CRC District 37 MX at Valley Cycle Park Part 1
CRC
at
Valley Cycle Park
Sunday March 23, 1975
By: Scott Heidbrink
Things got started slow this week and they never seemed to speed up. The signup proceedings took more time than everybody had planned, so practice was delayed until almost 9:30 a.m. So that set the first moto back until almost 10:30. And the club had to run two 25 minute motos. It was the starting of a very long day. During practice, everybody got a look at the track, which was in pretty good condition, at least during practice. The jumps had been built up to huge proportions and the back section of the track was in.
It was really very interesting, but most of the back part of the track could not get watered, so by the end of the sets of motos, it was dusty. The hot weather dried the track quicker than planned, so at the break, the track was ripped and done over. That made things a little better for the second moto, but there were quite a few rocks on the track. If you were riding a 250 or 500, you really needed a chest protector, especially off the start.
After finally starting, things were very well organized, but it was that morning delay that bummed everybody out. Jim Mercier, of Modern Cycle Magazine, left after his first moto in the 250 Expert class. He had a fourth, but he didn't feel like spending the entire day at the track.
Honestly, that was really the only valid complaint about the entire day, that it took the entire day. The track was done as best it could. At least it was rock hard all the way around. As for the racing, there was some good competition going on, and some good cherry picking. In more than one class, there were riders competing out of class. One Maico ace rode in a Novice division, and I have seen him many a time competing on Expert and Pro levels. I hope that somebody can clear up this mess sometime.
Back to the racing. Terry Mason did in the Mini class by out riding Russ Geiger and BUI Cambell. The Women's Division was a real thriller today with lots of thrills and spills. The overall winner ended up being Roberta Vasilis on a Honda. She had a third and a second for the day.
In the first moto, cute Lori Payne grabbed the lead while sister Nancy had her Maico run out of gas. Lori's lead didn't last long as Roberta soon made her way to the front. Then Cherry Stockton was pulling her Bui up to the front, too.
Then, after some thrilling moments, Roberta was way back and then Cherry didn't come around. Nancy Payne got going and was really moving, but she was way back.
One of the really quick girls out there was Chelle Blythe. She was making the District girls take a double look, as she speeded on by.
Another of the faster women who was having no luck at all was pretty Paulette Napolean. Paulette, riding her Honda for Suzuki of Santa Barbara, was doing good, but could not penetrate the top three. Otherwise, she was riding good, but she lacked some of her old speed and style. I think if she tricked her Honda more, it would bring Paulette into the brass more often.
