Cycle News

Steve Holladay and Wayne Cook finished off their mini Baja vacation by working their way to the finish. Don't know how much cash they got, but they eamed it. Bill Schubert. who had teamed with Rick Blom on a 125 Kawasaki. was one of many riders waiting for his teammate to appear. Blom had passed through check two in good position. He was never seen or heard from after that point. Schubert. who was anxious by 11:00 a.m, was still sitting next to the radio at 8 p.m, waiting for some word on his missing partner. As it turned out. Blom had been stuck with a flat tire and after no word for hours. his pit crew took o ff looking for him. picked him up and headed for San Felipe to rescue Schubert from his endless radio vigil. Although the course was considerably easier than some of those previously held over the rugged Baja interior. most of the riders agreed it was more fun as well. Bill Friant. who teamed with Jack Orndoff on one of many Yamaha TI500s entered. had time to spare at San Felipe. Friant was flown down to the half-way point after handing the bike over to Orndoff at check two. Bill said. "It·s an easy course. I only have to slow down for the turns. Lots of roads. It was pretty tricky though. early this morning, heading into the sun with all that dust. Jack is riding the worst part of the course. so far. " Minutes after our conversation. Orndoff rode into the pits. handed the bike over to Friant and headed for the landing strip to be shuttled by plane on to check six where be would take over to the finish, What a way to race. Strange things happen at the Baja and this year was no exception. For instance, the "Dirt" film crew was filming the event via helicopter. They had also -entered a rider. Dick Hansen. Unfortunately. Dick went down about two miles north of Tres Pozos at 10:00 a.m, An emergency call went out to a medic crew located about 12 miles from the accident. They immediately arrived on the scene and administered first. class medical aid. The crew was reluctant to 'move Hansen because of a possible severe neck injury and requested emergency air transportation asap. The "Dirt" film crew landed their copter near the injured rider. was notified of the emergency call. but refused to transport him to a hospital claiming they would miss out on too much of the race. An hour and a half later a privately owned Cessna 180 landed on a dry lake picked Hansen up and carried him off to a hospital in Brawley. California. Luckily. he had not broken his neck. as was originally suspected. but the results could have been disasterous. That film better be good. Outside of Hansen's injury, only one other report of serious injury came from check six. Nick Quackenbos was down and at last report he was resting as well as could be expected with a cracked wrist and ankle injury. , Mint 400 specialist Jack Johnson teamed with Scott Harden to bring another Husqvarna into the finish, capturing fourth overall, first 250cc and under honors on a stock 250 Husky in 9.14.25. Husky's win chain was finally broken as AI Baker and Gene Cannady brought their Long Beach Honda sponsored 410 Honda into the finish two minutes later at 9.16.29. Eric Jensen and Carl Cranke passed up Bad Rock and boogied their 125cc Penton to a class 20 win in 10.10.71. As mentioned earlier, this year's event was the largest in SCORE's history. Over $180.000 in purse and contingency money was up for 'grabs. 388 off-road participants were, elgible for a share of the cash but only th e fastest qualified, Roeseler and Bakken earned approximately at press $1 ,519 in payback cash. Clark/Utsey earned $759. These amounts do not include posted contingencies and are unofficial and approximate time. No controversies marred this third running of the Baja In ternacional and no protests were in effect. RESULTS CLASS 22 (2S1cc & OVER) 1. Larry Roe

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