CMC-MX at Dunlap Cycle Park
CMC
at
Dunlap Cycle Park
Sunday January 26, 1975
By: William P. Czerwinski
I guess the riders at the local track were wondering where is "Ski" the track reporter. Well Ski spent a few week ends out of town. One weekend at Indian Dunes to look over the all new International Track and even try it out. I'm not much of a rider or racer but you dudes-duddlers had better get your gas in gear and make any event held at the Dunes on the all new International track. A hell of a track that will really do it to you.
The last weekend it was a trip to Dunlap Cycle Park located east of Fresno on Highway 180, and I must say the improvements promoted by Dan Green are great The track has been widened thoughout. A Sprinkler system is being used to water the track, several water crossings are being used. Up hills and down hills are great also. Overnight camping is free and also great. For those who want a break from the routine rush to the track sign in, and enjoy a weekend at Dunlap. Start the day before the race, camp out over night and be ready to race the next morning without all the rushing. You can even stay overnight when the race is over.
Well here we are the day of the race. Put on by Dan Green promotions at Dunlap Cycle Park. Being from Lompoc I follow the local boys and my own. I have two locals running in the 125 Juniors that I need to watch. Well let me tell you the two Townsend boys are real Juniors. Did some trail riding got the feel of a motorcycle and thought it would be fun to race. But that's where the fun ended, at least that's what some of the local Juniors told them. The word was out that to go down South to the ate, cripe, num. events would be a waste of money and time as most Juniors down South were Expert Juniors. So for them (the Townsends) to travel out of town to race would be fruitless. But a talk with David Czerwinski that the Durlap track was a great track and a nice place to spend an over nite trip and it would be fine if one never won a race there one would enjoy himself. Well off they went. The Townsend boys and David.
I watched both motos of the Junior 125 Div. one and two and feel that in all my years of race reporting this CMC race at Dunlap promoted by Dan Green had to the fairest Junior event I've ever seen. There were several racers in the front-running group of Juniors in both events. John and Jim Townsend were in that group and right behind, another group of riders all seemed to stay bunched up with only little changes in positions throughout the race. No one seemed to be lapping any one after two or three laps, they all stayed grouped together throughout the race like Juniors should. The 125 Junior Div. one it was John Townsend to grab a second place start and hold it for several laps in the first moto. Moto two John got a fourth place start and lost two places at the end of the race. But after the points were totaled John got a fourth place trophy. Let me add that this was his first trophy in his racing. John really felt good about it too. In the 125 Junior Div two Jim Townsend was racing and he took home a second place trophy. Jim got good starting positions in each moto and held off most contenders. So both Townsends took trophies home to Lompoc for their first out of town racing.
The event every one was looking forward to was the 250 Expert and the rider to beat was Milan Garrett. Milan Garrett of Fresno was the winner of last year's Mammoth Mountain race. If you ask the helper at the snack trailer who would win the 250 Expert event she would tell you Garrett. She is about 8 or 9 years old. Moto one it was just as the little girl said Milan Garrett of Fresno on a Montesa got the lead and before the first lap was over Garrett had a lead no one could close on and Garrett didn't slow down, he just got further and further ahead. The battle and race was behind Garrett, David Czerwinski of Lompoc on a Montesa with a last place start had started his move right after the mixture of bikes in the first turn. Perry Klassen, Guy Preson, Bill Carter got out of shape and mixed cycles, David got around several there and started to make his move it looked as if with each lap David powered by someone. But it was determined that Milan Garrett would take the win in moto one. At the end of 25 minutes David had moved his Montesa to fourth place and held fourth. Milan Garrett rode a race in front-way in front and was never challenged or threatened. The battle was all behind Milan. Dennis Brand on a Penton from Oakhurst took second. Jim Franklin of Medera on a Husky took third and David Czerwinski of Lompoc on a Montesa the fourth.
Moto two again it was Milan Garrett on the swift Montesa that took the lead into the first turn while the pack was again having trouble, piling up. David like in the first moto was last into turn one but he appeared a little more concerned about his position this time (he was mad). In the first turn he tried to run over Perry Klassen and his Montesa but Perry saw a hole and got into it ahead of David so David got stuck on the high bank. All this time Milan Garrett just flicked his throttle to full on and commandeered a lead no one could touch. Jim Franklin of Madera had trouble with his cycle as he had a spark plug change to get off of the line in the second moto, and later slowed to let others go by while he motored to just finish. In the meantime David Czerwinski on his Montesa started his move and again started to pick off riders as each lap went by. David tried so hard that he ate dirt three times in moto two. With all the problems David had he still passed ten of the riders only to take his last sample of dirt on the last lap to let Bill Carter of Fresno by. David did get a fifth place anyhow. First went to Milan Garrett, Second to Dennis Brand, third to Perry Klassen, fourth to Bill Carter. Final result was of course Milan Garrett of Fresno on a Montesa, second was Dennis Brand on a sliding Penton, third Perry Klasson on a Montesa, Bill Carter on a mono Yamaha, fifth to David Czerwinski on a Montesa.
After the day's event the three Lompoc riders displayed their laurels John Townsend 4th place in the 125 Juniors, Jim Townsend second place in the 125 Juniors. David Czerwinski fourth place money in the 250 Experts.