to close to within six seconds after Bell took a fall in the rock section. Bell came alive and as he neared the end of lap four had close to sixteen seconds over Russell. The dice for third was also taking a turn with Mark Samuels in the position but Cody was reeling him in and just a few bike lengths back. Bell came through the rocks on lap five, which was one turn before the finish, just nine seconds ahead of Russell. Third place Samuels has the Baja king, Cody, sitting on his fender looking for some room to pass as they raced by the scorer’s table into lap six, where they take the white flag. Bell is laying it out but so is Russell, unfortunately Russell reportedly slid out coming down into a corner while landing off a small jump. This was all Bell needed and he ripped away for the win and the prize money, Russell kept control of second to the finish. Lady Luck smiles upon Samuels after Cody reportedly ran out of gas. Samuels threw his chain in the rocks but had plenty of
Kailub Russell
Pro race winner Robby Bell with his parents Bob and Diane
room between him and fourth place, and was able to dismount and feed it back on to finish for third. The team winners were the Hilltoppers, represented by Bob Jackson, Greg Quinn, Samuels, Ronnie Smith, and Mike Vinson. Samuels rode his own bike but his teammates victimized Quinn's 2001 Honda CR250. Samuels opened up the race and came through for the rider change in second, Smith took over maintaining position. Vinson moved the team up one spot to first and that is where they finished after all was said and done. The team placed second in the "Club Cup." The Hilltoppers dedicated their win to the memory of Dave Oakleaf.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY RODNEY RUTHERFORD
Quinn Cody T
he Inaugural Johnny Campbell Christmas Classic World Famous Carlsbad Grand Prix was held on a day with sunshine throughout the day and a slight chill as the day wore on. The brainchild of Johnny Campbell of JCR Honda, The Ranch's Marc Peters, and Erek Kudla, from the initial idea to fruition the GP came together in just little over three months. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed as Campbell kept himself busy riding, racing with his daughter in the team race, posing for pictures, talking to everyone and being an excellent host.
The event incorporated The Ranch's motocross tracks, trails and single track at the perimeter of the motocross tracks, long straights for the bikes to stretch their legs, and technical sections such as the rock bed that provided a few tense moments for more than one racer. With a legend like Campbell involved who can relate to the trials and tribulations of Pro racers it is no wonder there was a $3000 prize for the winner. A full slate of GP classes was offered, a team race as well and the "Club Cup" awarded to the winning AMA club with the best combined score of three representing members.
With the temperatures dropping, the Pro class was staging to rush out of the gate, Precision Concepts Robby Bell was the speed of the day, but there was one Kailub Russell in the field. Russell was the 2009 and 2010 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) XC2 Pro Lites class champion, moving on to XC1 Pro for 2011 where he finished fourth overall. Johnny Campbell Racing’s (JCR) Quinn Cody was on the line, the multiple Baja winner will soon be heading to the 2012 Dakar in South America. Cody's teammate, David Kamo was also on hand. JCR honcho, Campbell, was not going to miss out on the fun. Campbell will also be racing the Dakar rally as a navigator for Robby Gordon.
Johnny Campbell gave a DVD to all the kids crossing the finish line and took time to talk to them.
The Pro race was underway in the late afternoon and with lap one winding down Bell was in the lead with the gritty Russell just a few seconds back in second. The two warriors were running laps averaging about nine minutes and eleven seconds. On lap three Russell made up about four seconds on Bell after being twelve seconds back, then was able
Mark Samuels
Christi Duffy standing with Johnny Campbell after winning the Women's class
The winners of the team race were Hilltoppers: Bob Jackson, Greg Quinn, Mark Samuels, Ronnie Smith and Mike Vinson
www.SS-OffRoadMagazine.com - JANUARY 2012 - S&S OFF ROAD MAGAZINE 49
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