April 23, 1975
Vol. 3  Issue 15
    










Checkered Past Authentic Vintage Motocross Clothing


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Allen Cooke

Sue Fish

Cherry Stockton, Johanna Stenerson

Sue Fish, Johanna Stererson

Lori Payne


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Dirt Bike Promotions at Valley Cycle Park - Part 2


Crazy Allen Cooke did an amazing thing.   He won, but he didn't crash in either moto. Good racing Al. Heidbrink photo.
Crazy Allen Cooke did an amazing thing. He won, but he didn't crash in either moto. Good racing Al. Heidbrink photo.

Dirt Bike Promo at Valley Cycle Park
Sunday April 13, 1975
By: Scott
Heidbrink

The 250 Expert match was a surprise-Crazy Allen Cooke won it, but he didn't fall once. All day long people came up to me saying, "Allen won and he didn't fall!" Then they walked away in a daze. It was amazing! In the first moto Allen got off to a fair start and had to work into the lead. It didn't take long. There was pressure from all sides but Allen gassed it. One hot competiuor was Dave Zahrt. He was cooking until his Bul DNF'ed. Then he pulled into the pits and snatched Kenny's bike. He returned to the race and proceeded to gas it.

Allen won the moto and it looked like fun for the second bout. Off the line it was Zahrt and Cooke. Dave grabbed the lead and never let go. Cooke was content with second and proceeded to out-distance the rest of the pack. In third was fast Steve's Bultaco rider Rick Diednck. He was smoking, but he couldn't catch the other Bultaco racers. So it was Bay Area running 1-2 and Steve's in third. It was quite a race. Mark Cook worked his way up on his privately sponsored Bui to finally end up in fifth or sixth. He looked very strong now that he is getting back into it. Overall, it was Allen Cooke taking the win.

In the 500 Expert class Chuck Lanzarone capitalized on Jim Connolly riding two classes. Jim was going at it in both the 125 and 500 class and it was a long day for him. So in the 500 class, it was Lanzarone all the way. In the first moto Chuck grabbed an early lead never to give it up. The Cole Brothers rider was cooking. Connolly was also moving out, but not fast enough to pass Lanzarone.

Cherry Stockton and Johanna Stenerson smile at the photographer while Johanna's boyfriend takes a pic.  Heidbrink photo.
Cherry Stockton and Johanna Stenerson smile at the photographer while Johanna's boyfriend takes a pic. Heidbrink photo.

In the second moto, the gate didn't go down well, so they had a re-start. Lanzarone had the lead but on the re-start he was in third the first lap around. Connolly had the lead and Mike Puckless was in second. In a matter of a few laps Chuck had pulled into the lead on his powerful Maico and Connolly was second. Puckless dropped back to third.

Overall, the Cole Brothers rider beat out the Dirt Bike man. Lanzarone took home the big brass with his 1-1 finish and Jim Connolly collected second on his Bultaco. Mike Puckless grabbed third overall.

Both of the Powder Puff motos looked just like this.  Sue Fish and Johanna Stenerson wheel-to-wheel for the entire 20 minutes.  Sue fell in both motos letting Johanna breathe a little easier towards the end.   Heidbrink photo.
Both of the Powder Puff motos looked just like this. Sue Fish and Johanna Stenerson wheel-to-wheel for the entire 20 minutes. Sue fell in both motos letting Johanna breathe a little easier towards the end. Heidbrink photo.

The 125 Expert class was another thriller as Monark-mounted Joe Kehoe rode in for the win. This weekly cruiser cruised on out to Valley to prove that DK-W-powered machines can still be competitive as he cleaned house.

Actually, it has been some time now that a DKW-powered bike has taken a 125 Expert win any where. But today Kehoe was in fine form.

Lori Payne's helmet says it all.  She is one of the quicker girls out on the track and she will be almost un-beatable when she gets her new mono 125.   Heidbrink photo.
Lori Payne's helmet says it all. She is one of the quicker girls out on the track and she will be almost un-beatable when she gets her new mono 125. Heidbrink photo.

Second place went to Jim Connolly, who was probably getting a bit tired toward the end of his fourth moto. That takes quite a bit to be able to compete in both the 125 and 500 class and grab a second 500 and third 125. Jim is looking for some more low numbers for 1975.

The rest of the results will follow when they are made official. These are strictly un-official, figured by myself from their moto finishes. So there might be a change or two.