Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Southern California-Arizona-Southern Nevada- Southern California-Arizona-Southern Nevada-Southern California-Ariz4 Western hotline Mark Kariya. of the winning Hingertl Kariya team. atthe AR RA Four- Hour. the day. The California State Series may have lured many, but the California Racing Club's Intermediates rocked the track. The first round of action found Kawasaki's Team Green entry Chris Taylor leading the pack. Jim Turner claimed the runner-up slot, leaving Trey McFarland in third. From third on back was absolute madness. Riders attacked the track two and three abreast with Kawasaki dominating the top six positions. Positions changed in every turn on this dusty, gnarly track. Racer after "racer endoed in the dust bowl turn and through the "Rock And Roller." The dice of the day went down between Turner and Jason Prater untiJ Prater bit the dust and DNF. When the finish line loomed into sight, Taylor, way -out in front, dumped his bike, but remounled in time to take first. Turner followed in second with Jim Cobham third. The second moto proved a cliffhanger for Yamaha-mounted Jimmy Palmer and Cobham. Palmer holeshot with Dirt Man Trucking entry Steve West hot on his heels and fending off Cobham in third. Unexpectedly, West reined in his Kawasaki, pulling to a dead stop as seven riders slipped on by. A rough day for West. Taylor lost no time in moving up throllgh the pack and into third. The battle came down to Palmer and Cobham in second. Two bikelengths separated them. Coming down the final stretch for the checkered flag, Cobham slipped a wheel under for the moto as well as overall win. Palmer finished second, good enough for third overall honors, leaving Taylor to take home s,econd place gold. Results 60 STK EX: 1. Tommy Clowers (Yam); 2. Alvin Matthews (Yam). 60 MOO EX: 1. Tommy Clowers (Yam); 2. Alvin Matthews (Yam). 80 STK BEG: ,. Tony Seckman (Yam); 2. Alvin Matthews (Yam). 80 STK NOV: ,. larry Beenedette (Yam); 2. Bryan Pruitt (Yam); 3. Doug Allen (Yam). . 80 STK INT: ,. Steve Gamble (Vam); 2. Thayne lito (Kaw); 3. Ramon Dominguez (Yam). 80 STK EX: ,. Jeff Barbacovi (Yam). 80 MOO BEG: ,. Robert Forest (Suz); 2. Jim Reiley (Yam); 3. Jason McFarland (Yam). 80 MOO NOV: 1. Joey Mendoza (Kaw); 2. Scott Murphy (Yam); 3. Paul Matthews (Yam). 80 MOO INT: ,. Steve Gamble (Yam); 2. Thayne lito (Kaw); 3. Pat Beckley. 80 MOO EX: 1. Jeff Barbacovi (Yam). 100 BEG: ,. Curtis Dougherty (Yam); 2. Mike Penta (Suz)., 100 NOV: 1. Brian Felix (Yam). 125 BEG: ,. Trent Powel (Yam); 2. Mark Gibson (Yam); 3, David Lechner (Kaw). 125 NOV: 1. Scott Delameter(Yam); 2. Ted Cordts (Suz); 3. Keith Moratito (Yam). . 125 INT: ,. Jim Cobham (Suz); 2. Chris Taylor (Kaw); 3. Jimmy Palme'(Yam). . 125 PRO: 1. David Hopwood (Han); 2. Mark Den. njng (Yam); 3: Daryll Werner (Hon). 250 BEG: ,. Willie Musty ISuz); 2. Chris Kleczko (Yam); 3. Jeff Robinson (Suz). !. 250 NOV: ,. Bill Chapin (Han); 2. Ray Groom (Hon); 3. Mike Johnston (Yam). 250 INT: ,. Todd Simmons (Suz); 2. Mark Adamson (Suz); 3. Glenn Wells (Han). 250 PRO: ,. Daniel Conway (Kaw); 2. Matt Tedder (Han); 3. Steve Piattoni (Han). OPEN BEG: ,. Gordon Hailey (Yam). OPEN NOV: ,. Scot Wiseman (Yam); 2. Mike Morris (Mai); 3. Todd Wiseman (Yam). OPEN INT: 1. Pete Vedans(Hon); 2. John Gannon (Mai); 3. Ruben Falcon (Yam). OPEN PRO: 1. Matt Tedder (Han); 2. Jim Roy (Suz); 3. Scott Morgan (Yam). . VET JR: ,. Dennis David (Yam); 2. Jeff Joy (Suz); 3. Robert Cooke (Yam). VET INT: ,. Bob Barr (Han); 2. Dan Sanchez (Suz); 3. Ned Joy (Mai). VET EX: 1. R. D. Tuzinsky (Vam); 2. Bill Millar (Suz); 3. Dan Moore (Han). Ma"i mangles .AMESummer Celebration By Mike Johns VALENCIA, CA, OCT. 10 The 125cc Pro class rolled up to the line as the first Pro event of the Southern California Yamaha Dealers Association/ . American Motocross Enterprises Summer Celebration Series. Through the' first corner it was Rick "City Boy" Maki on his Suzuki. Riding for the most