Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eOFF~ROAD AMA National Championship Enduro Series: Round 8 ~ Randy Hawkins rode safely to a fifth-overall finish, and clinched the fourth National Enduro Championship of his career. One round remains in the series. Jeff Fredette soldiered through the mud to fourth overall in the short-but-tough event. Kelby Pepper was awarded a live turkey after winning his first National of the season. Pepper wins, Hawkins clinches title at Turkey Creek B.y Merle Acord NEW PARIS, IN, NOV. I TM's Kelby Pepper, riding on minute 13 in 40-degree weather with driving rain, dropped 58 points through 73 miles, 13 time checks and nine observation checks to K 16 win the Turkey Creek National Enduro. While Pepper was elated to win his first National of the season, the real news centered around Suzuki's Randy Hawkins, who rode conserva- tively to a fifth-overall placing, and clinched the fourth National Enduro Championship of his career. KTM/MSR/Dunlop/Duralube/ Arai/Moose Racing/Elite Motors/ Acerbis/RK Chain/lCD-backed Pepper, who hails from Monte Vista, Colorado, and is well-experienced with inclement weather, said, "It was a short run - only 70-some miles, but it was one of the toughest I've ridden. It was well arrowed and everything was right where it was supposed to be. The earlier numbers might have had a little bit of an advantage because of the weather." Pepper, in addition to clinching third overall in the series, also won a live turkey that will probably end up as Thanksgiving dinner. The Riders M.C., with help from sponsors Scott Competition, SRC, MSR, Ghost Rider IV and Throttle Jockeys, handed out beautiful walnut plaques and awarded all class winners a frozen turkey. Kawasaki's Kurt Hough, riding on minute 37, dropped 59 points for second overall. "I missed a lot of checks by five and 10 seconds," said Ho·ugh. "They were flipping the cards as I was riding into the check. That was going on all day; one time I came up on a check and I had 10 seconds to spare, so I got on the gas, and then I fell down and I lost my 10 seconds. It was one of the tie-breakers, and that set me back a bit, but it was still a good day." Prior to the run, Gene Yoder, the dub's trail chairman said, "We were planning on taking about 14 points from the overall winner, but with the rain we'll get a lot more. We have about everything in the course but big hills. There's river bottoms, peat bogs, grass tracks and lots of tight woods. We have six speed changes and seven resets. In the first section there's a 12 mile-perhour section that will catch a few people hot." Kawasaki's former National Enduro Champion, Terry Cunningham, dropped 27 points for riding hot in that 12 mph section. Cunningham still won the 200cc A class, and finished 16th overall with a score of 90 points. All eyes were on defending champion jeff Russell, who was riding on minute 36. The KTM rider, who suffered cellulitis in his left foot early in the year and rode injured through the middle of the series, needed an overall win, and Hawkins would have to finish out of the top 10 if Russell was to have a shot at retaining the crown. Russell dropped 60 trail marks for third overall, and Hawkins was three marks back in fifth overall with 63. That meant Hawkins clinched the series championship. "It was real tough - wet and cold, and I rode as hard as my arm would let me ... I knew what I had to do and I did it," said Hawkins. "I hurt my shoulder bad last week at Delaware, and r went to the doctor and had him work with it so I could even ride today. I had to beat jeff, or finish in the top 10 if jeff didn't win it. "I won the National Enduro Championships in 1988, '89 and '90. Then I broke my thumb early in '91, but I came back and the championship went down to the last round before Russell won it. I had a DNF in Ohio earlier this year, the first time in five years that we haven't finished because of bike problems. That's a good record." "It was cold and wet and slippery," said Russell. "It sure was tough. They

• Cover