January 29, 1975
Vol. 3  Issue 3
    










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Allen Cooke

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Dirt Diggers MX at Valley Cycle Park


Yes, Allen, we got your picture.  What you don't see is the pack of 35 riders behind Cooke. and this is on the first tap.  Daring, to say tne least.
Yes, Allen, we got your picture. What you don't see is the pack of 35 riders behind Cooke. and this is on the first tap. Daring, to say tne least.

Dirt Diggers at Valley Cycle Park
Sunday January 19, 1975
By: SCM
Staff

Late Saturday night the TV belts out "For relief of minor aches and pains caused by a cold, take..." Right! My head felt like it was last week's berm for Super Hunky out at Indian Dunes. The rest of my body brings back memories of riding the Des after a six month dry spell. As for what's left of my sinuses, they have grown to watermelon proportions, and I'm going to a race tomorrow...

Paulette Napoleone put in two consistent rides to score second overall out at the Diggers race.
Paulette Napoleone put in two consistent rides to score second overall out at the Diggers race.

What were my chances-slim to none. But the show must go on, and it would, whether I had a cold or not. Right now, I'll be honest, if this wasn't a District 37 race and the Dirt Diggers weren't throwing it, there would have been no way to drag this sickly body out of bed. But with the hopes of a huge crowd and lots of hot racers, I finally made it to the track for the first 250 Expert moto (sickness and all).<BR><BR> The race promised to be exciting, all the moto journalists were there. They included Rick Sieman and Jim Mercier of Modem Cycle, Brad Zimmerman and Rick Valecek of Popular Cycling, Charlie Kloppenberg an ex-Dirt Bike Editor, and John Hutter-free lancer for all. This alone would be worth the price of admission. But they were all spread out across the various classes.<BR><BR> The first race of the day blew Brad Zimmerman out of the box. His little brother Scott was racing this one, and due to another rider hitting him, Scott got to see what the roads look like on the way to the hospital, from the inside of an ambulance evea Must have have been fun, right Scott escaped with only a broken foot, but he will be in plaster for some time. As for Brad, being the typical brother, he went along for the ride and moral support. By the time Brad returned, it was time for the 500 Novice race. What a drag, he was in the 125 Amateur-Expert class.<BR><BR> As for the rest of the 125 Novice class, it was won by Rick Brand. Brand was gassin' it on a 125 Elsinore, like everybody else. He swept both motos. In the second one he came from behind to move into the lead. Holding the lead in the second moto was George Corcoran, the C.H. Industries Honda ace. George pulled a hot start and was OTG. He had only one guy ahead of him, and that didn't last too long. George motored by, and then the stage was set for one of the better duels of the day. Half the way through, George slowed down, only to get aced into second. Then he passed the guy back for the lead, only to have Brand sweep by both of them for the lead and the overall win. Corcoran had to settle for a 3-2 finishing record, cinching him second for the day. Steve Lodge captured third, also Honda mounted.<BR><BR> It was consistent riding that got Tom Zahnter the win in the 125 Expert class. Tom, who has been away from racing recently, rejoined the knobby set and took fi ooing it. Tom took a second and a iird for the day and turned it in for the win. Second place went to Steve Morelan, riding a Monark. Third place was taken by Glen Ewuig, nding WTO on a Honda.<BR><BR> The 250 Novice class found Paul Thede nding a sano CZ in for the win. Riding with a pie plate, this CZ sweeper really did fine. In second place was R. Dally, riding a Penton, and third was captured by G. Woodling, on a Husky.

Mike Hannon ran away with both motos out at the Dirt Diggers' MX at Valley Cycle Park.
Mike Hannon ran away with both motos out at the Dirt Diggers' MX at Valley Cycle Park.

The Powder Puff class was a real thriller. Lori Payne came out the overall winner on her Yamaha. Lori was looking good, even though she was never that high in the standings. Lori, riding her YZ, was moving through the front of the pack, but she could never quite make it into the lead. But her consistent finishes were good enough to grab her the win. Taking second on her Number 9 Honda was Paulette Napoleone, star of Motocross Action Mag. Pretty Paulette was mounted on a new bike (for her) and was looking good. She copped a fifth in the first moto and a third in the second. She looked good, after recuperating from two months of following the Trans-AMA. That's enough to put anybody away. In third was Marcia Holley, another victim of the Trans-AMA. (Gee, that makes two more from the moto-journalism set). Marcia was really moving. And she was very polite. Every time she passed me, she would either cross it up or wave. Thanks Marcia, I saw ya! Anyway, she was third woman. <BR><BR> "Some squirrel", he replied. <BR><BR> I looked up just in time to see the leader, who had about 100 yards on second place, bite the big one and pearl over the bars, surfer style. Man, it was mean. Then he got up, took the lead, and did it again half a lap later. Not the way to keep in shape if you ask me.<BR><BR> Next lap, squirrel in the lead, Jon Miller second and Jim "Modern Maico" Mercier in third. Then it was crashing time again, as Number one bit the dirt. Well, after this I was ready to write him off and out of the story. But when he got up the third time and passed Miller and Mercier and went on to win the moto, I had to investigate.<BR><BR>