consistent performance of the day, Maki was flawless as he took wire-to-wire wins in both motos. Maki left 17 others to battle for their share of the $2,000 purse. With payback by moto, there weren't many riders disappointed. Donnie Best put in the best performance in a supporting role as he made a charge from last in the first moto and mid-pack in the second act to battle for a position. ThiS' garnered the Van Nuys Cycle rider second overall. loli Meszaros and Jack Greenberg had a great dice going on in both races. Greenberg seemed to find the better lines in the corners, but Meszaros would outpower him on' the straightaways. When it came to collecting the cash, Meszaros scored th~rd . while Greenberg dropped to fifth. As the I 25cc Intermediates hit the crack, all of them, it looked as if Lance Johnson would be the runaway winner. "The Termite" has been unstoppable until today. With a 35 second lead over second place rider Dave Antillion, Johnson's bike decided to go high fashion and change the piston to a mini skirt. This gave Antillion the overall with Joe Hopkins taking second. Johnson was again afflicted with bike problems during a 40 second lead in round two. Again, Antillion was unpressured as he took his second vic'tory of the day, and Joe Hopkins would repeat his performance for second Qverall. By far the most exciting race of the day was the 250cc Pro. Of all the men on the line, the excitement centered on five; "Flying" Mike Brown, Kenny lahrt, Pete Snorteland, Larry Baker and David Taylor. In the first moto, Radical Ron Turner took his Honda to one of three wins for the day when David Taylor lost power from a broken pipe. Still, Taylor would hold on for third as Meszaros would sneak by for second. Mike Brown had come from one lap down to finish fifth behind Larry Baker. Second time around, Kenny Zahrt was the leader, Taylor second, Baker third, Brown fourth and Snorteland fifth. Zahrt hung on with everything he had, but the pressure was too much. Mike Brown, comically, gave· "Taylor a new pipe for his bike so he would have no excuse, and Taylor took full advantage. He passed Zahrt over the plateau and worked to stretch his lead, but mechanical problems stopped him. In the meantime, Brown, Baker and Snorteland had worked around lahrt, and, in one very brief moment, Brown and Snorteland "Amtraked" their way around Baker. Baker pulled off the track shortly after. This gave Brown a lead he would not lOse, and Snorteland finished second over Zahrt. Overall, Brown was first (6~1), Zahrt second (6-3), Gary Adams third (9-4) and David Lynch (8-7) for fourth. Results 125 BEG DIV I: ,. Jon James (Suz); 2. Mike James (Suz); 3. Tim Sassen (Hon). 125 BEG DIV II: ,. Tony Mayes (Suz); 2. Joe Klauza (Kaw); 3. Richard lnzunza (Suz). looJR: 1. Alan Pierce (Yam); 2. Raymond Bryson (Suz); 3. Tony Mercier (Yam). 100 INT: ,. Toby Lawes (Yam). 100 EX: 1. Steve Van Duzen (Yam). 125JR: 1. Randy Anderson (Suz): 2. Jim Faulkner (Yam); 3. B. J. Lehn (Suz). 125 INT: ,. David Antillion (Yam); 2. Joe Hopkins (Yam); 3. Jim Hartman (Suz). 125 PRO: 1. Rick Maki (Suz); 2. loli Meszaros (Suz); 3. Donnie Best (Yam). 250 BEG: ,. David Casner (Suz); 2. Roger Spencer (Han); 3. Todd Anders (Yam). 250 JR: ,. Guy Arnone (Hon); 2. B.J. Lehn (Suz); 3. Marty Desbrow (Hoo). 250 INT: ,. Dave Welty (Suz); 2. Kevin Holmes (Yam); 3. Tim Winslow (Suz). 250 PRO: ,. Mike Brown (Kawl; 2. Kenny lahn (Kaw); 3. Gary Adams (Han). VET JR: 1. Steve Dietrich (Suzl; 2. Ted McWhorter (Hoo); 3. RiChard Drolen (Hus). VET INT: ,. Sam Maute (Mai); 2. Kent Sheperd (Suz). VET EX: 1. AI Stinebaugh (Suz); 2. Gary Willison (Mai); 3. Bob Dunahm (Yam). . 500 JR: ,. Jeff Bouchillon (Mai); 2. Calvin Bakis (Han); 3. Rick Garza (Suz). 500 BEG: 1. Jim Lichlyter (Han). 500 INT: ,. Ronnie Lewis (Yam); 2. Tim Conner (Yam). 500 PRO: ,. Ron Turner (Han); 2. Brand Johnson (Suz); 3. Mike Brown (Yam). 61 JR: 1. Moose Wine (Yam); 2. Brian Payne (Yam). 61 INT: ,. Shawn Bates (Yam); 2. Joe Brown (Yam). 