Abrasive Blasting • Protective & Decorative Coatings “Serving San Diego Since 1970”
ECP POWDER COATING ORBA Member “Fighting to keep your deserts open”
1835 John Towers Ave #A El Cajon CA 92020
SoCal OTMX March 19, 2011 Cahuilla Creek MX Park T
he month of March was a great one for the SoCal Club. On the 19th
, seventy riders braved the
inconsistent weather and made the trek to Cahuilla Creek Motocross Park. They were all jonesing to moto, as the club’s last race was mid-February! The weather tuned out to be cold but without rain, and the crack CC track prep crew did a great job of prepping the back track for the event. The big news was the appearance of our two fastest club racers, Big Dan Berg and Fast Kevin Barda (known as Bardaman or Trainerman). These two class acts, due to work and racing commitments, had not raced head-to-head in any of the previous 2011 SoCal races. Today would be the day!
After a very competitive race one, which included
the 50 Amateur and 50 Expert classes, the Barda/Berg showdown would happen. But in that first race, Kent Reed, riding his Pro Circuit factory replica 450 won both motos in an outstanding comeback ride. Kent had been missing from the SoCal Club race scene for a number of months, but now that the economy is turning around, he is back in a big way! Our Preacher, Don Wallace, ran 3- 2 motos to edge out Vincent Gonzales (2-3) for the second step on the podium. Race one also featured Don Faron, very high in the season points standings, take
BY RICH STUELKE PHOTOS BY MOTOPHOTO, LLC Kent Reed #491 on his Kawasaki and Vincent Gonzales on his Suzuki #141
the win with 2-1 motos. Also making a comeback was Steve Gerber (better known as Goobz178), who had been off his Hondas for a number of months with rehab from a crash last year. Steve looked great, taking second overall with 4-2 motos over Phil Maust (3-4) and our number one plate holder Dee Vondracek (6-3). Rounding out the class was Alan Cheever (5-5) and Mark Moore, who won the first moto but had a family deadline to meet and was unable to start moto two.
Kevin Barda #852 and Dan Berg #25
Race two brought to the gate all the Master and Expert 40 classes. The Expert 40 class was won by Frank Beach with 2-1 motos (on his Suzuki 2-stroke). Courtney Gannett kept Beach honest with 3-1 motos, just edging out Michael Coseart’s 2-3 for second overall. Kenny Campbell, Tim Marshall, and Michael Young all demonstrated outstanding speed. Factory Dave Eropkin, the so-far season points leader, took both his Master 50 motos over a fast Joe Pena and Kirk Bassett. Brian Allen won the Master 50b class, and Lyle Sweeter won the Master 60 class. Three riders, Pat Imbriale, Kevin Worrell, and Alan Burtt fought over the Master b class, with Pat taking the honors. Finally, the big match race was under way. In the first moto, Bardaman pulled a holeshot over Big Dan, stretching his lead over the jumps while Big Dan closed the gap ever-so-slightly in the turns. What was expected to be a dogfight turned into a train, with Kevin maintaining a decent lead over Dan for the duration of the moto. Round one to Bardaman. Everyone thought that Big Dan would be able to step it up a little for moto two, but on this day there was no denying the Bardaman’s dominance. Kevin took the holeshot again and steadily pulled away for the moto two win. Berg was no slouch, as he also lapped almost the entire field! Race three included the Novice 40, Amateur 40 and Beginner classes. The Beginner class was a tight race between Ian Staton, Gil Verity, and Mike Swyden.
Ian just edged out the wins in both motos, with Gil taking second overall (3-2) over Mike (2-3). These boys are ready to move up to the Novice class! Carlos Palomo, new to the SoCal Club for 2011, took the Amateur 40 class. He had fantastic cornering speed, the soft, loamy/ sandy track surface was just to his liking! Steve Probst made the trip to Cahuilla and rewarded himself with second overall (3-2). Hal Raster and Chuck Willets, always competitive in this class, both had get-off’s (but were OK). Dave Merrill swept the Novice 40 class, with Bryce Heathcoat and Mark Chilson finishing on the podium. Special props to Christi Duffy, whose second place in moto one was the highest finish for a woman in a full class (other than 357Girl Michelle Horton) in the SoCal Club in years! Christi had a couple of problems in moto two, dropping her to 7th
for a fifth overall! Nice
ride! Van Raster had 4-4 motos for fourth overall, and Kevin McMurtrey and Doug Todd also ran well. Race four featured the two largest and most competitive classes of the day, the Amateur 60 and Novice 50 classes. Also running in race four were the Novice 60 (won by Doug Krause), 80 Class (won by John Webb), 50 Beginner (won by Becky Howell), and the 70 Class (won by Chuck Ramsey, Sr. over Phil Black). The Amateur 60 class was dominated by Ron Ryer, who loved the Cahuilla vet track and ran away with both motos. Bruce Hoover edged out Paul “LawnDart” Lax for second, with Rich “Photoman” Stuelke getting in between them in moto two (and taking fourth overall). Stuelke had moto-long battles with Frank Derby, Kenny Feulner, John Craft, and Steve Pobjoy. This Amateur 60 class has been torrid all season, and it is shaping up, along with the Novice 50 class, to be the most competitive of the season!
The Novce 50 class continues to be amazing! Bill Bouman was the star of this race day, taking overall honors without winning either moto! In moto one, Don “Mr. Clean” Meiner took the win over a very close Bouman, with Michael Villa taking third over Tony “TP68” Parsons, Owin Wright, Ron Boozell and Bob Walpert. Words cannot describe the fierce racing that took place in this class, fierce but clean! Bob Walpert, who finished seventh moto one, took first in moto two. Owen finished second moto two (earning him third overall for the class!), followed by Bill Bouman (whose 2-3 gave him first overall). Meiner finished fourth (for second overall). Whew! Other competitive racers included Steve Willis, Jimmy Ray Smith, and Greg Whitfield. Keep an eye on this class, it is a barnburner!
The Support race (for younger riders) was the final
event of the day. Paul Maust won the mini class, while his brother, Timothy, won the Support Novice class over Travis Zaardemett. Heather Majcherock won the Women’s class, and the 30-39 class had Greg Solesbee, Ryan Gerber, and Lee Denman fill out the podium. The back track at Cahuilla Creek was awesome to ride! The soil made for great traction, and the track layout provided very fast yet safe, close racing all day long! The SoCal Club will definitely get back to Cahuilla Creek soon. Thanks, of course, go out to the SoCal staff for their usual efficient, professional event, to Cahuilla Creek for providing an outstanding facility and track, and
of course to Sherri and the crew at S&S Off Road Magazine for providing a forum to report on the SoCal Club scene!
Lyle Sweeter, 60 Master, railing a sandy berm 40 S&S OFF ROAD MAGAZINE - MAY 2011 -
www.SS-OffRoadMagazine.com 40 Novice class battling it out!
(619) 448-3932 Fax (619) 448-3662
Steve Gerber (comeback ride)
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