ECRA-MX at Escape Country
ECRA
at
Escape Country
Sunday January 19, 1975
By: SCM Staff
Over 200 riders showed up at Escape Country Sunday to compete for trophies and Expert cash paybacks. With that many riders running in 16 three moto races it was easy to see why Escape Country has gone the 'two gate' method of starting. This means that the track is having two separate races run on it at the same time. As soon as the first group of starters is at the first far turn, a separate group running a separate race then takes off. This can sometimes get a little confusing when the groups mix in with one another.
The track was extremely well manicured for Sunday's racing and a warm Santa Ana wind contributed to the overall excellence of the day. The Mini bikes were really out in force with almost forty of them showing up to compete in nine mini classes. It was a great time for the kids as well as the parents.
The day's most exciting action predictably came in the Expert classes. Paul Schones (Hon) took the 125 Expert class, followed by Marty Miller f Hon) and Brian Brown (Hon). In the first moto it was Paul Schones all the way, taking the hole shot and holding a commanding lead throughout the race. Marty Miller in second place laid his bike down in the sand box," but quickly got up and regained the second position. Joe Rummey (Hon) got the hole shot in the second moto and held the lead for only two laps before getting passed by Marty Miller. Miller was then passed by Brown who won the moto.
It was Schones leading all the way again in the third moto. Close behind Schones was Joe Rummey until the very last lap when Miller and Brown both got by to pick up the second and third spots. Another exciting show took place when the Open and 250 Experts ran their separate races simultaneously on the track using the dual start system. There was alot of good racing as well as good show on the sandy berms and off mini Saddleback, a thrilling but not super radical man made jump.
John Estas (Mai) was the star of the 250 Expert class picking up a first in each of the three motos. John was first off the line each time, and each time built a large and comfortable lead leaving the real racing to Dave Foltz (Hus) and Patrick Flynn (Mai) who were battling it out for second place. In the first moto Flynn moved up from fifth in the pack to wind up with a second, the third going to Foltz. In the second moto it was Kiynn taking again this time behind Estas as well as a rider who had illegally cut the track. Danny Finnel (Yam) was running second throughout most of the moto but was aced out in the last couple of laps by Flynn and Foltz. Mark Marinez (Mai) kept the pressure on during the third moto firmly retaining the number two position behind Estas. Marinez, however, ran into problems on the last lap and DNF giving the second to Pat Flynn who wound up overall in second. Dave Foltz came out overall third.
The Open Experts, racing at the same time as the 250's, also had a really exciting race going. Rick Carrisosa ( Mai) was first from the hole with John Irwinmo bike listed) right behind. Carrisosa, Irwin and Del Ritzer (CZ) raced handlebar to handlebar throughout the whole first moto. At the finish it was Carrisosa just'inching out Irwin who in turn just inched out Ritzer.
In the second moto it was another close contest. This time it was Irwin inching out Ritzer and Carrisosa the second and third placers. In the all important and deciding third moto Del Ritzer and Rick Carrisosa exchanged the lead several times early in the race. Ritzer finally established a good grip on first and held on until the finish getting the overall win. Rick Carrisosa took overall second with third going to John Irwin.
Next Sunday, Jan. 26th promises to be an exciting day at Escape Country. A special $1000 purse is being offered and you can expect a lot of talent out there trying to pick up a share of the loot.