61 EX: 1. Steve Kotajarvi (Yam); 2. K.ayleJohnson (Yam). . PEE WEE: ,. Mitchell Hukill (Yam). 83 BEG: ,. Bryan NelSon (Suz); 2. Jeff Longwith (Yam); 3. Jimmy Lewis (Kaw). 83 JR: 1. Alan Pierce (Yam); 2. Danny Barnett (Kaw); 3. Tony Fleming (Yam). 831NT: 1. Tom Hoh (Kaw); 2. Curt Trimble (Yam); 3. Chris Lara (Suz). 83 EX: 1. 'Joe Lozano (Yam). Vague/Gardner ta"eARRA Four-Hour By Mick Krick File photo by Lori Tyson ROSAMOND, CA, OCT. 2. Kawasaki-mounted Steve Vague and Steve Gardner teamed up today to' win overall at' the American Road Racing Association's fOl.Jr-hour endurance race 'at Willow Springs, and hammered home the old adage about the consls:tent, low-key tonoise beating the fleet hare. . ~ " , In addition to winning overall, Vague/Gardner took the 600cc Production win also, completing 133 laps during their four-hour stint, two laps more than their closest competition. The hares of the event were undoubtedly the winning 600cc Super Street team, comprised of Jeff Braucht, Doug Toland and Jeff Tutobene on Toland's Kawasaki KZ550. Though beset by a couple of problems which proved, ultimately, to be their downfall, the trio was by far the quickest on the track and completed 131 laps. Two other classes ran for trophies and cash also, with Gene Hingert and Dirt Rider Magazine's Mark Kariya taking t1ingert's YamahaRD350LC/J to the 450cc Super Street win by completing 120 laps. Also completing 120 laps was the 450tc Productionwinning duo, Jeff Kratka and Tom Piper on Piper's old RD350, commendably finishing less than a lap behind their Super Street competitors after four hours of racing. And what racing there was. Waiting for the green flag to drop, Toland blasted out of his front-row starting spot...and into the pits to correct a problem. After giving the rest of the field a three-lap headstart, he returned to the track and furiously began making up time. Shonly after handing the bike which Toland bought as a· wreck; simply adding GPz cams, an exhaust system and Elites to the couple hundred dollar investment - to Braucht, the oil cooler sprang a lead, and more time was lost while the crew yanked the cooler and replaced the oil lines for it with plugs. Up front, the battle for the lead went back and forth. One of the teams - Cycle World Magazine's John Ulrich and John Williamsona GPz550 they couldn't get running right all day - went out late in the race in a puff of smoke after a connecting rod poked a hole in the case. Vague/Gardner, almost unnoticed. took the lead in the later stages of the event. BrauchtlTolandlTutobene absolutely scorched 'the track - Toland reeling off consistent I :40s - in their ef[ort to regain lost time. Harold Bohrer and B. Walsh, on a Super Street entry 550 Seca, finished 131 laps, too, bunhey failed to make it to the checkered flag, crashing on the final lap in turn eight. Still, they were second in class ahead of Kawasaki-mounted Russ Miguel and Ed Pasha. Dennis Kunster, Walt Nitto and Al Ross took their GPz550 to second in 600cc Production over Danny Weaver and A.J. Aschenbrenner on another Kaw. The Hingen/Kariya team com'pleted the race only after replacing a flat rear tire early in the second hour. They were nine laps in front of Honda Hawk-mounted Steve Fleming and Kim Kruglick and seventh overall. The Kratka/Piper entry hustled along consistently all day for the top 450cc Production bike finish. Second in class went to Rick Soloway and Doug Booth; a crash by Booth in the third hour put his Honda Hawk in the pits for quite a while, and they returned to the track - minus front brake and a good deal more cautious and slow - in order to finish the race. Mike Morrow and Larry Theobald looked as though they might take the class, as well as top 450, early in the rac~, but Morrow Went doWn hard on his Hawk"later irithe race, : and the team DNF. 'stIlI, they 'had: cOIll plete,efenol;lgh .la'pst~pl~ third in class.· , . . . ... , ~' " l

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