Chuck Lanzarone was the hole shot king this Sunday at Valley as he hit the gate just right and was first into the corner.  He took third overall in his first race as an Expert.
Chuck Lanzarone was the hole shot king this Sunday at Valley as he hit the gate just right and was first into the corner. He took third overall in his first race as an Expert.

As I finally got to the track, the race had finished and the winner and proud crasher of three times wheeled over to me. It was none other than Allen Cooke. The reason I hadn't recognized him was that he had a new Bay Area jersey on. FACTORY!

Rick Sieman was at it again, as the Modern Cycle Mag. Editor swept both motos in the 500 Novice class.
Rick Sieman was at it again, as the Modern Cycle Mag. Editor swept both motos in the 500 Novice class.

Why did Allen fall so often? Well, his valve stem had been creeping so the night before he let the air out and moved it back into position. After this, he applied liberal amounts of air to the insides of the tube. He didn't check his pressure, so he guesses he was running about 20 pounds too many. Results-instant wash out!

Marcia Holley was back from the Trans-AMA and took her Husky in for third at Valley.   Hi Marcia.
Marcia Holley was back from the Trans-AMA and took her Husky in for third at Valley. Hi Marcia.

For the second moto he had it all dialed in, the tire was just right and he was ready to go. Off the start and around the first lap and there was a crash on the added down hill. About ten guys were involved. Jim Mercier was one who didn't care to finish, he was cut up bad.<BR><BR> Miller was having bike trouble, so Allen was left all alone to win this moto. When the results were tallied, Allen won first overall, Larry Bird on a Montesa was second and Flying FMFer Tony Rogers was in third. (Hot Tony, you devil you).

This girl grabbed the lead in the second moto and held on to it for the win.  She was really moving good, as she was ahead of everybody, even Paulette.
This girl grabbed the lead in the second moto and held on to it for the win. She was really moving good, as she was ahead of everybody, even Paulette.

The Open Novice was another funny class. Rick Sieman rolled to the start on one of his Maico's of questionable origin; Rick Valecek on his Bui 360; and John Hutter on a tricked-reeded CZ. Who would be the fastest-Rick. He took off last in the first moto, but by the drop off he was in the lead and moving away. The second moto it was the same story. Pull the lead and stretch it out for 20 minutes. Nobody-literally nobody was even close to Rick. He was a half a lap ahead of second place-no lie. And I thought all his stories were purely non-fiction. Anyway, he took the win, with Tom Bice grabbing second on his CZ and B. Crandall third on a Suzuki.

Tom Zahnter took the 125 Expert win at Valley during the Dirt Diggers race by riding smooth and easy.
Tom Zahnter took the 125 Expert win at Valley during the Dirt Diggers race by riding smooth and easy.

The Open Expert class was another fine race. Both motos, C.H. Industries Chuck Lanzarone got the hole shot, only to be passed by Mike Hannon, Bultaco ace. Chuck would hold it for about a half a lap then Hannon would motor by. Chuck, in his first Expert race ever, held on for second place in the first moto, displacing Jim Connolly. But in the second moto he was just too tired and let Connolly by. When the results were tallied, Hannon copped another win for the Spanish wonder, Connolly was second and Lanzarone was third. Pretty hot for his first Expert race, I think.

Cherry Stockton was in the lead in the second moto, then all of a sudden dropped back.
Cherry Stockton was in the lead in the second moto, then all of a sudden dropped back.

John Maroney was the man to beat in the Old Timers Masters class. He ran away and hid as he went for the win. Second was S. Duncan with Jim Pearson third.<BR><BR> In the Novice and Amatuer class, it was Sam Jones riding his Maico in for the first overall trophy. Second fell to Lee Howell, also Maico-mounted, while S. Michaels copped third.<BR><BR> Well, time to get back to TV to see more dumb cold remedies, while I sit and suffer. Gee, I wish I could have raced-sniffffffffff. <BR><BR>