A I N : J . Brad Spen cer ( Yam) ; 2 . Je rry Kennedy (Tri ); 3. Bud Riddle (Yam) ; 4 . J oh n Larson (Yem ): 5. Rod Du ni vent ( Yam) : 6 . Robert Han sen ( Ha n) ; 7 . T y ee Heb ner ( Yam ); A MAIN : I. Rick Hocking (Yam) : 2 . Robert Cunnington ( Ho n); 3. Brad (36); 14. Robert Cunni ngton ( 33) ; 15. Brad Spencer (Above) Mid·'70s AMA Grand National racer Rick Hocking (13) dominated the Open Vintage A main event at Placerville, taking his third class win of the year. (Right) Prior to the night's racing, racing tuner Bill Knight (far rig ht) and series champions Jeff Johnson (Ienl, Ronnie Brown (l eft, center) and Scott Ro usseau (right) presented se ri e s promoter Ge ne Romero w ith a custom-made j ac k et and m irrored plaque on behalf of the ride rs to show their appreciation for Romero's efforts th is season. The normally animated Romero was len speechless. (91); 6. Gary Ritchie (78): 7. Jeff S. Johnson (73): 8. Joe Carrera (72/1); 9. (TIE) Mike Gonzalez (47)/Bob Co bb ( 47) ; 1 1. Way ne Wa rr ingto n (43) ; 12. Kei th Bradford (37): 13. Clyde Dennen (35): 14. (TIE) Tom Hort on (3 4) / Davi d Nance (34 ). 250 NOV : 1. Scott Rou sseau ( 15 1/ 3 wins); 2. Frankie Eu banks (92) ; 3 . Scott Wat k ins (9 1); 4 . Ron Hinton ( 79/2) : 5. Jimmy Abrams (74/1): 6. Bill Kiri ak idis (69) ; 7. J ason Ch isum (65/2) ; 8 . Bra dley Spencer (49 ); 9. Robert Clark (43); 10. Do ug Rubiolo (36): II. Shawn Hoover (23/ 1): 12. Joe Brown (22): 13. Nic k Stedman (20 ); 14. James l ewis ( 19); 15. (TI E) Ke vin Gree n ( 16) /Evan Mo rones ( 16)/Brad Bannis ter ( 16)/Rich Taylor ( 16). fd@@@@ [l}@1:75@@ [i5}@@5(J5(J¥f} (JJ[J@@G!J@1J5@fJi) f?DUDD&J!JD@@ !i3(J[}0DUD@&J&J BRIEFLY••• Seal of approval: How successful was the e-m oola.c o m West Coast Flat Track Series in Y2K? Extremely. according to Pete Bovazzini. CEO of e-moola.com. the senes' title sponsor. ' We were very happy with how the series we nt and the coverage that we go t because of o ur involve- ment WIth It." Rovazzlni said. ' We still have to talk over a few things. but we plan to be back aboard with the series for next season. Being an old speedway and Rat track guy myself. I was really excited to help Gene Romero build up the grassroots pro scene on the West Coast. and I believe that he has done a brilliant job. We are 1DO-percent behind what Gene is doing. and we believe that it has actually opened up othe r avenue s fo r e-rnoola .corn in the mot orcycle Industry : Open Vintage champion Jeff Johnson offi cially announced that he has a new sponsor that he will be canyi ng into the Open Pro class for the 2DOI season. Johnson has landed a deal with Saddlemen Racing. which is also the primary sponsor for Mike Hacker at the AMA and F·USA National level. Johnson said that he has also locked up deals with all of his 2001 product sponsors. including K&N Filter s. Or egon Cascade W ater and Progr essive S uspe nsion. While he had already won the 250cc Novice class title, Scott Rousseau m ade the trip to Placerv ill e to settle a score with frien dly rival Jimmy A bram s, who had pu lled off a great move to beat Rousseau way back at the second race of the yea r in Hanford. Tonight, Rousseau would not be denie d as he stormed to the fast he at win and then backed it up with a victory ove r the A&A Racing -bac ked Abram s and the rest of the eig ht-rider field in the 1O-Iap A main. Abram s got the hole sho t in the m ain, but Rousseau ran aro un d the outside of him do wn the back straight and th en held it on thr ough turns three and four to take the poi nt as th ey came down the front stra ightaway. That lead would grow to abo ut fi ve lengths by the fini sh, whil e Ab ram s held off Robert Clar k for second, the tr io completing a Yam aha sweep of th e pod ium. Afterw ard, Rousseau took series prom ot er Gene Rom ero for a ride on th e victo ry lap with him. " l owed Jimmy th at one afte r he beat m e at Hanfor d," Rousseau said. "It has been fun racing with him and all the guys in this class th is year. With my j ob , I got to see a lot of things happen on all levels of dirt tr ack thi s year, and it' s j ust m y personal feelin g, but I think th at th is cla ss ha s as m uc h potential as some of th e othe r things that are being tried at the regional and nation al levels. With th e equipm ent th at we use, it's easy eno ugh to get into, that' s for sure. Th is has been a great yea r for the sport of dirt track racin g." Dennis Voll Before the night' s racing even began. emotions ran high as the riders surprised W est Coast Flat Track Series president Gene Romero right after the conclusion of the national anthem. Normally. the riders wo uld fire up their machines and head to the pits in preparation for the races. but this time nobody moved. Romero was then ushered to the start/finish line where he was presented two gift s. Robert Cunnington sponsor/tuner Bill Knight presented Romero with a customtailored West Coast Flat Track Series jacket on behalf of Knight Racing. M ickey Lane Racing and the riders. Aft er Knight' s presentation. 250cc champion Scott Rousseau and reigning Open Pro champio n Ronnie Brown joined Jeff John son to present to Romero . on behalf of the riders. a custom-made mirror that bore W est Coast Flat Track Series graphics along With the names of the three titleholders as a token of their appreciation for his effort s with the series, Normally a tough character. Romero was moved to tears at the presentations. "That caught me totally off guard." Romero said fro m his offi ces a few days after the races. "I cried like a baby - M r. Tough Guy. I've been showing the stuff to everybody because I'm so proud of it. I just really want the riders to know that I appreciate everything that they did for me. All the thanks that they've given me is more than enough because this deal is like a family . But when they showed their gratitude like that. well. I just couldn't believe it. I'm grallfied. I'm happy. and I'm really. really proud for this series and every last per son that is involved wit h it. .. eye I e n e vv s OCTOBER 18, 2000 33

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