Dirt Bike Promotions at Valley Cycle Park - Part 1
Dirt Bike Promo
at
Valley Cycle Park
Sunday April 13, 1975
By: Scott Heidbrink
The skies were gray, hinting maybe a touch of rain, but it never appeared as the action cooked out at Valley Cycle Park. Butch Lee from Dirt Bike Promotions brought up his crew from down south to put on one of the better District races of the year. Everybody thought it was different, having the Experts, Amateurs, and Powder Puffs running in the morning, but everybody liked it. With this set-up, the Experts are home early and the Novices can sleep late and get to the track around noon. Also, this compresses the action much more. But today that wasn't necessary, since there was action flowing all over.
Again, the Women's division dominated the day with battling better than last week up at Hangtown. The two that were dicing all day were Super Cycle's Sue Fish and IDG's Johanna Stenerson. It was a classic duel-Hodaka versus Honda. There was a full line-up of women as they rolled up to the line. The question was just how good Sue would do, this being one of her first times back? Off the line she proved why she is considered the "Billy Grossi" of women's competition. Little Sue Fish was berserk!!!!
The battle lines were drawn, Johanna had the early lead, but there was a blue and orange shadow just over her shoulder. Soon, that Hodaka shadow made a move and Fish was in the lead, leaving Johanna WFO trying to pass back. One lap Johanna would have the lead, then Sue would take it. Back and forth for most of the moto with both girls never more than two bike lengths aprart But as the moto pulled into it's final stages, Johanna came down the hill with no Sue in sight. Finally, 15 seconds later, Fish came around with her goggles around her arm. She had fallen on the back section and now had to play catch-up.
There wasn't enough time, but she did gain quite a bit. End moto one and Johanna Stenerson had one win, Sue Fish was second. In third for almost the entire moto was a consistent Cheryl Acres. Her Honda didn't miss a beat, but she was not berserking it enough to stay up with the leaders. Chelle Blythe was riding in fine form leading the Novice girls. Her D-G Honda was also making tracks, in this one of her first rides under District 37 colors.
Actually, these results are ranked by how the women did overall, since all three classes were combined. The second moto found Sue with a bum foot peg and a sore wrist, thanks to her crash since it was just recently freed from it's plaster prison. Sue got almost the worst start, third to last at the first comer. But by the time they came back to the down hill, she was in lead with Johanna right behind. As the girls diced, Cherry Stockton cheered them on, since she is still on crutches.
No matter what Johanna tried, she couldn't get past Sue's Hodaka. Maybe for a brief time, but then Sue would swoop past her and grab the lead back again.
It went like this for the entire moto until the white flag came out. These two were almost a half a lap ahead of third place. Then Sue got the white and went into the right hander and dropped it. Johanna, slightly stunned, capitalized and took the lead. Sue re-mounted and went on for second place.
Johanna took the second moto win and grabbed first overall. She was still riding strong when the checkered finally came out. Sue, despite the fall, still got second in that moto and second overall.
Cheryl Acres got another third, securing third overall. There were alot of girls out there going good. One to look for next week at Santa Barbara will be Lori Payne. She will be getting a new Yamaha Mono 125 soon, and then she will be pure dynamite!!!
