NRA MX at Valley Cycle Park
NRA
at
Valley Cycle Park
Sunday March 9, 1975
By: Scott Heidbrink
It was a bit slick this week to say the least. The best way to describe the track is from a rider's eye view, and since today marked my return to racing, I'll personally take you around today's mudo-cross track. The starting area was in fine shape, as the water had not formed big mud puddles like everywhere else. It was traction plus all the way to the first turn. Once you got there, it was a whole other story. The usual line through the first corner is tight and to the inside, but with today's sloppy conditions, the only thing there was foot deep mud. So one ingenious rider went tight to the fence and rode up on the grass, then dropped back onto the track on the up hill straight, thus, missing most of the mud.
The up hill was slick for almost half the way up, then it was all right. The corner leading to the hill before the big downhill was fun. It wasn't muddy'and there was a big berm, so it was a gas. The down hill was another story, though, as it was muddy all the way down. The hot line was to go all the way to the right, then half the way down cut to the left and at the base of the hill, where there is normally a jump, cut way to the inside and go on the grass. On this route, you completely miss three huge mud holes that were stopping almost every bike. You hopped back onto the normal course at the 180 right hander before the high bermed turn that puts you into the jumps.
The rest of the track was rideable, but very muddy. After crossing the finish line, though there was a real tough spot. You went down that little hill and went right into a sea of mud. The hot set-up here was to come in from the right, head diagonally across it and then exit the track. From here, you paralleled the track and hopped on just before the big jump. All in all, it was a fun day of racing, with plenty of spills and thrills. The first race of the day was the combined 250 and 500 class for both Experts and Intermediates. Away from the line, it was Gregg Humber pulling up to the front, with only one rider ahead of him. By the time they came back into sight on the down hill, Gregg was in the lead by about 100 feet. All the other riders were trying to get the mud sorted out.
Gregg was really moving as fast as his '75 GP Maico could carry him, stretching out the lead as much as possible. The Experts had finally broken away and were starting to gain on Humber when Gregg made a mistake and completely missed a turn. But the funny thing was that when he got back on the track, he was in second place, only losing one spot In the lead now was J.D. Hadley, riding WFO on a CZ. He was really moving out, leaving Gregg in his roost. Gregg was having fun trying to stay up on two wheels, as was everybody else. But now Humber was being pressured by Jon Miller. Miller then moved into second place with another Miller right behind. It was Steve Miller, riding a Maico. What happened to Gregg, you ask? He dumped it just before a jump, and then his bike wouldn't start.
Then, Miller lost it and his bike was giving him trouble, so Steve Miller passed Jon and took over second place. All this time, Hadley was making such a lead that no one could touch him. When the checkered came out, Hadley took the win for the first moto followed by Steve Miller. Jon Miller had finally got restarted, but could only get fifth. In the 500 Intermediates class, Gregg had been aced out by Rick Nolle, riding a CZ. But Gregg was ready for the second moto.
The second time around was much like the first, except it was less muddy and there were lines around the track. Oft the line, a Honda rider jumped to the early lead with Steve Miller right behind. It didn't take him long, but Steve took over first and from there on no one could catch him. Jon Miller had a much better second moto, as he got going and was soon in second place. He stayed there for the restof this moto, with his Bui just motoring along. Hadley didn't have as good of luck, as he could only finish fourth in this moto. Overall for the combined Experts, Steve Miller took home the win followed by Hadley and Jon Miller managed to salvage third on his 250 Bul.
As for the Intermediates, Gregg Humber won the second moto after falling once, thus giving the Maico rider first overall in his class. In the beginning of the moto, he got a poor start, but worked up to fourth overall, but that was when he dumped it. Second place went to Rick Nolte. The next batch of riders was Ihe combined 250 Junior and Beginner class, my class. The Juniors were started in fronl of the gate and the Beginners behind. Off the line, it was Ron Hornaday riding a C.H. CZ in the lead. Then it was my turn to blast off the line. This being my second race since I retired two years ago, I was nervous to say the least. But when the gate started to drop, I waited one second, then pulled open that Mikuni as fast as I could. I hit the gate just right as it dropped and went for the first corner. I had started to the far left, the longest run possible at the first corner, but by the time I was there, I had second place. Around the outside next to the fence and I headed up the hill, gassin' my CZ as much as possible. At the top of the hill, I ran out of revs, but got going before I got passed.
Keith Barnden was the only rider in front of me, as he and his Yamaha were gone. I tried to catch up, but the mud slowed me down and I tired quickly. The rest of the race I decided to cool it and just finish. The Junior leader Ron Homaday passed me twice as he went for the win in his class, followed by Dan Blum, riding a swift Husky, and Dale Labrot. All three of these guys were going fast. The next moto was a repeat for Hor-naday, as he got the lead and kept it. I came off the line slow, and going into the first corner a Bultaco rider, Number 3, cut me off and sent me into the mud. The only reason I am mad about this was that he was not even entered in the race, and he had no place even being on the starting line. Anyway, I was dead last going up the hill. Two laps later and I was in third and moving fast. I soon found second place and passed him, but the leader was too far gone to catch.
All this time, my cheering section, located at the top of the first corner, were were cheering me on, signaling how I was doing. When I finally realized that I was in front, I gassed it and really started to move. This time, the Juniors only passed me once, and they started one lap ahead. So I took another second, giving me the overall win and my first trophy. I was stoked. Second went to Rick Kelley riding a Husky, he had taken two third place finishes for the day. Third went to Keith Barnden, the first moto winner. He took sixth in the second moto. I thought he had been in the lead, as he had gone down at the finish line and got up and pulled in behind me, and for the next three laps we went wheel-to-wheel, as I thought he was going to pass. But all the while, he was one lap down. Overall in the 250 Junior class, it was Hornaday first, Blum second with a pair of seconds and Dale Labrot third with two thirds. In the 500 Junior class, Fred Wachter swept the class taking two firsts. He was really flying as he went for the win. Second place went to Paul Swedenborg, also riding a Husky. He too, was right up there OTG. Third place went to Tony Becker riding a Suzuki. There were also 125 Juniors and Beginners running, but their final results were never posted, sorry.
