Draz, Harper, Haugh - Indian Dunes Champs - AME - Indian Dunes Championships - Race 1
AME
at
Indian Dunes
Saturday December 21, 1974
By: Chris Hatounian
Dave Haugh (Bul), Kenny Zahrt (Bul) and Don Draz (Hon) all got off to an explosive start at today’s first race of the Indian Dunes Motocross Championships sanctioned by American Motocross Enterprises. All three effectively dominated both of their moto’s, giving them the point lead in their division toward the championship final of January 4. Haugh has a good chance at taking the Open Pro title if he can perform two more rides, similar to today’s. Kenny Zahrt, fresh from the Trans-AMA series, is well known around the Old Reservation and could easily clinch the 250 title if he shows up for the other two races.
Kenny Zahrt came out to the first race of the Indian Dunes Championships and showed Will Harper around the track. Hartounian photo.
The second moto was a different story. Draz was once again gone but Luera was desperately trying to hold off Zahrt and Ryan who were not happy with their first moto. As they came around the back section, Ryan first got past Zahrt and then went under Luera but got passed back by both at the finish.
By the way, Ryan crashed in the first round, got back up and caught up to everybody. He probably works harder than the rest of the pack put together. He just wasn’t having a good day. So overall, Draz won it with Luera hanging in there for second and Zahrt finishing third. Also, Jeff Black was in the running, being second in the first moto for a while but didn’t show in the overall results.
The minute I saw Kenny Zahrt in the pits, I knew what ever class he entered, he would win. Zahrt dominated both moto’s of the 250 Pro class, getting little trouble from anyone with the exception of Revell-rider Willy Harper on a CZ. Harper has the determination to be a top Pro rider in the future and if he keeps riding like he did today, he’s on his way. Zahrt, a factory Bultaco rider was smooth as ever and it was clear to see he wasn’t fooling around but neither was Harper. Harper jumped in the lead in the first moto with pressuring Zahrt in second. Kenny found the right line and passed Harper for the lead. Willy then passed him back as they exchanged leads for a while until Zahrt passed Harper for good until the finish.
They had watered the course before their second moto, making it quite slippery to say the least. Harper jumped to an early second moto lead with Zahrt again trailing in second. Zahrt’s mud riding experience paid off as he went right under Willy in a tight turn when Will lost traction. Off went Zahrt in the lead for the remainder of the moto and the overall win with Harper taking second. There were more battles in the back of the pack between Don Hansen (Mai), Dave Zahrt (Bul), Frank Giaradina (Mai) and Kevin Tucker. Hansen gassed it past all the rest to take two third’s and third overall for the day. The Revell-sppiisored Hansen is still getting over an injured leg.
Janice Kline got over a first moto late start to capture the Powder Puff honors. Main agrivators for the race included Viki Hendrick’s (Hon), Lori Viens (Pen) and Roxan Dougherty (Hon). Hendricks had her problems moving Dougherty up to second for the day with Viens taking third. There were also some protests about Kline’s first moto start that were un-called for.
